The Jets | |
---|---|
Origin | Pekin, Illinois |
Genres | Power pop, rock |
Years active | 1972 | –1980
Labels | Twin/Tone |
Past members | Mike Isenberg Graham Walker Greg Clemons Greg Wilson Randy Kohtz Thomas H. Walker |
The Jets was a band from Pekin, Illinois, consisting of Mike Isenberg, Graham Walker, Greg Clemons, Greg Wilson, and Randy Kohtz. [1] They were together from 1972 to 1980, and a small amount of their recordings are still available on Twin/Tone Records. [2] After a few months together Greg Clemons and Randy Kohtz left the band and were replaced by bassist Thomas Walker who was with the band until early 1974. Gregg Clemons returned on bass. During this version of the band The Jets released the single "Be For Me" backed by "I Play For You". The song "Be For Me" from that single charted at No. 13, but the band crash-landed shortly after its release. The song "Be For Me" appears on the box set BUTTONS: From Champaign To Chicago, on the Numero label. The band reformed in Madison, Wisconsin in 1976 with the past lineup of Mike Isenberg, Graham Walker, Thomas Walker, and Greg Wilson. This lineup went on to record on the Twin/Tone label, releasing the single "Lover Boy" backed with "Paper Girl". Both Prince and Morris Day attended the record release party for that 45rpm record at Jay's Longhorn, a then well known Minneapolis venue. Both songs also appeared on the Twin Tone album Big Hits of the Midwest Volume III, and that double album now resides in the Minneapolis section of the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in the same display as Prince's Purple Rain LP and other Prince memorabilia. The band broke up in early 1980.
Graham Walker went onto other rock groups and several recording contracts, in particular achieving some fame in the 1980s power pop scene as one of the Elvis Brothers with Brad Steakley (aka Brad Elvis). [3] Walker continues to use the name Graham Elvis.
Mike Isenberg moved to Hollywood in the mid 1990s to star in a motion picture called Brother Sam, based on Bill Kinison's book dealing with the life of Sam Kinison. Isenberg has released two CD's, Tarzan's Woods ( 2010 ), and In Rena's Room ( 2012 ). Isenberg is now the host of the popular L.A. based global radio show The DIFFERENCE, that features independent artists from around the world.
The Replacements were an American rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1979. Initially a punk rock band, they are considered one of the pioneers of alternative rock. The band was composed of the guitarist and vocalist Paul Westerberg, guitarist Bob Stinson, bass guitarist Tommy Stinson and drummer Chris Mars for most of its career. Following several acclaimed albums, including Let It Be and Tim, Bob Stinson was kicked out of the band in 1986, and Slim Dunlap joined as lead guitarist. Steve Foley replaced Mars in 1990. Towards the end of the band's career, Westerberg exerted more control over the creative output. The group disbanded in 1991, with the members eventually pursuing various projects. A reunion was announced on October 3, 2012. The band is referred to by their nickname "The 'Mats" by fans, which originated as a truncation of "The Placemats," a mispronunciation of their name.
James Edward Burton is an American guitarist. A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 2001, Burton has also been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame and the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum. Critic Mark Demming writes that "Burton has a well-deserved reputation as one of the finest guitar pickers in either country or rock ... Burton is one of the best guitar players to ever touch a fretboard." He is ranked number 19 in Rolling Stone list of 100 Greatest Guitarists.
The Jayhawks are an American alternative country and country rock band that emerged from the Twin Cities music scene during the mid-1980s. Led by vocalists, guitarists and songwriters Gary Louris and Mark Olson, its country rock sound was influential on many bands who played the Twin Cities circuit during the 1980s and 1990s like Uncle Tupelo, the Gear Daddies and the Honeydogs. They have released eleven studio albums with and without Olson who left the band in 1995, including five on the American Recordings label. On hiatus from 2005 to 2009, the 1995 lineup of the band reunited, releasing the album, Mockingbird Time, in September 2011. After the tour, Olson again left the band. After another hiatus in 2013, the 1997 lineup led by Louris reunited to play shows in 2014 to support the reissue of three albums released between 1997 and 2003. The band has remained active touring and recording since, including the release of the albums Live at The Belly Up in 2015, Paging Mr. Proust, produced by Peter Buck in 2016, Back Roads and Abandoned Motels in 2018 and XOXO in 2020.
Helix is a Canadian hard rock and heavy metal band. They formed in 1974, and are best known for their 1984 single "Rock You". The original lineup was formed by drummer Bruce Arnold, and consisted of lead vocalist Brian Vollmer, guitarists Ron Watson and Rick "Minstrel" Trembley, keyboardist Don Simmons, and bassist Keith "Bert" Zurbrigg. However, their most well known lineup, and the one that recorded "Rock You", was the 1980s version of the band: Vollmer on vocals, accompanied by guitarists Brent "The Doctor" Doerner and Paul Hackman, bassist Daryl Gray, and drummer Greg "Fritz" Hinz. The history of the band has been marked by many lineup changes, with Vollmer being the sole constant member and only remaining member of the original lineup. Although Hackman was killed in a tour bus accident in 1992, the surviving members of the 1980s lineup reunited in 2009 for an album and have continued to tour since 2011. Watson died in 2019.
Disrupt was an American crust punk band from 1987 to 1993, formed in Lynn, Massachusetts, United States. The lineup was Jay Stiles and Pete Kamarinos- vocals, Chris Drake- guitar, Harry Haralabatos- drums, Tony Leone-bass. After recording one rehearsal demo, Tony and Harry left the band. Brad Jones- drums and Mike Williams-guitar joined in the spring of 1988. Brad left the band a couple of months later and Mike started playing drums. With this lineup, they recorded the Millions Die For Moneymaking- thirteen song demo with Jay also playing bass in Nov. 1988. In the spring of 1989, Mike and Chris left the band and Harry their first drummer rejoined so they could record songs that at the time were supposed to be on a split 7" with Extreme Noise Terror. At this time, they recruited Scott Lucid to play bass. In October 1989, they recorded five songs for the s/t 7" that was co-released on Crust records and Deafcore records. The lineup on the first 7" was Pete-vocals, Jay -vocals and guitar, Scott-bass and Harry-drums. In 1990, Scott left the band and they acquired Bob Palombo to play bass. A few months earlier, Chris Drake rejoined the band and Terry Savastano (Spasm) joined on second guitar. This lineup recorded eleven songs for the Refuse Planet 7" Relapse and split 7" with Destroy in Jan 1991. Both records were released in 1991. Chris left the band in early 1991 and then they got Jeff Hayward on second guitar. About a week after Jeff joined the band, Harry (drums) quit so they recruited Randy Odierno. In May of 1991 the lineup was Pete Kamarinos- vocals, Jay Stiles-vocals, Terry Savastano- guitar, Jeff Hayward-guitar, Bob Palombo- bass and Randy Odierno- drums. That year they entered Headroom studios and recorded songs for split 7"s with Disdain, Resist, Tuomiopaivan Lapset (Ecocentric) and Taste of Fear. The split 7"s and the Smash Divisions -live 7"(S.O.A.) were released in 1992. In Nov. 1992, they entered One World studios with Bill T. Miller and recorded thirty songs for the Unrest album and Deprived 7". The ten songs for the Deprived 7" were new recordings of older tracks. In June of 1993, they entered the Lanes studios with Bill T Miller and recorded 17 songs. Eight songs from the session were released on the split Lp with Sauna (Sludge) in 1994. The split 7" with Warcollapse was released on Crust records in 1995. Disrupt toured Europe in Oct./Nov. of 1993. After the tour, they broke up due to personal and musical differences. The Unrest album was released on Relapse in Aug of 1994.
Ween is an American rock band from New Hope, Pennsylvania, formed in 1984 by childhood friends Aaron Freeman and Mickey Melchiondo, better known by their respective stage names, Gene and Dean Ween. After meeting in a middle-school typing class, the two began playing music and immediately chose the name Ween as well as their Ramones-inspired pseudonyms. While they are generally categorized as an alternative rock band, the band are known for their highly eclectic catalog of songs inspired by funk, soul, country, gospel, prog, psychedelia, R&B, heavy metal, punk rock, and countless more. The band has been widely regarded as irreverent of societal norms and customs.
The Suburbs are an alternative punk rock/funk/New Wave band from Minneapolis, Minnesota that was popular in the late 1970s and 1980s. The band frequently headlined at Minneapolis's most influential music clubs, including Jay's Longhorn Bar and First Avenue.
Restless Records is a record label that was started in El Segundo, California in 1986 by Enigma Records and primarily released alternative, metal, and punk records. Restless also licensed and released records from Bar/None Records, Metal Blade Records and Mute Records. Restless also had a fully owned subsidiary, Pink Dust Records.
Trip Shakespeare was an American rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in the late 1980s/early 1990s. The band included Dan Wilson and John Munson, who would later go on to be founding members of Semisonic.
Wendy Ann Melvoin is an American guitarist and singer-songwriter, best known for her work with Prince as part of his backing band The Revolution, and for her collaboration with Lisa Coleman as one half of the duo Wendy & Lisa.
The Slip is an avant-rock trio from Boston, Massachusetts. The band consists of brothers Brad Barr and Andrew Barr (drums), and Marc Friedman. The three also play with singer-songwriter Nathan Moore and keyboardist Marco Benevento in Surprise Me Mr. Davis. Brad and Andrew Barr additionally perform with Montreal-based ensemble The Barr Brothers.
Head East is an American rock band originally from East Central Illinois. The band was formed by vocalist John Schlitt, guitarist Danny Piper, keyboardist Roger Boyd, bassist Larry Boyd, and drummer Steve Huston. They met and formed the band while John, Roger, and Larry were studying at the University of Illinois, Steve was at Eastern Illinois University 45 miles away and Danny was not in college. Eventually both Larry and Danny dropped out of the band and were replaced by Mike Somerville (guitar) and Dan Birney (bass). The band achieved success in the Midwest during the 1970s, but fell into obscurity in the following decades on both coasts while remaining strong in the Midwest and South. They remain best known for their AOR hit "Never Been Any Reason".
Breaking Circus was a post-punk band from the 1980s, based in Chicago and later Minneapolis, founded by guitarist and vocalist Steve Björklund.
Persevere is the fourth studio album by Scottish folk rock duo The Proclaimers, released in 2001 on their own label Persevere Records, as a comeback album after seven years of low profile. The album's first single featured "There's a Touch", "A Land Fit for Zeros" and "They Really Do".
Robert Sarzo, nicknamed The VuDu Man is a Cuban-American guitarist. His career has spanned 40 years. He has worked with an array of notable and iconic people in the entertainment industry. He was hired by Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, as the original replacement for Randy Rhoads. Robert never went on tour with Ozzy because Jet Records' Don Arden, also Sharon's father, had hired a different guitarist, Bernie Tormé, without telling anyone.
The Elvis Brothers were a rock/pop trio that got its start in Champaign, Illinois in 1981, and were "staples of midwest clubs and theaters from the early 80s through the early 90s". The members were Rob Elvis, Graham Elvis and Brad Elvis (drums). The band released two albums with Portrait/Epic Records: Movin' Up in 1983, and Adventure Time in 1985. The band lost their record deal when Portrait was closed in 1986. The original trio re-united in 1992 and released an album called Now Dig This on Recession Records. On April 5, 2002, International Pop Overthrow music festival hosted an Elvis Brothers Reunion show at the Abbey Pub in Chicago, IL. After the Elvis Brothers broke up, Brad Elvis replaced Clem Burke as the drummer for The Romantics.
The Skunks are a three-piece rock band formed in 1977 in Austin, Texas. The band debuted in early 1978 at Raul's, quickly became a mainstay of the Austin, Texas music scene. They rapidly expanded their fan base beyond early punk/new wave into clubs whose audiences crossed the spectrum, including the Armadillo World Headquarters, the Continental Club, Dukes Royal Coach, Club Foot, Liberty Lunch, and many others in the late 1970s and early 80s. The Skunks music channeled classic rock influences, such as The Rolling Stones and The Who with Seventies cult figures such as the New York Dolls and The Velvet Underground.
Movin' Up was the debut album for the rock/pop trio The Elvis Brothers. The album was released in 1983 on Portrait Records. The album was recorded at the Power Station in New York City, and produced by Lance Quinn and Tony Bonjovi.
Now Dig This is the third and last album by the rock/pop trio The Elvis Brothers. Released in 1992 by Recession Records, the album represented a return to the original line-up. The band had undergone some personnel changes and then broken up after being dropped by Portrait Records but they reunited to record this album and then re-issue their first two albums. The album was recorded at the Chicago Music Complex and was produced by Rob and Graham Elvis, with Jay O'Rourke of The Insiders handling the recording.
Kevin Bowe is a songwriter, record producer and musician from Minneapolis. He is most well known for his work with prominent rock and blues artists including Paul Westerberg and the Replacements, writing songs for hit albums by Jonny Lang and Kenny Wayne Shepherd, as well as Etta James' Grammy-winning Let's Roll. He has contributed to dozens of albums over his career, including several of his own as a bandleader, and has appeared on many film and television soundtracks including ESPN and The Sopranos. His songs have been covered by many prominent rock and blues artists, including Joe Cocker, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Robben Ford, and John Mayall.