Head East
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Head East | |
---|---|
Origin | East Central Illinois, U.S. |
Genres | Rock |
Years active | 1969–present |
Labels | A&M, Pyramid Records, Darkheart Records, Allegiance Records |
Members | Roger Boyd Eddy Jones Greg Manahan Mark Murtha Darren Walker |
Past members | John Schlitt Steve Huston Mike Somerville Dan Birney Larry Boyd Tony Gross Dan Odom Mark Boatman Robbie Robinson Kurt Hansen J. Jaye Steele Matt Stewart Tom Bryant Ricky Lynn Gregg Glen Bridger |
Head East is an American
The band achieved success in the Midwestern United States during the 1970s, but fell into obscurity in the following decades on both coasts while remaining active in the Midwest and Southern parts of the United States. They are known for their 1975 hit "Never Been Any Reason".
Background
Originally known as the TimeAtions, the band adopted the name Head East on August 6, 1969, at the suggestion of the band's
Head East recorded and produced their first album,
The band followed with the albums Get Yourself Up and Gettin' Lucky, released in 1976 and 1977 respectively.[2] Neither album achieved the success of their debut album. However, their fourth album simply titled Head East (1978) produced another hit with the band's cover of former Argent singer Russ Ballard's "Since You Been Gone",[2] which peaked at number 46.
In 1979, the band released the double-
In March 1980, bassist Dan Birney and guitarist Mike Somerville left the band, while singer
Remaining members Boyd and Huston hired bassist Mark Boatman, guitarist Tony Gross, and former drummer and singer Dan Odum (during Huston's absence) to record their following album titled U.S. 1, released in October 1980.[2] The album was their last to reach the charts and last recorded release on A&M.[2]
The band continued with little success, releasing albums on small labels. Some of them were Onward and Upward (1982) on Allegiance Records and Choice of Weapons (1988) released on Dark Heart Records, the latter album featuring Kurt Hansen taking on bass and vocal duties. By the time Choice of Weapons was recorded, Steve Huston had departed the band to become a recording studio engineer, in Indianola, Iowa in the early 1990s, leaving Boyd as the only original member. These were the last studio albums recorded with new original material being released as Head East. Subsequent albums featured re-issued, remixed studio and live performances of the more successful material. They would still continue to play around, with guitarist Somerville returning from 1994 to 2003.
In 1999, a live album titled Live on Stage was released. The album featured songs from two shows at Denver's Rainbow Music Hall. The first five tracks are from a 1980 show featuring the original personnel, while the last 10 tracks are from a 1981 show featuring the latter line-up. The band continues to tour to this day, playing 30 to 40 shows each year.[3]
The band's original guitarist and songwriter Mike Somerville (born Michael A. Somerville on August 15, 1952, in Peoria, Illinois) died on February 28, 2020, at age 67.[6][7]
Co-founder, songwriter and original drummer Steve Huston died July 25, 2023 in Harris County, Texas at age 73. [8]
In media
The band's 1975 single, "Never Been Any Reason", was featured in the
Honors
In 2011, Head East was inducted into the Iowa Rock n' Roll Music Association's Hall of Fame.[9] As part of the induction concert, several former and current members united onstage to perform, including Steve Huston and John Schlitt.
Band members
- Roger Boyd – keyboards (1969–present)
- Eddy Jones – drums, vocals (2006–present)
- Greg Manahan – bass guitar, guitar, vocals (2006–present)
- Darren Walker – lead vocals, occasional live bass guitar (2006–present)
- Mark Murtha – lead guitar, vocals (2022–present)
Former members
- Larry Boyd – bass (1969–1974)
- Steve Huston – drums, backing and lead vocals (1969–1973, 1974–1983)
- Dan Piper – lead guitar (1969–1972)
- John Schlitt – lead vocals (1969–1973, 1974–1980)
- Brad Flota – guitar (1972–1973)
- Bill Keister – drums (1973)
- Dale Innes – lead vocals (1973)
- Mike Somerville – guitar (1973–1980, 1995–2003)
- Dan Birney – bass (1974–1980)
- Dan Odum – lead vocals (1980–1983)
- Mark Boatman – bass – (1980)
- Tony Gross – guitar (1980–1984, 1987–1991)
- Robbie Robinson – bass (1981–1983)
- Kurt Hansen – bass, lead vocals (1983–1997)
- J.Jaye Steele – lead vocals (1983–1986)
- Brian Kelly – drums (1983–1985)
- Ricky Lynn Gregg – guitar (1984–1986)
- Joel Parks – drums (1985–1987)
- Matt Stewart – guitar (1986–1987)
- Donnie Dobbins – drums (1987–1991)
- Randy Rickman – lead vocals (1988–1992)
- Steve Riker – drums (1991–1992)
- James Murphy – lead guitar (1991–1995)
- Tom Bryant – lead vocals (1995–2001)
- Dan Kelly – drums (1992–1997, 1999–2000)
- Rich Creadore – bass (1992–2006)
- Mike Mesey – drums (1997–1999, 2000–2006)
- Richie Callison – guitar, lead vocals (2001–2006)
- Glen Bridger – lead guitar, vocals (2006–2022)
Timeline
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/timeline/7zhmvlohlt4dtkoyys82usa1y7qx5yq.png)
Discography
Studio albums
Year | Title | Chart peak positions | |
---|---|---|---|
US [10] |
CAN [11] | ||
1975 | Flat as a Pancake | 126 | — |
1976 | Get Yourself Up | 161 | — |
1977 | Gettin' Lucky | 136 | — |
1978 | Head East | 78 | 98 |
1979 | A Different Kind of Crazy | 96 | — |
1980 | U.S. 1 | 137 | — |
1982 | Onward and Upward | — | — |
1988 | Choice of Weapons | — | — |
2013 | Raise a Little Hell | — | — |
2023 | Full Circle | — | — |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart. |
Live albums
- 1979: Head East Live! – (#65) (#66 Can.)
- 1999: Concert Classics Volume 7 – (none)
- 2000: Live on Stage (edited version of Head East Live) – (none)
- 2008: Head East Live 2008 – (none)
- 2011: One Night With... Head East – (none)
Singles
Year | Title | Chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [10] |
CAN [11] | ||||||||||||||
1975 | "Never Been Any Reason" b/w "One Against the Other" |
68 | — |
|
Flat as a Pancake | ||||||||||
"Love Me Tonight" b/w "Fly By Night Lady |
54 | — | |||||||||||||
1976 | "Fly By Night Lady" b/w "Separate Ways" |
— | — | Get Yourself Up | |||||||||||
1977 | "Gettin' Lucky" b/w "Sands of Time" |
— | — | Gettin' Lucky | |||||||||||
1978 | "Since You Been Gone" b/w "Pictures" |
46 | 64 | Head East | |||||||||||
1979 | "Never Been Any Reason" b/w "I'm Feelin' Fine" |
— | — | Non-album single | |||||||||||
"Got to Be Real" b/w "Morning" |
103 | — | A Different Kind of Crazy | ||||||||||||
"Specialty" b/w "Morning" |
— | — | |||||||||||||
1980 | "I Surrender" b/w "Out of the Blue" |
— | — | U.S. 1 | |||||||||||
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
References
- ^ Bill Grady, Steve Huston (June 2011). Head East: The real story on how the band was named (video interview). Arnolds Park, Iowa: Iowa Rock & Roll Music Association. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.
- ^ ISBN 0-7535-0257-7.
- ^ a b c "Band History". Head East Official Website.
- ^ a b Ruhlmann, William. "Head East > Biography". AllMusic.
- ^ "Biography – John Schlitt".
- ^ "Obituary for Michael A. Somerville". generationsfuneral.com. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
- ^ Martin Kielty (March 2020). "Head East's Mike Somerville Dies after Illness". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
- ^ "Claire Brothers".
- ^ "Hall of Fame inductees". Iowa Rock n' Roll Music Association website. 2013. Archived from the original on April 3, 2015. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
- ^ a b "Head East – Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
- ^ a b "Head East: RPM Magazine". RPM. July 17, 2013. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
- ^ "American certifications – Head East". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 2, 2023.