Issue No.1 2013
rock style
JOE WALSH DANIEL ADAIR ZAC BROWN JOHN C. REILLY
Joseph Fidler Walsh was born on November 20, 1947 in Wichita, Kansas, but in his youth he lived in Columbus, Ohio and then later New York City and Montclair, New Jersey.
Fidler He attended college at Ohio's Kent State University, where he first joined the group the James Gang in 1968. At that time, the James Gang consisted of Walsh on guitar and vocals, Jim Fox on drums, and Tom Kriss on bass in a power trio form. They released their first album, Yer' Album, in 1969. Afterwards, Kriss left the band and was replaced by Dale
Passarelli and Joe Vitale "Barnstorm" and released an album of the same
Peters, creating the most successful incarnation of the James
name. Passerelli and Vitale would also be the core backing band members
Gang. Walsh's dynamic and creative playing featuring his
for The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get (1973). While the albums
famously catchy guitar riffs made the band memorable. Their
were categorized by many as solo efforts, the three men functioned as a
next two albums, James Gang Rides Again (1970) and Thirds
unit, and even played together on Friends and Legends by Michael
(1971), produced such classics as Funk #49 and Walk Away.
Stanley. Even after Barnstorm broke up, Vitale continued to be a
While the power trio format worked well for the James Gang,
collaborator and friend of Walsh. Their most famous collaboration is the
Walsh was beginning to become dissatisfied with its
magnificent Pretty Maids All in a Row which appeared on the Eagles'
limitations. After the release of James Gang Live in Concert
Hotel California (1976).
in 1971, Walsh left the band to pursue a solo career. Walsh made a name for himself as a solo artist with the hit Rocky Not quite ready to leave the band format entirely, however, he
Mountain Way off of The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get (1973).
called himself and his two core backing band members Kenny
The song was inspired by Walsh's move to Colorado with his wife
Stephanie and small child Emma Kristen. Tragically, Emma was killed in a car accident in 1974 while on her way to nursery school, an event which haunts Walsh to this day. He had a small drinking fountain built in her memory in her favorite park in Boulder, denoted by a simple plaque. His next album, So What (1975), contained a tribute to her entitled Song for Emma. He has said that even the album name was a result of Emma's death - that nothing else seemed meaningful or important in the months that followed. The strain would eventually contribute to Walsh's divorce from his second wife Stephanie (Walsh had already been briefly married in the sixties to a lady named Margie).
Walsh
A D A I R Adair auditioned for a guitarist by the name of David Martone, a Berklee College of Music graduate, who was looking to start an instrumental fusion band. Soon this new band by the name 'Martone' began to record its first album in 1999. Adair says that, "David was and still is the greatest guitarist I've ever worked with. Since then we've created lots of exciting, challenging instrumental fusion music together. David's music helped me push the limit with my playing, and he's been a large influence and inspiration to me. My playing had matured, and I quickly jumped into some great gigs in town." In the Summer of 2002, Adair had the opportunity to audition for and secure the job as the touring and studio drummer for the multi-platinum, Mississippi based band 3 Doors Down. During his time with the band he recorded the studio album 'Seventeen Days' and live album 'Another 700 Miles', toured 14 countries and had multiple TV appearances. In January 2005, Adair left 3 Doors Down to join the Canadian band Nickelback. Seven months later they released the album 'All the Right Reasons' which has been his biggest success as it debuted at #1 on the Billboard. During his time with Nickelback, Adair has also appeared on albums and performed with Theory of a Deadman, Bo Bice, Martone, Thornley, Faber Drive and Lynyrd Skynyrd. The follow-up album to Nickelback's multi-platinum All the Right Reasons is called Dark Horse. The first single, "Gotta Be Somebody", was released on September 29 in North America. The album is produced Mutt Lange. On October 21, 2007, James Stephen Hart (former frontman of Eighteen Visions) announced that Adair was recording drum tracks for his new band, Burn Halo. In 2011 Adair along with the other band members of Nickelback released Here and Now on November 21. This album has singles including This Means War and Bottoms Up.
Zac Band
Zac Brown was born July 31, 1978 in Cumming, Georgia. He was raised by his mom and step-dad, a dentist, on Lake Lanier. The 11th of 12 children, Brown attended Mashburn Elementary School in Cumming, Georgia, Lakeview Academy in Gainesville, Georgia, and South Forsyth High School in Cumming. He later moved to Dahlonega, Georgia, where he graduated from Lumpkin County High School. He learned to play classical guitar at the age of 7. As a teenager, he played solo gigs in local venues, performing country and pop cover songs. Brown attended the University of West Georgia, where he became a member of the Zeta Kappa chapter of the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity. He was also a camp counselor at Camp Mikell in Toccoa, Ga. & Camp Glisson, a United Methodist summer camp and retreat center located in Dahlonega, GA.
A man who needs no introduction -- but who we'll introduce as John C. Reilly – has released not one but TWO Third Man singles recently, John & Tom: "Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar" b/w "Lonesome Yodel Blues #2" (TMR112) finds John's duet with Tom Brosseau sung in close harmony as they perform two songs originally by The Delmore Brothers.
Becky & John's "I'll Be There If You Ever Want" b/w "I'm Making Plans" (TMR113) sees John paired with Becky Stark (Lavender Diamond) and swerves more in the classic country vein taking in tunes originally performed by Ray Price and Dolly Parton/Porter Wagoner.i