Road Trip

On the recent trip to Tennessee, I grabbed a case of CDs which was filled about the year 1991, so everything included was approximately twenty years or older. So essentially I-75 became Memory Lane, so to speak. Besides the obvious Mad Rocker pleasers, ie. Crowded House, the Cult, Pat Travers, the first Widespread Panic, Cold Chisel and a solo record by Chisel's guitarist, Ian Moss, I stumbled across a couple of records that some of you may spit your beer out as you read the name, and others of you may want to investigate. So here goes...



The Bogeymen was on Delicious Vinyl, better known for rap and R&B records than rock. Featured 2 ex Masters of Reality members and also sounded like Cream or Budgie. Believe it or not, you can still buy this record for $9. Great cover, too.


House of Freaks was a band from Virginia who moved to LA for a major label and promptly farted out. A two-member band waayyy ahead of that current trend, they eventually became Gutterball, which some of you may recall.


Starz was formed by the Looking Glass rhythm section (Brandy, You're a Fine Girl) and became one of the 70's most unlikely and under-appreciated arena rock bands of the decade. They opened for Aerosmith"Rocks" tour in 1976 and I was hooked. Also toured with Ted Nugent and Rush to name a couple of others. Far better than Kiss and real close to being as good as Sweet. Later cited by Cinderella and Bon Jovi as influences.



Material Issue out of Chicago area, I believe. Just look at this promo disc and check out the covers, the Boxer by Simon & Garfunkel, the Cowboy Song by the great Thin Lizzy, and Blockbuster by the aforementioned legendary Sweet! And their own music was a cross between Cheap Trick and Split Enz, so I don't understand how they flew by unnoticed. Bugged the principal songwriter, too, as he committed suicide a few years later.