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LABELS
:
UK : Cherry Red Records - compact disc -
HNECD092 (September 15, 2017)
Warrior
is :
Vinnie Cusano / Vinnie Vincent (lead vocals, guitars)
Hirsch
Gardner (drums)
Jimmy Waldo (keyboards)
Gary Shea (bass)
Fergie Frederikson (additional lead vocals on tracks 12 - 16)
NOTES :
The demo's are recorded
at The Record Plant, Los Angeles.
The Fergie Frederikson rehearsals are taped at S.I.R. studios,
Los Angeles.
2017 Mastering by Tony Dixon at Masterpiece. (This 2017 is
mastered directly from unpolished tapes and cassettes in Gary
Shea's collection.)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (by
Cherry Red Records) :
• The Warrior story starts in 1982 with
the Boston based band New England, featuring keyboard player
Jimmy Waldo, bassist Gary Shea and drummer Hirsh Gardner, and
how their plans to record their fourth album with Todd Rundgren
were scuppered when their guitarist, John Fannon, unexpectedly
quit the group.
• They put the word out that they required a new singer, and as
they shared management with KISS, Gene Simmons recommended an
unknown Vinnie Cusano, who was then helping KISS with their
“Creatures Of The Night” opus. Although KISS liked Vinnie Cusano,
it was felt that his lack of height was a hindrance to joining
them as a full-time replacement for Ace Frehley!
• Vinnie sent New England a tape of his songs, and an audition
was set-up. New England liked what they heard on Vinnie’s
cassette so much that they decided to learn the whole set of
songs in preparation for Cusano’s audition. The four hit it off,
but it was obvious that this was a new band, soon to be
christened Warrior, and not just a seamless continuation of New
England. It was also agreed that the four would relocate from
Massachusetts to Los Angeles, and began recording the songs that
had appeared on Vinnie’s demo tape.
•
Fergie Frederikson was brought in to allow Vinnie to concentrate
more on guitar. Despite making some very good music, Warrior’s
career came to an abrupt end before it had even started when
Vinnie was offered the opportunity to join KISS full-time, and
become Vinnie Vincent, before eventually forming Vinnie
Vincent’s Invasion.
• Hirsh Gardner returned to Boston to produce, whereas Jimmy
Waldo and Gary Shea would stay in Los Angeles, forming Alcatrazz
with former Rainbow and MSG vocalist Graham Bonnet and a
relatively unknown 20 year old guitarist from Sweden called
Yngwie Malmsteen.
• What we have here is a “what might have been” mini-album of
previously unheard, original, classic hard rock by four
respected musicians at the top of their game. As well as the
original six studio tracks, we’ve been lucky enough to include
five instrumental versions, plus a very rare rehearsal tape
featuring the aforementioned Fergie Frederikson. Malcolm Dome’s
informative and detailed liner notes help tell the story, with
the input of band members Jimmy Waldo and Gary Shea.
Extra NOTES :
Track 04
: "Back On The Streets" is also
recorded by the band 3 SPEED in 1984 for the "Voyage
Of The Rock Aliens"
soundtrack album.
The same year Frehley's Comet demoed "Back On The
Streets".
Track 05 : "I Need Love", apart from being a Warrior
demo, this song would be demoed, along with other Vinnie Vincent
material during Vinnie's recording career with KISS. Parts of
this song would be recycled into the Vinnie Vincent Invasion
track "Shoot U Full Of Love".
Track 06 : "Baby Oh Why" would be re-written as
"Baby-O" for inclusion on Vinnie Vincent Invasion's
1986 album.
For more details on these recordings check out
MetalTalk.net, which page contains interviews with
Hirsch
Gardner,
Jimmy Waldo and
Gary Shea.
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