Origin: London (England)
AIRRACE
 |
| Jim Reid - Keith Murrell - Toby Sadler - Laurie Mansworth - Jason Bonham |
Shaft of light - 1984 (with lyrics)Notes:
- AIRRACE was a London AOR act that was initially assembled around ex-MORE guitarist Laurie Mansworth and for a short spell had ex-GIRL vocalist Phil Lewis as frontman. Subsequently, the band added drummer Jason Bonham, ex-WHITE SPIRIT keyboard player Toby Sadler and former MOONTIER vocalist Keith Murrell.
AIRRACE supported both DEF LEPPARD and TED NUGENT in Britain before signing to Atco records. AIRRACE released a melodic rock album in 1984 which provoked more interest due to the appearance of Jason Bonham (son of LED ZEPPELIN's John Bonham) than it did for song content. Although the album was produced by Beau Hill, noted for his contemporary work with American melodic rock acts, AIRRACE's effort fell far short of its competitors.
The band supported AC/DC, QUEEN, MEAT LOAF and during 1984. However, AIRRACE split shortly after the album release with Sadler and Murrell teaming up with ex-members of LIONHEART to form a new version of this act in August 1985. Murrell, who held down a day job as backing singer for CLIFF RICHARD, also auditioned unsuccessfully for both MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP and FOREIGNER. The singer would also be in the frame to join Scott Gorham's 21 GUNS at one stage.
AIRRACE reformed in 1986 with a line-up of Mansworth, ex-HAMMERHEAD vocalist IAN PARRY, keyboardist Mark Venebales, bassist Kevin Brown and drummer Simon Tomkins. Meantime, Keith Murrell teamed up with Irish act MAMA'S BOYS in 1987. By 1990 Parry was fronting Dutch rockers VENGEANCE, and would soon assume a solo career issuing three albums. Parry went on to fronts Progressive Rockers ELEGY. Keith Murrell was later to involve himself in the PHENOMENA III project.
Bonham joined VIRGINIA WOLF before forming his own highly successful band BONHAM. The drummer, alongside 'band' members actor Mark Wahlberg, OZZY OSBOURNE and BLACK LABEL SOCIETY guitarist ZAKK WYLDE and DOKKEN bassist Jeff Pilson, would grace the big screen in 2001 playing the drums for the fictitious STEEL DRAGON for the movie 'Rock Star'. With a combination of musicians that strong the lure to record STEEL DRAGON material for the movie was irresistible and the subsequent 'Rock Star' soundtrack CD duly featured six STEEL DRAGON tracks with Bonham performing.
Jason Bonham joined classic Rock veterans UFO in July 2003. Bonham, during a stint with FOREIGNER, was on international TV screens in 2006 as part of an all star band dubbed DAMNOCRACY, involving former SKID ROW singer SEBASTIAN BACH, guitarists Scott Ian of ANTHRAX and TED NUGENT, Evan Seinfeld of BIOHAZARD. Laurie Mansworth came back to the fore as manager / producer of ROADSTAR.
In a surprise move, AIRRACE was reformed in 2009 by Laurie Mansworth, Toby Sadler and Keith Murrell for an appearance at the 24th October 'Firefest' event in Nottingham. The group supported THUNDER at Cambridge and Sheffield for their July 2009 farewell tour. -
0 comentarios:
Post a Comment