The Four Weirdest Bands From the 1970s

Doug Brod has at all times wished to put in writing a guide about music. It is sensible. He is a former SPIN editor in chief and has labored at Atlantic Records. But Brod wished to seek out an angle that has by no means been lined earlier than and would truly shock individuals and shed new gentle on one thing. He does that splendidly in They Just Seem a Little Weird: How Kiss, Cheap Trick, Aerosmith, and Starz Remade Rock and Roll.

Brod has at all times been a fan of 70s onerous rock bands and these 4 are his favourite ones. Ive seen Cheap Trick most likely 52 occasions. Ive seen KISS quite a lot of occasions, and Aerosmith and Starz, Ive seen them so much.

After performing some analysis, he discovered the connection between these 4 teams. All of them are represented in a 1978 Gene Simmons solo album. In 78, when KISS did 4 solo albums, Gene had visitor guitar work from a member of Starz, Aerosmith, and Cheap Trick. I used that album as the jumping-off level to inform the story of how these 4 bands linked and interrelated again in the 70s.

And that was the place we began our dialog about the 4 weirdest bands from the 1970s.

 

 

I really like the title of the guide. Which of those bands is the weirdest?
That title is a lyric from the Cheap Trick track, Surrender, and theyre the weirdest of the bands. Only as a result of their presentation is so not like what youd count on from rock stars. You have these two guys Robin Zander and Tom Petersson who’re the quintessential handsome rock guys with lengthy hair and funky garments. Then you will have the guitarist Rick Nielson, whos this skinny goofball in checkerboard clothes and bowtie and a baseball cap. And then you will have the drummer Bun E. Carlos, who used to purchase his shirts from the Salvation Army. He wore a protracted, skinny-tie and had greasy black hair and a scraggly mustache and glasses. Those two guys actually upended the conventional look of a rock star. And their songs have been unusual, particularly of their early days, about suicide and serial killers. They have been so unusual.

How did these bands remake rocknroll and what was up with rock ‘n’ roll that it wanted fixing?
The title may be learn in quite a lot of methods. The first is that they remade rock n roll as a result of the rock n roll that was earlier than them was not very theatrical. Aside from bands like Alice Cooper in the early and mid 70s, there werent plenty of bands that have been onstage doing a theatrical present pyro, faux blood, flames. Then, in Cheap Tricks case, you will have two goofy guys and two attractive guys. In Aerosmiths case, you will have these guys who all seem like rock stars with scarves and unitards and the complete rock n roll swagger. Bands like Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath have been all enormous, however they didnt have that type of loopy, theatrical efficiency. These guys all introduced that large efficiency to rock n roll.

The different method is all of the bands they influenced. Not solely did they affect the hair metallic guys in the 80s like Poison, Mtley Cre, Bon Jovi, however additionally they influenced plenty of the grunge bands of the late 80s, early 90s. Bands like Soundgarden, Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, all had members that have been influenced by these bands. Its displaying how not solely did they reshape what rock n roll could possibly be, however additionally they reshaped what rock n roll would sound like in the future.

Is there anybody from the 80s or 90s or twenty first century that could possibly be that a long time model of those 4 bands?
You may have a look at this band from Norway known as Turbonegro, closely influenced by all of those bands, significantly KISS and Aerosmith. Or Rammstein out of Germany, who’re all about heavy pyrotechnics. The music is probably not as comparable, however the stage present undoubtedly takes from KISS. Theres additionally the band The Darkness from England who’re actually flamboyant onstage — theyre enormous Aerosmith followers. They convey this sense of enjoyable and a humorousness to their efficiency very similar to Cheap Trick did. And then theres a kooky band from Ohio known as Foxy Shazam. Theyre very in your face, plenty of humor.

Who was Starz?
Theyre a little-known, cultish band who had ties with all these bands. I wished to incorporate them in the guide as a result of theyre an instance of a band that had lots of the similar alternatives as these different larger bands, however they didnt obtain the similar type of success. They had KISSs supervisor, they toured with Aerosmith, that they had Joe Douglass who produced Aerosmiths and Cheap Tricks finest albums. They shared lots of the similar behind-the-scenes individuals, however they didnt escape.

 

 

What occurred?
They simply by no means clicked with radio. And again in the 70s, radio was key. It actually dictated a bands probabilities of getting successful single. They by no means had successful single. They had one single that made it to #33 in 1977 known as Cherry Baby, however that was not sufficient to take them over the high. Theres additionally an incident between certainly one of the members of Starz and the supervisor. Some of the band members assume this confrontation might have put the kibosh on a profitable profession.

Why have the different three bands been capable of keep related?
KISS, Cheap Trick and Aerosmith grew to become iconic. You have a look at photos of them, you realize precisely who they’re. You cant say that about plenty of bands right now. Band members, for the most half, dont costume up. Theres not plenty of that type of persona in music right now. Except in the pop scene, you see Miley Cyrus, Cardi B these individuals take a look and a picture. These bands have so many traditional songs that everyone remembers, that also get performed continuously on the radio. With Aerosmiths and KISSs movies, these pictures are seared into your head they usually have logos which are recognizable from a mile away. I believe thats certainly one of the the reason why they’ve endurance.

Theres a child boomer Gen X factor to their success now too individuals keep in mind them, they’ve longevity, and thats why they nonetheless play to large crowds. Who wouldve thought that 20 years in the past youd have musicians going on the market 75 years outdated nonetheless taking part in arenas?

In the case of KISS, theyre nonetheless carrying these 6-inch platform heels and taking part in guitars and singing. I noticed Paul Stanley a 12 months and a half in the past on wires flying throughout an area. Theyre fearless. Theres a superhuman high quality to that that I believe you actually have to present these guys props.

 

 

Of all the performances youve seen of those bands, which is your favourite one?
Seeing KISS for the first time in 1979 at Madison Square Garden. I used to be 15, it was my second live performance, so it was type of an enormous deal. It was a spectacular present with all the pyro and the blood and the fireplace. It was every part that Id hoped for.

After that, Id seen them once they took their make-up off and I didnt actually take care of it. But I noticed them once more in 1996 once they got here again for a reunion tour with all the make-up and costumes they usually have been spectacular once more. Out of all of the bands, they placed on the most spectacular, memorable present.

 

 

What is the most fascinating story you uncovered?
Ill let you know a narrative about Starz. They have been the lesser-known of the bands and didnt get an excessive amount of respect from plenty of the different bands in the guide. They have been touring with Aerosmith and needed to drive cross-country of their bus to open for them in an enormous stadium I believe it was the Seattle Kingdome. They have been by no means the band that went on proper earlier than Aerosmith at certainly one of these large pageant stadium exhibits. They have been at all times the first band on the invoice and possibly there have been two different bands in between. So, they arrive at the venue and theyre instructed by the promoter that they should go on somewhat earlier as a result of he added an act to the invoice.

They go on throughout the daytime and do their half-hour set after which theyre gone. Then the announcer comes out and says, Now, heres the juggler. They had a juggler on a unicycle come out and do that set, after which the subsequent band got here on. They have been bumped for a juggler. It was very discouraging. That to me encapsulated plenty of 70s rock n roll. It exhibits that these guys labored actually onerous. They traveled far, a few of them actually partied onerous, however you by no means knew what obstacles have been gonna be thrown your method. At the similar time, Starz did have a fanbase, a small however very vocal fanbase — even to today on Facebook, theyve acquired a really robust, small cult of worshippers.

Did these 4 bands really reside the rock star life-style or was that merely a picture they tried to uphold?
In the case of KISS, thats undoubtedly true. With regard to Ace Frehley and Peter Criss, they have been onerous partiers and that took a toll on their reliability, on their functionality and their personalities. It grew to become an enormous cause why theyre not in the band. The similar goes for Aerosmith. Steven Tyler and Joe Perry have been closely into medication, which got here out of their performances. Steven Tyler fell off the stage a few occasions, owing to his drug use. In the different bands in Cheap Trick and in Starz possibly not as a lot. Aerosmith lastly cleaned up their act in the 80s they usually grew to become much more standard than they have been in the 70s. That story had type of a pleasant, glad ending.

 

 

People speak about Aerosmith being the finest American rock n roll band as a result of they should go up towards everybody from England. How do you are feeling about that?
I believe thats near right, and thats a part of the guide, too. Back then, Led Zeppelin have been this monolith they usually hovered over every part in that period — they have been the greatest band interval. But in America, it actually was Aerosmith and KISS vying for the title of greatest American rock bands. Today, most likely not a lot, particularly in the 90s. A band like U2 certainly one of the best stadium bands Ive ever seen. No band matches the 70s to me or have been capable of do a type of area or stadium present as U2 has.

You describe KISS as good guys writing dumb songs for good individuals. Just how good have been they and the way dumb have been their songs?
They have been actually good, truly. You may even see it now. Gene Simmons at all times had an unimaginable enterprise sense. Even if individuals poo-poo his efforts for placing KISSs face and title on each product he can, he acknowledged that KISSs followers wished to purchase every part with KISS on it. It grew to become this model. It solely stands to cause that an bold man who was into cash would benefit from that. People like to pull them via the mud for that, however if you happen to dont need it you dont have to purchase it. And the music is type of blatant in its pandering. Its not like its this piece of artwork that cant be sullied. Thats one cause why I believe that its okay for KISS to do this.

Their songs being dumb I imply, most of their songs are about scorching chicks and having intercourse; they sing about their dicks in lots of songs. Theyre obsessive about their genitalia. One factor that plenty of musicians instructed me is that certainly one of the the reason why they cherished KISS a lot is that they impressed them as a result of every part was so easy. Their songs are so easy, the lyrics are easy, the riffs are simple, and it confirmed younger musicians that they didnt have to have the chops of Steve Vai or Eddie Van Halen or Joe Satriani to be a rock musician. They have been impressed by the simplicity of KISS, which is certainly one of their strengths. Its very admirable of them that their songs are really easy to play.

Did the 4 bands get alongside?
Its humorous. Early on, KISS and Aerosmith performed collectively twice in 74 once they have been each very younger and beginning to get some traction. Joe Perry at all times favored KISSs stage present; he wasnt that large of a fan of their music again then, and he mentioned that. Steven Tyler by no means favored KISS and their highway crews by no means acquired alongside. Those two exhibits they did collectively in 74, the highway crews have been at every others throats. Then in 2003 once they determined to tour collectively doing the co-headline tour that Aerosmith would truly be the final band taking part in and KISS would play earlier than them, that was additionally a interval after I guess they type of acquired alongside, however there was nonetheless some resentment there. Then six years later, each bands have been trash-talking one another on the radio going again to that tour. So, theres at all times been a love-hate relationship there.

With regard to Cheap Trick, all of those bands love Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielson is type of a goofball. Theyre Joe Perrys favourite band. No one has a nasty phrase about them. And Cheap Trick loves everyone, too. Starz have been the outliers, plenty of the bands didnt actually like them both. They thought that they have been too prefab, put collectively by KISSs administration to be the second KISS. Also, Starz by no means performed bars and golf equipment. They have been made to play arenas and stadiums. They have been in a position to do this straight away as a result of that they had the KISS machine proper behind them. Instead of taking part in bars for 2 years and dealing their method up, they acquired thrusted to those large gigs opening for a lot larger bands instantly. And individuals and different musicians noticed that as, these guys havent earned it. Thats up for debate. I believe their data are actually robust.

 

 

What type of animosity was there between the highway crews?
The animosity between the highway crews mainly got here all the way down to KISSs stage setup. Even in the early years, they have been touring with type of a mini model of what their present would ultimately seem like. So, that they had virtually like a forklift contraption that may be the drum riser that may elevate up Peter Criss drum set as he was taking part in. And that they had flash pots and pyro and all of these items happening. And Aerosmith, frankly, they didnt wish to be upstaged by this new band they usually didnt wish to quit an excessive amount of of their stage to the band. That was the place the animosity got here from between the highway crews: that is our present, and who’re you to dictate the place all your mechanical crap is gonna go. And then KISSs highway crew have been extraordinarily loyal to KISS they usually wouldnt take no for a solution. I perceive that at certainly one of the gigs, knives got here out. No one acquired stabbed, however I believe threats have been made. Thats certainly one of the the reason why Steven Tyler was like, Im out, I dont need something to do with this band, I dont want this in my life.

The guide is a secret historical past of traditional rock. What do you assume is the greatest or most surprising secret of traditional rock that we dont learn about?
One factor that was eye-opening to me was how little a few of these guys acquired paid. When Cheap Trick went on their first area tour opening for KISS, the total band their highway crew, administration — have been making a thousand {dollars} an evening. That wasnt some huge cash again then. Unless you have been an enormous band and also you had songs on the radio, you didnt promote a ton of data. You relied on taking part in reside. Even now, it interprets into right now, with bands having to tour the nation in a van and sleeping on flooring. Its surprising that even again then with these large area bands who have been on main labels, they nonetheless have been taking part in for a thousand {dollars} an evening.