Sorcery (band)

Last updated
Sorcery
Sorcery in Concert.jpg
Sorcery in Concert
Background information
Origin Hollywood, California, U.S.
Genres Hard rock, heavy metal
Years active1975–1987, 2021-Present
LabelsEMI Records, [1] Groovy (Holland), [2] Moving Image Entertainment Italy, [3] Lunaris Records (2016) USA [4] Sebastion Int'l Records [5] RidingEasy Records
MembersRichard "Smokey" Taylor
Richie King
Past membersPerry Morris
Greg Magie
David Glen Eisley
Nigel Benjamin

Sorcery is an American hard rock band from Hollywood, California, United States. [6]

Contents

Background

Sorcery is a musical theatrical group from Los Angeles formed in 1975 by guitarist Richard 'Smokey' Taylor, bassist Richie King and vocalist Greg Magie. Known for their music and elaborate stage show consisting of a Heavy Metal band and two master magicians who incorporated the use of magic illusions in the on-stage battle where Merlin takes on Satan.

Sorcery also appeared on Dick Clark TV specials. In 1982, they appeared on Dick Clark's 90-minute TV special, A Rockin Halloween. Other artists on this show included Devo, Eddie Money, Jermaine Jackson, and Toni Basil and hosted by Fred Travalena. In 1983 they again appeared on Dick Clark's Halloween TV special, "A Magical Musical Halloween" along with Kim Carnes, INXS, Sparks, Billy Joel, and Jeffrey Osborne. Hosted by master magician Harry Blackstone Jr. They also provided the bumper music for both specials.

In the summer of 1983, while they were recording and filming the Dick Clark special,Taylor, King and Morris were signed to do the "Rocktober Blood" movie project with filming and recording to start in September 1983. They would have on-screen parts playing the part of the fictitious "Headmistress" band and also provide the "A" side of the film's soundtrack album. They were members of S.A.G., (Screen Actors Guild,) AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists), and the American Federation of Musicians, (AFM/AFofM) in Hollywood, California.

History

1975–1980

The band played at the Hollywood (Los Angeles) clubs Whisky a Go Go and the Starwood during 1976 and 1977. They headlined every one of those shows. After a 1977 show at the Starwood club in Hollywood, they were approached by William Nelson, from "Orr Management", and presented with a management offer with his company. They signed with his company, Orr Management in June 1977.

In September 1977, Arnie Frank, from the Jon Peters agency in Beverly Hills CA., called Sorcery's manager, William Nelson, regarding a movie project he was working on, ultimately entitled Stunt Rock . [7] The executive producer for the film was Herman Ilmer, from the Bassart-Group in Holland, and it was produced by U.S. movie producer, Martin Fink. The deal was for the band to appear in the picture, and provided the movie's soundtrack. The film was being directed by Australian director, Brian Trenchard-Smith, and it starred Australian Stuntman Grant Page and the Dutch actress Monique van de Ven. The band would have a co-starring role as well. The picture was shot in Los Angeles in early 1978. The soundtrack album was recorded at the Warner Bros. Burbank studio's in March 1978 and produced by Jimmy Haskell. The film was released in Europe in the fall of 1978. For the U.S. and Canadian markets, Allied Artists bought the distribution rights. Three months prior to the release date, Allied filed Bankruptcy in New York. The distribution rights for the picture were then placed in 1980, with Film Ventures International who released the picture in the U.S. and Canadian markets.

1981

In 1981, Sorcery was signed to its second Management contract with Al Anthony. Anthony, immediately booked them in Las Vegas, with "Starwood Productions", owner Beryl Cohen, to headline at the "Aladdin Theater for the Performing Arts", in Las Vegas for an October 31, Halloween Concert. That show was also co-hosted by a local Rock Radio station, "KENO FM-92". With the help of FM-92 radio station promotion, and local television ads, that concert sold-out in a matter of hours. After selling out the first show, Sorcery was asked to headline a second show the following weekend.

1982

In 1982, Sorcery releases the "Sorcery 2" album. Perry is contacted by the Dick Clark company's producer, Larry Klein, who signs Sorcery to appear on a 90-minute Dick Clark Halloween TV special, A Rocking Halloween. [8] Other artists on this show were Billy Joel, DEVO, Jermaine Jackson, Toni Basil, William Shatner, and host Fred Travalena.

1983

In 1983, Sorcery was asked back to do Dick Clark's second-anniversary Halloween TV special, A Magical Musical Halloween. [9] This show featured, Sorcery, INXS, Jeffrey Osborne, Sparks, Eddie Money, and Kim Carnes. Hosted by master magician, Harry Blackstone Jr.

In the summer of 1983, Perry meets with Rocktober Blood movie producers, Ferd and Beverly Sabastian. The results of that meeting, Sorcery band members, Richard Taylor, Richie King and Perry Morris sign with "Sebastian Productions", to do the motion picture, Rocktober Blood. [10] They would play the part of the fictitious "Headmistress band" in the film. [11] They also would provide the "A" side of the film's soundtrack album. [5] The Rocktober Blood movie soundtrack album was recorded in part at the "Baby-O" studios on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood, California. [12] [5]

1984

The movie Rocktober Blood soundtrack album and movie released. [13] [14]

2000

Sorcery Live album is released. [15]

2009

Code Red releases new DVD of the film Stunt Rock. A two-disc set includes interviews with the film's producer Martin Fink, Director, Brian Trenchard-Smith and Sorcery band members, Richard Taylor and Perry Morris. [16]

2015

2016

2017

2018

Directed by Eli Roth, starring Bruce Willis. Distributed by MGM. [21] [22]

2021

2023

2023

2023

Members

Current

Former

Guest musicians

Magicians

Discography

Filmography

Band members history

Sorcery's guitarist, Smokey Huff, (AKA Richard "Smokey" Taylor) is from Dallas, Texas. Taylor relocated to Los Angeles in his early twenties to pursue his career in music. He played with members of Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention, Rare Earth, Vanilla Fudge, Legs Diamond, Nazz and many others before starting Sorcery. Besides playing guitar for the band, he also played keyboards on their albums. He and lead singer Greg Magie were the primary songwriters for the band. Although he has a vast collection of guitars, Taylor preferred playing his Gibson Les Paul for the first two years with the band, and then built a custom Stratocaster that he used for Sorcery's studio work. Taylor was endorsed by Hamer Guitars, Mosrite Guitars, Ampeg Amps, Travis Bean Guitars and B.C.Rich Guitars. He & King still actively record and have current music and videos online. [26]

Sorcery's bass player Richie King, is from Sherman Oaks. King played on all the Sorcery albums. King connected with both Taylor and Magie in August 1975. After playing several gigs it was clear Sorcery needed a new drummer. That was when King suggested Morris to Taylor and Magie and, by the end of 1975, Morris was in the band. Starting fresh in 1976 Sorcery was now complete. King played early Pre CBS Fender Precision bass guitar in the studio and on stage. King's stage amp set up was two Early Ampeg SVT amps, with 16X10" speakers, 2X15" speakers and 2X18" speakers. He was later endorsed by B.C. Rich guitar company. The B.C. Rich guitar company made the first custom built Stealth bass guitar (featured on the cover of Vintage Guitar magazine, see November 2008) in King's honor, as they were fans of his bass playing and Sorcery. [27]

Sorcery's drummer Perry (Pere') Morris, was from Sherman Oaks, California. He played on all of Sorcery's albums. He was an AFTRA, SAG, and Local 47 Musicians Union member in Hollywood California. [28] Morris was working as an "In-House" studio musician at Universal Studio's, when Sorcery members Taylor, King and Magee asked him to join the band. Morris also handled the business for the band. Utilizing his business background and industry contacts, he booked all the Hollywood "Whiskey", "Roxy" and "Starwood" shows for the band. Morris then secured a Management Company for the Sorcery group, with William Nelson, owner of "ORR" management, in Beverly Hills. William Nelson obtained the Stunt Rock movie and record deal for the band. Morris booked the band for the two Dick Clark TV special shows (1982 and 1983) for Sorcery, and in 1983 he made the Rocktober Blood movie deal for the band. Morris died in March 2020.

Sorcery band members Taylor, King and Morris also appear in the 1984 film Rocktober Blood as the "Headmistress" Band. They also are the musicians that wrote and recorded the majority of that film's soundtrack LP in 1984. [1] [29] [30]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oingo Boingo</span> American new wave band

Oingo Boingo was an American new wave band formed by songwriter Danny Elfman in 1979. The band emerged from a surrealist musical theatre troupe, The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo, that Elfman had led and written material for in the years previous. Their highest-charting song, "Weird Science", reached No. 45 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Taylor (bass guitarist)</span> British bassist and member of Duran Duran

Nigel John Taylor is a British musician who is best known as the bass guitarist for new wave band Duran Duran, of which he was a founding member. Duran Duran was one of the most popular bands in the world during the 1980s due in part to their music videos which played in heavy rotation in the early days of MTV. Taylor played with Duran Duran from its founding in 1978 until 1997, when he left to pursue a solo recording and film career. He recorded a dozen solo releases through his private record label B5 Records over the next four years, had a lead role in the movie Sugar Town, and made appearances in a half dozen other film projects. He rejoined Duran Duran for a reunion of the original five members in 2001 and has remained with the group since.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kerry King</span> American guitarist (born 1964)

Kerry Ray King is an American musician, best known for being the co-lead guitarist and songwriter of thrash metal band Slayer. He co-founded the band with Jeff Hanneman in 1981 and was one of two members to stay with the band for its 38-year existence, along with Tom Araya. After Slayer's disbandment in 2019, King went on to pursue a solo career, with his debut album From Hell I Rise due in May 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electric Six</span> American rock band

Electric Six is an American rock band formed in Detroit in 1996. They are known for combining elements of comedy rock, disco, garage rock, metal, new wave, and punk rock. Since achieving widespread recognition in 2003 with the singles "Danger! High Voltage" and "Gay Bar", they have released 15 studio albums, two rarities albums, one live album and one live DVD. Each band member is given a unique stage name; the line-up has undergone changes over the years; co-founder, lead vocalist, and primary songwriter Dick Valentine has been the only constant member. The current line-up consists of Valentine, lead guitarist Johnny Na$hinal, keyboardist Tait Nucleus?, rhythm guitarist Herb S. Flavourings, drummer Dr. J and bassist Smorgasbord.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pretty Things</span> English rock band

Pretty Things were an English rock band formed in September 1963 in Sidcup, Kent, taking their name from Bo Diddley's 1955 song "Pretty Thing", and active in their first incarnation until 1971. They released five studio albums, including the debut The Pretty Things and S. F. Sorrow, four EPs and 15 UK singles, including the Top 20 UK Singles Chart "Don't Bring Me Down" and "Honey I Need". They reformed later in 1971 and continued through to 1976 issuing three more studio albums, and reformed once again from 1979 to 2020 releasing another five studio albums finalising with Bare as Bone, Bright as Blood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob Zombie</span> American rock musician and filmmaker (born 1965)

Rob Zombie is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, filmmaker, and actor. His music and lyrics are notable for their horror and sci-fi themes, and his live shows have been praised for their elaborate shock rock theatricality. He has sold an estimated 15 million albums worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midnight Syndicate</span> American musical duo

Midnight Syndicate is an American musical duo that has been working primarily in the genre of neoclassical dark ambient music since 1997 and is based in Chardon, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland.

<i>Leviathan</i> (Mastodon album) 2004 studio album by Mastodon

Leviathan is the second album by American heavy metal band Mastodon, released in 2004 on Relapse Records. It is Mastodon's first concept album, loosely based on the 1851 novel Moby-Dick by Herman Melville. The songs "Iron Tusk," "Naked Burn," and "Blood and Thunder" were released as promotional singles, and music videos were created for "Iron Tusk," "Blood and Thunder," and "Seabeast". Three magazines awarded the album Album of the Year in 2004: Revolver, Kerrang! and Terrorizer. In 2009 and 2015 MetalSucks named Leviathan the best metal album of the 21st century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyler Bates</span> American musician, music producer, film score composer

Tyler Bates is an American musician, producer, and composer for film, television, and video game scores. Much of his work is in the action and horror film genres, with films like Dawn of the Dead, 300, Sucker Punch, Halloween and Halloween II and the John Wick franchise. He has collaborated with directors like Zack Snyder, Rob Zombie, Neil Marshall, William Friedkin, Scott Derrickson, James Gunn, Chad Stahelski and David Leitch. In addition, he is the former lead guitarist of the American rock band Marilyn Manson, and produced its albums The Pale Emperor and Heaven Upside Down. He is Jerry Cantrell's touring/studio member.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Halloween (Misfits song)</span> 1981 single by the Misfits

"Halloween" is the fifth single by the American punk rock band Misfits. It was released on October 31, 1981 on singer Glenn Danzig's label Plan 9 Records. 5,000 copies of the single were pressed on black 7-inch vinyl, some of which included a lyrics sheet. This was the first Misfits release to use their Famous Monsters of Filmland-inspired logo, as well as the first to refer to the band as simply "Misfits".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">P. J. Soles</span> American film and television actress

Pamela Jayne Soles is an American actress. She made her film debut in 1976 as Norma Watson in Brian De Palma's Carrie (1976) before portraying Lynda van der Klok in John Carpenter's Halloween (1978) and Riff Randell in Allan Arkush's Rock 'n' Roll High School (1979).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derek St. Holmes</span> American singer and guitarist (born 1953)

Derek St. Holmes is an American rock musician, best known as the lead singer and rhythm guitar player for Ted Nugent's early solo career. After splitting from Nugent in 1978, St. Holmes worked with various artists, most notably the Whitford/St. Holmes project with Brad Whitford, who had then recently parted ways with Aerosmith. He has also reunited with Nugent on several occasions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No Sleep till Brooklyn</span> 1987 single by Beastie Boys

"No Sleep till Brooklyn" is a song by the New York hip hop group the Beastie Boys, and the sixth single from their debut studio album, Licensed to Ill. One of their signature songs, it describes an exhaustive tour and all the events that make it tiresome, but also emphasizes their determination not to rest until they reach their home base of Brooklyn. "No Sleep till Brooklyn" was a popular concert favorite for the Beastie Boys and traditionally used as their closing song. Among other references to heavy metal, the title is a play on the Motörhead album No Sleep 'til Hammersmith. The song has been subject to several covers and parodies including "Stutter Rap " by Morris Minor and the Majors.

London is an American glam metal band formed in Hollywood, California in 1978. The band included several members that would go on to play in more famous bands, such as Mötley Crüe, Guns N' Roses, W.A.S.P. and Cinderella.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Death (proto-punk band)</span> American rock band

Death is an American band formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1971 by brothers Bobby, David (guitar), and Dannis Hackney.

<i>Stunt Rock</i> 1978 film

Stunt Rock is a 1978 Australian mockumentary musical action film directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith and starring Grant Page.

Rocktober Blood is a 1984 horror film, directed by Beverly Sebastian and starring Tray Loren, Donna Scoggins and Cana Cockrell. It features the band Sorcery as actors and on the soundtrack.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Davies (musician)</span> British-American musician and composer

Daniel Davies is a British-American composer, musician and songwriter. He is best known for his contributions to horror director John Carpenter's Lost Themes and Lost Themes II albums, and for his work with rock bands Year Long Disaster, Karma to Burn, and CKY. Davies is the son of guitarist Dave Davies of The Kinks, and the godson of John Carpenter.

<i>Halloween Kills</i> (soundtrack) 2021 film score by John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter and Daniel Davies

Halloween Kills (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album to the 2021 film Halloween Kills, directed by David Gordon Green; a sequel to Green's Halloween (2018) and the twelfth instalment in the Halloween franchise. John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter and Daniel Davies, who previously scored for the first film, returned for the sequel. As similar to the predecessor, John had reused the original theme from the 1978 film using modern interpretations.

<i>Halloween Ends</i> (soundtrack) 2022 film score by John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter and Daniel Davies

Halloween Ends (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album to the 2022 film Halloween Ends, directed by David Gordon Green; a sequel to Halloween Kills (2021), the thirteenth instalment in the Halloween franchise and the final film in the trilogy of sequels that started with the 2018 film, which directly follows the 1978 film. John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter and Daniel Davies, returned for Ends after previously scored for the first two entries in the franchise.

References

  1. 1 2 "Sorcery (3) - Stuntrock". Discogs.com. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  2. ↑ "Sorcery (3) - Stuntrock". Discogs.com. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  3. ↑ "Sorcery (3) - Stunt Rock Original Soundtrack". Discogs.com. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  4. ↑ "Rocktober Blood Soundtrack (1984)". Soundtrack.net. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 "Sorcery (3) - Rocktober Blood". Discogs.com. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  6. ↑ "DVD Talk". Dvdtalk.com. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  7. 1 2 "Stunt Rock". IMDb.com. 30 June 1978. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  8. ↑ "SORCERY 'LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL' TV APPEARANCE". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  9. ↑ "Sorcery "Pride & The Glory" 1983". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  10. ↑ Angeles, Jose Gabriel (17 November 2006). "Goreshitdeath Review". Goreshitdeath.blogspot.com. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  11. ↑ Childs, T. Mike (10 June 2014). The Rocklopedia Fakebandica. St. Martin's Publishing Group. ISBN   9781466873018 . Retrieved 5 October 2020– via Google Books.
  12. ↑ "Rocktober Blood (1984) : Full credits". IMDb.com. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  13. 1 2 "Rocktober Blood". IMDb.com. 12 October 1984. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  14. ↑ "Blog - Halloween Quickies: ROCKTOBER BLOOD (1984)". Obscurecinema101.squarespace.com. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  15. ↑ [ dead link ]
  16. ↑ "CODE RED DVD - Stunt Rock (1978)". Codereddvd.com. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  17. ↑ "Knock Knock (2015)". IMDb.com. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  18. ↑ "Sorcery (3) - Rocktober Blood (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  19. ↑ "Rocktober Blood". Lunarisrecords.com. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  20. ↑ Garcia, Keith (4 January 2017). "The Ten Best Film Events in Denver in January". Westword.com. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  21. 1 2 "Death Wish". IMDb.com. 1 March 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  22. 1 2 "Death Wish (2018) - Soundtrack.Net". Soundtrack.net. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  23. ↑ "Stunt Rock - The Grindhouse Cinema Database". Grindhousedatabase.com. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  24. ↑ "HEAVY MAKEUP: Cult Movie Review: Rocktober Blood". Heavymakeup.vlogspot.com. 25 March 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  25. ↑ "Knock Knock (2015)". IMDb.com. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  26. ↑ "Show Me Your Tits". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  27. ↑ Moseley, Willie G. (17 February 2010). "B.C. Rich Stealth". Vintageguitar.com. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  28. ↑ "Perry Morris". IMDb.com. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  29. ↑ "Stunt Rock". Mondo-digital.com. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  30. ↑ "Stunt Rock (1980) - User Reviews - TCM.com". Archived from the original on 2016-10-05. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.