Felony (band)
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Felony | |
---|---|
Origin | Los Angeles, California |
Genres | New wave |
Years active | 1974-1991 |
Labels | Rock 'n Roll Records |
Members | Jeff Spry and Joe Spry |
Felony was an American
History
After a period playing shows and making music business connections in the Los Angeles scene, Felony appeared in the horror b-movie Graduation Day (1981), playing their song "Gangsters of Rock."[1] Soon after, they signed with producers/managers Don Rubin, formerly of pop group The Ivy Three, and Artie Kornfeld. [2] Live shows mixed by sound engineer Steve Sands, who is also credited as second engineer on the debut album “The Fanatic”
During the developmental stage of Felony, Jeffrey Spry left the band briefly to be the singer with
Felony went into the studio and emerged with single "The Fanatic," which became a hit on Los Angeles radio station
The band, which now included Jeffrey on lead vocals, Joe on guitar, Danny Sands on piano/keyboards, Louis Ruiz on bass and Arty Blea on drums, recorded their first full-length album, also called The Fanatic, which was released in 1983 on
Felony's second single was 1983's "
The band recorded songs including "All the King's Horses" and "She's My Little Girl" for a second album on Scotti Brothers that never materialized. The original chemistry was never recaptured, and in 1985 EM-HI released Felony's sophomore effort The Vigilante, which featured a more traditional rock sound. The title track got a lot of radio play and was number two in the
Felony's final album, In the Name of Rock-n-Roll was self funded and produced by Joe and Ron Merenstein. Negotiations between Felony and a record label for release of this work stalled because of the label's unwillingness to give Joe production credit. The band disbanded and the Spry brothers went their separate ways each working on new projects. Jeffrey Scott Spry committed suicide on March 9, 1992.[4] March 10, 1992 was the re-release of the Fanatic. Joe formed his latest band, Kanawormz, with bass player John Avila of Oingo Boingo fame. The supporting members of Kanawormz have changed over the years, but Joe continues to create music and is now working on the fifth CD set for release at the end of 2023.
"The Fanatic" was featured in the 2011 film "Take Me Home Tonight".
Discography
"Gangsters of Rock" from Graduation Day (1981)
"The Fanatic"
Year: 1983
Tracks: The Fanatic/The Girl Ain't Straight
Label: Rock 'n' Roll
Catalog #: 3497
Formats: 7", 12"
The Fanatic
Year: 1983
Tracks: 1. The Fanatic, 2. No Room in Heaven, 3. One Step, 4. Positively Negative, 5. Aggravated Man, 6. What a Way to Go, 7. Kristine, 8. The Girl Ain't Straight, 9. Teaser, 10. 666 Beware.
Label: Rock 'n' Roll
Catalog #: 38453
Formats: LP, CS, CD
"Pied Piper"
Year: 1983
Tracks: Pied Piper (long), Pied Piper (short)
Label: Rock 'n' Roll
Catalog #: 04220
Formats: 7"
"Kristine"
Year: 1983
Tracks: Kristine, Kristine
Label: Rock 'n' Roll
Catalog #: 03999
Formats: 7"
Catalog #: Q-999
Formats: LP, CD
Compilation appearances
Valley Girl Soundtrack
Year: 1983
Tracks: The Fanatic
Label: Rhino/WEA
Catalog#:
Formats: CD, CS
Richard Blade's Flashback Favorites, Vol. 3
Year: 1994
Tracks: The Fanatic
Label: Oglio Records
Catalog#:
Formats: CD, CS
Just Can't Get Enough: New Wave Hits of the '80s, Vol. 11
Year: 1995
Tracks: The Fanatic
Label: Rhino/WEA
Catalog #:
Formats: CD, CS
Alternative 80's Hits
Year: 1998
Tracks: The Fanatic
Label: Rhino
Catalog #:
Formats: CD
Television appearances
American Bandstand[5]
First Aired: Saturday April 30, 1983
Tracks: The Fanatic, What a Way to Go
Episode Number: 2534
Season Number: 26
References
- ^ a b Issues Magazine
- ^ Resume
- ^ KROQ Top 106.7 Songs of 1985 Countdown List
- ^ Marketti, Helen (2022-04-10). "The Fanatic" (PDF).
- ^ American Bandstand: Irene Cara / Felony - TV.com