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By Jeb Wright Most rock fans have their own personal list of bands
who should have made it to the big time but didn’t. In fact, if you get
three rock nerds in a room and crank up the stereo, this list can reach
massive proportions. Suddenly, every band that recorded an album, made a
video and had at least one cool guitar riff is hailed as the next
‘shudda been.’
The truth is most of the bands on these lists are emotional favorites
and really were not of good enough stock to last the long haul. The
number of bands who had enough great songs, musicianship and the right
chemistry to become rock stars and fell short is actually quite small.
Still, there are those who should live in mansions, have platinum
records on the wall and a bevy of groupies in the bedroom but, for
whatever reason, they never hit the big time. One such band is Shooting
Star.
Shooting Star hit the scene in the 1970's in Kansas City, Missouri.
The band was centered around two key figures, Gary West and Van McLain.
West had already flirted with fame in the music business as the drummer
for the legendary Kansas City band the Chessmen. In fact, legend has it
that it was West who, while on break from a club gig, went outside where
a street dance was going on and heard a newly formed band called
Shooting Star for the first time.
To Gary West, however, Shooting Star would have meant very little at
the time. The Chessmen had reached legendary status in the Midwest. In
the late 1960's, new music fads started on the coasts and worked inward.
The Chessmen were notorious for getting a jump start on the scene by
learning songs by The Beatles long before anyone in Kansas City had
heard the tracks. They were so popular that years later when Shooting
Star opened for the band Kansas, the headliners were lining up to meet
West backstage!
West did not jump ship from the Chessman directly to Shooting Star,
however. He went to New York and met up with a company called Golden
Lion Productions. Eventually, Gary tired of big city life and returned
home to Kansas City. During his absence the little band playing in the
street had grown up. Known as The Shooting Stars they actually had
garnered a lot of attention with a song titled "Take the Money & Run."
Led by Van McLain, the band were signed to Arista and offered a showcase
gig in London at the legendary Marquee Club where bands such as The
Rolling Stones, Elton John, The Who and Led Zeppelin started out.
Unfortunately for The Shooting Stars, shortly after their showcase gig,
Steve Miller released his song "Take the Money & Run" and Arista
released the band.
McLain and West met up in Kansas City fresh from their
disappointments. Instead of licking their wounds, they both realized
that the brass ring was within reach. They began concentrating on
writing music and the results were awesome. They added Charles Waltz on
violin, Ron Verlin on bass, Steve Thomas on drums and Bill Guffey on
keyboards. West played keyboards and McLain played lead guitar while
they both shared lead vocals. The name was shortened to Shooting Star.
The band used West’s New York connections to get their music heard and,
after a showcase gig at the legendary CBGBs, a bidding war soon ensued
and the band ended up becoming the first American act signed to Virgin
Records.
They returned to London in 1979 and began recording their self-titled
debut with famous producer Gus Dudgeon. The result was a monster slab of
rock n’ roll. The song "Last Chance" hit the airwaves and became a
heavily requested track as did "Bring It On" and "You’ve Got What I
Need." The album came out in 1980 but the business of music got in the
way. Behind the scenes squabbles ended up delaying the release of the
album. The single "Last Chance" was released to radio but the record was
not available for purchase until weeks later. Shooting Star missed their
chance to capture the buying public’s attention upon the debut of what
many feel is the strongest song in their catalog. The band kept their
heads up and began gathering fans by hitting the road, opening for Robin
Trower.
The band went back to the studio and recorded the most successful
album of their career, Hang on for Your Life Tonight. The title
track instantly became a favorite with rock radio as did the
Kansas-esque ‘Flesh & Blood." The band toured with Cheap Trick, Journey,
ZZ Top and Jefferson Starship and was featured on The King Biscuit
Flower Hour and Westwood One Radio Network. The next year they released
III Wishes followed by 1983's Burning. While the albums
each contained some radio friendly songs like "Are You Ready," "Straight
Ahead" and "Train Rolls On," fortunes were starting to change. The train
was slowing down and the band was selling less and less. Gary West had
become so disillusioned with the music business that he began wearing
only pajamas while on the road and on stage. The disillusionment spread
throughout the band and in 1986, Shooting Star officially broke up. West
retired from the music business.
In 1989, Shooting Star put out The Best of Shooting Star and
added the new song "Touch Me Tonight." The song, featuring new singer
Keith Mitchell, Dennis Laffoon on Keyboards and Rod Lincoln on drums,
unexpectedly rose to # 51 on the singles charts and became the highest
charting song in the band’s career. In 1990, they released It’s Not
Over but with the decline of rock music and the explosion of Grunge,
Shooting Star made their way out to pasture, playing only occasional
gigs.
After a battle with cancer, McLain was invited to play at a cancer
benefit in Chicago along with members of 38 Special, Night Ranger and
Cheap Trick. His musical spirit was rekindled and with a new lease on
life, he recorded the next Shooting Star album Leap of Faith in
2000. After the tragic events of September 11th, McLain wrote the song
"Let’s Roll" in honor of Todd Beamer. The song was picked up across the
country and the band was invited to numerous benefits and ended up
playing the National Anthem at several NFL games.
In 2005, Shooting Star signed to Frontiers Records and has recorded
their 7th studio album titled Circles, released in 2006.
The band has added Kevin Chalfant as their new lead vocalist. The albums
sound is strong and fueled by McLain’s song writing, Circles will
quickly become a fan favorite.
Classic Rock Revisited sat down with Shooting Star original, and
current band members, Van McLain, Ron Verlin and Steve Thomas to find
out what the band is up to now!
What does the future hold for Shooting Star?
Van: We have a new CD coming out July 18th. We are shooting the
video for our first single next week. It is called "Song for George" and
is a tribute to the late George Harrison.
Ron: We're in rehearsals now and looking forward to going back out on
the road.
Steve: We're excited about the new songs and hitting the road with
Kevin, our new lead singer.
What is your favorite memory of life in the fast lane?
Van: Playing in Roberto Clemente Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Ron: Singing with Jimmy Dewer in the hotel room bathtub after a few
drinks in Cleveland on the Robin Trower tour.
When it was over, what did you do?
Ron: It's never been over.
What is more fun: a) Groupies b) A Good Crowd c) Seeing your record
in a record store?
Van: A Good Crowd.
Ron: Watching a good Jerry Lewis/Dean Martin movie.
Steve: A Good Crowd.
What is the worst thing a headliner ever did to your band?
Van: Right before we went on stage, they changed our tuners so that
when we started playing, we were all out of tune with each other.
Ron: The bands initials are M. H.
Steve: The same band cut our set from 45 minutes plus an encore, to
only 10 minutes after we finished our first song because we were going
over so well.
Does is surprise you that so many people remember you today?
Van: That's what keeps me going and keeps me wanting to play.
Ron: It's very flattering. I have a hard time remembering me.
Steve: I'm very humbled.
What is the strangest thing you ever autographed?
Van: Triplets
What was your favorite tour and why?
Van: ZZ Top. I watched the show almost every night.
Ron: Cheap Trick right after the Live at Budokan album.
Steve: Robin Trower because it was our first one.
What is the best practical joke you ever pulled or had pulled on
you while on tour?
Van: While our road crew was working hard at the arena, we all went
into their room and used the bathroom and then tuned the heat up as high
as it would go so that when they came in after midnight, they had a very
pleasant aroma to fall asleep to. This is for you Warren!
Ron: Robin Trower’s crew came out on stage the last night of the tour
and duct taped my legs together.
Steve: When we were recording in the studio during Hang on for Your
Life, our violin player, Charles, was trying to overdub a part and
through modern technology, we sent him a different pitch than he was
actually playing back in his headphones. He got very frustrated.
What memento of your musical career means the most to you?
Van: I stole a milk bottle off of Paul McCartney's front porch in
London.
Ron: A used set of bass strings I got from John Entwistle of the Who.
Steve: Our first record contract with Virgin Records.
Visit Shooting Star and purchase any of the groups releases by
going to
www.shootingstarmaniacs.com |
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