Bad Axe- Contradiction to the rule (1986)

I may have gone too soft on you during my last (and very seldom) posts, so to set things right I give you an extremely rare but magnificent piece of epic hard n heavy. This Bad Axe is from Flint, Michigan (there are a couple more bands of the same name) and their only known release is the full length ''Contradiction to the rule'' (1986). Very little is known about the band, a fact I intend to change soon, because I actually tracked down two of their members and they turned out to be still in the music business. Guitarist songwriter Rusty Wright is playing blues with his own band and he's actually recording and touring full time, while drummer Tommy Scott (Stewart) played with Halloween, Lillian Axe (yes, that Lillian Axe!), Godsmack, Fuel, Everclear etc.





http://www.rustywrightblues.com/

Phil Bates (Atlantic, Trickster, ELO part II)

Phil Bates is a hero in the AOR world just for singing on the Atlantic album ''Power'', one of those unappreciated gems that came through in the early 90's just to go under the radar. Despite that he doesn't seem to be very fond of this album (judging from what he wrote on an extensive bio on his personal page, which now has been vastly reduced- and strangely the refference to Atlantic was altered to the better). Anyway, Bates has been recording and touring for 40 years, he sings like only the best can, he plays a hell of a guitar, bass and some more, and sadly his most notable achievement (commercially I mean) was his stint with ELO part II. Some kind of ELO related project or reunion, I couldn't care less, I've ever payed much attention to them anyway. Nobody said this is a fair world. Guys like Phil Bates having to live a life in the shadow of a cover band... Well, ok it could have been worse, at least the guy has lived a life full of music, so my guess is he must be mostly happy about it. I just wish people who have the talents to write and perform their own music get their share of recognition for their original work and not for being related to some other better known band.

So, I was drinking some vodka caramel again after a long while (can't afford even that god damn greek politicians!) and I recalled Phil's passionate voice. Findig his material on the net is not easy if you are looking for downloads, but there are a lot of videos. It's a pitty he didn't get any breaks in the 80's, he could be big then and we could have had more Atlantic-like albums with Phil Bates (even if he would have regreted it, hahaha!). Enough rumbling, I give you a couple of songs from his solo work and a fantastic track from the Atlantic album. Sometime later I will get back with more stuff from his first recording band Trickster and his participation in ELO II. Plus anything else that I might come across and deserves to be shared.