Savage Grace, SRC bill missed

One of the best rock concerts I never saw took place on Saturday, May 23, 1970 at the Northern Michigan University Fieldhouse in Marquette.

Yes, I'm talking about a twin bill featuring Savage Grace and SRC, perhaps the hottest bands in Michigan, that I didn't attend.

Fact is I didn't even find out about the show until decades after it took place.

You see, I was checking out a used SRC album I bought, called "Traveler's Tale," when I noticed the inner sleeve contained a poster and unused ticket to a concert featuring a pair of great bands, homegrown right here in Michigan.

The psychedelic-styled poster shows two yin-yang symbols and an eye with this cryptic text: "Telephone poles are tall. Who cares? Buddha does!" and the words "Wah Wah." The poster also lists a third band, "The Walrus," and is signed Szluk. Numbered 00545, the ticket listed single admission at $2.

At the time of this show, Michigan had a thriving rock 'n' roll scene, which besides Savage Grace and SRC, included the MC5, Bob Seger System, Ted Nugent and the Amboy Dukes, Mitch Ryder, the Stooges, Frost, Third Power and the Rationals.

Since I didn't go to this concert, I thought I'd contact someone who did. So, I got in touch with Al Jacquez, lead vocalist and bass player for Savage Grace.

I asked Jacquez, who lives in the Detroit area, what he recalled about the show. "That was a long time ago. I remember that SRC was very well rehearsed and I thought some of their songs were strong. We all had much more fun than we deserved," said Jacquez, who was college age himself at the time.

Besides Jacquez, the band consisted of guitar wizard Ron Koss, keyboardist John Seanor and drummer Larry Zack. At the time of the Marquette show, the band had released a self-titled debut album and closed its shows with a barn-burning version of the Bob Dylan by-way-of Jimi Hendrix song "All Along the Watchtower."

Jacquez recalled that Savage Grace did other shows in the Upper Peninsula. "We played in Marquette and Sault Ste. Marie at the very least. I know that we did shows with the MC5 and shows of our own."

In fact, the band performed many concerts on twin bills with SRC. "We did quite a few shows with all the Michigan and Midwest bands. I know that we played in Ann Arbor, Saugatuck and Petoskey with SRC."

SRC may be best remembered for their hypnotic regional hit "Black Sheep," which was edited for single release but appeared in a longer version on the group's self-titled debut LP, and was certainly a standout in performance. Their three albums on Capitol Records mixed spacey guitar and organ work with haunting lyrics into pure Motor City rock 'n' roll.

The group centered around Gary Quackenbush on lead guitar, his brother Glenn on Hammond organ, and vocalist Scott Richardson. After leaving the stage at NMU, SRC rushed to Tartar Field at Wayne State University in Detroit where they had a gig the next day. In the following years, failing to attain a national break through, the group disbanded.

In the period after their Marquette appearance, Savage Grace managed another album, "2," recorded in Los Angeles, but broke up in 1972 without achieving the success many fans felt they deserved.

Today, Jacquez carries on musically as leader of an and coming blues quartet named Measured Chaos, which has also played north of the Mackinac Bridge. "Measured Chaos had a great show up in Ontonagon and we want to go back again. I would like to do the Woodtick Festival and other dates in the U. P.," he added.

Besides the gravelly-voiced Jacquez, Measured Chaos includes guitarist Mark Tomorsky, drummer Bill Gordon and bassist Mark Gougeon, an alum of Detroit legend Mitch Ryder.

The group has a new compact disc, "Somewhere between Detroit & Chicago," as well. They've had some airplay on satellite XM Radio, WCSX in Detroit, Ontonagon's WOAS and other stations, Jacquez noted.

By the way, while Savage Grace and SRC played that twin bill in Marquette 36 years ago, thanks to email, Jacquez now knows what the poster used to promote the concert looks like. "Wow! Great poster," was his comment.

Don't worry, my poster for one of the best shows I never saw is still safely tucked away in that old album cover.

Yearbooks detail stars' past

In our celebrity-influenced culture, lots of otherwise common items have become collectible. Take yearbooks, for example. They're nothing special, except to alumni, unless you graduated with a rock star. Then, those yearbooks became a treasure trove of information, both trivial and important.

Over the years, my wife Sue and I have collected yearbooks from Buddy Holly, Madonna, Stevie Nicks and Elvis Presley and they reveal much about the stars who's pictures they contain.

The first annual we acquired was a 1953 "Westerner" from Lubbock High School in Texas, the sophomore year for one of rock's pioneers, Buddy Holly. His headshot depicts a casual young man, without his later trademark glasses. The name under the photo reads Buddy Holley, as his last name was spelled at the time.

We obtained the yearbook through a classified advertisement in Goldmine Magazine, a record collectors publication. A teacher at Lubbock High School ran a notice that he had found several copies of the annual in a closet on campus and was offering them for sale. In the late 80s, we invested $100 in buying the book which was already 35 years old.

Paging through, you'll notice that Buddy was a member of the "Choralaires," composed strictly of sophomores, as directed by Miss Imogene Webster. Also published in the book is a picture of classmate Niki Sullivan practicing golf at Lubbock Country Club. A few years later, Sullivan would play rhythm guitar in Buddy's band, The Crickets.

The back of the book contains advertising from local businesses. It's not impossible to think that Buddy may have frequented Wayne's Record Rack, 2421-A Broadway, and the Hi-D-Ho drive-in restaurant, the favorite meeting spot for Lubbock High School students, or so their ad claimed.

In the years after high school, Holly recorded such influential hits as "That'll Be The Day," "Peggy Sue," and "Oh Boy." Sadly, Holly perished at age 22 in an Iowa plane crash on Feb. 3, 1959, along with Richie Valens and The Big Bopper.

Madonna's yearbook, meanwhile, was sold to us by a man who announced he didn't care for the star whom he went to school with in lower Michigan. Known then as Madonna Ciccone, the singer is pictured as a senior in Rochester's Adams High School publication, "The Highlander." The 1976 yearbook notes Miss Ciccone was a member of the newly formed Thespian Society.

Of course, Madonna went on to record dozens of hits including "Take a Bow," "Like a Virgin," and "Vogue," as well as starring in the motion picture "Evita."

Another diva to grace our yearbook collection is Stevie Nicks, of Fleetwood Mac fame. She graduated from Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton, CA in 1966. We obtained a 25th anniversary edition of her yearbook, which featured Nicks in her rock star prime on the cover. Her high school obviously knew how to promote a famous former student and issued a limited edition of 300 numbered copies of the book.

The annual noted that as a senior Nicks appeared in the student production of "High Spirits" and was a member of the Players Club. Unfortunately, her credit for the show contains a typographical error, listing her as Stephanie Micks.

You know her name wasn't misspelled when she went on to record with Fleetwood Mac or as a solo artist registering such hits as "Talk To Me," "If Anyone Falls," and a duet with Tom Petty, "Needles and Pins."

Finally, there is Elvis. An original copy of his yearbook would be quite pricey. That's because he went to a small school and few copies of the annual were printed. But, we have a reproduction of the 1953 "Herald," copyrighted 1988, by music publisher Jerry Osborne. Still, you see the Humes High School graduation photo of Elvis, dressed in suit and tie.

Elvis had no activities listed with his picture but he did redeem himself later by recording "Don't Be Cruel," "All Shook Up," "Heartbreak Hotel," and 148 other smashes in the United States. For a Memphis kid apparently not terribly inspired by high school, that's not a bad "record."

U. P. played into REO story

REO Speedwagon performed in the Upper Peninsula at several pivotal junctions in their career.

You may remember the quintet from Champaign, IL first hit the singles chart in 1977 with the seminal "Ridin' The Storm Out," a rocker written by lead guitarist Gary Richrath.

Then, on Aug. 28, 1978, as "Time For Me To Fly," their third hit was charting, the group played at Marquette's Lakeview Arena to a crowd of swooning girls and air guitar playing guys.

As the 80s unfolded, and the band was battling it out with rivals Styx and Journey, the hits came fast and furiously for REO. Their "Hi Infidelity" album contained four radio-friendly singles including chart topper "Keep on Loving You" and another Richrath tune, "Take It On The Run," with its infectious line "heard it from a friend" and fiery guitar work. The song reached No. 5.

REO returned to Marquette in 1981 in support of the "Hi Infidelity" LP which was the best-selling album in the country for four months.

In 1985, the group registered their biggest single with "Can't Fight This Feeling." More saturation airplay followed.

By 1988, Epic Records had released a "best of" compilation called "Hits," which contained two new songs: "Here With Me," which reached the Top Twenty; and "I Don't Want to Lose You."

With a black and white cover depicting the four off- kilter letters of its title, "Hits," flew off store shelves.

A ballad, "Here with Me," was generating significant time on national radio when REO prepared to play at the U. P. State Fair on Saturday, Aug. 20, 1988. The group had also recorded a video of the song for MTV.

My wife Sue and I had been looking forward to the show because, with three hits the previous year, it looked like REO was at a career peak. Adding to our excitement, the group's manager had invited us backstage to meet the band after the 8 p. m. concert.

As we watched Richrath, with his cherry sunburst Les Paul guitar, singer and guitarist Kevin Cronin and the band storm through their hit-filled program, including the Top Ten "Keep The Fire Burnin'," we didn't realize things were about to change for the veteran group.

It seems Richrath and Cronin couldn't agree on the future direction of the band, or who's songs to put on their albums. Richrath wanted a rockier sound (his songs), while Cronin thought the group should continue to stress ballads (his songs).

Consequently, in the months following the Escanaba show, drummer Al Gratzer retired and Richrath was asked to leave the band.

With the change in personnel, the hits stopped. Still, Cronin kept the REO Speedwagon name before the concert-going public by touring extensively.

Following his split from REO, Richrath released a solo album, "Only the Strong Survive" in 1992. The disc included remakes of the title track and "In Your Letter" from the multi-million selling "Hi Infidelity."

Richrath was replaced in REO by ex-Ted Nugent and Richie Sambora guitarist Dave Amato.

REO's most recent local appearance, which besides Cronin and Amato, included original keyboardist Neal Doughty, bassist Bruce Hall, as well as drummer Bryan Hitt, came on June 2 and 3, 2006 at the Chip-in Island Resort and Casino in Harris.

In the years since the breakup of the original band, Cronin and Richrath have apparently patched up their differences but there has been no REO Speedwagon reunion.

During the last decade, Richrath has been working on a follow-up solo album, while REO has been marketed with seemingly countless compilation albums, as Epic Records continues to grind out profits from their back catalog, repackaging those old hits in various new combinations.

Checker salutes Elvis at 1977 Fair

For rock music fans, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 1977 was a day not soon forgotten.

As Chubby Checker readied a performance at the Upper Peninsula State Fair, word spread around the grounds that Elvis Presley-- the King of Rock 'n' Roll-- had died in Memphis.

My wife Sue heard the tragic news while she was at a vendor's booth where her dad, Harry Hahn, sold turquoise jewelry he made. "I was shocked," she remembered.

Rain had soaked the fair grounds late Monday and early Tuesday, with the wet conditions causing exhibitors to set up late and dampening attendance at Checker's afternoon show.

You may remember Checker as the only rock star to have the same song reach number one on two different occasions. "The Twist" topped the charts in September, 1960 and again in early 1962.

In fact, Checker's cover version of "The Twist," originally by Hank Ballard and the Midnighters, started a world-wide dance phenomenon that the performer used as the linchpin of his act.

Tickets for the 8:30 p. m. concert, booked through Northern International Agency, were just $2.50. Despite the price, Sue and I were among only 866 people to attend the evening show.

A rock 'n' roll party band called Wedsel's Edsels, which boasted $15,000 in stereo equipment and $20,000 in lighting, opened the program with a nostalgic 50's performance, reminiscent of Sha Na Na. In tribute to Elvis, the group added "Jailhouse Rock," a monster hit by the legend from Tupelo, to their set.

Checker, who toured 250 days per year, pumped up the crowd when he appeared on stage clad in a white jump suit open to the waist and platform shoes, along with a modest afro.

With his band "Ships," the veteran entertainer played his signature song, plus "Let's Twist Again," "Pony Time," "Popeye The Hitchhiker," "Slow Twistin,'" and many more from his long list of hits.

During the show, Checker explained that dancing to "The Twist" was easy: just pretend you're smothering a cigarette butt with one foot, then simultaneously do the same with the other.

Checker invited audience members, including both kids and adults, on stage for a "Limbo Rock" contest. But, virtually no matter how low the limbo stick got, the 35-year-old singer was able to shimmy his way under it, even with those platform shoes.

The Cameo- Parkway recording artist added a poignant moment. "Many of you probably know Elvis Presley died this afternoon. I sure will miss that man." With that the band played their take on "Hound Dog," Presley's giant smash from 1956.

On Wednesday, Aug. 17, the Escanaba Daily Press carried the sad story about the death of rock's greatest star under the page one headline "Elvis Presley Heart Attack Victim." The Associated Press dispatch, with a Memphis dateline, said "Elvis Presley, the one-time truck driver who as a rock 'n' roll singer was idolized by fans and denounced by preachers as the devil's tool, is dead of a heart ailment at 42. Doctors denied Presley's death was drug connected."

Each year since his death, devotees have gathered at Graceland in August to commemorate Presley's life during "Elvis Week." He is still one of the top earners at RCA Records and has a catalog containing over 200 albums and dozens of movies.

So many fans are still devoted to Elvis that new products appear monthly to meet the demand. Such is the affection his fans hold toward their idol.

Perhaps, like President Kennedy's assassination, you even remember where you were when you heard about Elvis' passing, so significant was his stature in modern music.

Like Chubby Checker's show at the Fair that day 29 years ago, rock 'n' roll will go on but Presley's incalculable contribution-- just like the day he died-- won't soon be forgotten.

An altered Foreigner set to play

Lou Gramm's vocals are an important component of Foreigner's classic sound, but is the singer integral to the future of the band?

That is a question you may want to ponder as Foreigner prepares to perform at the Upper Peninsula State Fair.

Mick Jones, the driving force behind Foreigner's hit-filled career, will bring his latest incarnation of the band to Escanaba Thursday, Aug. 17.

Like virtually every band from the era, Foreigner has had some personnel changes. In fact, the band has gone through numerous drummers and has twice as many former members as current ones.

Take Jason Bonham, for example. He didn't replace his famous father in Led Zeppelin, but he has landed a gig drumming for Foreigner. Bassist Jeff Pilson no longer plunks out the rhythm for hard rock band Dokken, but he now has found a job with Foreigner, too.

Concert-goers will certainly recognize the lead guitar work of Jones, the sole remaining founding member. The 61-year-old Jones is the rock upon which Foreigner is built.

As a teenager in Britain he worked in a record store and later honed his skills as a member of Spooky Tooth. By 1976, he founded Foreigner as the decade's arena rock acts began to take off.

You remember their hits. "Feels Like the First Time," "Cold as Ice," "Hot Blooded" and "Double Vision" were all early home runs.

The catchy "Urgent" with the memorable Jr. Walker sax solo came in 1981 as did "Waiting For a Girl Like You."

They hit their apex with the number one smash "I Want to Know What Love Is." Released in late 1984, the ballad spent an astonishing 21 weeks on the Billboard Top Singles chart. "Say You Will" and "I Don't Want to Live Without You" followed.

While the singles were commanding FM radio, their albums were equally dominant.

Jones kept the listening public interested by tweaking their sound with different producers as they recorded popular albums like "Head Games," "4" and "Agent Provocateur."

Foreigner enjoyed unparalleled success for more than a decade, but by 1991 Jones asked Gramm to leave the band despite the fact the singer was one-half the songwriting team which produced 22 hit singles.

Gramm was replaced by one-time King Kobra singer Johnny Edwards who performed lead vocals on the "Unusual Heat" album. The New York-born Gramm returned in 1992 before departing again in 2003 for a solo career.

Now, Foreigner is on a national tour with strong personnel, but missing its trademark lead singer who is currently on a national tour of his own.

Consequently, Gramm's former duties will be performed by wailer Kelly Hansen, from a modestly successful outfit called Hurricane.

The new line-up has released a compact disc entitled "Extended Versions" which was recorded live at Texas Station in Las Vegas on Nov. 26, 2005. It consists of ten tracks including a medley of "Juke Box Hero" and Zeppelin's classic "Whole Lotta Love."

Certainly the talented players in Foreigner, including keyboardist Jeff Jacobs and rhythm guitarist Thom Gimbel, put on a good show. They've got the experience and Jones would settle for nothing less than giving patrons an evening of top notch entertainment for their money. And, without a doubt, Jones deserves to continue to make a living for his 30 years fronting Foreigner. After all, it's his baby.

But, because many people judge live performances by the integrity of the lead vocals, some fans may be disappointed in a Foreigner show without Gramm, who sang all their hits. Others may not care or even prefer Hansen. You'll have to decide for yourself.