KICK AXE Heavy Metal Shuffle Rhythm Guitar Cover Canadian Metal 1984

Kick Axe was formed in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, in 1974 by Larry Gillstrom (guitar), Victor Langen (bass guitar) and his brother Gary Langen (drums, lead vocals), but at those times they called themselves Hobbit. In 1976 they changed the name to Kick Axe. After several line-up changes, by 1979, they added a guitarist Raymond Harvey and relocated to Vancouver, British Columbia, in search of greater exposure. Gary Langen was not willing to leave Saskatchewan and was replaced by 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 making an appearance on a Playboy compilation album. McNary left the band in 1982, and, after an international search, he was replaced in 1983 by George Criston (from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US), giving Kick Axe the "distinguished front man" they had long desired. Shortly after his joining, the group signed a major label deal with Spencer Proffer's Pasha Records. Their debut album Vices was released in 1984 to critical acclaim, and the band toured behind such top acts of the day as Judas Priest, Whitesnake, Scorpions, and Pasha label-mates Quiet Riot. A cover of Humble Pie's "30 Days in the Hole" appeared on the Up the Creek movie soundtrack in 1984 as well as on the chromium dioxide cassette version of Vices. The song also appeared on the first of two Muchmusic compilation albums, promoting the network's weekly Power Hour program. Vices meant for Kick Axe their biggest commercial success, reaching position No. 126 at the Billboard 200 album chart. The band's follow-up album, Welcome to the Club, was released in 1985, and included a handful of guest stars. Meanwhile, the group appeared on The Transformers: The Movie soundtrack under the name "Spectre General", the name change being due to legal complications. The band name still appeared as Kick Axe on the Canadian release of the album. They recorded two songs under that name: "Hunger" (later covered by King Kobra on their 1985 album Ready to Strike) and "Nothin's Gonna Stand in Our Way" (originally by John Farnham for the film Savage Streets) which were included on the soundtrack. Guitarist Harvey left the band in 1986, and the band elected to carry on as a four-piece. Their next album, Rock the World, a return to their heavy metal roots, was released but by then all momentum had been lost. By 1988, dropped by their record label, Kick Axe broke up.