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A1 Artist Spotlight.Com did a phone interview Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad) about his cd For The People. Excerpts of the interview are also in the podcast.
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Mark Farner was the lead singer, songwriter, and guitarist for one of the biggest American rock bands of the seventies, Grand Funk Railroad. Grand Funk Railroad sold 25 million records and played to sold out arenas around the world, they accumulated 17 gold and 11 platinum records. Some of their big songs are “Closer To Home (I’m Your Captain)”, “Mean Mistreater”, “Time Machine”, “Inside Looking Out”, “Footstompin’ Music”, “Rock & Roll Soul”, Walk Like a Man”, “The Loco-Motion”, “Shinin’ On”, “Some Kind of Wonderful”, “Bad Time”, and “We’re An American Band”. In the interview (podcast) I did with Mark Farner he talks about his time in Grand Funk Railroad, but this article is going to deal with his solo record. For more information about Grand Funk Railroad listen to the podcast or go to Mark Farner’s Website.
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Mark Farner’s newest CD is called For the People. He is the self proclaimed Rock Patriot. As a proud citizen of the United States of America, Mark Farner is telling the Americans that there is a big problem going on in this county and you better wake up to it before all your freedoms are taken away. The title track “For the People” and “Where Do We Go From Here” in my opinion should be required listening by all American citizens. These two songs are the most important songs any American can hear this year. If Bob Dylan put these songs out the media would be screaming about what Dylan has written. They’d be telling you in the papers, on the radio, and on TV, “this is the most important song Bob Dylan has written since “The Times They Are A Changing”. Well this may be the most important song since “The Times They Are A Changing”, but Mark Farner The Rock Patriot wrote it, and hardly anyone is playing it. Thanks to Mark Kerr’s Blues Nation podcast, I’ve got to hear the song “For the People”, a lot. What’s wrong with the radio stations? Why have they not taken the time to play these important songs? This is not some guy their listeners have never heard of, this is Mark Farner the man who gave us “I’m Your Captain”, “Footstompin’ Music” and “We’re An American Band”. The leader of Grand Funk Railroad, one of the biggest American bands of all time. The media has ignored this record but you can save the day. Call your local radio station and demand them to play these songs. Mark said the reason he wrote “For the People” is to provoke people to think about where we are as a nation and how we got here. Mark’s tired of the media and the government telling us lies about everything. The war, the oil, the money. Who is really in control of these things? Why are we as a nation doing what the people of America do not want our government to do? Who is really running this country, the government or rich Europeans that control our banks? What ever happened to “by the people and for the people”?
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These are the words to Mark Farner’s song
“For the People”
There’s a ghost in the White House
The memory of a man,
A man who loved his people,
A patriot for this land
But we no longer prosper,
We just try to scrap up the dough,
We can’t even pay the interest
On the money these idiots borrowed,
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People waking up there’s a question I’ve got to ask,
I want to know what happened to,
All the people, by the people, for the people
We let it slip away to the government,
Money spent, can’t pay the rent,
And it’s just another day in America,
It’s just another day in America,
It’s just another day in America,
Another day back home.
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Apathy in the people,
Brained washed by TV, …
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It makes me want to just throw up
When I think about the IRS,
People waking up there’s a question
I’ve got to ask,
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I want to know what happened to,
All the people,
By the people, for the people
We let it slip away
Too much government, money spent,
Can’t pay the rent,
And it’s just another day in America,
It’s just another day in America,
It’s just another day in America,
Another day back home.
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Now do these words make sense to you, do you agree with what Mark is saying? Then get out there and call your radio station and demand “For the People” so other people can hear these words.
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“Cry Baby”: This is about when you had a spat with your wife, and you want to talk to her with out getting smacked in the head with a frying pan. It’s much more palatable in a song than coming right out and saying it.
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“Same Ol’ Feeling”: This song is about freedom and the love that is in our heart. Our desire to make things better for people around the world despite what our government is doing.
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“This Time” was performed live for a while and will have a video at http://www.markfarner.com/
Mark’s wife says this song makes her feel a movie is going on.
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“You’re My Girl” has had some radio play as well as a great guitar solo, that yells that Mark Farner still has it in him.
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“Symptoms” is the wresting match between out spirit and flesh. Mark gave the example of two Indians talking. The father explains there are two wolves inside you, the good wolf and the bad wolf. His son ask which wolf will win, the father says the one you feed. So it is with us. The spirit will only win if we free it.
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“Where Do We Go From Here” is another very powerful message.
These are just some of the lyrics to the song
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There’s got to be a reason, I feel so bad inside,
Can anyone else see, we’re a nation facing suicide,
How could they take them, the freedoms that our fathers won.
There’s got to be a reason, it’s not too late to be undone.
We better take a new direction, but Where Do We Go from Here,
I’m thinking about my soul perception, they’ve lied to my people, here
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I asked Mark if it takes longer to write a song like this with such deep lyrics. He said no, the songs just come as a wave and most get written in less than a half an hour. Mark writes some of his music like “Where Do We Go From Here” on the keyboards. He likes to write songs with other people just to learn more about how to write songs. There is a large back catalog of songs he has written over the years. These songs have never been recorded and may be put out for other artist to record soon.
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Even though I spent more time talking about the lyrics of the songs, I do not want to skip over the music. “For The People” is a rock anthem song, plenty of guitar and pounding drums. The kind of song that makes you want to get up and pump your fist in the air.
The CD, For The People, has hard rocking songs, rock ballads, love songs like “Nadean”, (a song for his wife), and even some pop rock the could be big hits if the radio stations would just let you hear them. Mark Farner’s guitar playing is as good as ever and his singing is still very soulful. Just because this does not have Don or Mel on it does not mean it cannot sound like Grand Funk Railroad. Even though Mark was just one third of Grand Funk Railroad he was the lead singer, writer, and guitarist for the band. Maybe one third of the members but more like two thirds of what the band was doing. Lawrence Buckner, the bass guitarist, and drummer Hubert Crawford, on this CD, do a great job on their instruments. If you ever liked the sound of Grand Funk Railroad you will love this cd, Mark is moving on up.
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I saw a Mark Farner concert in 2006 he did one hit after another with two or three songs from this CD. The concert was just as good, probably better than when I saw the We’re An American Band tour. The concert had a lot of power and energy, Mark was all over the stage playing better than ever and his voice was in great shape. Mark took time to talk to the audience about the old days of Grand Funk Railroad and what was going on in his life now. He talked about some of the songs he was playing and how they came about. Hearing Mark’s stories was just as important to me as hearing the songs. Halfway through the show I leaned to my wife and said “How is Dave Mason going to top this, he’s doing one big hit after another”. Julie shrugged her shoulders and said, “I don’t know it makes no sense to me.” Now Dave Mason was good when he came out and we in enjoyed his show, but you could tell everyone was there to see Mark Farner. A lot of people stood all the way through Mark’s show then sat the rest of the night. If you have a chance to see the Mark Farner tour this year don’t let it pass you buy. You will really have a good time. Mark and his band put out 100%.
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The Band is:
Mark Farner – Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion
Lawrence Buckner – Bass
Hubert Crawford – Drums
Paul O’Jibway – Keyboards, Sax, Percussion
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For The People was recorded at the famous “Swamp” where most of the Grand Funk Railroad records were recorded.
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On the inside cover it states this is a tribute to:
“The Spirit of Liberty, the men and women of the Armed Forces of the United States of America and to the Patriots of this country who are the hope of freedom.”
God bless what’s left of America!”
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Mark Farner still rocks just as good as ever, don’t miss his tour or the CD For The People. It really does have the two most important songs you will hear this year or next.
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Songs played on the podcast are:
1. Cry Baby
2. For the People
3. Same Ol’ feeling
4. Symptoms
5. Where Do We Go From Here
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Mark Farner Website
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Mark Farner MySpace page
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I’d like to thank Mark Farner for taking the time to be on this show as well as Mark Bowsher for all his work in setting this up.
Mark Bowsher is also the one who gave us this rare photo of Grand Funk Railroad.
From Mark to Mark and Mark, Thank You Very Much.

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A1 Artist Spotlight.Com did a phone interview with Delaney Bramlett about his cd A New Kind of Blues. Excerpts of the interview are also in the podcast.
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Delaney Bramlett was raised in a log house in Mississippi. After a short stay in the Navy he started playing music in the bars and clubs of L.A. One night he was asked to play in the house band of a new TV show called Shindig. Shindig was a music variety show that had The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Sam Cooke, Sonny & Cher and many more of the popular artists of the day. Delaney Bramlett and Leon Russell were part of the house band on Shindig. Through this he made many contacts with people in the music business. In 1967 Delaney met and married Bonnie O’Farrell. Shortly after that they formed Delaney & Bonnie and Friends. They released six records between 1969 and 1972.
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The second record was Accept No Substitute in 1969 which George Harrison really liked and played for Eric Clapton. Eric took Delaney & Bonnie and Friends on tour with him as the warm up act for his band Blind Faith. Part way through the tour Blind Faith was not getting along with each other. Eric started riding on Delaney’s tour bus, then started playing in some of their shows.
After Blind Faith’s break up, Eric Clapton joined Delaney & Bonnie and Friends. Delaney said while in England and performing at the Royal Albert Hall, George Harrison came to see them and asked if he could join the band. That night they went by George’s house and picked him up and off on the road they went. From that tour they released what I think is one of the best live rock records ever made. Delaney & Bonnie and Friends on Tour with Eric Clapton has one powerful song after another with a real feel of you being there. Few live records have been able to capture that feel of you being right there in front of the band. Eric Clapton then used Delaney & Bonnie and Friends as his back up band for his first solo record Eric Clapton. Many still feel this is the best solo record Eric Clapton ever made. Out of the twelve songs eight of them are written or co-written by Delaney including Bottle of Red Wine and Let It Rain. Later Eric would use the core of this band to be Derek and the Dominos and record Layla.
George Harrison would use much of the Delaney & Bonnie and Friends band on his first solo record, All Things Must Past. Delaney told me when George first joined his band George asked for two favors of Delaney. One would Delaney teach him how to play slide guitar like he played it. Two would Delaney teach him how to write a gospel song. From what Delaney showed George and them jamming together turned in to My Sweet Lord. George was very grateful and the two of them stayed in touch up until George’s passing.
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One time John Lennon called to asked if they would like to be the Plastic Ono Band for a concert they were doing, Delaney said sure.
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Another time playing a live radio show in New York City Delaney had Duane Allman, Gregg Allman and King Curtis backing him up.
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Still another time Delaney lost his guitarist before a concert and Jimi Hendrix showed up to play in Delaney’s band. Delaney said Jimi ask him if he should play rhythm or lead, Delaney said take your pick, Jimi said I’ll play lead.
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Now all that is very interesting and fun to hear about but there is something else just as interesting. Delaney Bramlett’s new record A New Kind of Blues. Jimi Hendrix described Delaney’s music way back when as spiritual and that sound, that feel is still very present in this new cd. The way Delaney mixes blues, gospel, soul and rock is like no other artist. Everything Delaney touches on this record turns to gold. The production is first rate, the mix is awesome. The first time I heard the cd I could not believe how good the sound quality was. With ear phones/ear buds on, you will hear so much more of each instrument and their interplay with each other. If you like to hear separation on speakers your ears are going to have a feast. That alone kept me captivated for the first few times I played A New Kind of Blues. Even if this is not the kind of music you would normally listen to, you will come away from this knowing you have heard an outstanding and ingenious recording.
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We haven’t even talked about the songs, musicians, or Delaney’s great voice yet. Delaney told me most of the songs come to him very quickly. It’s hard to believe something this wonderful can come out of one man so fast. I do not recognize any of the musicians on the cd but they sure know how to give a powerful performance. Delaney’s voice, tone, and emotional feel are far better now than any time in the past. This is not a singer just singing a song. This is a man digging deep into his soul to express his feelings, Only someone who has been looking deeply into himself can pull this kind of emotion out of so many songs.
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The first track What Do You Do About the Blues is a bluesy gospel song. Delaney said he is asking the listener what do they do when they have the blues. He said he sings when he has the blues. Praise God we get to listen. The keyboards give a church like feeling as well as the chorus. Then there are these bluesy horns that come in as well as the blues guitar. It’s hard to put your finger on just what kind of music this is. It’s not just blues or gospel it’s a little of several things. Delaney’s voice is very soulful and full of emotion with a hint of questioning in his voice. This is a great opener for this record.
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Cold and Hard Times Delaney said is based on things that have happened to him along with a few things added to make the song work. I can almost imagine Delaney sitting on the back porch playing this song. It has such a down home sound. The percussion instruments on this song have to be heard with headphones to really appreciate all that is going on.
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Mighty Mighty Mississippi starts off with a plain acoustic guitar, harmonica, and a drum beat. Delaney is singing about how he started off in Mississippi and took a train to L.A. As the story grows so does the instrumentation of the song. Stan Ruffeo’s harp playing very nicely. Delaney really makes you feel you’re down in Mississippi with the mood he has created here.
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Ol Moanin’ Blues is just a bass guitar, two acoustic guitars, and Delaney’s moaning voice. Jerry McGee takes a fine guitar solo. You really get the feel they’re just sitting around playing songs with no care for what people will say. Just having fun doing what they like best.
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A New Kind of Blues is an upbeat full band sound that even has a sax solo. Delaney masterfully brings in different instruments almost like he’s teasing you with “look what I can do here”. This is a song that should be getting regular airplay on most any radio station. If your station is not playing this song please give them a call and request A New Kind of Blues.
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Ain’t Got Nothin’ To Lose is a fun upbeat almost marching song. This has the full band stepping out for you to hear what they can do.
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P.O. Box 32789 is about a man who gets into a fight, shoots the other man, and is now on the run. The only way to get in touch with him is to send a letter to P.O. Box 32789. This is an old time blues style song with acoustic guitars and an eerie harmonica. The main instrument is really Delaney’s voice.
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The same is true of the next song, Delaney’s voice is the center of attention. This is the powerful Sam Cooke song Change Is Gonna Come. This is one of those songs you’re just a fool to try and redo. Everyone knows this as soon as they hear the first three words. Once again though Delaney Bramlett knows just what he is doing. The musical arrangement is good but it’s the voice that makes you fall in love with it.
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I Got the Time is a cool song about how this person has no time for anyone or anything. Then the person is sent to prison and sings about how he now has the time, all the time in the world. This is one of the songs I played in the podcast. Listen to the rhythm guitar. Delaney told me it just has one cord in the whole song. He got this idea from listening to classical music, something he likes from time to time. I Got the Time sounds like it has chord changes the way he put the song together, but it’s the same cord. Once again Delaney is a master at song writing.
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I’m Gonna Be Ready for me is the high point of A New Kind of Blues. This is a bluesy gospel song Delaney pulls out all the stops on. The full band is playing, and a chorus is backing Delaney as the power of the song builds. Delaney sings about how he is going to knock on heaven’s door, ask the Lord to let him in, and thank him for his forgiveness for the trouble he’s been. Delaney goes on to talk about the book of life, streets of gold, and how he’s gonna be ready. This is a big production and Delaney’s voice is excelllent. If this song is not nominated for gospel song of the year by the Grammies then they have less credibility than I already think they have. Call your gospel station and ask them to play this song too.
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Well, this pretty well wraps up one of the greatest records Delaney Bramlett has ever made. You can bet George, Jimi, and Duane are looking down from Heaven saying “that’s our boy”.
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Songs in the podcast are:
1. Cold and Hard Times
2. Mighty Mighty Mississippi
3. I Got the Time
4. I’m Gonna Be Ready
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Delaney Bramlett Website
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Delaney Bramlett MySpace page
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CD Baby Website to buy the cd A New Kind of Blues

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A1 Artist Spotlight.Com interviewed Jim King of Aunt Kizzy’z Boyz about their recorded It’s Tight Like That. Excerpts of the interview are also in the podcast.
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Aunt Kizzy’z Boyz is a Delta Chicago blues band that is high energy. The boyz are preaching the gospel of good time blues, with Sugaray as the get in your face preacher that is going to tell how it’s going to be. You’d better have had a couple energy drinks in you or you’ll never keep up with the band.
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Aunt Kizzy’z Boyz have two great cd’s out. The first one Truck Full of Blues and the live cd I’ll play in the podcast It’s Tight Like That. The title really describes the music because it is very tight. You can’t help but to get up and have a good time when listening to this music. They played at a juke joint in Mississippi that B.B. King had just bought called Club Ebony. As expected Aunt Kizzy’z Boyz tore the house down. Club Ebony is a place that really knows the blues and expects to get a top notch artist to play there. For Aunt Kizzy’z Boyz to be so well recieved means they really are a good blues band
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Aunt Kizzy’z Boyz is based in California. They were formed in 2000 after guitarist Jim King and drummer Dwane Hathorn had played together on and off, and in different projects for about fourteen years. Dwane came up with the name for the band reading the book “Roots”. For the next few years different members passed through the band. In 2003 they ran in to Sugaray, at that point Jim and Dwane knew they had found the singer they needed. The current band includes Bastos Moenho who is from Angola, Africa and is the percussionist. Surprisingly his favorite artists are all guitarists Albert Collins, Albert King, and B.B. King. Joe Schiavone is the bass guitarist however, he does sing lead at times. Joe’s favorite artists are B.B. King, Buddy Guy, and Junior Wells. Drummer Dwane Hathorn grew up on blues, jazz, big band, and R&B which gives him an opportunity to practice his favorite quote “It’s all about the groove”. Michael Mack is the classically trained keyboardist who likes Herbie Hancock, Samuel Barber, Jimmy Smith, Patrick Moraz, and Dr. John. His favorite quote is by Bob Dylan, check out the website to see what it is.
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Sugaray (Caron Rayford) is the charismatic jump shouting preacher of the blues from Tyler Texas. Raised in the church on gospel music you can feel the gospel roots in the blues he sings. One of his favorite songs is “Smokestack Lighting” and whether it’s Howlin’ Wolf, Sonny Boy Willamson, or The Yardbirds doing it, you can bet Sugaray can do it better. Some of Sugaray’s favorite artist are Son House, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, and Howlin’ Wolf. Jim King is the guitarist and writes the song with Sugaray. Jim has a solo cd When The Blues Are Green which is songs written by his favorite guitarist Peter Green.
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Jim says there are no egos in the band, they all get along like family. If there is a problem they all work together to help each other. Jim’s wife, Kimberly and Sugaray’s wife, Pam do all the booking of shows, drawing up contracts, and making the band’s website. They have their own recording company, SugarKing Records, which has put out the two Aunt Kizzy’s Boyz cds as well as Jim King’s solo cd When The Blues Are Green. The band also does work with Blues in the School. They go out to schools and play music for the kids as well as teach the kids about where this music comes from. While on tour in Europe they called up schools to visit on their off days.
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The cd kicks off with Sugaray saying this is for all my people out in Texas. The band kicks in as Jim’s guitar screams out some great lead lines. You know from the start this is going to be a lot of fun. Sugaray is a “Texas Blues Man” and he is paying tribute to his home state of Texas.
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“Bad Girl” (but in a good way) is a great swinging Chicago shuffle. Lyrics to “Bad Girl” are fun just like the music, you just can’t help but have a lot of fun listening to these two lead off songs.
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“Sugar Mama” is a Howlin’ Wolf song that was also covered by Rory Gallagher’s band Taste and Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac. All versions are quit different as is this version. While I like all of the other versions this one by Aunt Kizzy’s Boyz is the best by far to me. The song is more laid back with really great clean guitar playing, the organ playing adds a very nice dimension to the song. Having a full band really helps this over Rory Gallagher’s version with just a three piece band. Wolf’s version is 2:38, Mac’s is 4:14, Gallagher’s is 8:11 and Aunt Kizzy’s Boyz is 9:10 each one very much in a style of there own. Wish I could have played this cover because it real is a highlight of the guitar playing on this cd.”I Still Remember” is kind of a old time county blues chant.
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“Bundalogy” reminds me of something Santana would have in one of his records with all the percussion instruments on it. This was written by the drummer Dwane Hathorn and percussionist Bastos Moenho. Since Bastos Moenho is from Africa these probably aren’t Spanish but African rhythms.
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“Juke Joint” was written after playing at Club Ebony in Mississippi. Jim said he had the music for a long time and Sugaray added the lyrics and hey we have another great song. This is another great upbeat fun party song.
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What can be said about a song like “Thrill is Gone” everyone knows this song by B.B. King. Others have recorded this classic like Aretha Franklin, Luther Allison, Willie Nelson and even Leslie West of Mountain fame. Aunt Kizzy’s Boyz do a more blue version with a little jazz in it. Like always the Boyz come through with a wonderful version. Almost everyone in the band cited B.B. King as one of their favorite blues artist it makes good sense to record this one.
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“Jelly Roll” like “Juke Joint” is a upbeat party song, little more on the side of rock than blues, definitely on the side of a fun time.
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“Annie Mae’s Cafe” is a slow heartfelt blues song. One exception is about 7 minutes into the song Jim’s guitar gets stronger and stronger with a fabulous lead.
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The song is about a old man thinking back on his life and how he met his wife in “Annie Mae’s Cafe”. This is the only sad song on the cd. They prove here there can be more to Aunt Kizzy’s Boyz than just a fun time. This is a wonderful song of both deliverance of the words and music. “Annie Mae’s Cafe” would have been in the podcast but the song is ten minutes long. By playing this two other songs would have to be left out. Guess you’ll have to buy the cd, it’s well worth the money.
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With songs like a Texas Blues Man, Bad Girl, Sugar Mama, Juke Joint, Thrill is Gone, Jelly Roll, and Annie Mae’s Café this is a very strong cd. A six piece band that is this tight with strong vocals and soaring guitar is hard to find. Take the time to rewind the podcast to the start of the songs, play them over again, you’ll see this is a band with a bright future a head of them.
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That would be all if it just wasn’t for the fact that Jim King has a solo cd you should also check out. When the Blues Are Green is a cd of Peter Green songs, some he wrote, some he just defined with his interpretation. Peter Green as most of you know was the guiltiest that started Fleetwood Mac back in the late 60′s and pinned the song “Black Magic Woman” that became a big hit for Santana. Jim King does a great job on guitar and vocals with songs everyone should know, but sadly do not in most cases. Some of the eleven songs on When the Blues Are Green are “Rollin Man”, “Rattlesnake Shake”, “Long Grey Mare”, “Drifting” and still another good version of “Sugar Mama”
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Thanks to Aunt Kizzy’z Boyz for letting me play their songs and to Jim King for a great interview. Jim thanks for all the great stories about when you saw The Rolling Stones with Brian Jones, Jeff Beck Group with Rod Stewart, Fleetwood Mac with Peter Green, B.B., Albert, and Freddie King in concert. Sorry I did not have time to share all the stories. This man knows what a good concert is and is out there over 250 days a year making it happen for others to remember what a great concert is. Aunt Kizzy’s Boyz with Sugaray and Jim King.
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Aunt Kizzy’z Boyz Website
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Aunt Kizzy’z Boyz – MySpace
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CD Baby Website – to buy Aunt Kizzy’z Boyz cd It’s Tight Like That
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CD Baby Website – to buy Aunt Kizzy’z Boyz first cd Truck Full of Blues
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CD Baby Website – to buy Jim King’s cd When the Blues Are Green
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Check out The Rollover Rock Show
Great Rock n’ Roll for everyone.

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Lillian Axe is a hard rock band that released it’s first cd in 1988,
since then they have released seven cd’s. Most people feel their 1993
cd Psychoschizophrenia was their masterpiece with vocalist Ron Taylor.
The newest cd “Waters Rising” is a perfect mix of heavy metal, hard
rock, and softer acoustic pieces that some times get near classical
music but still has a heavy feel to it.
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Before we talk about this new masterpiece “Waters Rising” lets get
some back round on Steve Blaze. He is the leader of Lillian Axe as
well as producing, engineering, song writer, keyboards and guitar
wizard.

Steve started out listening to Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath, Kiss,
Scorpions, and Judas Priest among others. The First record he bought
was Alice Cooper’s “Schools Out”.
Steve started playing guitar before he was a teenager and by nineteen
was playing guitar on a record for Jim Dandy (former singer for Black
Oak Arkansas).

A few years later Steve formed Lillian Axe. They made four cd’s,
touring around the world and had four videos on MTV. For those of you
too young to remember MTV, it was a cable channel that had 24-7 rock
videos. With none of the #rap they have today, sorry I’ve digressed.
After their 1993 Psychoschizophrenia cd and tour it was finely time to
take a hiatus.

Lillian Axe cd’s
1988 Lillian Axe
1989 Love and War
1992 Poetic Justice
1993 Psychoschizophrenia
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1995 Steve Blaze had a new band called “Near Life Experience” This
time he would be the lead vocalist as well as guitar wizard and
songwriter. They recorded five cd’s but only three are still in print and
you may want to order them soon before they sell out. They are only
available through their website or at concerts.

Near Life Experience is:
Steve Blaze – lead vocalist and guitar
Richard Kendrick – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
Eric Morris – bass
Rob Hovey – drums

1999 Lillian Axe releases “Fields of Yesterday” (B sides)

2000 Steve Blaze joins an old 1970′s/80′s rock band he had loved as a
teen called Angel.
They are working on a cd and do concerts from time to time.

2002 Lillian Axe releases “Live”
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2005 Steve Blaze releases his first solo cd “Random Acts of Blindness”
The cd is dedicated to his father, who passed away in 2002.
Steve sings and plays all the instruments. It’s soft and mellow with a lot
of acoustic guitars.
Steve said it’s still very touching for him listen to.

2007 Lillian Axe releases “Waters Rising”
Steve Blaze said Lillian Axe had spent ten years recording and touring
with very little time off. After 12 years of no new studio recordings
“Waters Rising” is the first studio record since their highly
acclaimed 1993 cd “Psychoschizophrenia”. They have gone through many
changes both personal and with solo projects. The record industry
has changed very much in the last 12 years plus there is no MTV for
their videos. For Lillian Axe to reestablish themselves would take a
lot of hard work. After four years of working on and tweaking “Waters
Rising” it was finely released. The wait is well worth it as “Waters
Rising” is a masterpiece. Steve says this was a new beginning for the
band. He tried to get the songs to work off each other. Sometimes
there were melodic theme, a dynamic theme, or even a lyrics theme so
Steve spent a lot of time to get all songs to work together to take
you on a journey from the start to the end. When you were done you
don’t feel you heard disjointed songs but one big piece that works
together. One of the great things about “Waters Rising” after you get
past just getting to know the killer songs, is all the hidden sounds
and layering. Put head phones on and check out “Fields of Yesterday”,
“Until the End of the World”, or really any song. You will find what I
call the hidden song. Most bands put out bonus tracks. Lillian Axe’s
bonus is the deepness of each track. Steve said they layered the music
with keyboard pads, another guitar part, and neat sound effects. Some
thing’s showed up that they didn’t even plan on or know how they got
on the song. If it sounded good they left it in.

Steve said “Waters Rising” is about the pressure we have in our lives
due to all the responsibility we have as we get older. Water rising is
how you either drown or get strong and swim through it. These are some
of the lines from the song.

Waters Rising – Music and Lyrics by Steve Blaze
I felt the waters rising up on me
I drowned a thousand times but washed up from the sea
Well I can take it, so I can break it
Melt it slowly
Fireflies paint the skies
Do we really need to burn?

And everything I see
Is jaded from the light that I used to follow
And everything I need
Slips right through the cracks as I watch it wash away
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“Fields of Yesterday” Steve said is kind of the song that defends Lillian Axe.
It has many different elements in the song that all have to work
together to make this epic like song. The song is about how mankind
has evolved spiritually, mentally and emotionally. Now we have evolved
up to this point but it looks like were ready to heading right back
down. Steve feels we as humans have great potential but we’re it messing
up.

Fields of Yesterday – Music and Lyrics by Steve Blaze
Then I saw a sign near the corners of my mind
In the fields of yesterday

Looking back it’s been so long
My burning passion keeps my hunger going strong
But, I still can’t see something’s stopping me
From the lake of knowledge I thirst for desperately
Just to drink of easily

Steve’s diversity in music goes beyond heavy metal, hard rock and pop.
It goes in to classical music and new age which he likes very much and
can even deal with some country. This is very evident in the music
Steve writes with portions of all in his songs (except country). His
listening taste has continued to grow over the years. Some of the
newer bands Steve likes now are My Chemical Romance, Chevelle and Type
O Negative. By far his favorite new band is Muse, he loves the guitar
work of Matt Bellamy.

Steve’s diversity has now moved into writing and performing all the
music as well as the narration to a five part documentary. The
documentary is being written by author Dr. Alfred Adams who has
written books about the “End Times” biblical prophesy (Nearing
Midnight I & II). Steve Blaze said as a Christian he hopes to spread the
word and reach more people, and be able to create more music. They’re
hoping this will be on TV or maybe picked up by 1200 theaters.
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Steve Blaze has teamed up with Guilford Guitars to create the new
Blaze model guitar. The guitar features an alder body with hand
carved figured maple top and a rock maple neck. Original Floyd Rose
Tremolo, Buzz Feiten tuning system, and Seymour Duncan Blackout
humbucker pickups make this guitar ready to rock. For more
information click here.
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Steve Blaze is an accomplished guitarist as anyone can tell after
listening to Lillian Axe, Near Life Experience or his solo record.
Recently (Dec.2007) “Guitar Player” magazine rated Steve Blaze as one
of the most underrated guitarists. Among some of the others who shared
the list with Steve are Rory Gallagher, Ronnie Montrose, Robbie
Krieger (Doors), Rick Darringer, Andy Powell/Ted Turner (Wishbone Ash)
and the one Steve was the most proud of being on the list with Matt
Bellamy of Muse. Muse of course being the band he loves the guitar
work of the most. If you really would like to hear Steve give his
guitar a work out, listen to the song “5″ on Waters Rising. This is a
song from his solo cd that was added on to Waters Rising just to
satisfy all the fans who have asked him to do a shredding record
over the years. Steve said he is more into the songs than just a
record of shredding. What Steve did was to make one song of all the
shredding styles he knew and put them into the song “5″. “Five” has a
lot of guitars on it, I mean a lot of guitars with so many different
styles you will not be able to keep up with as they blaze by.
This is a killer end to a great cd but it is just one example of the
reason Steve Blaze is in “Guitar Player” magazine as one of the most
underrated guitarists. The rest of the reason is for what he has done
on all the other songs in the last 20 years.

Currently Lillian Axe is working on a new cd for release some time
around September 2008 and will follow it with a tour.
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In my opinion Lillian Axe’s Waters Rising is a masterpiece. It has set
a new level for bands to try in reach. From the opening of the first
song to the close of the last song this record takes you on a great
journey.

The songs played on the podcast:
1. Quarantine
2. Fields of Yesterday
3. The 2nd of May
4. Waters Rising

Lillian Axe Website

Lillian Axe MySpace page

Steve Blaze Website

Steve Blaze MySpace page

Near Life Experience

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

To talking about the childhood of Jimmy D. Lane (born 1965) is to talk about the who’s who of Chicago blues. See Jimmy D. Lane’s father is Jimmy Lane but he used his step fathers name for a stage name. The world knows him as Jimmy Rogers. Jimmy Rogers played guitar in Muddy Waters All Stars along with Little Walter and Otis Spann. All four had their own record deals with Chess Records. Jimmy D. Lain remembers “Pops” would have his friends from work come over to the house. Friends like Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Otis Spann, Albert King, BB King, and Howlin’ Wolf . Jimmy said, as an eight year old he didn’t really know the importance of “pops” and his friends. He did not care who Howlin’ Wolf was he just wanted Mr. Burnett (Howlin’ Wolf) to not be so loud.
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Jimmy D. Lane was more interested in Jimmi Hendrix and Ceram than Jimmy Rogers and his friends. The funny thing is Hendrix, Clapton, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and many others of the time were looking to Jimmy’s dad and friends for their inspiration. To young Jimmy, Jimmy Rogers was just “pop” the one making him take out the garbage at night. Jimmy says he kind of came in the back door to the Chicago Blues by way of the English blues rockers. Wile still young he played around with an acoustic guitar given to him by movie star John Wayne. Jimmy went over and over his dad’s old records as well as Muddy Waters, Albert King, Robert Lockwood Jr. and Jimi Hendrix to learn all he could from them.
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After getting out of the Airborne Division in 1983 Jimmy worked construction jobs, then one day he heard Jimi Hendrix playing “Hey Joe” on the radio. From then on Jimmy D. Lane know what he wanted to do. For the next four years Jimmy worked construction by day and studded the guitar by night.
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Jimmy D. Lane had his own band and in 1987 became the lead guitarist in Jimmy Rogers Band also. This was a tuff job for Jimmy traveling to do his dad’s gigs then going back out on their brakes to tour with his band.
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The 1^st record made by Jimmy D. Lane is the 1995 “Jimmy D. Lane” It has 12 songs by Jimmy and one by his dad. That’s about all I could find out about that record, it’s like the cd has vanished. In fact a lot of places call his 2^nd cd “Lone Gone” his 1^st cd.
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The 2^nd record made by Jimmy D. Lane is the 1997 “Long Gone”
Personnel:
Freddie Crawford – bass
Jimmy D. Lane – vocal, guitar, tambourine
John Koenig – acoustic & electric guitars, tambourine
Also: Jim Keltner
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The first time I heard this cd I was at work and could feel a cold was coming on. I was tired and had a sore throat. Not in the mood to work hard. Put this cd on and a hour latter there was a smile or grin on my face, was not thinking about the sore throat, the adrenaline was pumping and a lot of work was done. This cd “Long Gone” really rocked me in to a good mood. Starting off with the Hendrix song “Hear My Train A Comin” not one of my more favorite Hendrix songs but Jimmy D. Lane does a good job of it. Then “Obsession Babies” which Lane wrote but has a good Hendrix sound to it. This is fellow by another Lane song “Lone Gone” this is more like a Stevie Ray Vaughan like song. At this point Lane slows things down with “I Shell Be Released”. With so many Bob Dylan songs Lane could pick from he pulls out a real winner. A song everyone will know but has not been over played and your ready to hear this beautiful version Lane does. Lane’s six minute version of Muddy Waters “Rolling Stone” is great. It’s like Jimi Hendrix mixed with Robin Trower. Strong vocals and inspired guitar playing even the drummer has the Mitch Mitchell sound down. Later Jimmy D. Lane does the old John Lee Hooker song “Boom Boom”. Weather you like The Yardbirds, The Animals or the original by the man him self John Lee Hooker, Jimmy D. Lane makes it his own song with good guitar licks and a lot of power behind it. Lane throws out two more songs he has written, both good rockin blues. “Oh What A Feelin’” Jimmy again shows his strong vocals and fellows it with strong lead guitar. Sorry to say I’m not for-mill-ur with Albert Kings version of “California”. After seeing Albert’s name as composer I sure could hear his stile of playing. Lane has Albert’s guitar phrasing down so good and the feel is there too. Jimmy D. Lane opened with a Jimi Hendrix song and closes with one of his own. You get hints of both Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan in “Tears Without A Shoulder”. Let me make this very clear when I say songs sound like Hendrix or Vaughan. Lane is not copying their licks and just replaying them, no, Lane is making completely new songs. Somewhat like Robin Trower sounded like Hendrix but by no means was he copying Hendrix songs. Robin was making completely new songs. This is true of Jimmy D. Lane also.
This whole cd shows that Lane can write good songs, sing strong, and play exceptional lead guitar with real feeling in both the voice and the strings. “Long Gone” is over ten years old and sounds just as fresh as the day it was recorded. This cd is well worth getting you will not be able to get enough of it for quit a wile.
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In 1997 wile Lane was bouncing from shows with his band and shows with Jimmy Rogers and his band they stopped in to Ocean Way Studio. Jimmy Rogers was going to recorded a new cd with some of his old friends and admirer’s. Lowell Fulson, Johnnie Johnson, Ted Harvey, John Koening, Freddie Crawford, Jimmy D. Lane, Kim Wilson, Carey Bell, Taj Mahal, Jeff Healey, Stephen Stills, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant all showed up to work with Jimmy Rogers. The Rolling Stones had booked the studio down the hall for the same days so in between working on Bridges to Babylon Mick Jagger and Keith Ritchards would run down the hall to work with Jimmy Rogers All-Star band. Jimmy D. Lane said everyone had a great time getting together and working on the record. The only sad thing was that Van Morrison really wanted to be a part of it and was unable because of previous commitments. If you have never heard this record “Blues Blues Blues” by Jimmy Rogers All-Stars you are really missing out on a great blues record. In my opinion Jimmy Rogers and Stephen Stills doing “Sweet Home Chicago” is the best song I’ve ever heard Stephen Stills do, ok how about the best blues song. Rogers and Jagger are great on “Don’t Start Me Talking” perhaps one of the best things Jagger has done in quit some time. Through all the songs on the record Jimmy D. Lane is playing guitar with all these great cats. On “Goin’ Away Baby” Rogers and Jagger are singing Kim Wilson is blowing harp, Keith Richards is playing guitar wile Jimmy D. Lane plays lead guitar. There are few people that can say they played lead guitar for Jagger and Richards.
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The 3^rd record made by Jimmy D. Lane is the 1998 “Legacy”
Personnel:
Per Hanson – drums
Freddie Crawford – bass
Jimmy D. Lane – guitar
Also:
Hubert Sumlin – guitar
Sam Lay – drums
Jimmy Rogers – guitar
Carey Bell – harp
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The predecessor “Long Gone” was rock n’ roll firmly in bedded in the blues. “Legacy” is the blues in bedded in rock. Lane’s blues playing is at an all time peek, song after song he keeps delivering heart felt leads with powerful vocls. The first track “Hey Little Girl” you will get to hear on the podcast, it’s a fun buggy rolling rock song to get everything going. “Clue Me” Jimmy’s got that a tuff angry voice that really makes the lyrics special. I’ve never heard Memphis Slim do “Four O’Clock in the Morning” but I can’t believe it is better than Jimmy’s version. The guitar playing is what people except out of Eric Clapton or Dickey Betts when they peek. The bad thing about the song is you know sooner or latter it has to end but for 7:09 your in heaven. “Going Downtown” is a fun up beat romp with Carey Bell giving us some good harp playing. “Another Mule Kickin’ In My Stall” is a Muddy Waters song that Jimmy D. Lane and Jimmy Rogers play together. You can almost see the two of them smiling as they play together on this fun song. For the nine minutes of “In the Bed” Jimmy and band show they can play the blues/rock like the very best of them. The drum beat stands out always right there so you can’t forget where you’re going. Carey Bell’s harp is mournful Jimmy is playing fast, slow, loud, soft and everything in-between. At the beginning of the Mercy Dee Walton song “One Room Country Shack” you hear Jimmy Rogers say he just wants to pass the ball on to his son and for him to keep the ball rolling till someone else picks it up. This is the last record Jimmy Rogers recedes two months later on December 19, 1997 he passes away. Besides the great legacy of music he passes on to us perhaps the best of the legacy is just getting started. Jimmy D. Lane is the legacy and he is standing solid. Oh the song “One Room Country Shack” like everything else on the record it’s great. The next five songs are all the some the feel the grove the playing it’s all good and that is the ending track on the record”It’s all Good”. In the podcast “It’s all Good” is just our 2^nd song, hey were just getting started.
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The 4th record made by Jimmy D. Lane is the 2004 “It’s Time”
Personnel:
Jimmy D. Lane – vocals, guitar, bass guitar, drums
Tommy Shannon – bass guitar
Chris Layton – drums
Celia Price – piano, Hammond b-3 organ
Mike Finnigan – Hammond b-3 organ
Larry Faucette – congas
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Five years had past sense the last record and it’s very obvious that Jimmy D. Lane has grown very much. Wile “Long Gone” and “Legacy” have more good songs on them than most artist will have in all their courier. “It’s Time” takes more chances than just putting out another great record of great guitar playing. This record digs deeper into the music for a more meteor blues sound. Somewhat like Jimi Hendrix when he went from “Are You Experienced” and “Axis Bold as Love” into “Electric Ladyland”. The musicianship was a lot more noticeable. Not as many sound affects, loops, feed backing and face pace songs. You really got to hear interplay of the band working with each other as musicians. Trying out different stiles of rock and blues along with different instruments.
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Jimmy D. Lane and Eddie Kramer
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Eddie Kramer was brought in to produce and engineer this record. Jimmy said Eddie jumped into the project right from the beginning and it was a great help because he is so know-lige-able about producing. Jimmy is also a producer but he felt that would be like a doctor operating on him self. It’s better to bring someone in to do it for you. Eddie Kramer was also the engineer for Jimi Hendrix, Beatles “All You Need Is Love/Baby You’re a Rich Man”, Rolling Stones “Beggars Banquet”, Led Zeppelin, Kiss, Kinks, David Bowie, and many more.
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Next was the rhythm section of Tommy Shannon on bass and Chris Layton drums. Better known to most of us as Double Trouble, Stevie Ray Vaughan’s old band. Jimmy had been old friends with Stevie, Tommy and Chris back when they play at Antone’s in Austin Texas. Getting a rhythm section like this is great because Tommy and Chris have worked together for almost 25 years and for 10 years with Stevie Ray Vaughan. Jimmy plays a lot like Stevie so Double Trouble would be a perfect fit.
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We also have Mike Finnigan on Hammond b-3 organ and Larry Faucette on congas both just happen to know Eddie Kramer from the Hendrix days. Both men had played on “Electric Ladyland”. Mike Finnigan went on to play keys with some big name’s solo artist. People like Big Brother and the Holding Compaany, Stephen Stills, Dave Mason, Peter Frampton, CSN, Rod Stewart, Buddy Guy, Ringo Starr and as always many more.
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“It’s Time” brings in different styles for a more diverse record. Jimmy gives us rock n’ blues, good old electric blues, soft laid back Blues, Chicago style acoustic blues, and just strait forward rock. The first song on this cd is the last one in the podcast. “What Makes People” is Jimmy at his best good rock n’ blues (yell, like I wont say “at his best” about another song). This first track really get you going, with a good foot stumper beat and good vocals. The next songs “‘Til I Loved You” and track 4 “Ain’t It a Pity” as well as track 6 “Stuck in the Middle” are softer blues song more beautiful than the ruff edge of the others. “‘Til I Loved You” moves at a pretty good clip wile the other two are slower. All three are beautiful songs. “Half Love” more of a blues rocker and “Bad Luck” more blues than rock both sound like Eric Clapton’s voice. Has Jimmy been learning Eric Clapton’s stile for so long he is even picking up on the voice now. Let me make this very clear we do not want any rumors starting, Eric is not on this cd. “Half Love” is in the podcast so you can judge for your self if it sounds like Eric Claption. Wile your at it also check out Jimi Hendrix like guitar playing. This is one of the things I love so much about Jimmy D. Lane how he is able to take the sounds of the people I grow up loving, mix them together and put out a completely new song that draws from them with out coping them. This is very much what Eric Claption, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Johnny Winter, Stevie Ray Vaughan and so many others did with Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Elmore James and yes Jimmy Rogers. They heard something they liked changed it around and put out something new. Speaking of Elmore James (funny how that works in : – ) the best blues song on this record has got to be Elmore James’s “My Bleeding Heart”. Re-titled “Bleeding Heart” as it is also done on Jimi Hendrix’s record “War Heroes”. Jimmy D. Lane levees the other two way behind in his rendition of this song. Strong heart felt blues guitar, each note well picked and timed. He plays it soft and unhurried, later harder and quicker, with a good drum beat and beautiful organ playing, this is a real gem. This version should be a staple of any blues radio station. Unlike most long tracks (10:28) you never get bored or wish it would end. Would you like to hear something more tridental like acoustic Chicago Blues? Well you’ve come to the right place, after years of playing with the old master (Pops) Jimmy can really lay it down too. Acoustic guitar even in that Eric Claption voice, sound like your back in the fifties except for the nice cd quality. “Hand on the Door” is a fine rockers wile “24-7″ is more of the blues rocker. Each song would fit into any classic rock radio station’s play list with out a wonder as to why it is there, just why haven’t I not heard this before. Good question why haven’t we heard any of these songs on the radio? As always if you like these songs in the podcast call your radio station and tell them to play songs by Jimmy D. Lane. Tell them if they play Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page or Jagger and Richards try out the Jimmy D. Lane. He’s played with all of them and can do as good or better than any of them. Have you ever heard of a rock n blues pop hit? Neither have I but that’s the only way I know how to describe the last song. “Salina” works as a very nice ending for what I feel is an exceptional record. Jimmy’s not trying to blow you away with his last track (he just did that with “Bleeding Heart”) he’s just giving you a nice way out. When I say “Salina” could be a rock n blues pop hit. This is not meant to be disrespectful some pop songs can be good, there just more accessible to a larger grope of people. This song would appeal to a wide range of people and is just an in joy able ending to a exceptional record.
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Play list for podcast is:
1. It’s All Good – (1998) Legacy
2. Half Love – (2004) It’s Time
3. 24-7
4. ‘Til I Loved You
5. What Makes People
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Jimmy D. Lane’s records
1995 – Jimmy D. Lane
1997 – Long Gone
1998 – Legacy
2004 – It’s Time
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Jimmy D. Lane also appears on:
Jimmy Rogers “Blue Bird” 1994
Jimmy Rogers All-Stars “Blues Blues Blues” 1999
Hubert Sumlin “I Know You” 1998
Henry Townsend “My Story” 2001
Bob Margolin “All-Star Blues Jam” 2003
Ralph Bassinger “Waiting For My Train” 2007
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Jimmy D. Lane MySpace Page
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Were you keeping up with all the Jimmy’s?
We had Jimmy D. Lane, Jimmy Rogers, Jimi Hendrix and who was the other Jimmy?
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Thanks to Jimmy D. Lane for all his help in making this show happen.
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