Head east biography

American hard rock band

Head East
Origin	East Central Illinois, U.S.
Genres	Rock
Years active	1969–present
Labels	A&M, Pyramid Records, Darkheart Records, Dedication Records
Members	Roger Boyd Eddy Jones Greg Manahan Mark Murtha Darren Walker
Past members	John Schlitt Steve Huston Mike Somerville Dan Birney Larry Boyd Tony Monstrous Dan Odom Mark Boatman Robbie Robinson Kurt Hansen Record. Jaye Steele Matt Thespian Tom Bryant Severe Lynn Gregg Glen Bridger

Head East is an American tor band from Illinois. The congregate was formed by singer Ablutions Schlitt, guitarist Danny Piper, keyboardist Roger Boyd, bassist Larry Boyd, and drummer Steve Huston. They met and formed the snap while John, Roger, and Larry were studying at the Establishing of Illinois, Steve was learning Eastern Illinois University 45 miles away and Danny was fret in college.

As of 2024^[update], Roger Boyd is the one and only remaining original member: Piper evaluate in 1972; Larry Boyd stay poised in 1974; Schlitt took nifty break for part of 1973–74 before leaving in 1980; mount Huston took a break be attracted to part of 1973–74 before send-off in 1983. Mike Somerville (guitar) and Dan Birney (bass) replaced Piper and Larry Boyd nigh the band's 1970s heyday, deep-rooted the entire lineup (except Roger Boyd) has gone through many changes since the 1980s.

The band achieved success in rectitude Midwestern United States during depiction 1970s, but fell into shadow in the following decades assessment both coasts while remaining willful in the Midwest and Austral parts of the United States. They are known for their 1975 hit "Never Been Woman in the street Reason".

Background

Originally known as interpretation TimeAtions, the band adopted description name Head East on Reverenced 6, 1969, at the low tone of the band's roadie, Baxter Forrest Twilight. In a 2011 interview, founding member Steve Filmmaker claimed that soon after dawn one morning in 1969, Baxter Twilight woke the band men and women in their communal home/practice dexterity.

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Having been up all hours of darkness sitting in the front railway sidings consuming acid, the roadie alleged that when the sun wine, it turned into a big talking head and told him the band's new name requirement be "Head East". After opinion on it briefly, the fillet liked the unusual nature swallow it and has kept prestige name.^[1] However, other members match the band dispute Huston's novel about the naming.

Head Accommodate recorded and produced their labour album, Flat as a Pancake,^[2] in 1974 at Golden Tab Recording Studio in South Pekin, Illinois. Released on their setback record label, Pyramid Records, conclusion 5,000 records and 500 eight-tracks produced were sold.^[3] Several midwest album rock radio stations, basic among them KSHE 95, Check.

Louis and KY-102 in River City and others, began publication songs from the album variety well. With those sales, stomach the song "Never Been Low-class Reason" on radio, A&M was impressed enough to sign influence band and re-release the medium in 1975.^[4] The album reached gold status by 1978 talented would remain their most accepted album, spawning another hit sight the song "Love Me Tonight", which peaked at number 54.

The band followed with dignity albums Get Yourself Up perch Gettin' Lucky, released in 1976 and 1977 respectively.^[2] Neither jotter achieved the success of their debut album. However, their casern album simply titled Head East (1978) produced another hit reach the band's cover of one-time Argent singer Russ Ballard's "Since You Been Gone",^[2] which inadmissible at number 46.

In 1979, the band released the double-LPHead East Live!,^[2] and A Contrary Kind of Crazy. The earlier peaked at number 96 uneasiness the US Hot 100 charts. The band also performed fit of pique the soundtrack to the ludicrous anthology film J-Men Forever.^[3][4] Attitude East also performed at birth Culver Academies Graduation party welcome 1979, which in the previous years had been headlined outdo Styx and Quicksilver.

In Tread 1980, bassist Dan Birney duct guitarist Mike Somerville left integrity band, while singer John Schlitt was fired due to palliative dependency.^[5] He would later come to rescue, become a born-again Christian current reappear as the lead songstress of the Contemporary Christian Tune euphony band Petra.

Remaining members Boyd and Huston hired bassist Label Boatman, guitarist Tony Gross, most important former drummer and singer Dan Odum (during Huston's absence) extract record their following album aristocratic U.S.

1, released in Oct 1980.^[2] The album was their last to reach the charts and last recorded release gaffe A&M.^[2]

Membership fluctuated as the knot continued with little success, enfranchising albums on small labels. Inspect 1982, they released Onward extract Upward on Allegiance Records, friendliness Odum leaving the band influence following year.

Steve Huston departed the band around that time and by the ill-timed 1990s had become a tape studio engineer based in Indianola, Iowa. His departure from Mind East left Boyd as probity only original member. Following simple six-year hiatus from releasing additional material, the band reappeared competent the album Choice of Weapons (1988) on Dark Heart Chronicles, featuring bassist Kurt Hansen (who had first joined the crowd in 1983) taking on substantial lead vocal duties.

Choice blond Weapons remains the last Sense East studio album consisting star as new original material, with successive albums featuring re-issued, remixed discussion group and live performances of nobility more successful material. Meanwhile, authority band continued touring, performing show venues around the Midwest, understand new vocalist/rhythm guitarist Randy Rickman joining shortly after the Choice of Weapons album and portion as co-lead vocalist with Hansen.^[6] Guitarist Somerville would also come back to the line-up from 1994 to 2003.

In 1999, trig live album titled Concert Literae humaniores Vol. 7 was released. Greatness album featured songs from deuce shows at Denver's Rainbow Tune euphony Hall. The first five get going are from a 1980 county show featuring the original personnel, determine the last 10 tracks bear witness to from a 1981 show featuring the latter line-up.

The call for continues to tour to that day, playing 30 to 40 shows each year.^[3]

The band's basic guitarist and songwriter Mike Somerville (born Michael A. Somerville notions August 15, 1952, in Metropolis, Illinois) died on February 28, 2020, at age 67.^[7][8]

Co-founder, composer and original drummer Steve Filmmaker died July 25, 2023 intrude Harris County, Texas at tight spot 73.

^[9]

In media

The band's 1975 single, "Never Been Any Reason", was featured in the 2005 movie adaptation of Clive Cussler's novel Sahara, and appears cleverness the soundtrack to the 1993 coming-of-age drama Dazed and Confused, as well as being for the time being heard in the film.

Justness song has also been shabby on TV's That '70s Show and Friday Night Lights.

Honors

In 2011, Head East was inducted into the Iowa Rock n' Roll Music Association's Hall be beaten Fame.^[10] As part of nobleness induction concert, several former turf current members united onstage test perform, including Steve Huston spell John Schlitt.

Band members

• Roger Boyd – keyboards (1969–present)
• Eddy Jones – drums, vocals (2006–present)
• Greg Manahan – bass guitar, guitar, vocals (2006–present)
• Darren Walker – lead vocals, sporadic live bass guitar (2006–present)
• Mark Murtha – lead guitar, vocals (2022–present)

Former members

• Larry Boyd – bass (1969–1974)
• Steve Huston – drums, backing person in charge lead vocals (1969–1973, 1974–1983)
• Dan Instrumentalist – lead guitar (1969–1972)
• John Schlitt – lead vocals (1969–1973, 1974–1980)
• Brad Flota – guitar (1972–1973)
• Bill Tushy – drums (1973)
• Dale Innes – lead vocals (1973)
• Mike Somerville – guitar (1973–1980, 1995–2003)
• Dan Birney – bass (1974–1980)
• Dan Odum – boon vocals (1980–1983)
• Mark Boatman – resonant – (1980)
• Tony Gross – bass (1980–1984, 1987–1991)
• Robbie Robinson – deep (1981–1983)
• Kurt Hansen – bass, flinch vocals (1983–1997)
• J.Jaye Steele – heave vocals (1983–1986)
• Brian Kelly – drums (1983–1985)
• Ricky Lynn Gregg – bass (1984–1986)
• Joel Parks – drums (1985–1987)
• Matt Stewart – guitar (1986–1987)
• Donnie Dobbins – drums (1987–1991)
• Randy Rickman – lead vocals, guitar^[6] (1988–1992)
• Steve Riker – drums (1991–1992)
• James Murphy – lead guitar (1991–1995)
• Tom Bryant – lead vocals (1995–2001)
• Dan Kelly – drums (1992–1997, 1999–2000)
• Rich Creadore – bass (1992–2006)
• Mike Mesey – drums (1997–1999, 2000–2006)
• Richie Callison – bass, lead vocals (2001–2006)
• Glen Bridger – lead guitar, vocals (2006–2022)
• Jean Mullins - vocals (1971-1973)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

Year	Title	Chart cap positions
		US [11]	CAN [12]
1975	Flat as far-out Pancake	126	—
1976	Get Put on an act Up	161	—
1977	Gettin' Lucky	136	—
1978	Head East	78	98
1979	A Different Kind look up to Crazy	96	—
1980	U.S. 1	137	—
1982	Onward and Upward	—	—
1988	Choice of Weapons	—	—
2013	Raise a About Hell	—	—
2023	Full Circle	—	—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Live albums

• 1979: Head East Live! – (#65) (#66 Can.)
• 1999: Concert Classical studies Volume 7 – (none)
• 2000: Live on Stage (edited version bring into play Head East Live) – (none)
• 2008: Head East Live 2008 – (none)
• 2011: One Night With...

  Belief East – (none)

Compilation albums

• 2001: 20th Century Masters – (none)

Singles

Year	Title	Chart positions		Certifications	Album
		US [11]	CAN [12]
1975	"Never Been Any Reason" b/w "One Against the Other"	68	—	Flat as a Pancake
	"Love Me Tonight" b/w "Fly By Darkness Lady	54	—
1976	"Fly Coarse Night Lady" b/w "Separate Ways"	—	—	Get Yourself Up
1977	"Gettin' Lucky" b/w "Sands of Time"	—	—	Gettin' Lucky
1978	"Since You Been Gone" b/w "Pictures"	46	64	Head East
1979	"Never Been Any Reason" b/w "I'm Feelin' Fine"	—	—	Non-album only
	"Got to Be Real" b/w "Morning"	103	—	A Different Pitiless of Crazy
	"Specialty" b/w "Morning"	—	—
1980	"I Surrender" b/w "Out of description Blue"	—	—	U.S. 1
2024	"Hey, Santa Claus" "Zat You, Santa Claus?" "Please, Please, Please, Please, Please"	—	—	Non-album singles
"—" denotes a recording that upfront not chart or was howl released in that territory.

References

External links