1.05.2019

SCOTT RICHARDSON AND JAMES WILLIAMSON: THE CHOSEN FEW!


Scott R sent me this photo of "The Chosen Few". (Photos of TCF are really hard to find) This band was on the line up of the very first Grande Ballroom gig in October 1966 with the MC5 as the headliner and the Wha? opening.

Card Graphic by Dick Rosemont (Thanks Dick!)

It has been more than an interesting time for me with tons of new connections and opportunities coming my way. One of the best things to happen of recent is I began working with Scott Richardson (thanks Patti Quatro!) fabulous and handsome lead singer of SRC fame. Scott has provides me with all kinds of historical puzzle pieces to the story of Michigan Rock History. (understatement of the western world...)


See Heather's Gallery on James' website gallery HERE

Met James via Rock Photographer Heather Harris and Facebook and a lot of mutual friends. James is such a wonderful guy and so sweet to me. He sent me photos of his Raw Power Gold Record and made my whole day happy! Read the story about his gold record and see the photos HERE

(photo James Marshall)

THE CHOSEN FEW LINEUP

Various Members of TCF
*Scott Richardson (V)
*James Williamson (G)
*Ron Asheton (B) The Prime Movers
*Kip Phillips (B)
*Richard Simpson (G)
*Stan Salusky (?) D

(Late 1965 - December, 1966)
While James was recently on tour with Iggy and the Stooges in Australia. I wrote and asked him if he would give me a short story on his involvement with TCF and he happily sent it over today... I loved this story and am sure my readers and James' fans will dig it too. thank you JW xxooK

White Fender Jaguar (not James') waiting for pic

James Williamson's Story on "The Chosen Few"

Hi Kim,

I was only in the Chosen Few for a short time. I co-founded the band with Scott Richardson, who I met at a Birmingham coffee shop is I recall correctly. He was from near the Pontiac area and we hit it off since both (of us) were into Beatles, Stones, etc.

So we jammed a little and ended up recruiting the other guys in the band...Richard Simmons (2nd guitar), Kip Phillips (bass), Stan Salusky (sp?...on drums)...I was the lead guitar and Scott was on vocals...

I think we only played a couple of live shows while I was in the band. The first was at a high school dance and the 2nd might have been at a frat party in Ann Arbor. After that I was sent away to Juvie for being "incorrigible" meaning that I wouldn't cut my hair and do what I was told to do.

Of course the first day in Juvie (juvenile detention) they buzz cut my hair, so I might have done things differently in hind sight, but anyway, that was the way it was. From there I was sent to boarding school in upstate NY...and thus the Coba Seas subsequent recent release.

I played a While Jaguar (probably 1964-66) that I had conned my mom into buying me once I could play ok. Loved that guitar and could play all the surf songs on it perfectly...(just got another one recently ...sunburst)...

I had the White Jag until I traded it along with my SG for my Cherryburst Les Paul Custom (1969) which I later recorded Raw Power (and Kill City ) with. Iggy knew the music store owner so he brokered the deal (so naturally I got screwed royally)...really wish I hadn't traded those guitars, but what else could I do...the Les Paul was the perfect guitar for the Stooges.

Anyway, it was during one of my vacation returns from boarding school that I got together with my old band mates from the Chosen Few and went up to their gig at a Frat Party in Ann Arbor...

Kip Phillips was going off to college and so a new bass player named Ron Asheton was in the band. I was impressed at how long Ron's hair was and that he barely looked at the audience...just played into his amp with his back to the audience. That night was the first night I met Ronnie.

Ron Asheton

Iggy was there too that night and it was also the first time I met him as well. I had brought my White Fender Jaguar with me and during a break, I played some of my original songs for him. He said he liked them, but it was hard to tell.

Surely, he's told me how frenetic he remembers them being and that that impression was a lasting one for him and something he remembered when he finally asked me to join the Stooges in late 1970/early 71'...the rest is well documented....James


Gary Grimshaw poster art

From Scott Richardson:

Kim,

Thanks so much to you and James for your info regarding 'THE CHOSEN FEW'. I did meet James in Birmingham though I thought it was at a record store where we were both checking out disks and the amazing beatnik blonde clerk, 'Fran'..

In any case James & I connected and began a whirlwind drive to form our band. Kip, Richard and Stan came from a group called 'THE FIVE GRAND' who I saw at The Michigan State Fair in a battle of the bands.


All three of them plus James and I had an instant chemistry that just felt right. My recollection is that there was one gig at a Catholic School in Pontiac before James left that had Ron Asheton on bass.

Reason that came about was we were scouted by two managers, Ron Richardson, (no relation) and Jeep Holland, both based in Ann Arbor. I hitch hiked to meet Jeep at Discount Records. He managed the store but wasn't there when I arrived. Instead I met a dude named Jim Osterberg who was stocking records, and told me to hang out till Jeep returned. Jim also was the drummer for the Prime Movers blues band at this time.

I an eternally grateful to him for picking up the phone and calling his friend bassist Ron Asheton. Twenty minutes later, Ron, Scott Asheton and Dave Alexander showed up. Jeep however, did not.

The four of us walked across the quadrangle to Ron Richardson's apartment and there THE CHOSEN FEW PT. 2 was born. Richard moved to lead guitar after James left. Al Wilson became our rhythm guitarist and Ron Asheton played bass.

I feel so proud and grateful that both future hall of famers James and Ronnie came into my life. In the brief time of that band a lot of cool connections happened & a bit of history was made. Scott Richardson

P.S.

Kim, please also add that Ron Richardson took THE CHOSEN FEW to New York City and later became manager of THE STOOGES. Jeep Holland became manager and producer of the SCOT RICHARD CASE.

1.04.2019

DIAMOND DOGS: RELOAD, REWIND & RECALL ROCK N ROLL


RELOAD, REWIND & RECALL ROCK N ROLL - Swedish glam boogie blue-eyed soul rockers DIAMOND DOGS are back to set things straight!

After the loss of saxophone player and longtime band member Magic Gunnarsson (who died in a drowning accident 2014) Sulo and the rest of DIAMOND DOGS called it a day. They released the album “Quitters & Complainers” in 2015 and went on a farewell tour ending in Oviedo in October together with Iggy Pop.

Since then Sulo’s been releasing 3 solo albums, working with Chris Spedding, Paul Young, The Crunch and the rest of the members been busy with other projects. During this time a lot of DIAMOND DOGS gig requests been dropping in from all over the world and when they found out that 4 of the 10 previous studio albums been out of stock for a long time and wasn’t available as download they started to make a plan.


Sulo & Honk (Henrik Widen), the remaining original members thought it was time to set things straight and release “that” compilation they’ve been talking about for many years. One thing led to another and soon they had a plan and even some new tracks to blend up the compilation with.

“RECALL ROCK & ROLL” (Cargo Records) will be a double album including 30 tracks. 25 old and 5 brand new songs. At the same time Cargo Records will re-release 4 previous albums on Vinyl/CD & download.

DIAMOND DOGS 2019 are:

Sulo - Lead vocals
Lars Karlsson - Guitars
Martin Thomander (ex Electric Boys) - Guitar, Backing vocals
Henrik “Honk” Widen - Keys, Backing vocals
Stefan Bellnäs - Bass
Thomas Broman (ex Glenn Hughes) - Drums

Members of Diamond Dogs also have associations with such fine artists as The Hellacopters, Johnny Thunders, The Solution, The Dogs D’amour, The Nomads, Lisa & the Lips, Ian Hunter and The Crunch.

www.facebook.com/everylittlecrack

12.14.2018

SCREAMIN' REBEL ANGELS NEW RELEASE HEEL GRINDER JAN 2019


Out January 24, 2019: Screamin’ Rebel Angels: Heel Grinder LP
A Post-Punk, Rockabilly Masterpiece For the New Year

Screamin’ Rebel Angels are proud to release their sophomore LP Heel Grinder on Hey-Lo Records out January 24th, 2019: thirteen lucky tracks of raging, stomping, rock ‘n roll, post-punk to ring in the new year. The band will be throwing their NYC record release show at the Mercury Lounge on January 25th, kicking off a string of dates on the East Coast, with West Coast, Canadian and European dates to follow.

The music video for Ooh! My Soul, the first single from Heel Grinder has already racked up +38k Facebook views and counting, and can be seen here: https://youtu.be/ADIX7xvKAgM
About Screamin’ Rebel Angels:
Laura Palmer’s Screamin’ Rebel Angels are relentless, as in they DO NOT RELENT. Neither in their rock and roll, nor in the industrious pursuit of their craft and business. As a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, illustrator and designer, Laura drives the music, business, and visual language of Screamin' Rebel Angels; a joyride into the universe of ferocious feminine power, primal rock 'n roll and a compelling creative spirit. 

She also manages the band, its publishing company and its newly launched record label Hey-Lo Records. The band is truly a woman-owned small-business and takes its DIY credo to heart because they have to… it is either that or relent.

Screamin’ Rebel Angels’ sound is built upon a foundation of rockabilly but like The Clash and The Cramps before them, they take the style and run with it, making it into something timeless, exciting, and all their own. Screamin’ Rebel Angels are rockabilly the way Neko Case is country - they are, but that is really just the beginning of the story.



Live the band is incendiary. Palmer’s voice is a big as they come, and she is backed by purely top-shelf players. They burn up a room, and remind us why live music is a truly vital and necessary art form. In the studio they’ve managed to capture this lightning-in-a-bottle.

Production of Heel Grinder was handled by Tony Maimone (Pere Ubu, Bob Mould, Frank Black) and the album leaps out of your speakers. This album is the antidote to a world full of down-tempo EDM, chill-out mixes, and music to make us point-and-click. Screamin’ Rebel Angels strive make you sweat, dance, shout, and jump, and they WON’T relent.

Screamin’ Rebel Angels: Heel Grinder
Out January 24th on Hey-Lo Records
Tracklist:
Ooh! My Soul
Baby Gets Down
Heel Grinder
Hands Off
I Believe
Brassy Brown
Something On your Mind
Sweet Petunia
Where You At
Snake
Iris
The Devil Whispered To Me
Racing Death

LINKS:
Instagram: @ScreaminRebelAngels
Twitter: @ScreaminNYC

KING ZEBRA: SWISS/AMERICAN HARD ROCK BAND HAS NEW RELEASE


Swiss hard rock band KING ZEBRA - featuring Eric St. Michaels (ex-CHINA) on vocals - have released a new digital single and music video for the song 'Like A Hurricane', taken from their forthcoming EP. The video can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/HnoRhbq7bRo



The track was recorded & mixed by V.O. Pulver (Gurd, Poltergeist) at Little Creek Studio and mastered by Dan Suter (Krokus, Shakra, Eluveitie) at Echochamber.

Single track:

1. Like A Hurricane


KING ZEBRA is:

Eric St. Michaels - Lead Vocals (ex-China)
Roman Lauer - Lead Guitars, Vocals
Jerry Napitupulu - Rhythm Guitars, Vocals
Michael Mutter - Bass, Vocals
Benjamin Grimm - Drums

It was 2012 that four longhaired lads from Zürich started a band that completely dedicated itself to the sound of 80’s Rock. More than 80 shows later they are more determined than ever to reach out to both old and new fans with their original high-powered Music.

They recorded their first album in 2013 at the famous Tonmanufaktur Studios in Zürich. They were bold enough to call it “Greatest Hits”.

Two years later with the help of V.O. Pulver (Gurd, Poltergeist, Pulver and Panzer) at Little Creek Studio they produced and eventually released the album Wild! Wild! Wild!.


Then after some internal changes in 2016 including the addition of a second guitarist, King Zebra had to say goodbye to it’s singer Tom Hoochy Coo. One year later, Eric St. Michaels joined. With Eric’s longtime career as front man and shouter for the rock band China, this native-born American from New Jersey brought a distinctive voice and has contributed significantly to the newly defined sound of King Zebra. The first release with the new lead singer was called "Bad Idea".

In 2018 will find Eric St. Michaels, Lauer, Jerry, Ben and Michael on stage together and ready for action. Ladies and gentlemen, we loud & proudly present: King Zebra!

www.facebook.com/KINGZEBRA.band
www.kingzebra.ch

10.30.2018

VIVEIRO ROCKS! GUEST POST FROM CHRIS KLONDIKE MASUAK


Today's guest post is from Chris Klondike Masuak Canadian-born Australian rock musician, guitarist, songwriter and record producer.

I pick Pony Boy up from the bus stop after school most days.

If it’s sunny I wait sitting on a brick wall swinging my legs and looking out over a 12th-century convent to the low green coastal mountains, disappearing into soft haze.

The bus swings round the corner pretty much right on the button and Pony Boy bursts out, talking a mile a minute about how he didn’t do anything at school.


We’ll stop at a bar on the way home. Spanish bars aren’t the frosted glassed sleazy dives we used to stand in fear and wonder outside of as kids in northern Canada. He’ll continue his monologue over hot chocolate and churros, stopping occasionally to talk to one of the patrons in whatever language suits them, which in this joint usually means “Deep Galego”.

Most of the old folks in town know Pony Boy. On those sunny days they’ll all be out sitting along the walkway beside the bay in the precious sunshine. He’ll stop and say hello to them, making sure that the ones who don’t see so well know it’s him. He shakes their hands or gives high fives. They’ll talk for a while about this and that while I stand back and watch.

If we don’t notice them when we walk past, they’ll wave and yell “Hola!”. He waves back and yells, telling them where we’re going.

We seem to have become a fixture. If I’m out on the street by myself, people I don’t even know will ask “You’re by yourself today? Where’s your boy?”

As we walk along he keeps up a running monologue, mostly about the various ways you can defeat zombies or the mechanical attributes of the robots he likes to build.


We’ll usually end up walking along beside the water to the music school and we’ll stand outside for a while, playing by the antique cannons and listening to the students clamouring away.

Violin concertos, bagpipes, rock bands...it’s the luck of the draw on any given day.

Some days we’ll walk further along the waterfront to the sports centre.

In July you can forget about swimming for a few weeks. Viveiro is home to Resurrection Fest, one of Europe’s biggest metal/thrash festivals. When that’s on, it’s impossible to get to the pool. It’s annoying.

A couple of years ago Motorhead did their final concert there. Last year Iron Maiden played. This year it was KISS and Scorpion.


We can hear it all from my place at the far end of the bay..

During the festival our medieval fishing village is choked with people. At first the locals were worried about all those strange kids with tattoos, piercings, dressed in black.

These days, they don’t even bother calling in any extra police. The 60,000 concert goers cause less trouble and are infinitely more polite than any couple of drunken Brits!

In August there’s a giant festival stage set up in the town plaza. Every night music drifts out across the water and echoes against the hills.

The bars are overflowing and while you listen to the concerts you can fill up on the free tapas!

The other night I was making my way back home after playing a Rock 4 West Papua benefit. It was 4 AM and the streets were still buzzing with activity. Some kids recognised me and yelled “Hey, Masuak!”

Without even trying, Viveiro Rocks!

10.19.2018

DETROIT ROCK LEGEND MITCH RYDER: HAS A NEW CHRISTMAS CD TAKE A RIDE!!


Take A Ride This Christmas With Rock/Soul Legend MITCH RYDER On His First-Ever Holiday Album!

Of the many gifts given to the world by the Detroit music scene, from the 4th time Hall of Fame nominees The MC5, The Stooges, The Rockets is the one "gift" who started THEM ALL  the unforgettable voice of MITCH RYDER.

Whether performing with or without the amazing Detroit Wheels, Mitch has been one of the most dominant figures in the Motor City’s soulful/rock music scene for the last 5 decades, stuffing the world’s musical stockings with such sweet hits as “Devil With A Blue Dress On,” “Jenny (Take A Ride)”, "Detroit" and a whole lot more!

Just got this new press release presenting a collection of brand new recordings to celebrate the spirit and soul of Christmas, called Christmas (Take A Ride), which finds the blue-eyed crooner offering fresh takes on holiday classics made famous by Elvis Presley, Stevie Wonder, and Bruce Springsteen along with seasonal favorites “Let It Snow,” “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” and more!

Christmas (Take A Ride) will be available on both CD and digital starting October 26 via Goldenlane Records, a division of Cleopatra Records, Inc.

Also be sure to watch for a new album from Ryder featuring very special guest appearances by James Williamson (The Stooges), Sylvain Sylvain (NY Dolls), Walter Lure (Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers), Joe Louis Walker, Brian Auger and more! YES!!



Track List:
1. What Christmas Means To Me
2. Blue Christmas
3. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
4. Someday At Christmas
5. Jingle Bell Rock
6. Santa Claus
7. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
8. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
9. Sleigh Ride
10. Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer
11. Let It Snow
12. Put A Little Love In Your Heart
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