A Roseville Rocker, Rik Schwinden Stepping Back on to The Music Stage
“Patch.Com; Rosville Edition”
28 June 2013
Roseville retailer Rik Schwinden will take his love of rock n’ roll and step back onto the music stage tonight (Friday) as part of a headliner group for the first time in more than 20 years.
Schwinden, owner of Mr. Zero’s music/pop culture store, will be performing with a band called MrZERo (closely named after his shop) at the Red Sea Lounge, 320 Cedar Ave. S. in Minneapolis’ West Bank district.
The group will play a number of songs from such groups as KISS, Cheap Trick, Night Ranger and Twisted Sister.
Schwinden’s group is scheduled to perform at midnight to close out a show that includes the Twin Cities band Jesus Chrysler, which recently released their fourth CD.
“It’s a comeback,” admitted Schwinden, who sings and plays bass guitar. “I stopped playing (after 1993) because it is very hard to find two, three or four other guys who want to do what you do and without their egos getting in the way.”
Schwinden played and toured in in several rock bands in the 1980s and early 1990s and toured with the band High Fever in 1982-83 in the Midwest. But he gave up rock work about 20 years agi, saying “It’s hard to get along with musicians.”
But over the last couple of years, Schwinden was slowly brought back into the rock fold. The three other members of his new group- drummer Dave Columbus, keyboardist Mitch Anderson and guitar player Zach Plese_ met Schwinden at his shop.
Once they knew that Schwinden had been a rock musician, Columbus and the others began encouraging him to play again.
Schwinden said he reluctantly to jam but was surprised at what happened when he did. “I found three other guys that I liked and respected and got along with.”
he said. “The more I put into it (the music), the more I was getting out of it,”
Originally from Sioux City, Schwnden was asked how he feels about returning to the stage? “I am more nervous than excited,” he said.
A native of Sioux City, Iowa, Schwinden has had his shop for about four years. It is located at 1744 Lexington Ave., selling eclectic pop culture merchandise, including vintage LPs and 45 single records, video games, posters and board games.
At 1st I was the Lead Vocalist and Guitar Player, but when we realized Mitch & Zach were levels ahead of me, I agreed to go back to playing Bass which I played in 2 or 3 different bands in the mid to late 80s.
26 June 2013
We’re currently performing covers: KISS, Black Sabbath, RATT, Twisted Sister, Van Halen, Cheap Trick, Night Ranger, David Bowie & Three Doors Down.
Oz EnterpriZes presents….”Rock Knights”
“Patch.Com; Roseville Edition”
14 Sep 2013 Why “Yes There Are Still National Release Dates”
Ok, most do not realize or want to accept that the Precious Internet has permanently damaged our great country. How? Eliminating entire industries forever, “On-Line” Dealers & Business’ who operate completely “TAX- Free” taking away money from our City & State Governments, eliminating Jobs with no real viable replacements.
Much worse giving everyone the impression Everything, Everywhere Is “FREE” on the Internet.
While the Music Industry, that once was a huge driving force in this great nation is all but in ruins. And the Video Gaming & Movie Film Industry in decline, losing sales year after year.
“Why are concert tickets so high priced ?” Well, when is the last time you actually purchased some music from your favorite artist or their New CD/LP ?
Well, There are still some New Releases Fans desire, with those New Releases come “National Street Dates” weather it be CD, Blu-Ray, Video Games or LP.
Public Service Announcement !!!
“Grand Theft Auto V” All Formats
Release Date:17 September 2013 Tuesday
Nation Wide !!!
*Any Retail Business
Including “Mr. Zero’s”
(We Are A Retail Business That Pays TAXES)
Caught Selling ANY Video Games Before Release Date
Is A Violation and will lose their Ability to receive Any New Release Titles On Time In the Future …
Grand Theft Auto V, Release Date 17 SEP 2013
Sorry, folks … Everything Is Not “Free” on the Internet, it cost our Great Country Billions of Dollars …
Cheap Trick, what do you think of when you hear that name ? A magic act, the cartoonish band with the 2 good lookin rock stars to one side and the 2 nerds on the left. Cheap Trick came out at a time when where there was a lot of New Wave Bands (a term seldom used now) and Post Punk Bands, so I kinda feel they got lost in the shuffle. Everybody knows “Surrender” “I Want You To Want Me” & “Dream Police” and later on “The Flame”.
Now I myself was not terribly fond of Cheap Trick when first heard them grace the AM Radio waves in the late 70s. Then one day I went to my High School buddy Brett’s house and he put on the then newest release by Cheap Trick 1979s “Dream Police” and I heard for the very first time the infectious guitar riff of “The House Is Rockin (with domestic problems)” my interest was piqued. Collectors note, the Japanese 45 single of the top 40 hit “Voices” has the middle section cut out of the song completely, b/w the non-lp song “Oh Boy”
I thought “If I like this song maybe there are more that I will like” So I delved into Brett’s Cheap Trick collection and to my pure delight I discovered hidden gems like: “Speak Now Or Forever Hold Your Peace” “You’re All Talk” & “Stiff Competition” from then on I was hooked and lucky enough to get on the Cheap Trick Fan Wagon just in time to experience 1980s “All Shook Up” Produced by Sir George Martin of The Beatles fame, as a brand new release. By far my absolute favorite Cheap Trick album of them all. Stand outs to me: “Baby Loves To Rock” “Love Comes A Tumblin Down” & “I Love You Honey (but I hate your friends)” as well as the top 40 hit “Stop This Game” I saw them on Saturday Night Live that year sing 2 of the just mentioned songs. However with their brand new bass player Pete Comita, more on this later.
In the beginning: Rick Nielsen (22 Dec 1946 Rockford, Il) who briefly replaced Todd Rundgren in “The Nazz” & Tom Petersson (9 May 1950 Rockford, Il) who invented the “12 Sting Bass” began as the band “Fuse” 1969 Epic #26502. About 1972 or so relocated to Philadelphia and changed their name to “Sick Man Of Europe” however things not working out they came back Rockford around 1973 adding Bun E. Carlos (Brad Carlson; 12 June 1951 Rockford, Il) and eventually picking up Robin Zander (23 Jan 1953 Rockford, Il) sometime in 1975.
This line up remained the same until 1980 when Tom Petersson married a singer named Dagmar and left to do a solo LP 1984 Enigma # 1038 titled “Another Language” Enter Cheap Trick’s 2nd bass Player Pete Comita who did the 1981 tour for “Al Shook Up” the “Chicago Festival” was filmed and aired on TV later that year.
Unfortunately, Pete Comita never recorded a full album only 2 songs for the 1981 “Heavy Metal” soundtrack those being “Reach Out” one of my all time favorites & “I Must Be Dreaming” Comita’s leaving is still unclear to me. In 1982 Jon Brandt was hired to be the band’s 3rd bass player and went on to record 4 albums from 1982 to 1986 “One On One” “Next Position Please” “Standing On The Edge” & “The Doctor” .
When an unusual event in rock n’ roll took place Tom Petersson came back into the fold to record Cheap Trick’s 1988 come back album “Lap Of Luxury” this line up has reamined the same ever since recording 8 more albums together. For the 1990 “Busted” album Des Moines, Iowa native Fred Nesbit of the local band “Peter Lorre” (also ‘Saint’) co-wrote the song “Can’t Stop Falling Into Love” Another cool thing about Cheap Trick they are the ‘Soundtrack Kings’ appearing on some 14 different soundtracks or more with songs that are not on Cheap Trick LPs for example 1980s “Roadie” has “Everything Works If You Let It” and 1983s “Spring Break” contains the title track of the same name” .
I got to interview the guys in Cheap Trick back in the late 90s. Here’s some of what I remember:
Robin Zander (to me):
“Hey do you know where this ‘Blues Bar’ is in downtown Omaha ?”
“Do you really want me to sign this album in pencil ?”
“I can not figure out how to set the clock in the dashboard of this rental car”
“Why did I do a Harry Nilsson song on my solo LP, cause I love Harry Nilsson, that’s why”
Tom Petersson (to me):
“Do I have really strong fingers to play my 12 string bass, no, just thick calluses, here feel”
“Am I still married to Dagmar, No, Why? Do you want her?
“This is a nice pen, is it yours?”
“Hey Bun E. come here and sign this for this guy”
Rick Nielson (to me)
“I really love fan art, like this guys home made ‘five neck guitar’ t-shirt, let me sign this for you buddy”
“Sure I’ ll sign that CD, it is part of my job”
“Did you know Tom (Petersson) married a girl from St.Paul
Bun E. Carlos (to me):
“Yea I can sign that for you”
“I have some family here in St. Paul you know”
“No, I only play Ludwig drums, I have a deal with them”
Overview: Cheap Trick has recorded roughly 20 albums since 1977. I myself have seen them about a dozen times almost every tour they pull out a forgotten gem for fans like me and my friends Steve R. & Jeff A. so if you haven’t had the pleasure you can catch them in concert at:
“I got a personality crisis, I’m just looking for a kiss”
“BUZZ: Newspaper Article”
May- Jun 2011 (#3-C)
Recently the “New York Dolls” opened for Motley Crue & Poison at the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis. My friend Tommy S. said “The arena was 3/4 empty during their set” My friend Bakko said “That’s because in this day and age no one knows who they are” I for one am appalled!! Never has there been a more influential band than the “New York Dolls” in the early 70s no one, and I repeat No One was bigger than “The Dolls” the fashion, the trend, the attitude and lastly the music!!!! I first heard of “The Dolls” from my High School buddy Eric D. he and I were in a band he formed called ‘Palace Guard’ and I was telling him how I wanted to mix KISS, Motley Crue & Hanoi Rocks all into one. One fateful Saturday morning Eric hands me a copy of “The Dolls” first LP, my reaction “That’s it!!! ” You can see a picture of us shortly after this event on my “fb”.
* The very beginning;
Junior High School buddies Sylvain Sylvain (Ronald Sylvain Mizrahi: 14 Feb 1951 Cairo, Egypt) & Billy Murcia (William Murcia: 1951 Bogota, Columbia – 7 Nov 1972 London, UK) formed a band called “The Pox” in 1967. Then sometime after this Sylvain work at a boutique across from the “New York Doll Hospital” rumored to be the inspiration of the origin of the name. Sometime in 1970 Sylvain & Murcia recruited one Johnny Volume aka Johnny Thunders (John Anthony Genzale Jr. 15 July 1952 Queens, NYC – 23 April 1991 New Orleans, LA.) on bass at first, to form the short lived band “The Dolls”. Sylvain splits to London, mean while Thunders is recruited by one Arthur Harold “Killer” Kane Jr. (3 Feb 1949 Bronx, NYC – 13 Jul 2004 Los Angles, CA.) & Rick Rivets (George Fedorick: 1949 NYC) to form a band called “Actress” Thunders convinces Kane & Rivets to replace the current drummer with Billy Murcia.
* Finding Buster
Kane had noticed a local street preacher (and one time soft porn star) David Johansen (David Roger Johansen: 9 Jan 1950 Staten Island NYC) singing with the local band “Vagabond Missionaries” Johansen possessing a boisterous voice like Eric Burdon Kane thought this was the perfect front man for their new band. Johansen “Arthur knocks at my door one day and asks me if I’m a singer, I say “Yea” he just stands there looking at me until I say “is there something you want?” Kane says “Yea we want you in our band come down to this place” Soon after Sylvain replaces Rivets on guitar and the “New York Dolls” are born……….
* Out on the streets
In this burgeoning New York Music Scene there are many other bands born from the Glam Rock wave that “The Dolls” created such bands as: “Harlots of 42nd Street” “Teenage Lust” “Street Punk” with Bassist Jimmy Haslip (James Robert Haslip 31 Dec 1951 NYC) “Luger” “Planets” “Flaming Youth” (friends of Ace Frehley) “Wayne County” (Gene Simmons will cover their song “Man Enough to be a Woman”) “The Brats” (formed by Rick Rivets after leaving the Dolls in 1971 who were considered by many 2nd only to the Dolls and way more Popular than their usual opening act “KISS”) “Twister Sister” (note: Dee Snider is not the original lead singer as he is not hired until 1976) and “KISS” who in their very early stages dress much like the “Dolls” until one day Ace points out “Guys, we can’t really pull off this Dolls look as they are small & pretty and we are not” which changes the direction of ‘KISS’ forever, with the exception of “KISS” & “Twisted Sister” all but “The Brats” have faded into obscurity.
* In the year 1972
The “Dolls” hone their craft by rehearsing in a bicycle shop being locked in over night and perform at least 43 shows this year before a major record release cutting a demo tape in June 1972 at Blue Rock Studios produced by; Marty Thau released as “Lipstick Killers” 1981 ROIR noted for being the only studio recording with original drummer Murcia. Stand out tracks to me from this are: ‘Human Being’ & ‘Don’t Mess with Cupid’
On 29 October 1972 “The Dolls” are invited to open for superstars “The Faces” at Wembley area. On 6 Nov the “Dolls” are partying at a nightclub in London, Murcia passes out from excess of Alcohol & Pills, his girlfriend put him in a bathtub of ice water and forces hot coffee down his throat and he dies from asphyxiation.
Jerry Nolan (Jerold Nolan: 7 May 1946 Brooklyn NYC- 14 Jan 1992 NYC) former gang member of the “Phantom Lords” is hired to replace the deceased Murcia runner up for the drummer’s slot is one George Peter Criscoula (20 Dec 1946 Brooklyn, NYC aka Criss) who will go on the be one of the founding members of Rock Icons “KISS” Peter and Jerry met when both were members of the street gang “Phantom Lords” In an interview I conducted with Criss in the early 90s Criss said “Nolan was born into the “Lords” interesting side note, Nolan was Criss’ best man at Criss’ wedding in 1970.
* Breaking Big
On 20 March “The Dolls” sign a 2 record deal with Chicago based Mercury Records. They release their first LP “New York Dolls” 27 July 1973 produced by; Todd Rundgren (22 Jun 1948 Upper Darby, PA.) formerly of the “Nazz” Johansen hand picked Rundgren, Thunders hated the result Thunders once said “Todd, yea he F****** up an album of mine once” ‘RollingStone’ Magazine placed this LP in the top 100 LPs of all time! Personal stand outs for me are: ‘Jet Boy’ ‘Private World’ & ‘Bad Girl’
August 30th of 1973 Kane’s girlfriend Connie did not want him to go on tour so she tried to cut off his thumb with a steak knife while he was sleeping. (She later stabbed the Ramone’s drummer in the rear end for the same reason) This was “The Dolls” busiest year performing some 137 concert dates, sometimes 2 shows per night.
* The Saga Continues
The “Dolls’ release the 2nd LP “Too Much Too Soon” 10 May 1974 Produced By: Shadow Morton (of the ‘Shangri La’s’) Stand out tracks to me from this LP are: ‘Babylon’ ‘Stranded in the Jungle’ & ‘Don’t Start Me Talkin’ The Dolls record a few songs that do not appear on the 2nd LP but eventually find release on CD many years later. They continue to tour performing some 89 dates once again sometimes 2 shows per day a 7pm & 11pm concert. Taking on a Sax Player Buddy Bowser. I couldn’t help but notice that the band performed less and less dates through out the rest of the years for the band. Also appearing on ‘Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert’ 24 July from a Long Beach, CA. date.
On 1 Sep 1974 the Dolls play the Minnesota State Fair for the “Teen Fair” concert series. It has been reported that the members of the band had no problem exposing their ‘members’ to groupies through the chain link fence on they’re way off the stage. It is at this time Peter Jordan replaced Kane on Bass full time instead of just a substitute on tour due to Arthur’s excessive drinking problem landing him in rehab in NYC.
* Winding down the clock
So in 1975 the shock value of the ‘Dolls’ has almost run it’s course. Enter Malclom Mclaren (22 Jan 1946 London – Apr 8, 2010 in Bellinzona, Switzerland) a haberdasher from London who decides the “Dolls” need a new direction taking a cue from they’re new song “Red Patent Leather” McLaren has the band dress in variations of the same color of red with a communist “Hammer & Cycle” flag as a back drop, McLaren’s reasoning is “In today’s day and age you can be a cross gender or even gay but not a Communist” They are writing new songs for their potential 3rd LP “Red Patent Leather” “On Fire” “Teenage News” “Pirate Love” “Down Down Town” & “Girls” as well as pulling new cover songs like “Daddy Rolling Stone” “Something Else” & “Ain’t Got No Home” for their live performances which dwindled down to around 36 concerts this year. A live LP is release some years later “Red Patent Leather” 1984 Fan Club Records. Nolan and specifically Thunders hard drug use begins to show and take it’s toll on the members and the band. Johansen is becoming irritated by this as well as Thunders insistence to sing lead on more songs leaving Johansen to play harmonica & tambourine. At a band meeting in Florida Thunders and Nolan announce they are ‘junk’ sick and sick of the “Dolls” Johansen’s response “Anyone one in this band is replaceable” with that Thunders gets up to leave to Thunders surprise Nolan is right behind him “Where you goin?” Nolan “with you, I’m not stayin here” In order to fulfill several dates still left in Florida the band run an ad in the local paper. A young kid from the Bronx answers the ad one Blackie Goozeman (aka Lawless aka Steven Edward Duren: 4 Sep 1956 Staten Island, NYC) So Johnasen, Sylvain, Peter Jordan, Blackie and an unknown drummer finish out the last 5 dates of the tour.
* When it’s over
The band now return to New York to regroup an decide what to do. Johansen & Sylvain decide to forge on from August to December of ’75 with Peter Jordan still on bass. As Kane went to Los Angels with Blackie to form a new band “Killer Kane” & Tony Machine on drums, Tony had been the “Dolls” road manager indecently Tony Machine went on to play with Johansen in “Buster Poindexter’s Banshees of Blue” they hire Chris Robinson (on keyboards of Elephant’s Memory) Robinson “We toured Japan that summer [’75] with Jeff Beck, and Felix Pappalardi of Mountain, and had a blast. The best gig was at Tokyo Baseball Stadium where we played to 55 thousand screaming people-big stage set up on 2nd base and we played towards home plate. As we were making our frantic escape surrounded by screaming girls and boys and uniformed police wielding billy clubs, Sylvain almost caused a riot: We were dashing for the limo and somehow in the next moment Syl was ON TOP of the car inhaling a helium balloon and screaming “ARRIGATO” in a high pitched helium induced voice One of my biggest regrets in life is how my growing problem with alcohol back then led to a certain night of whiskey- induced rage and mental distortion. I was in a blackout and to this day don’t know exactly what I said to Sylvain–but it was enough said to convince Syl and the boys to leave for the Cobo Hall Michigan gig without me. I woke up the next afternoon and they were already gone, and so was my stint with The New York Dolls.”
* The final nail 1976
Now end is near Johansen & Sylvain replace Robinson with Bobby Blaine on keyboards and with Jordan & Machine in tow and end up playing around only 26 dates this year. Billed solely as “The Dolls” introducing yet more new material “Funky But Chic” “Frenchette” “Gimme a Pigfoot” “Cool Metro” “Kids Are Back” & “Check Mr. Popeye” among others. Many of these new songs will end up on Johansen’s solo LP in 1978 which Sylvain was still part of Johansen’s solo band. A few interesting things happened on this tour for example on 12 March members of ‘KISS’ attended the first show at the Ballinjax Electric Bistro in New Orleans. On 21 May at Max’s Kansas City in NYC Johnny Thunders gets up to play the last 3 songs of the night. On 26 June in New Orleans at Cord’s Underground former Management mates of Lieber & Krebs Steven Tyler & Joe Perry get up and sit in on “Flip Flop Fly” & “Pills” on the 4th of July in NYC at Max’s Kansas City Mick Ronson. The final concert of “The Dolls” takes place 30 Dec at Max’s Kansas City with “Blondie”.
From here on out they will be known as the ‘David Johansen Group’
In closing to me…the New York Dolls were much more than a band, they were a force to be reckoned with true inspiration to 3 poor kids from the west side of Sioux City, Iowa, who saw something more than the environment they were raised in, and inspired them to do something completely different than what was going on around them and even what was going on in the rest of the world in 1985.
Ok fans, let us see if you have been paying attention…I mentioned this months Band installment in last months article. I was talking about one of my former bands “Palace Guard” and my former band mate Eric DeWolf, we were discussing a new direction to move towards, and Eric informed me that already exists in the Finnish Band “Hanoi Rocks” which I do not understand why they are not more popular than they are in this area as Minnesota has the 2nd & Wisconsin has the 3rd highest populations of Finns in the USA….?
* Saigon Shakes…1980- 81
Hanoi Rocks was born out of 2 punk bands from Helsinki, Finland (Finland being most famous for their cell phone production due to their anti-social behavior) “Pelle Miljoona Oy” and “Briard” sometime in 1980 by 5 local boys: Lead Singer & Sax Player Michael Monroe ( Matti Fagerholm 17jun1960) with Andy McCoy (Antti Hulkko 11oct1962) Lead Guitar & Song Writer and Sam Yaffa (Saki Takamaki) on Bass along with Nasty Suicide (Jan Stenfors) on Rhythm Guitar & Backing Vocals and their 1st Drummer Gyp Casino (Jesper Sporre). Hanoi Rocks released their 1st album “Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes Hanoi Rocks” in 1981 a Scandinavian only release at first. Stand out tracks to me are; “First Timer” “Lost In The City” & “Don’t Never Leave Me” (later re-recorded in 1984)
* Beating in the Orient…1982
Hanoi Rocks visits London to begin promoting themselves sometime in early 1982 and begin recording their 2nd album “Oriental Beat” stand out tracks for me are; “Visitor” “Oriental Beat” & “Motorvatin” this being their 2nd studio album and final full production with original drummer Gyp Casino as he is fired (rumor mill has it due to excessive drug use) The band will put out their 3rd album “Self Destruction Blues” a collection of singles A & B sides rarities in late 1982, stand out tracks for me; “Taxi Driver” “Self Destruction Blues” & “Dead By X-Mas”. Mean while they break in their new drummer Nicholas “Razzle” Dingley (2 December 1960 Royal Leamington Spa, England- 9 December 1984 Redondo Beach, Ca.) former drummer of ‘The Dark’ & ‘Demon Preacher’ Although Razzle is pictured on the cover he does not actually play on the album.
* Malibu Beach Nightmare…1983
With Razzle on board the band embark on their 4th album (but first with Razzle) which I personally feel their best and strongest effort yet “Back To Mystery City” in early 1983. Stand out tracks; “Mental Beat” “Tooting Bec Wreck” “Until I Get You” Malibu Beach Nightmare” & “Back To Mystery City” they band do record a couple songs that do not make the LP “Malibu Beach” (reggae version) & a really odd song “Do The Duck”. The band take off on a tour of Europe and Japan with live concerts being recorded at the Marquee Club in the UK and released as the album & VHS “All Those Wasted Years” in late 1983 notable tracks “Under My Wheels” & “Train Kept A Rollin” and a TV Broadcast in Japan which came out as an UN-Official double album “Live in Tokyo”
Boulevard Of Broken Dreams….1984
The year of “Big Brother” Hanoi Rocks gets signed to a major US label Epic/ Sony and working with “Mott The Hoople’s” Ian Hunter (3jun1939 UK) & Overend Watts (Peter Watts 13may1947) record their final opus as the original Hanoi Rocks, “Two Steps From The Move” in early 1984 stand outs “I Can’t Get It” “Cutting Corners” “Underwater World” “Million Miles Away” & “Boulevard Of Broken Dreams” strangely the title track was left off this release “Two Steps From The Move” however there are 2 different versions on 2 other albums. Being huge ‘Creedence Clearwater Revival’ fans they cut “Up Around The Bend” later McCoy & Suicide in 1986 would record “Travelin Band” as the ‘Cherry Bombz’.
The band embark on the first US tour with Motley Crue. While on some time off for Monroe’s fractured heel Razzle and Vince Neil (Vincent Neal Wharton 8feb1961) decided to make a beer run, Vince was driving drunk and lost control of his vehicle killing Razzle and injuring 2 other people in an oncoming auto. Vince Neil “I bought my way out of jail, like a modern day OJ” (Rumor Mill has it that Razzle was involved in a drunk driving indecent a few years before, in the UK where a passenger died…Karma?) The ‘Clash’s’ Terry Chimes (5jul1956 London) finished out the drum duties on the rest of the 1985 European Tour where a rare ‘live’ album was recorded and released “Rock N Roll Divorce” 1985 Live In Poland (of all places) stand out track “Looking At You” (MC5) and live tracks off ‘Two Steps From The Move’ however the band was just not the same, so in June 1985 Monroe left the band, thus ending the original Hanoi Rocks.
* A Million Miles Away
In the aftermath of Hanoi Rocks, Michael Monroe released 7 solo albums his 2nd 1989 release “Not Fakin It” featured Axel W. Rose in the video “Dead, Jail or Rock N Roll”
His newest 2011 release was produced by Jack Douglas of ‘Aerosmith’ fame Michael Monroe and Sam Yaffa will be “In Concert” Sunday 9 October 2011 at “Station 4” in St. Paul.
Sam Yaffa went on to join the band “Jetboy” for 2 albums in 1988 “Feel The Shake” & 1990 “Damned Nation”. Sometime in 1999 2 compilation albums were released out out-takes and rare material “Day In The Glamorous Life” & “Make Some More Noise”
Andy McCoy & Nasty Suicide formed the “Cherry Bombz” in 1986 and released 2 studio albums “Hot Girls In Love” & “House Of Ecstasy” and a live album “Coming Down Slow” before going their separate ways. After which they became the “Suicide Twins” for 1 album “Silver Missiles & Nightingales”
Hanoi Rocks did have a reunion period from 2003- 2007 Michael Monroe & Andy McCoy reformed Hanoi Rocks, However without Sam Yaffa or Nasty Suicide to release 5 studio records and 1 live album. In 2003 “A Day Late and A Dollar Short” “One Night Stand” & Twelve Shots On The Rocks” then in 2005 “Another Hostile Takeover” followed by 2007’s “Fashion” & “Street Poetry” However even as a hard core fan I feel the magic was gone, I feel perhaps they were trying to make new music for a new audience. The result was just too far from the original sound that made them unique.
* In Conclusion…
I met Sam Yaffa in Nov 2006 here in Minneapolis, when he was the bass player for the ‘New York Dolls’ I had him sign my copy of “Tracks From A Broken Dream” a collection of rare, live & out-takes, stand out tracks to me are “Two Steps From The Move” (live version) “Oil And Gasoline” & “Magic Carpet Ride” I said “Sam I really love your stuff in Hanoi Rocks” he smiled and said “Thanks man, me too” I had a few different conversations with the members of ‘Drain STH’ a Swedish all girl metal band. I found out that the bass player Anna Kjellberg was a huge Hanoi Rocks fan and knew the band from their early days when they made Stockholm their second home. To me an awesome band from an awesome time. So do your self a favor if you can find a “Best Of” Hanoi Rocks CD pick it up and listen to 5 kids from Finland Rock Your Stockings Off……
“RUSH: 1968- 1981”
“BUZZ Newspaper” Article Dec- Jan 2011 (#10-J)
Hello there fans,
This month I would like cover another one of the biggest inspirations in my life, my Aunt Cat turned me onto these guys in 1977 with “2112” this band got me interested in reading and writing, playing bass and expanding my mind. My Mom (Carol) bought me a ticket to see them for a 9th grade graduation present, one of my first concerts. I went to see them on the ‘Farewell To Kings Tour’ May 1978 with my childhood friends Spencer & Chris. It changed my life, when I saw Geddy Lee up there singing “Anthem” I knew that’s what I wanted to do with my life. Well I tried to anyway….
> Finding My Way: 1968- 1974 <
It all started in Willowdale, Toronto, Ontario, Canada when 2 high school friends Alex Lifeson (Aleksandar Živojinović 27 Aug 1953) on Guitar and Drummer John Rutsey (John Howard Rutsey 14 May 1953 – 11 May 2008) with Jeff Jones on Vocals & Bass (who went on to play in ‘Red Rider’) formed a band summer 1968 according to rumor as “Head Rush” Geddy has said “Alex used to call me to borrow my amp, and then one weekend he called to borrow me” Geddy Lee (Gary Lee Weinrib: 29 July 1953) replaced Jones shortly after the band was formed.
The nick name “Geddy” came from his Polish Grandmother’s Yiddish accent trying to pronounce Gary. The trio of Lifeson, Rutsey & Lee recorded their 1st 45 “Not Fade Away” b/w “You Can’t Fight It” in 1973. Live in concert they perform an unreleased track “Garden Road” & covers like “Fire” & “Sunshine of Your Love” as well as songs from the 1st LP ‘RUSH’ on ‘Moon Records’ released on 1 July 1974. The stand out tracks to me are: “Before And After” “What You’re Doing” & “Here Again” Rutsey ended up leaving theband in July 1974 due to “diabetes” and replaced by Neil Peart, pronounced “Pee –ert”. (Neil Ellwood Peart 12 Sep 1952) form the local band ‘JR Flood’
> Fantastic dreams come true: 1975<
With Peart on board the band are literally reborn, now Peart will be writing the majority of the lyrics and changing the direction of the band culling from sources such as Ayn Rand, J.R.R. Tolkien & science fiction themes. Lee & Lifeson will focus on writing most of the music. The 2nd LP ‘Fly By Night’ is released on 15 Feb 1975 stand out tracks to me are: “Anthem” “In The End” & “Beneath Between Behind” for some reason the band was still performing the cover song “Bad Boy” by: Larry Williams in concert. ‘RUSH’ has the honor of being the band that opened for ‘KISS’ more than any other band in the 70s, it has be inferred that Peter Criss & Peart and Ace Frehley & Lifeson and Paul Stanley & Lee became really good friends on the road in 1975. The band releases the 3rd and their least successful LP ‘Caress Of Steel’ on 24 Sep 1975, in my opinion the 1st 3 songs are the best “Bastille Day” “Lakeside Park” & “I Think I’m Going Bald” with a mini epic “Necromancer” & all of side 2 being a concept story.
I heard a road tour story that I asked Paul Stanley about in Dec’82 and Paul confirmed On the very last show of RUSH opening for KISS, RUSH came out in KISS makeup and played “Rock & Roll All Nite” so Gene & Paul, threw cream pies at Geddy & Alex (a photo exists of this). During KISS’ set Geddy dressed like a Native American Indian with toy headdress & toy bow & arrows shooting the toy arrows at the 3 members in front, Alex let loose a bag of marbles across the stage, one might think harmless, Paul stated “Not to 3 guys in 7″ platform shoes”
>Just how close I came to missing: 1976<
In 1976 the band record their finest work to date. ‘2112’ and begin to use their most identifiable logo. Drawing once again from Ayn Rand and the beginning of borrowing from the greatest Sci-Fi writer of all time Rod Serling who hosted and wrote much of the ‘Twilight Zone’ CBS -TV 1959 -64. The band’s 4th LP is released on 1 April 1976. On tour the band record 3 dates at ‘Massey Hall’ in their home town and release their 1st “Live Concert” LP ‘All The World’s A Stage’ on 29 Sep 1976, like most if not all “live” LPs of the day several songs are “Sweetened” in the studio, the difference here being ‘RUSH’ prints a statement admitting this fact inside the jacket !!!!
>They cannot steal your dreams: 1977<
In 1977 the band take some well deserved time off the road, and spend much more time to record their 5th LP ‘A Farewell To Kings’ released on 1 Sep 1977(common practice in those days to release your LP in Sep to capitalize on the Xmas buying season, the idea being if you release your LP in Sep you have 3 months for it to gain momentum and sell extremely well in Dec for Xmas). Stand outs for me: “Cygnus X-1” “Cinderella Man” & “Xanadu” drawing from a poem by: Samuel Taylor Coleridge from 1797. The band embarks on the 1st extended tour for a single LP. As I 1st saw them on 26 May 1978 to the best of my knowledge this is the set list from that night.
26 May 1978 w/ Uriah Heep
Sioux City, Iowa Auditorium
Anthem
Bastille Day
Something For Nothing
Closer To The Heart
Farewell To Kings
By-Tor & The Snowdog
Xanadu
Cygnus X-1
Passage To Bangkok
2112 (medley)
In The Mood
Working Man
>Every soul a battlefield: 1978 -1979<
In early 1978 while on tour for ‘A Farewell To Kings’ the band do a retail move that as far as I know KISS is the only other band to do this, just 2 years earlier. RUSH Releases a 3- LP Set entitled ‘Archives’ which is a repackage of their 1st 3 LPs in one set. Many other bands released a 2- LP best of their early works like “Deep Purple” & “Journey” but this set was the first 3 LPs complete. Again taking longer between studio LPs and turning out more complex works on 29 Oct 1978 the band release their 6th LP ‘Hemispheres’ in reference to the human left & right brain. Stand out tracks for me are: “Circumstances” “The Trees”. At this time RUSH begins to admit their favorite part of their live set each night is when they get to perform their “instrumentals and loosen up a bit”. Side #1 is part 2 of the continuation of “Cygnus X-1” It is about this time the whole music industry is changing and gone are the days of 2 LPs per year (about 9 months apart) and almost every band moves to 1 LP per year. Strangely RUSH is touring so much behind ‘Hemispheres’ there is no new LP in 1979, band do however begin to record the next LP from Sep- Oct 1979.
>Shatter the illusion of integrity: 1980<
A new decade and a new LP ‘Permanent Waves’ is released on 1 Jan 1980 the band’s big commercial break through with three 45 singles released from this LP and “The Spirit Of Radio” charting at #51. There is one track recorded and not included “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” In 1980 the Canadian band, ‘Max Webster’ is an opening act for RUSH, in an unprecedented move all 3 members agree to record with ‘Max Webster’ as both bands collaborate and record a track “Battle Scar” from 1980 ‘Universal Juveniles’ with both Kim Mitchell & Geddy Lee singing leads, the song is performed live and offers the band way to change over from the opener to the headliner. RUSH is now becoming a house hold name. The band record a concert 14 Feb 1980 in St. Louis, MO. @ Keil Auditorium and was broad cast on the ‘King Biscuit Flower Hour’ the stand out to me was “Natural Science” in concert.
>In mental and environmental change: 1981<
This is when the band becomes forever immortal with the release of ‘Moving Pictures’ on 12 Feb 1981 again three 45 singles are released with “Tom Sawyer” reaching #44 & “Lime Light” hitting #55 (I always thought it was odd, fans never caught the line “I can’t pretend a stranger is a long awaited friend” refers to the FANS!) The band records concerts 3 dates in Jun 1980 in Glasgow @ the Apollo & 1 date in Mar 1981 at the Montreal Forum, for their 2nd live LP ‘Exit ..Stage Left’ the cover designers wanted to use a photo of the band exiting the stage for the cover; however they could not find a quality photo of all 3 members leaving the same side of the stage at the same time. This is highly unusual for the time for the band release a 2nd LP in 1981 on 29 Oct 1981 (starting around 1982 most bands would be regulated to releasing an LP every other year including RUSH). As well as a format long forgotten by now the ‘RCA Video Disc’ essentially a laser etched vinyl record enclosed in a hard shell plastic cover that when inserted into a Video Disc Player you could watch the concert of the record LP. Yes, VHS was around and probably about the same price. A VHS, in 1985 carried a list price of $79.95, coincidentally RCA- Vision was the largest manufacturer and distributor of Music VHS.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5gg9ObM8uU
So this is the end of chapter #1- A, I shall revisit this band again in the future.
So. Good luck into the future of 2012.
“The Bloody U2: 1976- 1992”
“BUZZ: Newspaper Article” Feb- Mar 2012 (#12-L)
As St.Patrick’s Day (Ireland is 1 of 4 countries without snakes ie; the legend of St. Patty’s Day) is upon us I decided to cover the most successful Irish Rock Band of All time “U2” born out of a conservative country of 87% Catholics where up until 1979 the sale of contraceptive devices was illegal. 5 school boys met from an ad posted on the wall at Mount Temple Comprehensive School a new cutting edge project allowing Catholics & Protestants to intermix as well as Boys & Girls & no school uniforms. These 5 young men started out as “Feedback” in 1976.
The Players:
Larry; Lawrence Joseph Mullen Jr. (31oct1961 Dublin) started to include “Jr.” to his last name because his father “Sr” kept receiving outrageous bills that Larry “Jr” was failing to pay as he had not seen them, because they were delivered to the wrong address. Mullen hung an ad on the Mount Temple notice board looking for band members. Larry approached fellow student Adam Charles Clayton (13 March 1960 Oxfordshire, UK) because Larry thought Adam looked so cool he had to be in the band.
There were 3 other young men who answered the ad Richard “Dik” Evans & “The Edge” (rumor is nicknamed for the shape of his chin) David Howell Evans (8 Aug 1961 Essex, UK) & Paul David Hewson (10 May 1960 Dublin) “Bono” (rumor has it originally nicknamed ‘Monovox’ Latin for “One Voice”) Bono said in an interview “Irish nicknames are not given to be flattering, much like it’s the Irish way of thinking when you walk by a rich person’s house rather than thinking ‘Someday I’d like to be like that guy’, you tend to think ‘Someday I’ll get even with that bastard” In the fall of 1976 the band change their name to “The Hype” then Dik Evans leaves the band in Mar 1978 to pursue his academics. The band become “U2” in May 1978 the name was suggested by the singer of Irish punk band “The Radiators” Steve Averill.
Accomplishments:
The band scored 16 “Top 40” hits between 1987 & 2009, and 12 studio LPs from 1980- 2009. Back in the olden days bands used to release what was called a 45 Single with the “A-Side” designated as the hit and the “B-Side” as a cast off usually thought to be not good enough to include on the LP. U2 made the best of this situation for their fans by using the “Flip Side” as a way to put out more songs than the standard LP could hold. I have mentioned all the “Non-LP B-Sides” in the paragraphs below, as many of them are quite good.
“Boy” Oct 1980
A great first effort the stands for me are: “I Will Follow” “Out Of Control” & “The Electric Co” the 45 Singles contained the Non-LP B-Side “Things To Make And Do” “11 O’Clock (studio version) & “Touch”. U2 performed a concert at the now famous (First Ave.) “Uncle Sam’s” in Minneapolis on 9 April 1980 it’s been written that the band did an extensive soundcheck in the club working on new material. Years later on 1 May 2001 on the “Elevation Tour” Bono referenced this gig “With a guitar & 3 chords about 20 years later you get good enough to play across the street from where you first played this town” The following day 10 April my friend Dawn D. saw them in Ames, Iowa at The Fillmore (I think it became People’s Bar & Grill) Dawn was able to met the band after the show and got Bono, Edge & Adam to sign a poster for this event, Larry was very sick and waved to her through the bus window.
“October” Oct 1981
The follow up LP, the tunes I like best are: “Gloria” “I Threw A Brick” & “Stranger In A Strangeland”
with the Non-LP B-Sides “Out Of Control (Live ’81)” & “Boy- Girl (Live ’80)” “J. Swallo” and 3 live tracks from Boston, MASS. Mar 1981 “11 O’Clock Tick Tock” “The Ocean” & “Cry- Electric Co.”. It should be noted that Bono, Edge & Mullen had joined the “Shalom Fellowship” a Christian group that led them to question thee rock n roll lifestyle. Edge in particular seemed to have the most problem with choosing between his faith and rock n roll up until the fall of 1981. In 1982 there was a 45 Single released of “A Celebration” & “Trash, Trampoline & the Party Girl”
“War” Feb 1983
My favorite tracks on this one are “Seconds” “Surrender” & “Two Hearts Beat As One” including the Non-LP B- Side “Treasure; what ever happened to Pete the chop” which I do not believe has been released on anything else. While filming the video for “Sunday Bloody Sunday” the film crew used stunt doubles for the band for insurance purposes (rumor has it they used 4 Swedish women)
“Under A Blood Red Sky” Nov 1983
Their breakthrough “Live EP” recorded largely at “Red Rocks” in Morrison, Colorado there was a concert VHS (only) released of this LP containing 4 extra tracks “Surrender” “Seconds” “I Threw A Brick” & “Party Girl”
“Unforgettable Fire” Oct 1984
The stand out songs for me being “A Sort Of Home Coming” “Pride” “MLK” (covered by Joan Baez in 1988)
The 45 contained the Non-LP B-Side “Boomerang 11”. On 13 July 1985 U2 plays a 20 min set at “Live Aid” in London, UK at Wembley Stadium, consisting of “Sunday Bloody Sunday” & “Bad/ RollingStones: medley- Walk on the wildside” the band’s performance had run long and not only do they not get to perform “Pride” the power gets cut to the sound system effectively ending their set.
“Wide Awake In America” May 1985
This EP was released to pacify the fans until the next full LP could be released containing “Bad” “Sort of Homecoming” Live versions & “Three Sunrises” “Love Comes Tumbling” I personally feel “Three Sunrises” is one of the greatest songs U2 ever recorded as well as the Non-LP ‘B-Side’ “Sixty Seconds In Kingdom Come”
“The Joshua Tree” Mar 1987
My favorite’s being “In God’s Country” “Bullet The Blue Sky” & “Trip Through Your Wires”
Releasing 4 singles including the Non-LP B Sides “Luminous Times: hold on to love” “Walk To The Water” “Silver And Gold” “Sweetest Thing” “Spanish Eyes” & “Deep In The Heart” My friend Roscoe saw the band on 20 Oct 1987 in Iowa City, Iowa @ Carver Hawkeye Arena with the opening act “The Bodeans” Bono had his arm in a sling for several weeks before this night.
Roscoe was kind enough to give a tape of the show here’s the set list: “Where the streets have no name” “I will follow” “Trip through your wires” “Still haven’t found what I am looking for” “MLK” “Unforgettable fire” “Exit” “In God’s country” “Sunday bloody Sunday” “Help” “People get ready” “Bad” “October” “New year’s day” “Pride” “Star spangled banner- Bullet the blue sky” “Running to stand still” “With or without you” “40”
Later this year U2 also recorded 2 songs with Robbie Robertson (of “The Band”) on his 1st solo LP 1987 Geffen “Sweet Fire Of Love” & “Testimony”
“Rattle And Hum” Oct 1988
This unusual approach of combining a Live, Studio & Covers LP. Will include the Non-LP B-Sides “Halleluiah Here She Comes” “Dancing Barefoot” “Unchained Melody” & “A Room At The Heartbreak Hotel” and a companion Film with 10 extra songs.The color outdoor footage was filmed in Tempe, AZ. at “Sundevil Stadium” on 19, 20 Dec 1987, 2 of my sisters had tickets to one of these shows and missed out due too excessive tailgating in the parking lot outside (so I am told) ???
Also recorded from this time period was “Jesus Christ” “Christmas; baby please come home)” & “Can’t Help Falling In Love With You” and a song for Roy Orbison (1936- 1988) “She’s A Mystery To Me” released in 1989
“Achtung Baby” Nov 1991
The first all new music CD from the band in 4 years, my favorite tracks are 2, 4, & 8 HaHa That’s how it became for us with the CD replacing LPs so that translates to: “Even Better Than The Real Thing” “Until The End Of The World” “Mysterious Ways”
The Non- LP Tracks (as there is no flipside to a CD single): “Alex Descends Into Hell for a Bottle of Milk” “Lady With the Spinning Head (U.V.I.)” “Satellite of Love” “Salome” “Where Did it all Go Wrong?” “Paint it Black” “Fortunate Son” I personally feel “Lady” is one of the best songs from this period as well as “Salome” also recorded earlier in 1990 was Cole Porter’s “Night And Day” for a tribute CD.
“Zoo TV Tour”
I saw U2 on 11 Sep 1992 in Ames, Iowa @ Cyclone Stadium and I supplied a tape of the show to the authors of the book “U2 Live: A Concert Documentary” 1997 Ominbus Press (my entry can be found on page #155) the set list for that night was: “Zoo station” “The Fly” “Even better than the real thing” “Mysterious ways” “One” “Unchained melody” “Until the end of the world” “New year’s day’ “Wild Rover” “Trying to throw your arms” “Angel of Harlem” “When loves comes to town” “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for” “Satellite of love” “All I want is you” “Sunday bloody Sunday” “Bullet the blue sky” “Running to stand still” “Where the streets have no name” “Pride” “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for” “Desire” “With or without you” “Love is blindness” “Can’t help falling in love” man it was cold that night but we stood there the whole show, there was great stage design.
In conclusion I know I just cover the Irish band “Thin Lizzy” (new boxset due out this year) however I would like to point out I am Irish my Grandmother’s Name ‘Doughty’ and that so few bands come out of Ireland much less achieve international success. So for this St. Patrick’s Day let’s all make a toast to the 4 lads from Mount Temple….
Happy St. Patty’s Day MrZero aka: Rik Doughty
By: R.L.Schwinden
“Mr. Zero’s”
1744 Lexington Ave. N.
Roseville, Mn. 55113
www.mrzeros.com
“BUZZ” Article May- Jun 2012 (#15-O)
By; Rik L. Schwinden aka MrZero
As some of you know I own a Local Used Music Shop Mr. Zero’s” in St. Paul. What you may not know is my Dad, Dr. W. A. ‘Bill’ Schwinden Jr. grew up in St. Cloud. When I was a kid in Sioux City, Iowa my Dad had a record LP in his drum practice room “The Trashmen: “Surfin Bird” with one guys face blacked out and my Dad wrote his name ‘Billy’ over the person’s head. When I asked him about this he replied “Well, I toured with them in ’63, when the drummer hurt his hand” I asked “Are you on this record?” he explained “I was told some of the shows I did with them were recorded for a live album”
At that time in the Fall 1972 when I asked my Dad about this album he was the drummer in the Local band “The Boyz (from Sioux City)” with Keyboardist, Vocalist Merle Pithan which evolved into the “Lazy Day Band” and then finally “BoneSteel” Years later when I was living in Mesa, AZ. with my Dad’s brother Mike, he confirmed this story. I was first introduced to music by my Aunt Debby in 1964 her favorite band was “Dave Clark 5” later in 1966 I saw The Monkees TV show. It was these 3 incidents that shaped my life and lead me to work in the music biz in one form or another since 1980. So in honor of the 9th year of my Dad’s passing I am going to cover some of the “Local” bands I get asked for the most from the past 13 years, since I have been back in “Twin Cities”
“The Trashmen” 1963- 1968
Steve Wahrer: Drums, Vocals, Tony Andreason: Guitar, Dan (Dal) Winslow: Vocals & Guitar & Bob Reed: Bass first recorded as “Jim Thaxter & the Travelers” they released a 45 Single “Sally Jo”/”Cyclone”. The band did release 1 studio LP “Surfin Bird” in 1964 Garrett #LFGA-200 with 12 songs containing 2 originals. As well as 8 singles between 1963- 1968 of these 6 were on Garrett, 1 on Tribe #8315 “Same Lines”/ “Hangin On Me” the last one on Metromedia #7927 “Green, Green Backs Of Home/ Address Enclosed” They had a #4 hit with “Surfin Bird” in Jan1964 & #30 with “Bird Dance Beat” Mar1964.
“The (hot)Half Dozen” 1966
James “Owl” Walsh: Vocals & Keyboards this band released 2 singles in 1966 “The Angels Listened In/ Heat Wave” Soma #1453 and then “Angels”/ “Another Day” later in 1966 on Dunwich. Walsh eventually joined up with several members of ‘The Underbeats’ and went on to form “Gypsy” in L.A.
“The Underbeats” 1964- 1966
The 1964 line-up was Jim Johnson: Guitar & Vocals, Ray Berg: Guitar, Rod Eaton: Drums & Doni Larson: Bass The 1965 line-up Enrico “Rico” Rosenbaum: Guitar & Vocals, Tom Nystrom:Drums & Vocals. This band did not release an LP however did release 4 singles; 1964 Garrett #4004 “Foot Stompin/ Route 66” and 2 in 1965 Soma #1449 “Darling Lorraine/ Book Of Love” Soma #1458 “I Can’t Stand It? Shake It For Me” & 1967 Twin Town #706 “Our Love/ JoJo Gunn” the joined forces with Owl Walsh and became “Gypsy”
“Gypsy” 1969- 1978
James “Owl” Walsh: Keyboards & Vocals (from the “Half Dozen”), Enrico “Rico” Rosenbaum: (1944 Italy- 10sep1979) Vocals & Guitar, James C. Johnson: Guitar, Doni Larson: Drums & Jay Epstein: Drums released their 1st LP was in 1970 on Metromedia #M2D-1031 their 1st 45 single is released from this LP & charted at #64 Jan1971 the 1970 Metromedia “Gypsy Queen / Dead And Gone”. Their 2nd LP “In The Garden” released in July 1971 also on Metromedia #KMD-1044 however with the addition of these new band members: Willie Weeks: Bass, Joe Lala: Percussion & Bill Lordan: Drums. Walsh told me “We hated that album cover, the label put it together while we were on tour, with no input from us” For their 3rd release the band are signed to major label RCA . This was released in 1972, “Antithesis” #LSP-4775 the band has yet a new Bass Player in Randy Cates a 45 single is released form this LP “Day After Day/ Lean On Me”. Their 4th and final release as “Gypsy” was in 1973 also on RCA “Unlock The Gates” with the addition on the Horn Section from the band ‘Chicago’ James Pankow: Trombone, Walter Parazaider: Saxophone & Lee Loughnane: Trumpet.
There is a 5th LP release under the moniker “James Walsh Gypsy Band” in 1978 #AFL1-2914 with the line-up; James Walsh, Richard Jorgensen: Trumpet, Jim Behringer: Guitar, Scott Fronsoe: Bass, Deone Johnson: Flugelhorn, Todd Hansen: Trombone, Bob Jones: Guitar & Ernie LaViolette: Drums. When ‘Mr. Zero’s’ article ran in “City Pages” Feb 2011 James Walsh called us up and asked if we would like to carry “Gypsy’s” product, naturally we leaped at the opportunity. Well in March 2011 James”Owl” Walsh came in himself and dropped off their product to sell. We took some pictures and James signed some albums for the shop. I have seen “Gypsy” twice in 2011 March & October, they have a few more members and not too many are original members , but man do they sound great !!! If you get the chance check them out !!!
http://www.citypages.com/2011-02-09/music/mr-zero-s-pop-culture-heaven
“The Castaway’s” 1962- 1967
Are; Bob Folschow: Vocals, Guitar, Jim Donna: Organ, Roy Hensley: Guitar & Vocals, Dick Roby: Bass & Denny Craswell: Drums The band did not release an LP while they were together from 1962- 1967 however they did release 3 singles in 1965; Bear #2000 “Feel So Fine”/ “Hit The Road Jack” Soma #1433 “Liar, Liar” (Charted #12 Oct1965)/ “Sam” & Soma #1442 “Goodbye Babe”/ “A Man’s Gotta Be A Man” Later Craswell went on to be the drummer of : “CROW”
Summer of 2013 we were lucky enough to have Jim Donna Autograph a 45 to the Shop “2 Low 4 Zero”
“Crow” 1969- 1972
Consists of; Dave Wagner: Vocals, Dick Wiegand: Guitar, Larry Wiegand: Bass, Kink Middlemist: Organ & Denny Craswell: Drums Their 1st LP 1969 Amaret “Crow Music” their 2nd LP 1970 Amaret “Crow by Crow” the band’s 3rd release 1971 Amaret “Mosaic” and then “Best Of” 1972 Amaret Records #AST-5012 (MGM) and finally “Before the Storm” on K-Tel. ‘Crow’ also released 8 singles from 1969- 1972 the 1st being “Evil Woman don’t you play no games with me” as recorded by Black Sabbath as their 1st 45 Single found on their UK pressings only, and left off the US pressings. Dave Wagner now living in Phoenix regularly comes back to Minnesota in the summer and performs as “Crow”.
“Cain” 1976- 1978
Jiggs Lee: (later of ‘Fragile’ fame) Vocals, Dave Elmeer: Bass, Lloyd Forsberg: Guitar & Kevin DeRemer: Drums The band had 2 vinyl releases in “A Pound of Flesh” in 1975 the cover of this LP was added to the “Top Most Offensive Album Covers List” & “Stinger” in 1976 on ASI #214. In their prime Forsberg was considered to be the next Jimmy Page. Jiggs would go on to front “Fragile” Kevin DeRemer married Melissa Manchester (“Don’t Cry Out Loud” and relocated to L.A. Zac & I were able to catch Jiggs & Elmeer in MPLS. fall 2011.
“Lamont Cranston Band” 1976- Current
First of all there is NO Person named “Lamont” this band. They have released 12 Albums from: 1976- 2001 on Shadow, Waterhouse, RCA, Attic, Atomic Theory, Cold Wind & Oarfin Records. They are as follows “Self Titled” 1976 & “Specials- Lit” 1977 Shadow Records Vinyl LP. “El Cee Notes” 1978 Water House Records “Up From The Alley” 1980 Attic. “Bar Wars” 1981, “Shakedown” 1981, “Last Call” 1984 “Measure of Time” 1986 all on Waterhouse Records The 12″ Single ‘Hot Track’ has a 3D Cover. Later titles are; “Blues Band” 1996 , “Roll With Me” 1997 both on Atomic Theory, “Tiger In Your Tank” 1999 & “Live” 2001 The 1976 Line-up was Pat Hayes: Vocals & Harmonica, Larry Hayes: Guitar, Bruce McCabe: Keyboards, Tom Burnevik: Saxophone, Joe Chandler: Saxophone, Joe Sheroman: Bass & Jim Novak: Drums. By 1980 newer members were Billy Shiell: Trumpet, Charlie Bingham: Guitar, Mick Mazoff: Bass & Dick Perna: Saxophone.
“Daisy Dillman Band” 1978
Here again there is NO Person named “Daisy” this band had 1 LP in 1978 United Artists UA-LA838-G ($6.98 list price) Vinyl LP
9 songs on the album 6 Originals. In the Country Rock vein, kind of like ‘Charlie Daniels’ or ‘Ozark Mountain Daredevils’
The Band: Steve (Feagan) Solmonson: Vocals & Guitar, Pat Frederick: Vocals & Violin, Steve (Styme) Seamans: Vocals & Bass, Michael Wolf: Vocal & Piano & Dan Flaherty:Drums. Just performed a show Sat 7 April 2012 @ ‘Famous Dave’s’ in Uptown, MN.
“DVC” 1981- 1982
Though 3 members are from Iowa the band formed in Minneapolis they had the Vinyl LP ‘DVC’ 1981 Alpha Records AAB-11005
10 songs on the album, 6 Originals including a cover of “Teaser” by: Tommy Bolin & a 1980 cover by: Le Roux “Let Me Be Your Fantasy” The band was: John (Johnnie) Bolin:(17 Aug 1954 Sioux City, Iowa) Drums, Rob Forest: (Des Moines, Iowa) Vocals & Guitar, John Bartle: (22 Oct 1950 Sioux City, Iowa) Vocals & Guitar & Max Padilla: (NYC) Vocals & Bass. DVC recorded a 2nd album in 1982 that has yet to be officially released “DVC II” the track listing: Post Toastee, Crash Landing, Nobody Wins, Right Between The Eyes, One More Time, Rock N Roll Women, Tonight, Up To You, I Want Your Body.
There are several “Live” Recordings circulating of “DVC” 2 from MN. & the 2nd to last show ever from Iowa. Before this band evolved from the MPLS. Band “The Penetrators” with David (Ducharme) Jones & Rick Reed, sometime in 1980. Earlier than that John Bartle was in “The Jan Park Band” in 1979 on Columbia Records #JC-35484 Bartle left to form “The Penetrators”.
In 1996 Bolin & Bartle reunited to become “Chill Factor” and released the CD “Some Like It Cold” on Antipreneur Records.
As of today Johnnie Bolin has been the drummer in Black Oak Arkansas since 1988. Bolin & Bartle still perform together regularly as the “Bartle Bolin Blues Project”
“Dare Force” 1982- 1989
Local Heroes Brian Bart: Guitar, Keyboards & Vocals, John O’Neil: Lead Vocals & Guitar, Brian Lorenson: Bass, Mark Miller: Drums and then in 1983 Johnnie Bolin replaced Mark Miller who was suffering from back problems. The band’s 1st release is a Cassette in 1983 on Blasto Warehouse Records 10 songs all originals. Their 2nd is an EP on Vinyl “Makin Our Own Rules” 1985 DME Records#224-949 contains 4 songs all originals a CD was later released in 2005 on Metal Mayhem Music #MM-00057 containing 20 tracks.
After the band split John O’ Neil & Johhnie Bolin formed “Rouge’s Gallery” sometime in 1987. Brian Bart released a solo Cassette in 1987 “Future Vision” on Logic Recordings #2630 with Johnnie Bolin. Sometime in 1988 David Reece was added as a lead vocalist then Reese went on to sing for ‘Accept’ for 1989’s “Eat the Heat”. The band reformed and then released the CD “Fire Power” in 1989 on Logic Records adding Karl Young: Lead Vocals, Dean Vallecillo: Bass & Paul Peterson: Drums. Currently 2 members O’Neil & Lorenson are “The Wayward Boyz Club”
“Jesse Brady” 1982
I am uncertain why most Minnesota bands do this but, there is NO person named “Jesse”. This band had 1 LP 1982 Beta Records 505 Vinyl LP 11 songs on the album 8 Originals. The Band: Frosty Atkinson: Guitar & Vocals, Brian Dynes: Guitars & Vocals, Jeff Hauschildt: Drums, John McKenzie: Keyboards & John Wellvang: Bass
“Boy Elroy” 1983
A St. Paul Punk Band with J. Shapira: Guitar, Eric Bergland: Bass & Tim Rowe: Drums released an LP “This Is Not Art” 1983 His Boy Records #001 with 16 songs. When Mr. Zero’s article ran in “Vita.Mn” June 2011 Eric Bergland Emailed me commenting on how he was flattered I used their LP in our photo section, cool eh ?
http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CFIQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vita.mn%2Fstory.php%3Fid%3D123460594&ei=xYexT5ToNMeugweS96yyCQ&usg=AFQjCNHYlSbLf9R8NQD-VjB5dmwx3NzFsw
“Urban Guerrillas” 1983-
Consisted of Larry Sahagian: Guitar & Vocals, David Loy: Guitar, Larry Abitz: Bass & John Hewitt: Drums, they released “Darwin’s Theory Of Pelvic Revolution” in 1983 on Camouflage Records containing 9 songs. As well as “Attack of the Pink Heat Seeking Moisture Missiles” and “Another View”
“Nitro Brothers” 1984
A MN. New Wave band with Mike: Guitar Keyboards & Vocals, Nick: Guitar, Jon: Bass & Ozzy: Drums released 1 LP in 1984 “Naked” on Stickface Records #2000 consisting of 6 all original songs.
“Banther” 1988
Local Rock band with the members being Stevie Gerard: Vocals, Johnny Mac: Drums, Dusk: Guitars, D’Paul: Guitars & Keyboards & Mark Haynes: Bass released 1 LP in 1988 “Raw Entertainment” Raw City Records #RCLP- 9960 consisting of 8 songs. Johnny Mac is a frequent customer of ‘Mr. Zero’s’
“Jesus Chrysler” 2000- Current
St. Paul Rock Legends are; Bakko: Vocals & Guitar, Treble: Guitar, Duffy: Drums & Knuckles: Bass however in 2011 Christian Howard Shores replaced him on Bass. Currently they are working on a 4th double CD they have released 3 CDs “Ride” #NBLP-7001 & “Intake” NBLP-7004 in 2001 and “Burn Out” NBLP-7011 in 2002 all on Sixpack Records. “Jc” was kind enough to write and record the “Mr. Zero’s Theme” for us, that we have used in our Commercials and Radio Ads on AM 5.40 WXYG & Rockin 101. I was lucky enough that “Jc” asked me to be part of their project “The Minnesota Un-Stars Tribute” ‘Born To Raise Hell’ released Sep 2011.
Yes of course there is Vixen, Prince, The Revolution, The Replacements, Soul Asylum, Husker Du, Meat Puppets, Atmosphere, The Suburbs, Alexander O’Neal, Howler, Impaler, Attica, Inflict, Flipp, Jonny Lang, Rockin Horse & The Tractorz… however my Co-Worker ‘Lemon’ was suppose to write up something on them, hopefully next time….yea, and Cheers to Zac Plese for his work on “Cain”.
Until the next time “Get Your Fix @ Mr.Zero’s”
By: R.L.Schwinden aka MrZero
Thin Lizzy, what do you think of when this name comes to mind ??? Yea, sure “Boys are Back in Town” or maybe the only Black- Irishman Lead Singer, well there is way more to this band that that… 13 studio LPs, and a myriad of guitarists, and a load of changes.
First of all the name is pronounced “Tin Lizzy” after the comic-book character called “Tin Lizzie” from the comic “The Beano” as well as is also the nickname for the Ford Model ‘T’
*From the Trouble City…1969
It began in Dec 1969 when 2 lads from Belfast, Eric Robin Bell (3 Sep 1947 Belfast, Ire) on Guitar & Eric Wrixon (29 Jun 1974 Belfast) on Keyboards met 2 lads from Dublin; Philip Parris Lynott (20 August 1949 – 4 January 1986 Staffordshire, UK) of an Afro- Guyanese Father & an Irish Mother, on Vocals & Bass, he was tall and lean and he strummed his bass like a guitar player & Brian Michael Downey (27 Jan 1951 Dublin, Ire) on Drums. Now the fact that 2 lads from Northern Ireland hooked up with 2 lads from Dublin is a feat within itself considering the “IRA” conflict was in full bloom at this time.
*First 3, Decca Years…. 1970- 74
The band released it’s 1st 45 on EMI in Jul 1970,”The Farmer”/”I Need You”, now Wrixon left before the band recorded it’s first LP. Released Apr 1971 “Self Titled” the band signed to Decca released an EP “New Day” in Aug 1971 followed by “Shades of a Blue Orphanage” in Mar 1972. In an unlikely twist the band was asked to record an LP of ‘Deep Purple’ Covers under the name “Funky Junction” released in Jan 1972. In late ’72 saw the release of the band’s “Whiskey in the Jar” this reached #6 and lead to a “Top of the Pops” performance. Their 4th official LP “Vagabonds in the Western World came out in Sep 1973, Guitarist Bell left after a New Year’s Eve Gig due to ill health. Early 1973 guitarist Gary Moore (Robert William Gary Moore 4Apr 1952 Belfast, Ire- 6 Feb 2011 Moore died of a heart attack due to champagne and hoagie sandwich) joined the band to help finish up a tour and begin work on their 4th LP “Nightlife” in Nov 1972 Moore left in Apr 1974. The band hired 2 temporary guitarists John Cann & Berliner Andy Gee to finish up the rest of the tour.
*Messenger of Fate, Mercury years… 1975- 77
Now this is where it gets Great !!!! Lynott & Downey hired 2 new guitarists Brian David Robertson (12 Sep 1956 Renfrewshire, Scotland) & William “Scott” Gorham (17 Mar 1951 Glendale, Ca.) with a new record label Mercury, they release their 5th LP “Fighting” the 2nd using Robertson & Gorham. Thin Lizzy then unleashes their biggest success on 26 Mar 1976 “Jailbreak” is released (Fu Manchu released a great cover of this song in 1998) Stand out tracks to me are: “Emerald” & “Warriors” Robertson & Gorham had honed their patented duel guitar sound. Oct 1976 saw the release of what I consider their finest work “Johnny the Fox” the tracks I feel are the best “Rocky” “Boogie Woogie Dance” “Johnny” & “Don’t Believe a Word” this song caused some tension between Lynott & Robertson over writing credits. As well as Robertson sustained some damage to his hand in a bar fight so the band brought back Gary Moore for a 2nd time for a 1977 US Tour. In May 1977 the band records “Bad Reputation” as a trio with some help from Robertson and releases in Sep. 1977 songs I really enjoy “Killer without a Cause” & “Dear Lord” Thin Lizzy head lines the “Leeds Festival” in the UK.
*London is very Dangerous… 1978 -79
In Jun 1978 Thin Lizzy gets a new label puts out “Live and Dangerous” like many live albums of it’s day there is controversy over how much is actually live. This same year Lynott records “Daddy Rollin Stone” with former ‘New York Dolls’ Johnny Thunders. Gary Moore comes back for a 3rd and final time.The band tour Australia & New Zealand without Brian Downey who cited “fatigue” as his reason to stay home. Mark Nauseef (11 Jun 53 NYC) took his place on drums there is a DVD of this tour. In Apr 1979 the band release the 1st full LP with Gary Moore “Black Rose:A Rock Legend” stands outs: “Róisí Dubh” “My Sarah” & “Got to Give it Up” Unfortunately Moore left for the last time in Jul 1979. James “Midge” Ure (10 Oct 1953 Lanarkshire, Scotland) was brought in to take Moore’s place temporarily.
*Into the 80s brother… 1980 -81
While the Band was recording their new LP Lynott released a solo LP in Sep 1980 “Solo in Soho”. Thin Lizzy picked Snowy White (Terrance Charles White 3 Mar 1948 Barnstaple UK) Gorham had seen White playing with Pink Floyd and asked him to join. Also joining in 1980 was Darren Leigh Wharton (24 Dec 1962 Lancashire, UK) on keyboards. “Chinatown” was released Oct 1980 with “Killer on the Loose” charting because of the controversy of Peter Stucliffe aka the Yorkshire Ripper. The band went on tour for the very last time in the US. In 1981 Lynott & the band started working on songs for what would be Lynott’s 2nd solo LP and the band’s next LP tentatively titled the “Trouble Boys” and a single was released of the song in Apr 1981 however the name was dropped and changed before the LP came out. Thin Lizzy head lined the “Slane Castle” concert on 16 Aug 1981 and the next LP “Renegade” came out Nov 1981. I personally feel this was again one of the band’s finest hours stand out tracks include: “Hollywood” “Mexican Blood” “Angel of Death” .
*Do You Believe This To Be True…1982 -83
In 1982 the band was suffering from some issues. Lynott releases his 2nd solo LP in Sep 1982 “Philip Lynott Album” with some of the other band members contributing to this LP. White leaves the band in Aug 1982 stating, frustration from disorganization within the band. Sep 1982 Lynott hires former “Tigers of Pan Tang” guitarist John James Sykes (29 Jul 1959 Berkshire, UK) the band now revitalized and heading in a “heavy metal” direction records and releases their final LP “Thunder and Lightning” in Mar 1983 stand out tracks for me “Bad Habits” “Holy War’ “Sun Goes Down” a -farewell tour followed although it was not accepted to be the last, all former guitarists showed up and played various songs though out the tour, the exception being White. Concerts were recorded and a final “Live” album was released. The last 2 shows performed by the band were the “Reading Festival’ 28 Aug 1983 & “Monsters of Rock” in Nuremberg 4 Sep 1983 before they disbanded.
Phil Lynott died on 4 Jan 1986 in the hospital due multiple organ failure from excessive drug usage. Some of the members of the band “Nazareth” had said in an interview; “The only rock star we saw, who came close to the excessive (drug) usage of Tommy Bolin, was Phil Lynott”
“He’s a rebel, that has fallen down”.
“Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows” 2011 Warner Brothers
“LOST MY STUB” Review Jan 2012 (MZ: #D-4)
Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Jared Harris, Noomi Rapace & Rachel McAdams
I was asked recently “Why, don’t review newer films in theaters” So here we go, fans
Now ordinarily I do not see films like this, however in this case I went with an
extremely attractive, intelligent, humorous blond lady !!! So as you might Imagine I was happy to go…
Where do we begin, lets start with Robert Downey Jr. well I can never really get past his (real life) performance in “Less Than ZERO” as well as when my Dad, Dr. W.A. Schwinden Jr. was the on site Psychotherapist for a certain California Penal Institution, his very first patient was in fact none other than Mr. Robert Downey Jr. and how Downey’s real life antics mirror his on screen characters. But !!! here’s a guy who truly gets better with age.
As I mentioned this kind of film is not really may bag, you dig. However I enjoyed it. I have been told most Guy Ritchie films are kind of done in the same theme, view forward, the scene happens in slow motion, and the a rewind. Which I personally feel is essential to this film, the viewer gets a look into the mind of Sherlock, what he sees and an idea of how he thinks… I am on the fence about Holmes disheveled look in this film and his fringe of madness attitude. I was captivated by Moriarty I feel this part was played beautifully by Harris. I think there’s enough for everybody, drama, comedy, action, intrigue & mystery. I am not too drawn to Rapace, however I find McAdams, smashing !!! There a great scene with McAdams and Holmes brother…
In closing, if I can enjoy a film that I know is really not my thing, then that’s a good film. I give it a 3 Stars.
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