Kick Axe
Encyclopedia
Kick Axe is the name of a heavy metal
band from Canada
that reached its climax in the 1980s. They produced four albums during their career, with the longest gap between albums being 18 years. The albums are: Vices
, Welcome to the Club, Rock the World and Kick Axe IV
.
The band had minor success and was able to tour with some of the biggest names in the mid-1980s before disbanding. The band managed to be signed to the label that made Quiet Riot
headliners, but was never able to match the same level of stardom.
The band's classic line-up was George Criston (real name George Widule from Waukesha, WI) (vocals), Brian Gillstrom (drums, percussion), Victor Langen (bass guitar), Larry Gillstrom (guitar) and Raymond Harvey (guitar). For their last album, Kick Axe returned without singer George Criston, but instead with its original (before the band's commercial debut) singer Gary Langen.
Kick Axe's greatest hits include "Vices", "Alive and Kickin´", "Heavy Metal Shuffle", "Stay on Top", "On the Road to Rock", "Welcome to the Club", "Make Your Move", "Rock the World" and the ballad "Never Let Go".
, in 1976 by Larry Gillstrom (guitar), Victor Langen (vocals/bass guitar) and his brother Gary Langen (drums). By 1978, they added a second guitarist in Raymond Harvey and decided to relocate to Vancouver, British Columbia. and its more lively music scene. Gary Langen did not move with the band and was replaced with Larry's brother Brian Gillstrom. The group began recording in 1979 but scrapped the sessions because they felt they needed a more distinguished front man. Vocalist Charles McNary was brought in and the band started to make waves, even appearing on a Playboy compilation album.
. Vices
was released in 1984 to critical acclaim, and the band toured behind such acts as Quiet Riot
, Judas Priest
and Whitesnake
. The third single from the album (appearing only on the cassette version), a cover of Humble Pie's
"30 Days in the Hole
" appeared on the Up the Creek (1984) soundtrack.
The band's follow-up album Welcome to the Club was released in 1985 and strayed away from their rock anthems for a softer sound, and included a handful of guest stars. It reached the Billboard top 200, but disappointed die hard fans. Meanwhile, the group appeared on the The Transformers: The Movie
soundtrack under the name of Spectre General due to U.S. legal troubles. They recorded two songs under that name: "Hunger" (later covered by King Kobra
in their 1985 album Ready To Strike
) and "Nothin's Gonna Stand in Our Way" (a cover of a song by John Farnham
from the film Savage Streets
) which were included on the soundtrack. Harvey left the band in 1986, and was never replaced. One final album: Rock the World, a return to their roots, was released but by then all momentum had been lost. By 1988, they were without a label and then disintegrated.
Their cover of "30 Days in the Hole" appeared on the first of two Muchmusic
compilation albums associated with the weekly Power Hour
program.
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band from Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
that reached its climax in the 1980s. They produced four albums during their career, with the longest gap between albums being 18 years. The albums are: Vices
Vices (Kick Axe album)
Vices is the debut album by Canadian heavy metal band, Kick Axe. The album was released in 1984 on producer Spencer Proffer's label Pasha Records and distributed by CBS...
, Welcome to the Club, Rock the World and Kick Axe IV
Kick Axe IV
Kick Axe IV is the fourth studio album by Canadian Heavy metal band Kick Axe. The album was released in 2004.-Track listing:#Right Now - 4:37#Rockin Daze - 4:21#Consolation - 4:36#Turn To Stone - 3:55#Do You Know - 3:56#Who Knows Ya - 4:28...
.
The band had minor success and was able to tour with some of the biggest names in the mid-1980s before disbanding. The band managed to be signed to the label that made Quiet Riot
Quiet Riot
Quiet Riot is an American Heavy Metal band. They are best known for their hit singles "Metal Health" and "Cum On Feel the Noize". They were founded in 1973 by guitarist Randy Rhoads and bassist Kelly Garni, under the original name Mach 1, before changing the name to Little Women and finally Quiet...
headliners, but was never able to match the same level of stardom.
The band's classic line-up was George Criston (real name George Widule from Waukesha, WI) (vocals), Brian Gillstrom (drums, percussion), Victor Langen (bass guitar), Larry Gillstrom (guitar) and Raymond Harvey (guitar). For their last album, Kick Axe returned without singer George Criston, but instead with its original (before the band's commercial debut) singer Gary Langen.
Kick Axe's greatest hits include "Vices", "Alive and Kickin´", "Heavy Metal Shuffle", "Stay on Top", "On the Road to Rock", "Welcome to the Club", "Make Your Move", "Rock the World" and the ballad "Never Let Go".
Early years (1976 - 1980)
Kick Axe was formed in Regina, SaskatchewanRegina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
, in 1976 by Larry Gillstrom (guitar), Victor Langen (vocals/bass guitar) and his brother Gary Langen (drums). By 1978, they added a second guitarist in Raymond Harvey and decided to relocate to Vancouver, British Columbia. and its more lively music scene. Gary Langen did not move with the band and was replaced with Larry's brother Brian Gillstrom. The group began recording in 1979 but scrapped the sessions because they felt they needed a more distinguished front man. Vocalist Charles McNary was brought in and the band started to make waves, even appearing on a Playboy compilation album.
Career expansion, decline and fall (1981 - 1988)
McNary left the band in 1981, and it was almost two years before George Criston replaced him. Shortly after his joining the group signed a major label deal with Spencer Proffer's Pasha recordsPasha records
Pasha Records was a record label founded by Spencer Proffer. With distribution through Columbia Records, Pasha was the home to acts such as Quiet Riot and Kick Axe....
. Vices
Vices (Kick Axe album)
Vices is the debut album by Canadian heavy metal band, Kick Axe. The album was released in 1984 on producer Spencer Proffer's label Pasha Records and distributed by CBS...
was released in 1984 to critical acclaim, and the band toured behind such acts as Quiet Riot
Quiet Riot
Quiet Riot is an American Heavy Metal band. They are best known for their hit singles "Metal Health" and "Cum On Feel the Noize". They were founded in 1973 by guitarist Randy Rhoads and bassist Kelly Garni, under the original name Mach 1, before changing the name to Little Women and finally Quiet...
, Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
and Whitesnake
Whitesnake
Whitesnake are an English rock band, founded in 1978 by David Coverdale after his departure from his previous band, Deep Purple. The band's early material has been compared by critics to Deep Purple, but by the mid 1980s they had moved to a more commercial hard rock style...
. The third single from the album (appearing only on the cassette version), a cover of Humble Pie's
Humble Pie (band)
Humble Pie was a rock band from England, finding success both in the UK and the US. They are remembered for songs such as "Black Coffee" "30 Days in the Hole", "I Don't Need No Doctor", and "Natural Born Bugie"...
"30 Days in the Hole
30 Days in the Hole
"30 Days in the Hole" was the seventh single by English rock outfit Humble Pie, a band from the 1960s-'70s. Released in 1972, the song became a radio hit but failed to chart. The B-side on its US release was "Sweet Peace and Time", while everywhere else they were "C'mon Everybody" and "Road Runner"...
" appeared on the Up the Creek (1984) soundtrack.
The band's follow-up album Welcome to the Club was released in 1985 and strayed away from their rock anthems for a softer sound, and included a handful of guest stars. It reached the Billboard top 200, but disappointed die hard fans. Meanwhile, the group appeared on the The Transformers: The Movie
The Transformers: The Movie
The Transformers: The Movie is a 1986 animated feature film based on the animated series of the same name. It was released in North America on August 8, 1986 and in the UK on December 5, 1986....
soundtrack under the name of Spectre General due to U.S. legal troubles. They recorded two songs under that name: "Hunger" (later covered by King Kobra
King Kobra
King Kobra is a glam metal group founded by drummer Carmine Appice after his tenure with Ozzy Osbourne in 1984. The band during the time of their first two albums included four relatively unknown musicians: vocalist Mark Free, guitarist David Michael-Philips, guitarist Mick Sweda, and bassist...
in their 1985 album Ready To Strike
Ready to Strike
Ready to Strike is the first album by the band King Kobra. It was released on November 9, 1985.Its single "Hunger" was written by members of the Canadian metal band Kick Axe and was released by them in 1986. On the The Transformers: The Movie soundtrack album, they were under the made-up name of...
) and "Nothin's Gonna Stand in Our Way" (a cover of a song by John Farnham
John Farnham
John Peter Farnham, AO, formerly billed as Johnny Farnham , is an English-born Australian pop singer. He was a teen pop idol from 1964 to 1979, and has since forged a career as an adult contemporary singer. His career has mostly been as a solo artist although he briefly replaced Glenn Shorrock as...
from the film Savage Streets
Savage Streets
Savage Streets is a 1984 American vigilante action film starring Linda Blair. Directed by Danny Steinmann, the film premiered on October 5, 1984.-Plot:...
) which were included on the soundtrack. Harvey left the band in 1986, and was never replaced. One final album: Rock the World, a return to their roots, was released but by then all momentum had been lost. By 1988, they were without a label and then disintegrated.
Their cover of "30 Days in the Hole" appeared on the first of two Muchmusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
compilation albums associated with the weekly Power Hour
Pepsi Power Hour
The Pepsi Power Hour was a live one-hour program that aired on the MuchMusic television channel in Canada from 1986 to 1991. It ran once weekly every Thursday, until 1989 when a Tuesday hour was added. The show was dedicated to hard rock and heavy metal music videos, and showcased a variety of...
program.
Reunion without Criston (2003 - present)
The band reformed in 2003 with original member Gary Langen singing for Criston who was unavailable to join the reunion due to prior work commitments. The new album entitled IV was released the following year. In 2008 Langen departed from the group. The band continues to play Canadian tour dates and Rock festivals in 2009 and 2010 with new singer Daniel Nargang, who once sang for the Regina metal band Into Eternity from 2000-2002.Current members
- Daniel Nargang - Vocals
- Larry Gillstrom - Guitars and backing vocals
- Raymond Harvey - Guitars and backing vocals
- Brian Gillstrom - Drums
- Victor Langen - Bass guitar and backing vocals
Former members
- Gary Langen - Drums and lead vocals
- George Criston - Lead vocals
- Charles McNary - Lead vocals
- Dave Zurowski - Guitars
Discography
- Keep On Riding & Ashes To Ashes (Kick Axe SP ?) (1979)
- Weekendride & One More Time (Kick Axe Single) (1981)
- VicesVices (Kick Axe album)Vices is the debut album by Canadian heavy metal band, Kick Axe. The album was released in 1984 on producer Spencer Proffer's label Pasha Records and distributed by CBS...
(1984) - Welcome to the Club (1985)
- Rock the World (1987)
- Kick Axe IVKick Axe IVKick Axe IV is the fourth studio album by Canadian Heavy metal band Kick Axe. The album was released in 2004.-Track listing:#Right Now - 4:37#Rockin Daze - 4:21#Consolation - 4:36#Turn To Stone - 3:55#Do You Know - 3:56#Who Knows Ya - 4:28...
(2004)