The Storm (American band)

Last updated
The Storm
Origin San Francisco, California
Genres
Years active
  • 1990–1993
  • 1995–1996
Labels
Past members Gregg Rolie
Kevin Chalfant
Ross Valory
Steve Smith
Josh Ramos
Ron Wikso

The Storm was an American supergroup rock band, formed in the Bay Area of San Francisco during the early 1990s. The band's first single, power ballad "I've Got a Lot to Learn About Love", peaked at #6 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and #26 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Contents

The band had three of Journey's former members, two of whom were founding members: Gregg Rolie (original lead vocalist and keyboard player of Journey) on keyboards and lead and backing vocals, Ross Valory on bass guitar and backing vocals, and Steve Smith on drums. [1] Kevin Chalfant, who had a #12 rock chart hit in 1982 as lead vocalist with AOR band 707, was the lead vocalist, and Josh Ramos, who cited the Journey founder and guitarist Neal Schon as a major influence, was the lead guitarist.

History

1990–1991: formation

Chalfant and Valory had just released an album together on another side-project band called The V.U. and were ready for another venture. However, Rolie was the most instrumental in bringing the band together and sending them into a climb of success. He had collaborated on material with Kevin Chalfant and sent the track "Show Me the Way" to the producer Beau Hill who, with Jimmy Iovine, had just started Interscope Records as a hard rock/AOR label for the Atlantic Records president Doug Morris. Interscope became seriously interested in the project and signed the band, now known as the Storm, in 1990.

1991–1992: The Storm and Smith's departure

The Storm's first album, The Storm, produced by Beau Hill, was released in 1991 by Interscope. It reached #133 on the Billboard album chart, with two mainstream rock radio hits with the #6 "I’ve Got a Lot to Learn About Love" (which also reached #26 on the Billboard Hot 100) and the #22 "Show Me the Way". Smith left the band in late 1991 and was replaced by Ron Wikso, who left Cher's band to become a full member of the Storm in early 1992.

In March 1992, the band embarked upon a US tour supporting Bryan Adams in arenas. That was followed with a tour supporting Peter Frampton and additional dates with Eddie Money, Tom Cochrane and others, in addition to several headlining dates.

1992–1993: Dissolution and aftermath

A second album, Eye of the Storm, was recorded for Interscope Records in 1993 but never released by Interscope. The previous year, the label — founded by Iovine (a producer, who began his career as a sound engineer for John Lennon and Bruce Springsteen) and Hill (noted for his success producing the hard rock bands Ratt and Winger) as a rock label — had struck a deal to distribute releases by Death Row Records. Hits by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg convinced the label to shift its focus from mainstream rock to gangsta rap. Eye of the Storm was eventually issued by the UK independent label Music for Nations in Europe, Avex Trax (Bareknuckle) in Japan and Miramar Records in the US. The album also appears on the iTunes Music Store with the release date of 1995.

Despite the eventual release of Eye of the Storm, the individual band members had moved on to other things. Rolie played briefly with Abraxas Pool (with most of the original Santana members – himself, Chepito Areas, Michael Carabello and Michael Shrieve – as well as Neal Schon and Alphonso Johnson), before embarking on a solo career and subsequently joining Ringo Starr in his All Starr Band. Valory and Smith went on to a reformed Journey. Wikso went on to play with David Lee Roth, Foreigner, Richie Sambora, Gregg Rolie, Eddie Money, Creedence Clearwater Revisited and the Steve Miller Band, among others. Chalfant, who sounded very much like Perry, worked briefly with the reformed Journey, but was eventually replaced by Perry himself. Chalfant and Ramos formed another band called Two Fires, which released three albums, and later pursued solo careers, Chalfant singing lead vocal in The Alan Parsons Project and the Kansas City AOR-based band Shooting Star.

In late 1999, Rolie and Wikso co-produced a solo album for Rolie called Roots, released in 2001 by 33rd Street Records in the US and Sanctuary Records in Europe, and have since toured together as part of the Gregg Rolie Band. This group also includes Michael Carabello, Adrian Areas, Kurt Griffey, Alphonso Johnson and Wally Minko. Wikso occasionally works with REO Speedwagon guitarist Dave Amato and Styx bass guitarist Ricky Phillips.

Band members

Final line-up

Former

Discography

YearTitle Billboard peakLabel
1991The Storm133 Interscope
1995Eye of The Storm— Music For Nations

Related Research Articles

<i>Infinity</i> (Journey album) 1978 studio album by Journey

Infinity is the fourth studio album by American rock band Journey, released in January 1978 by Columbia Records. It was the band's first album with vocalist Steve Perry and the last to feature drummer Aynsley Dunbar.

<i>Look into the Future</i> 1976 studio album by Journey

Look into the Future is the second studio album by Journey. It was released in January 1976 by Columbia Records.

<i>Next</i> (Journey album) 1977 studio album by Journey

Next is the third studio album by Journey, released in February 1977. The band continued the formula from 1976's Look into the Future but this album also retains some of their progressive rock style from the first album. It is the last album to feature Gregg Rolie as the primary lead singer, and the last album to feature members of the band on the cover. "Spaceman"/"Nickel and Dime" was the single released from Next.

<i>Evolution</i> (Journey album) 1979 studio album by Journey

Evolution is the fifth studio album by American rock band Journey, released in March 1979 by Columbia Records. It is the band's first album to feature drummer Steve Smith.

<i>Departure</i> (Journey album) 1980 studio album by Journey

Departure is the sixth studio album by American rock band Journey. It was released on February 29, 1980, by Columbia Records.

<i>Escape</i> (Journey album) 1981 studio album by Journey

Escape is the seventh studio album by American rock band Journey, released on July 20, 1981, by Columbia Records. It topped the US Billboard 200 chart and featured four hit Billboard Hot 100 singles – "Don't Stop Believin'", "Who's Crying Now", "Still They Ride" and "Open Arms" – plus rock radio staple "Stone in Love". In July 2021, it was certified Diamond by the Recording Industry of America (RIAA) for at least ten million sales in the US, making it the band's most successful studio album and second most successful album overall behind Greatest Hits. Escape was the fifth-highest selling album of 1981, just behind Bella Donna from Stevie Nicks.

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

Journey is an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1973 by former members of Santana, the Steve Miller Band, and Frumious Bandersnatch. The band as of 2024 consists of Neal Schon on guitars and vocals ; Jonathan Cain on keyboards, guitars and vocals; Deen Castronovo on drums and vocals; Arnel Pineda on lead vocals; Jason Derlatka on keyboards and vocals; and Todd Jensen on bass.

<i>Dream, After Dream</i> 1980 studio album / soundtrack by Journey

Dream, After Dream, performed by the American rock band Journey, is the soundtrack album to the Japanese romantic fantasy film Yume, Yume No Ato directed by fashion designer Kenzo Takada. Released in 1980 on Columbia Records, it was the seventh album-length recording by the group. The soundtrack firmly overshadowed the film itself, which enjoyed little fame. The album was a significant departure from the hard rock which characterized the band's three preceding albums, harking back to their progressive rock beginnings and relying on complex musicianship and instrumentals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gregg Rolie</span> American musician (b. 1947)

Gregg Alan Rolie is an American keyboardist, singer and songwriter. Rolie served as lead singer of the bands Santana and Journey – both of which he co-founded. He also helmed rock group the Storm, performed in Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band until 2021, and since 2001 with his Gregg Rolie Band. Rolie is a two-time inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, having been inducted both as a member of Santana in 1998 and as a member of Journey in 2017.

<i>Trial by Fire</i> (Journey album) 1996 studio album by Journey

Trial by Fire is the tenth studio album by American rock band Journey. Released on October 22, 1996, the album marked the reunion of the classic 1981–1985 lineup, which had not recorded together since 1983's Frontiers. Trial by Fire was produced by Kevin Shirley, who continues to produce the band's albums. It is the first album to feature bassist Ross Valory and drummer Steve Smith since Frontiers and the last to feature Smith and vocalist Steve Perry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Any Way You Want It</span> 1980 single by Journey

"Any Way You Want It" is a song by American rock band Journey, released in February 1980 as the lead single from the band's sixth album Departure (1980). Written by lead singer Steve Perry and guitarist Neal Schon, it peaked at number 23 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Chalfant</span> American rock singer

Kevin Chalfant is an American singer and a native of Streator, Illinois. He obtained a BMI award for co-writing and singing on one of the most frequently aired rock radio hits of 1992 and 1993, "I've Got a Lot to Learn About Love", by The Storm. In October 1993 he very briefly sat in for Steve Perry in Journey, singing lead at a roast for Journey's manager, Herbie Herbert, and in 2003, he toured as lead vocalist for the Alan Parsons Live Project.

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

Santana is an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1966 by Mexican-born guitarist Carlos Santana. The band has undergone various recording and performing line-ups in its history, with Santana being the only consistent member. After signing with Columbia Records, the band's appearance at the Woodstock Festival in 1969 increased their profile, and they went on to record the commercially successful and critically acclaimed albums Santana (1969), Abraxas (1970), and Santana III (1971). These were recorded by the group's "classic" line-up, featuring Gregg Rolie, Michael Carabello, Michael Shrieve, David Brown, and José "Chepito" Areas. Hit songs of this period include "Evil Ways", "Black Magic Woman", "Oye Como Va", and the instrumental "Samba Pa Ti".

<i>The Essential Journey</i> 2001 greatest hits album by Journey

The Essential Journey is a compilation of songs from the rock band Journey. Released on October 16, 2001, it is part of Sony BMG's "Essential" series of compilation albums. The album includes most of Journey's major and minor hits that have charted on Billboard Hot 100. It covers material recorded while Steve Perry was lead singer of the band, from 1978's Infinity to 1996's Trial by Fire, neglecting Journey albums recorded before and after his membership. The first disc is Greatest Hits with some minor changes: tracks are in a slightly different order, "After the Fall" replaces "Be Good to Yourself", and "When You Love a Woman" is included.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Gorman</span> American musician (born 1952)

Tim Gorman is an American pianist, composer, arranger and record producer. Gorman studied music composition at the University of Portland in Oregon, under Philippe De La Mare, himself a former student of Nadia Boulanger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">After the Fall (song)</span> 1983 single by Journey

"After the Fall" is a song by the American rock band Journey. Written by Jonathan Cain and Steve Perry, it was the third single released from their 1983 album Frontiers.

<i>In the Beginning</i> (Journey album) 1979 compilation album by Journey

In the Beginning is the first compilation album from the rock band Journey, containing songs from the group's first three albums. The songs on this album are all taken from the period where Gregg Rolie sang lead vocals, before Steve Perry joined the band as their new lead singer in 1977.

<i>Greatest Hits 2</i> (Journey album) Compilation album by Journey

Greatest Hits 2 is a greatest hits album by American rock band Journey. The album was released on November 1, 2011 by Columbia Records.

"To Play Some Music" is the first single released by the American rock group Journey. It originally appeared as the fourth track on the band's eponymous 1975 debut album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wheel in the Sky</span> 1978 single by Journey

"Wheel in the Sky" is a song by the American rock band Journey, recorded in 1977 and included on their fourth studio album, Infinity. It was written and composed by Robert Fleischman, Neal Schon, and Diane Valory.

References

  1. ↑ Moskowitz, David V., ed. (2015). The 100 Greatest Bands of All Time: A Guide to the Legends Who Rocked the World. ABC-Clio. p. 357. ISBN   978-1-4408-0339-0.
    - "Hello, My Name Is Kevin". Illinois Entertainer. October 1, 2010. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
    - Elliot, Paul; Ling, Dave; Hotten, Jon; Llewellyn, Sian (May 1, 2019). "The 50 Greatest AOR Albums Of All Time". Louder Sound . Retrieved July 11, 2020.


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.