Slammin' Watusis

Last updated
Slammin' Watusis
Slammin' Watusis.jpg
Slammin' Watusis, 1988
Background information
Origin Chicago, Illinois
Genres Hard rock, alternative rock, punk rock, heavy metal
Years active1985–1990
Labels Epic Records
Past membersLee Popa
Mark Durante
Frank Raven
Clay Watusi
Benny Saffire
Slammin' Watusis' second album, Kings of Noise Slammin watusis kings of noise.jpg
Slammin' Watusis' second album, Kings of Noise

Slammin' Watusis was an American punk rock and heavy metal group. They signed a record deal with CBS Records in 1987, [1] which resulted in two albums, a self-titled debut album in 1988 and Kings of Noise in 1989. Both albums were released by Epic Records.

They were influenced by Kiss, The Dickies, The Damned, Jackie McClean, Jimmy Reed, and Francis the Talking Mule. [2]

The band had five members: lead singer and guitarist Lee Popa, guitarist Mark Durante, wind instruments Frank Raven, bassist Clay Watusi, and drummer Benny Saffire.

A spinoff band, The Blue Watusis, was formed to play a more blues-oriented sound. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Smashing Pumpkins</span> American alternative rock band

The Smashing Pumpkins is an American alternative rock band from Chicago, Illinois. Formed in 1988 by frontman and guitarist Billy Corgan, bassist D'arcy Wretzky, guitarist James Iha and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, the band has undergone several line-up changes since their reunion in 2006, with Corgan being the sole constant member since its inception. The current lineup features Corgan, Chamberlin, Iha and guitarist Jeff Schroeder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muddy Waters</span> American blues musician (1913–1983)

McKinley Morganfield, known professionally as Muddy Waters, was an American blues singer and musician who was an important figure in the post-World War II blues scene, and is often cited as the "father of modern Chicago blues". His style of playing has been described as "raining down Delta beatitude".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Miller Band</span> American rock band

The Steve Miller Band is an American rock band formed in 1966 in San Francisco, California. The band is led by Steve Miller on guitar and lead vocals. The group had a string of mid- to late-1970s hit singles that are staples of classic rock, as well as several earlier psychedelic rock albums. Miller left his first band to move to San Francisco and form the Steve Miller Blues Band. Shortly after Harvey Kornspan negotiated the band's contract with Capitol Records in 1967, the band shortened its name to the Steve Miller Band. In February 1968, the band recorded its debut album, Children of the Future. It went on to produce the albums Sailor, Brave New World, Your Saving Grace, Number 5, Rock Love, Fly Like an Eagle, Book of Dreams, among others. The band's Greatest Hits 1974–78, released in 1978, sold over 13 million copies. In 2016, Steve Miller was inducted as a solo artist in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naked Raygun</span> American punk band

Naked Raygun is an American punk rock band that formed in Chicago in 1980. The band was active from 1980 to 1992, along with reunion shows in 1997, and since 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry Carlton</span> American guitarist (born 1948)

Larry Eugene Carlton is an American guitarist who built his career as a studio musician in the 1970s and 1980s for acts such as Steely Dan and Joni Mitchell. One of the most sought after guitarists of his era, Carlton has participated in thousands of recording sessions, recorded on hundreds of albums in many genres, including more than 100 gold records, as well as for television and movies. He has been a member of the jazz fusion group the Crusaders, the smooth jazz band Fourplay, and has maintained a long solo career.

<i>11</i> (The Smithereens album) 1989 studio album by The Smithereens

11 is the third studio album by American rock band The Smithereens, released on October 24, 1989, by Capitol Records. It includes the Billboard Top 40 single "A Girl Like You". The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in June 1990.

Alligator Records is an American, Chicago-based independent blues record label founded by Bruce Iglauer in 1971. Iglauer was also one of the founders of the Living Blues magazine in Chicago in 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guadalcanal Diary (band)</span>

Guadalcanal Diary was an American alternative jangle pop rock group who originated in Marietta, Georgia. The band formed in 1981, released four major label albums and disbanded in 1989. They reformed in 1997, releasing a live album, but never again recorded new material. After going on hiatus in 2000, Guadalcanal Diary temporarily reunited for a second time in 2011 for Athfest, where they celebrated their 30th anniversary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fareed Haque</span> American jazz guitarist

Fareed Haque is an American jazz guitarist, based in Chicago, Illinois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luther Johnson (Guitar Junior)</span> American singer-songwriter (1939–2022)

Luther Johnson was an American blues singer and guitarist, who performed under the name Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson. He is not to be confused with Luther "Georgia Boy" Johnson, Luther "Houserocker" Johnson, or Lonnie "Guitar Junior" Brooks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Effigies</span> American punk band

The Effigies were an American punk band from Chicago. The band played its first show in 1980 and was active initially for approximately a decade, undergoing multiple personnel changes with frontman John Kezdy the only constant, before disbanding in 1990. The band released 5 albums and several EPs, most on the record label they founded in 1981, Ruthless Records, which was distributed by Enigma. Later albums were on the Fever Records and Roadkill Records labels. They toured the U.S. and Canada and played notable venues, including CBGB, Maxwell's, First Avenue (nightclub), Mabuhay Gardens, Paycheck's (Detroit), Exit (Chicago) and The Rathskeller, among others. They also received a significant amount of national airplay on college radio at a time when it was the only medium for alternative music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Barnes (musician)</span> American swing jazz guitarist

George Warren Barnes was an American swing jazz guitarist. He was also a conductor and arranger of music, and became the youngest ever for NBC when he was hired by them in that role at the age of seventeen. At this age he was considered a great player by many musicians including Tommy Dorsey, and Jimmy McPartland. Barnes also later became a recording engineer. During his career Barnes recorded with singers Mel Tormé, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Patti Page, Dinah Washington, Lena Horne, Billy Eckstine and Johnny Mathis among many others. He was an inspiration and influence to the musician Roy Clark and guitarists Herb Ellis and Merle Travis, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy Dawkins</span> American blues musician

James Henry “Jimmy” Dawkins was an American Chicago blues and electric blues guitarist and singer. He is generally considered to have been a practitioner of the "West Side sound" of Chicago blues.

Mark Durante is an American musician and songwriter who is based in Chicago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perfect World (Huey Lewis and the News song)</span> 1988 single

"Perfect World" is a song performed by Huey Lewis and the News and released as the first single from the album Small World in late June 1988. The single peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #48 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D'Molls</span> US musical group

D'Molls, also known as D'Molls 777, is an American heavy metal and glam metal band. Featuring lead vocalist/guitarist Desi Rexx, bassist Lizzy Valentine, guitarist S. S. Priest, and drummer Billy Dior, the band signed a recording contract with Atlantic Records in the 1980s.

Mike Henderson is an American singer-songwriter.

Ursa Minor is an unreleased studio album by American alternative rock band Third Eye Blind. Initially conceived as the second part of a double album to their 2009 release Ursa Major, the album was delayed, and eventually shelved, due to legal issues between frontman Stephan Jenkins and then-guitarist of the band Tony Fredianelli. The subsequent re-staffing the band with mostly new members in 2011 and 2012 led Jenkins to shy away from releasing the material, stating that it no longer represented the current band lineup - though comments from as recent as 2015 have alluded to releasing some of the music online eventually as well.

References

  1. Donato, Marla (1988-02-03). "Slammin` Your Eardrums: The Watusis Wouldn`t Have It". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved 2015-03-11.
  2. Cohen, Scott (February 1988). "Watusi is What You Get". Spin . 3 (9): 13.
  3. "The Blue Watusis". Chicago Tribune . 1991-01-04. Retrieved 2015-03-11.