ROCK’S RESILIANCE - LIONS IN THE STREET

Chris Kinnon is the voice of the old-school rockers *Lions In The Street*, a band known for carrying the torch for traditional blues rock with unshakable passion. In an extended conversation with Andy Hughes, Chris delves into everything from the band’s musical roots to the changes in the music industry that have shaped their journey. But first, with such an intriguing band name, there’s only one place to begin.

WORDS: Andy Hughes IMAGES: Gregory Crowe

A NAME WITH A STORY

“We decided on a name change to freshen up the band a little,” Chris recalls. “We had the word ‘Lions,’ which we liked, but it seemed too generic on its own. Then someone suggested ‘In the Street,’ and it resonated with us. By coincidence, we later found out that ‘Lions In The Street’ appears in one of Jim Morrison’s spoken word pieces, recorded at the same Hollywood Sound studio in Los Angeles where we worked. I believe the phrase might also have origins in ancient Hebrew texts, similar to where *The Grateful Dead* name originated. We liked the mysterious sound of it, so we adopted it.”

A CHANGING INDUSTRY

Like many bands in the 2020s, *Lions In The Street* enjoy full control over their music – from writing and recording to distribution. However, it wasn’t always this way. Chris recalls a time when record companies held sway over every aspect of a band’s career. “It was a strange leverage that companies used to hold over bands and musicians. We signed our deal at the tail end of when companies controlled distribution and had the money to pay for stu-

dios, producers, and so on. The common belief was that record companies were filled with greedy people, but I didn’t necessarily find that to be true. Our main issue was the ‘ego’ aspect – they wanted us to create only what they approved.”

Chris explains that the conflict stemmed from their surplus of new material. “We always had about twenty to thirty songs ready to go, but our A&R guy preferred our older stuff. As a band, we wanted to keep moving forward with fresh songs, but it became a battle over our identity. In the end, we sided with our manager, and the whole deal fell apart. It was a classic battle of wills.”

MUSICAL INFLUENCES AND ROCK ‘N’ ROLL ROOTS

Chris acknowledges that *Lions In The Street* draw inspiration from both blues rock and classic pop, mixing elements of *The Beatles* and *The Stones* with a rock and roll edge. “The record company preferred the Beat-