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Lillian Axe

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Lillian Axe
File:BAND LOGO 1632-2 LARGE COLOR NL.jpg
Background information
OriginNew Orleans, Louisiana
GenresGlam metal,[1] heavy metal,[1] hard rock
Years active1983–1995; 1999–present

Lillian Axe is a hard rock band from New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, best known for its major label albums, Lillian Axe, Love + War, Poetic Justice and "Psychoschizophrenia". Originally formed in 1983, the group is still active, though only the guitarist Steve Blaze and bassist Michael Max Darby remains from the original line-up.

Biography

The classic line-up came together when former Stiff members, Ron Taylor (lead vocals) and Jon Ster (rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals), teamed up with Lillian Axe members Steve Blaze (lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals), Rob Stratton (bass guitar, and Danny King (drums) in 1987. The band caught the attention of Ratt's management which led to a record deal with MCA and Ratt's Robbin Crosby producing the band's first album, Lillian Axe. However, neither this nor the 1989 follow-up, Love + War, produced by Tony Platt, met commercial expectations and the group was quickly dropped. A compilation of both MCA albums, (1987-1989) Out of the Darkness - Into the Light, was released in 1991.

File:SteveLive.jpg
Steve Blaze, March 2017

The band found a new label home with Grand Slamm/I.R.S. Records for Poetic Justice, released in 1992, with Darrin DeLatte (bass guitar) and the former Dirty Looks member Gene Barnett (drums) replacing Stratton and King, respectively. The album peaked on the Billboard Top Heatseekers at No. 28,[2] the band's biggest success to date, in part based on the strength of the single, "True Believer". Returning to the studio with the Swedish producer Leif Mases, the group issued Psychoschizophrenia in 1993, with Tommy Scott replacing Barnett on drums. Unable to capitalize on their previous success, Lillian Axe disbanded in 1995. Taylor formed The Bridge, while Blaze teamed up with his brother, the drummer Craig Nunenmacher, in Near Life Experience, and Scott, aka Tommy Stewart, found success with Boston's Godsmack, appearing on the band's platinum selling Godsmack and Awake albums.

In 1999, Lillian Axe released Fields of Yesterday, consisting of unreleased demos and album outtakes, followed by Live 2002, recorded in May 2002 in Houston, Texas, with only Taylor and Blaze remaining from the classic MCA line-up.

After several line-up changes, the band recruited as lead vocalist Derrick LeFevre, who appeared on Waters Rising (2007), Sad Day on Planet Earth (2009) and Deep Red Shadows (2010). On June 23, 2010, Ronny Munroe, formerly of Metal Church, replaced LeFevre, but he departed four months later before recording any material with the band. On March 7, 2011 Munroe was replaced by Brian C. Jones who can be heard on the latest album, XI The Days Before Tomorrow (2012).

In 2011 it was announced the original lineup of Steve Blaze, Johnny Vines, Danny King and Michael "Maxx" Darby would reunite to record an album of classic unreleased songs from the band's early days. The project, entitled "Circle of Light" was named for one those early songs. The album was released in 2012. [3] [4]

On August 8, 2013, Lillian Axe was involved in an automobile accident. Band members were treated at local hospitals for minor and non-threatening injuries and there was extensive damage to the band’s equipment.[5]

Lillian Axe released One Night in the Temple, an acoustic live album, early in 2014.[6] On November 29, 2014, former guitarist Jon Ster died from heart failure at the age of 52.[7]

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Lillian Axe accepting the Jackson Indie Music Week Icon Award.

On January 12, 2017 Lillian Axe received the 2017 Jackson Indie Music Week Icon Award at Duling Hall in Jackson, Mississippi. It was a great honor to receive the 2017 Jackson Indie Music ICON award! The ceremony was a complete blast! [8]

On June 4, 2017, Steve Blaze announced that the band is recording a new song entitled "The Weeping Moon" which will be featured on the album "The Forgotten Art of Melancholy." According to Blaze, the album will feature "the best of the epic ballads" and will be released in Fall of 2017.[9]

Acclaim

On May 16, 2010, in Erwinville, Louisiana, Lilian Axe became the first hard rock act to be inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.

Members

Current line-up

Original line-up

  • Rick Bohrer - vocals
  • Steve Blaze - guitar
  • Michael "Maxx" Darby - bass guitar
  • Jeff Savelle - drums

Former members

  • Ron Taylor - vocals
  • Orlando "Ace" Palacio - guitar
  • Rusty Cavalier - drums
  • Johnny Vines - vocals
  • Derrick LeFevre - vocals
  • Ronny Munroe - vocals
  • Jon Ster - rhythm guitar, keyboards
  • Darrin DeLatte - bass guitar
  • Rob Stratton - bass guitar
  • Kennith Gosnell - bass guitar
  • Danny King - drums
  • Eddie Livingston - drums
  • Gene Barnett - drums
  • Matt McCrory - guitar
  • Rob Hovey - drums
  • Richard Kendrick - guitar
  • Randy Holden - rhythm Guitar
  • Tommy Stewart - drums
  • Craig Nunenmacher - drums

Discography

Studio albums

Year Album US US Heat. Certification Label
1988 Lillian Axe - - - MCA
1989 Love + War - - - MCA
1992 Poetic Justice - 28 - I.R.S. Records
1993 Psychoschizophrenia - 13 - I.R.S. Records
1999 Fields of Yesterday - - - Z Records
2007 Waters Rising - - - Locomotive Records
2009 Sad Day on Planet Earth - - - Blistering Records
2010 Deep Red Shadows - - - Love and War Records
2012 XI The Days Before Tomorrow - - - AFM Records

Compilations

Live albums

  • Live 2002 (2002)
  • One Night in the Temple (2014)

Videos

  • Dream of a Lifetime
  • No Matter What
  • Show a Little Love
  • "Megaslowfade"
  • "Caged In"

References

  1. ^ a b James Christopher Monger. "Lillian Axe - Biography - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  2. ^ James Christopher Monger. "Lillian Axe - Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  3. ^ http://www.lillianaxe.com/side-projects/circle-of-light/
  4. ^ http://www.lillianaxe.com/side-projects/circle-of-light/
  5. ^ "Blabbermouth.Net". Blabbermouth.Net. August 8, 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  6. ^ "Lillian Axe To Release Acoustic Live Album 'One Night In The Temple' In April". Blabbermouth.Net. February 19, 2014. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
  7. ^ "The Dead Rock Stars Club 2014 July To December". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  8. ^ http://www.lillianaxe.com/jackson-indie-music-icon-awards/
  9. ^ http://www.lillianaxe.com/the-forgotten-art-of-melancholy/
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