Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve
Encyclopedia
Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve (also known as HSAS) were a band featuring lead vocalist Sammy Hagar
, lead guitarist Neal Schon
, bassist Kenny Aaronson
and drummer Michael Shrieve
. The group reportedly rehearsed for less than a month before playing in concert. They released a semi-live album
, recorded during two live performances at the Warfield
in San Francisco, entitled Through the Fire
. The album includes a cover of Procol Harum
's "A Whiter Shade of Pale
".
album in late 1982 and afterwards took a 3-month safari
vacation in Africa
. Schon and Hagar then began looking for other musicians to complete the band. In an interview from mid-1983, Schon talked about the band's formation: "Sammy and I just get along so well. We're already working on an album together, and it's a killer! Right now we have Denny Carmassi
, who used to work with Sammy on drums, and we're looking for a bassist. We worked a bit with Tom Petersson
, but I guess he had other commitments."
Schon went on the Frontiers tour with Journey from February to September 1983, and then reconvened with Hagar. By this time, Carmassi had also left and the remaining two band members became Kenny Aaronson on bass and Michael Shrieve on drums. Shrieve and Schon had played together in Santana
in the early 1970s.
were recorded and broadcast by MTV
. (This footage was aired at least once but was never released on official videotapes or DVDs.) The Through the Fire album was edited in-studio to remove the crowd noise, but otherwise was left as recorded.
A full concert of the band was also aired on the radio as a Westwood One Broadcast. The original tracks that didn't make the album include: "Movin' In For The Kill", "Tough Enough", "Through the Eyes of Love", "Hope and Fear", "Since You Came", and "What Will Never Be". The band also performed a cover version of "Bookends
".
The first (and only) single released was their cover version of "A Whiter Shade of Pale", in May 1984. It reached a high of #94 on the Billboard Hot 100
charts.
The band toured briefly in California in 1984, adding rhythm guitarist Nick Sciorsci for live performances.
album and subsequently joined Van Halen. Hagar and Schon would reunite almost 20 years later to form the short-lived Planet Us
project.
Sammy Hagar
Sam Roy "Sammy" Hagar , also known as The Red Rocker, is an American rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Also sings Country Music....
, lead guitarist Neal Schon
Neal Schon
Neal George Joseph Schon is an American rock guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist best known for his work with the band Journey. He is the only member to have recorded on all of Journey's albums...
, bassist Kenny Aaronson
Kenny Aaronson
Kenny Aaronson is an American bass guitar player.- Early life and career :He started playing drums at the age of eleven, following in his older brother's footsteps. Kenny switched to electric bass at the age 14 after becoming enamored by the bass on Motown records and was strongly influenced by...
and drummer Michael Shrieve
Michael Shrieve
Michael Shrieve is an American drummer, percussionist, and later, an electronic music composer. He is best known as the drummer in Carlos Santana's eponymous band, playing on their first eight albums from 1969 through 1974...
. The group reportedly rehearsed for less than a month before playing in concert. They released a semi-live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
, recorded during two live performances at the Warfield
The Warfield
The Warfield, also known as The Warfield Theater, is a 2,300 seat music venue located at 982 Market Street, San Francisco, California. It was built as a vaudeville theater, and opened as the Loews Warfield on May 13, 1922.-History:...
in San Francisco, entitled Through the Fire
Through the Fire (album)
Through the Fire is the first and only recording by the band Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve, also known as HSAS. The album was recorded live with guitar overdubs added later...
. The album includes a cover of Procol Harum
Procol Harum
Procol Harum are a British rock band, formed in 1967, which contributed to the development of progressive rock, and by extension, symphonic rock. Their best-known recording is their 1967 single "A Whiter Shade of Pale"...
's "A Whiter Shade of Pale
A Whiter Shade of Pale
"A Whiter Shade of Pale" is the debut song by the British band Procol Harum, released 12 May 1967. The single reached number one in the UK Singles Chart on 8 June 1967, and stayed there for six weeks. Without much promotion, it reached #5 on the US charts, as well...
".
Formation
After the release of Journey's Frontiers in early 1983, guitarist Neal Schon decided to pursue another project with vocalist/guitarist Sammy Hagar. Hagar had released his Three Lock BoxThree Lock Box
Three Lock Box is a Sammy Hagar solo album, which features appearances by Loverboy's Mike Reno, Journey's Jonathan Cain, and Mr. Mister's Richard Page. His only top 20 solo hit, "Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy", reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1983....
album in late 1982 and afterwards took a 3-month safari
Safari
A safari is an overland journey, usually a trip by tourists to Africa. Traditionally, the term is used for a big-game hunt, but today the term often refers to a trip taken not for the purposes of hunting, but to observe and photograph animals and other wildlife.-Etymology:Entering the English...
vacation in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. Schon and Hagar then began looking for other musicians to complete the band. In an interview from mid-1983, Schon talked about the band's formation: "Sammy and I just get along so well. We're already working on an album together, and it's a killer! Right now we have Denny Carmassi
Denny Carmassi
Denny Carmassi is an American drummer.Carmassi was a member of the first four line-ups of the band Montrose. After Montrose, he played with his former Montrose bandmate Sammy Hagar as a solo artist, and with his former Montrose bandmates Ronnie Montrose and Jim Alcivar in the band Gamma.He also...
, who used to work with Sammy on drums, and we're looking for a bassist. We worked a bit with Tom Petersson
Tom Petersson
Tom Petersson is an American musician, best known as the bassist and sometime guitarist for the rock band Cheap Trick.-Career:...
, but I guess he had other commitments."
Schon went on the Frontiers tour with Journey from February to September 1983, and then reconvened with Hagar. By this time, Carmassi had also left and the remaining two band members became Kenny Aaronson on bass and Michael Shrieve on drums. Shrieve and Schon had played together in Santana
Santana (band)
Santana is a rock band based around guitarist Carlos Santana and founded in the late 1960s. It first came to public attention after their performing the song "Soul Sacrifice" at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, when their Latin rock provided a contrast to other acts on the bill...
in the early 1970s.
Through the Fire
To record their album, the band played live dates from November 9, 1983 to November 21, 1983 at the Warfield Theater. Two of the dates, November 14 and November 15 in San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
were recorded and broadcast by MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
. (This footage was aired at least once but was never released on official videotapes or DVDs.) The Through the Fire album was edited in-studio to remove the crowd noise, but otherwise was left as recorded.
A full concert of the band was also aired on the radio as a Westwood One Broadcast. The original tracks that didn't make the album include: "Movin' In For The Kill", "Tough Enough", "Through the Eyes of Love", "Hope and Fear", "Since You Came", and "What Will Never Be". The band also performed a cover version of "Bookends
Bookends
-Charts:-Personnel:*Paul Simon - Vocals, Guitar, Producer*Art Garfunkel - Vocals, Producer*Hal Blaine - Drums, Percussion*Joe Osborn - Bass*Larry Knechtel - Piano, Keyboards*John Simon - Production Assistant...
".
The first (and only) single released was their cover version of "A Whiter Shade of Pale", in May 1984. It reached a high of #94 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
charts.
The band toured briefly in California in 1984, adding rhythm guitarist Nick Sciorsci for live performances.
Epilogue
HSAS only produced one album before Schon returned to Journey, and Hagar recorded his VOAVOA (album)
VOA is the last solo album Sammy Hagar released before joining Van Halen. Around the same time Sammy Hagar joined Van Halen, guitarist Gary Pihl joined Boston...
album and subsequently joined Van Halen. Hagar and Schon would reunite almost 20 years later to form the short-lived Planet Us
Planet Us
Planet Us was a short-lived supergroup that formed in 2002 with Sammy Hagar on lead vocals, Neal Schon on guitar, Michael Anthony on bass, and Deen Castronovo on drums...
project.
Band members
- Sammy HagarSammy HagarSam Roy "Sammy" Hagar , also known as The Red Rocker, is an American rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Also sings Country Music....
- lead vocals - Neal SchonNeal SchonNeal George Joseph Schon is an American rock guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist best known for his work with the band Journey. He is the only member to have recorded on all of Journey's albums...
- lead guitar - Kenny AaronsonKenny AaronsonKenny Aaronson is an American bass guitar player.- Early life and career :He started playing drums at the age of eleven, following in his older brother's footsteps. Kenny switched to electric bass at the age 14 after becoming enamored by the bass on Motown records and was strongly influenced by...
- bass - Michael ShrieveMichael ShrieveMichael Shrieve is an American drummer, percussionist, and later, an electronic music composer. He is best known as the drummer in Carlos Santana's eponymous band, playing on their first eight albums from 1969 through 1974...
- drums
Discography
- Through the FireThrough the Fire (album)Through the Fire is the first and only recording by the band Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve, also known as HSAS. The album was recorded live with guitar overdubs added later...
(1984) - "Whiter Shade of Pale" (1984 single)