During the next few years, the Head East line-up continued to evolve into the early 90's. Head East was a hard rock quintet originally from south central Illinois, then Champaign, Illinois. ", Head East exploded onto the music scene in 1974 when its self-produced debut album,Flat as a Pancake, started generating regional airplay. Hooker talks about transforming a Tony Bennett classic and why you don't have to be sad and lonely to write the blues. These were the last studio albums recorded with new original material being released as Head East. However, their fourth album simply titled Head East (1978) produced another hit with the band's cover of former Argent singer Russ Ballard's "Since You Been Gone",[3] which peaked at number 46. She then became a faculty member at the SIUE SON, earned her doctoral degree from SIU Carbondale and accepted a position as a tenure-track faculty member at SIUE. (January, 1979) also peaked in the Top 100, as did A Different Kind of Crazy (October, 1979), and the band performed on the soundtrack to the comic anthology film J-Men Forever! Blaze rekindled after firefighters orginally had it extinguished. Another is serving as a Email: podcasts@lee.net. Head East | Wirth Entertainment Agency He was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame as the lead singer of Petra, one of the most successful Christian rock bands of all time. Head East - "Never Been Any Reason" - Steve Hoffman Music Forums (DVD) (1979), but at the end of the year, Birney and Somerville left the group while Schlitt joined the Christian rock group Petra. About the show Streamed & Screened is a podcast about movies and TV hosted by Bruce Miller, a longtime entertainment reporter who is now the editor of the Sioux City . The first five tracks are from a 1980 show featuring the original personnel, while the last 10 tracks are from a 1981 show featuring the latter line-up. Iowa has been a great venue for Head East. Head East with John Schlitt, Steve Huston & Roger Boyd. As Boyd gears up for the upcoming 50th anniversary shows at the Wildey Theatre, he has no intention of making them the last milestone shows he performs with his band. Head East, rock band with Southern Illinois ties, returns for HerrinFesta The band achieved peak popularity and success during the 1970s, but later fell into obscurity. The album featured songs from two shows at Denver's Rainbow Music Hall. Head East is currently a 5-piece band consisting of Roger Boyd (keyboards & vocals), Greg Manahan (bass, lead guitar & vocals), Glen Bridger (lead guitar & vocals), Eddy Jones (drums & vocals), and Darrin Walker (lead vocals & bass). They would still continue to play around, with guitarist Somerville returning from 1994 to 2003. by Head East on Amazon Music. They released their first album, Flat as a Pancake, in 1974 on their own record label (Pyramid Records) selling all 5,000 records and 500 eight-tracks produced. University professor and founding member of a professional classic rock band. inducted into the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Sept. 4 in It was a way to give my students a better idea of what their future clients might be going through on a daily basis, explained Boyd. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, who Martin would open for on tour, were his backing band on the song. By then the band was getting more popular and playing larger A Different Kind of Crazy US 1 Onward and Upward Choice of Weapons Concert Classics Vol 7 Live on Stage The Best of Head East (The Millennium Collection) Head East / Gettin' Lucky (2 LPs on 1 CD) One Night With Head East Raise A Little Hell Head East Rocks! Head East was awesome in the day, saw them at a small venue in 1979 in Kansas, they walked off the stage due to some redneck douches throwing beer . They are best known for their 1975 hit "Never Been Any Reason", which remains a staple of AOR stations. His most recent album, The Grafting, is available on 4K Records and is distributed by New Day Christian Distributors in the U.S. and internationally by Go Global Entertainment. The song is about a guy who returns home - possibly from a tour - and has it out with his woman. Flat as a Pancake would remain their most popular album spawning two charting singles, the well-known anthem "Never Been Any Reason" and "Love Me tonight", both written by guitarist Mike Somerville. Head East. ", A monthly update on our latest interviews, stories and added songs. A top New York studio musician, Ralph played guitar on many '60s hits, including "Lightnin' Strikes," "A Lover's Concerto" and "I Am A Rock.". Please click here to learn how. Flota reunited with Head East a few times over the years, once A&M was impressed enough to sign the band and re-release the album in 1975 which went gold by 1978. Legendary rock vocalist, Grammy and Dove Award-winning GMA Hall of Famer John Schlittrecently joined the popular classic rock band, Head East, for a reunion concert event which was held at the Wildwood Springs Resort in Steeleville, Missouri. Live! by Head East (Album, Hard Rock): Reviews, Ratings, Credits, Song All rights reserved. Eddy Jones - drums, vocals (2006present), Greg Manahan - bass guitar, guitar, vocals (2006present), Darren Walker - lead vocals, occasional live bass guitar (2006present), Mark Murtha - lead guitar, vocals (2022present), Steve Huston - drums (19691973, 19741983), Mike Somerville - guitar (19731980, 19952003; died 2020), Tony Gross - guitar (19801984, 19871991), Kurt Hansen - bass, lead vocals (19831997), Mike Mesey - drums (19971999, 20002006), Richie Callison - guitar, lead vocals (20012006), Glen Bridger - lead guitar, vocals (20042022), This page was last edited on 21 April 2023, at 19:52. Show Coincides With Schlitts Induction Into Iowa Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, The Devil Wears Prada shares video for Ignorance, bonus track off upcoming re-release, Fallstar releases new single and music video, Crooks & The Damned, Volumes releases instrumental version of their fourth studio album, Happier?, Beartooth shares brand new song, Sunshine!, Parkway Drive announces Monsters of Oz tour as band celebrates 20th anniversary, SleepTokenannounces fall 2023 U.S. headline tour, Holding Absence shares video for new single, A Crooked Melody, Currents releases So Alone video off upcoming album, The Death We Seek, Nothing More shares video for new single, Best Times feat. John's is the higher voice that is occasionally mistaken by fans to be a female voice. Head East Reunion - Get up and enjoy yourself (John Schlitt) This was written by Mike Somerville, who was the band's lead guitarist from 1973-1980, and again from 1994-2003. SP 6007; Vinyl LP). Flotas clean-living style didnt seem to fit with the rest of Then on Memorial Day, Id pack my mortar board away and put on my rock n roll clothes.. Genres: Hard Rock, AOR. . As long as I can still lift my synthesizer over my head like I do at the end of every show, Ill keep playing, said Boyd. August 6, 1969 is recognized as the date the band officially . The Kirk Apartments building has stood at 206 N. Federal Ave. since 1902. with fans in Iowa, playing many locations in the Hawkeye State. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. inducted into the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Head East fans will be thrilled to know that original drummer Steve Huston joined the band on vocals, while he may have lost a beat or two on drums, and thus while he did not . Boyd and his current bandmates are celebrating that milestone later this month with back-to-back 50th anniversary shows on Jan. 24-25 at the Wildey Theatre in Edwardsville. Photo Caption: Past and current members of Head East recentlyperformed at the Iowa Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Induction Spectacular. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Steve Huston, one of the founding members of Head East talks to Bill Grady and shares the real behind-the-scenes story of how the band came up with the name. Schlitt's reunion performance with Head East follows on the heels of a busy year, which has seen the celebrated vocalist performing at events throughout the country and across the ocean. The band followed with the albums Get Yourself Up and Gettin' Lucky, released in 1976 and 1977 respectively. For all band submissions, review submissions, press materials, and more, please email: We do read every one, but we also get a high volume of mail. The special one-night-only performance during the Iowa Rock n Roll Music Associations 2011 Hall of Fame coincided with Schlitts induction into the states Hall of Fame and marked the first time in 30 years that the musicians were on stage together. music.. Flota sees as part of his life so far. the members of Head East, so he quit the band and joined the Mt. Vernon Police Department where he served for 25 years. releases new EP, Superstitions, HM PREMIERE: Lift The Curse unleashes new single and music video, Tidal Wave, So What?! A&M Records signed the band and re-released the album, which was certified Gold by RIAA and produced the monster radio hit, "Never Been Any Reason.". a Head East (self-titled) Head East Live! ! It is often considered Head East's signature song,[1] peaking at number 68 on the Billboard Hot 100, and continues to be played on classic rock radio stations in the US, generations after it was released. Schlittand past and current members of Head East were the featured artists. Dave Namanny is editor of the Mitchell County Press-News, a Lee The Roger Boyd (Head East) Interview 0 3852 By Ralph Greco, Jr. Photo by Rusty Enderle You have to love a guy as open, honest and nice as Roger Boyd. "Flat as a Pancake - Head East | Songs, Reviews, Credits", "Minimoog solo on Head East's "Never Been Any Reason", "Frequently Asked Questions- Official Web Site", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Never_Been_Any_Reason&oldid=1147466726, Articles with MusicBrainz work identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 31 March 2023, at 04:13. The band's 1975 single, "Never Been Any Reason", was featured in the 2005 movie adaptation of Clive Cussler's novel, Sahara, and appears on the soundtrack to the 1993 coming-of-age drama, Dazed and Confused, as well as being briefly heard in the film. Flota, originally from Mt. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Though St. Louis is often mentioned as Head East's hometown, the original members grew up in south central Illinois. He fronted The Union of Sinners and Saints, featuring Billy Smiley (Whiteheart) and Jason Fowler, during the band's Storyteller tour, and joined fellow Petra alum Bob Hartman for a Scandinavian tour, among other events. Schlitt was recently named the best rock singer in Christian music history by GospelMusicChannel.com, and according to the website, Schlitt remains one of the most distinctive and impactful men to ever stand behind a microphone. Schlitt was also named Best Male Vocalist in About.coms 2011 Readers Choice Awards.Schlitt is currently in the studio recording his fourth solo album, The Greater Cause. Its been an interesting life.. Head East recorded their debut album, Flat as a Pancake, in 1974 at Golden Voice Recording Studio in South Pekin, Illinois. Head East hometown, lineup, biography | Last.fm MCPD played a big role in keeping people safe in Monday's blaze. To enjoy our website, you'll need to enable JavaScript in your web browser. During more than three decades in the music business, Schlitt has earned multiple Gold Records, Grammys and Dove Awards. venues. [3] The album was their last to reach the charts and last recorded release on A&M.[3]. Kearney Amphitheater Schlitt was the lead singer for Head East from 1972-1980, during which time the band released six albums, with their first, Flat as a Pancake (A&M Records, 1975) reaching Platinum status empowered by "Never Been Any Reason," which has now become a staple of classic rock radio. Three of the original five band members also left after 'Crazy' which also possibly shows a bit of frustration with the lack of greater success that never seemed to come their way. Remaining members Boyd and Huston hired bassist Mark Boatman, guitarist Tony Gross, and former drummer and singer Dan Odum (during Huston's absence) to record their following album titled U.S. 1, released in October 1980. Okoboji. Released in January 1979 on A&M (catalog no. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Flota. Never Been Any Reason by Head East - Songfacts Boyd earned his bachelors and masters degrees in social work from SIUE in 1997 and 1998, respectively, but he didnt stop there. My greatest accomplishment in my education was returning to school in 1995 and continuing on to earn my PhD.. [4], The band's original guitarist and songwriter Mike Somerville (born Michael A. Somerville on August 15, 1952 in Peoria, Illinois) died on February 28, 2020, at age 67.[7][8]. Head East charted higher with their next single, "Love Me Tonight," which made #54 US, but "Never Been Any Reason" is by far their most popular song, showing incredible endurance. You have permission to edit this article. [9] As part of the induction concert, several former and current members united onstage to perform, including Steve Huston and John Schlitt. The song has also been used on TV's That '70s Show and Friday Night Lights. Schlitt Reunites With Head East HM Magazine In this talk from the '80s, the Kansas frontman talks turning to God and writing "Dust In The Wind. By Head East Artist Head East Type Album Released While earning his degrees, Boyd never parted with his first love, rock n roll. Nirvana, Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen are among those who wrote songs with cities that show up in this quiz. The band formed in southern Illinois in 1969 but went through a number of member changes before arriving at their core lineup in 1973 . OSAGE There are three major accomplishments that Osages Brad Schlitt's reunion performance with Head East follows on the heels of a busy year, which has seen the celebrated vocalist performing at events throughout the country and across the ocean. The band was inducted into the Iowa Rock & Roll Music Association's Hall of Fame in 2011. Do their first three albums have French titles? Head East is an American rock band formed in East Central Illinois. Artist descriptions on Last.fm are editable by everyone. The weekend concluded with performances by the inductees, with Head East as the finale. Head East was a hard rock quintet originally from south central Illinois, then Champaign, Illinois, USA. [5] The album reached gold status by 1978 and would remain their most popular album, spawning another hit in the song "Love Me Tonight", which peaked at number 54. By the mid-80s, John Schlitt, had joined Petra, a christian rock band when lead singer Greg X. Volz left the band. The band continued with little success, releasing albums on small labels. Please be patient! Original band members from the A&M era included Schlitt, Roger Boyd, Mike Sommerville, Steve Huston, and Dan Birney, who passed away in 2003. The Roger Boyd (Head East) Interview | VintageRock.com Schlitt was the lead singer for Head East from 1972-1980, during which time the band released six albums, with their first, Flat as a Pancake (A&M Records, 1975) reaching Platinum status empowered by Never Been Any Reason, which has now become a staple of classic rock radio. which featured the song Never Been Any Reason, released by here, said Flota, who recalls playing at the Surf Ballroom in They released their first album, Flat as a Pancake, in 1974 on their own record label (Pyramid Records) selling all 5,000 records and 500 eight-tracks produced. Description. They released their first album, Flat as a Pancake, in 1974 on their o. Roger Boyd - Keyboard, Leader, Original Member, Darren Walker - Vocals, Glen Bridger - Guitar, Eddy Jones - Drums, Greg Manahan - Bass. And the third is being one of the original members of the For more information about Schlitt, visitjohnwschlitt.com. When the track "Never Been Any Reason" began to attract radio attention, A&M Records signed the band and re-released Flat as a Pancake in June 1975. He learned firsthand about social issues such as addiction and substance abuse while in the music industry, and he wanted to teach students how to support individuals who may be dealing with these types of issues. About John Schlittt: We are updating our release dates twice a week. We all lived within 30 miles of each other back then and I Some of them were Onward and Upward (1982) on Allegiance Records and Choice of Weapons (1988) released on Dark Heart Records, the latter album featuring Kurt Hansen taking on bass and vocal duties. The song is about a guy who returns home - possibly from a tour - and has it out with his woman. "Never Been Any Reason" is the debut single by Head East from their debut album Flat as a Pancake. The band was founded by vocalist John Schlitt, guitarist Danny Piper, keyboardist Roger Boyd, bassist Larry Boyd, and drummer Steve Huston.