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Earl Slick (born Frank Madeloni in Staten Island, New York,1 October 1952) is a guitarist best known for his collaborations with David Bowie, Jim Diamond and Robert Smith, although he has also worked with other artists (John Lennon: Double Fantasy, Milk and Honey, Yoko Ono), John Waite, and even released some solo recordings.
In the early 1970s, Earl Slick gained his reputation on New York music scene as a talented, skillful rock guitarist while playing in a band called Mack Truck featuring both singer/songwriter Jimmy Mack and his brothe
r drummer Jack Mack. His work with Scottish singer/songwriter Jim Diamond was as the duo Slick Diamond. They did some tours and performances for a short time in the late 1970s.
Slick was initially hired by David Bowie to replace Mick
Ronson as lead guitarist for the Diamond Dogs tour in 1974 (the live album David Live was culled from this tour). Slick also performed lead guitar on Bowie’s Young Americans and Station To Station albums, released in 1975 and 1976 respectively. It was Slick’s powerful playing that made the latter album’s “Stay” an enduring favourite of fans of Bowie and of guitar heroics alike. After running afoul of Bowie’s management, Slick was replaced as lead guitarist for the Station To Station tour (1976), his role being taken by Stacey Heydon. Slick then became a hired gun, working for Leo Sayer, Ian Hunter, John Lennon, and Yoko Ono. He also formed his own solo band.
Slick returned to Bowie for 1983′s Serious Moonlight tour, to support the Let’s Dance album. Ironically, Slick, who was ousted as lead guitarist from Bowie’s 1976 tour, was the last-minute lead-guitarist replacement for Bowie’s 1983 tour (substituting for Stevie Ray Vaughan).
Slick then formed Phantom, Rocke
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on 9/7/2010
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Over the past two decades, Jeff Watson has established himself as one of the world’s most revolutionary and technically gifted guitarists. Jeff originated the “8 Finger Technique,” a fret board tapping style he has used to astound casual fans and professional musicians alike, whether it be on Night Ranger hits like “(You Can Still) Rock In America”, on his awesome solo albums, or through his work with Mothers Army. Jeff’s musical talent has also made him a highly sought after session player, adding guitar tracks to the albums of Chris Isaak, Tony MacAlpine, Steve Morse, and many more. Jeff’s powerful stage presence, and flawless playing has become one of his trademarks. Overshadowed by his virtuoso playing is Jeff’s songwriting talent. He has shown an incredible knack for writing powerful heartfelt lyrics and gorgeous arrangements. One listen to songs like “Goodbye,” “Let Him Run,” “Sunday Morning,” and “Around The Sun,” and any listener can feel the pure emotion Jeff can evoke in his songs. This is not to say that Jeff can’t pen blazing rockers, and songs like the Night Ranger classics “New York Time” and “I Don’t Call This Love”, or Jeff’s solo tune “Cement Shoes” (with Sammy Hagar), are a testament to that.
Before Night Ranger, Jeff gigged around the Sacramento/San Francisco bay area with his own band, appropriately titled “The Jeff Watson Band”. It wouldn’t be long though, (after doing shows with Ted Nugent, Sammy Hagar, and Heart) before Jeff met Alan “Fitz” Fitzgerald (Montrose/ Sammy Hagar) and they decided they wanted to work together. Fitz was living with Jack Blades at the time, and along with Brad Gillis and Kelly Keagy they formed Night Ranger. From the moment Night Ranger’s first single “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me” hit the airwaves, rock fans new this band was something special. That song showcased the breathtaking duel leads of Jeff and partner in crime Brad Gillis, and announced to the world the coming of two new guitar Gods. As Night Rangers album sales grew, (more than 16 million and counting), so did Jeff’s reputation as one of the most talented guitarists in rock n’ roll.
Seeing Jeff live is a real treat for all who have had the pleasure. Only in a live setting can one truly appreciate his musicianship. Between the complex and inventive acoustic guitar work, and the speed and coordination required to pull off what Jeff does on electric guitar, one starts to grasp the sheer complexity of 
his playing.
In 1990, when Night Ranger broke up after the Man In Motion tour, it didn’t take Jeff
Over the past two decades, Jeff Watson has established himself as one of the world’s most revolutionary and technically gifted guitarists. Jeff originated the “8 Finger Technique,” a fret board tapping style he has used to astound casual fans and professional musicians alike, whether it be on Night Ranger hits like “(You Can Still) Rock In America”, on his awesome solo albums, or through his work with Mothers Army. Jeff’s musical talent has also made him a highly sought after session player, adding guitar tracks to the albums of Chris Isaak, Tony MacAlpine, Steve Morse, and many more. Jeff’s powerful stage presence, and flawless playing has become one of his trademarks. Overshadowed by his virtuoso playing is Jeff’s songwriting talent. He has shown an incredible knack for writing powerful heartfelt lyrics and gorgeous arrangements. One listen to songs like “Goodbye,” “Let Him Run,” “Sunday Morning,” and “Around The Sun,” and any listener can feel the pure emotion Jeff can evoke in his songs. This is not to say that Jeff can’t pen blazing rockers, and songs like the Night Ranger classics “New York Time” and “I Don’t Call This Love”, or Jeff’s solo tune “Cement Shoes” (with Sammy Hagar), are a testament to that.
Before Night Ranger, Jeff gigged around the Sacramento/San Francisco bay area with his own band, appropriately titled “The Jeff Watson Band”. It wouldn’t be long though, (after doing shows with Ted Nugent, Sammy Hagar, and Heart) before Jeff met Alan “Fitz” Fitzgerald (Montrose/ Sammy Hagar) and they decided they wanted to work together. Fitz was living with Jack Blades at the time, and along with Brad Gillis and Kelly Keagy they formed Night Ranger. From the moment Night Ranger’s first single “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me” hit the airwaves, rock fans new this band was something special. That song showcased the breathtaking duel leads of Jeff and partner in crime Brad Gillis, and announced to the world the coming of two new guitar Gods. As Night Rangers album sales grew, (more than 16 million and counting), so did Jeff’s reputation as one of the most talented guitarists in rock n’ roll.
Seeing Jeff live is a real treat for all who have had the pleasure. Only in a live setting can one truly appreciate his musicianship. Between the complex and inventive acoustic guitar work, and the speed and coordination required to pull off what Jeff does on electric guitar, one starts to grasp the sheer complexity of his playing.
In 1990, when Night Ranger broke up after the Man In Motion tour, it didn’t take Jeff
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One very important fact about Alan Merrill
: He was the lead singer and songwriter of the first and original 1975 version of “I Love Rock N Roll” with his band, The Arrows. The song has become an enduring international rock anthem, recorded by Joan Jett, Britney Spears, and many others. Joan Jett saw Merrill perform the song on a British television pop show in ‘76, while on tour with her band, The Runaways, and she was deeply inspired. Her 1982 version of the song was #1 for 8 weeks in the USA.
Alan Merrill was literally born into the world of music. Named Allan Sachs at birth, his parents, Helen Merrill, and sax/clarinetist Aaron Sachs of Earl ‘Fatha’ Hines Band, are world-renowned musicians.
After starting to play music in semi-pro bands in Greenwich Village, Alan eventually moved to Japan in his late teens. Starting his professional career in music with the RCA-Victor Tokyo-based recording group, The Lead, in 1968, Alan replaced Mark Elder as guitarist in the band. They had one hit single, titled “Blue Rose.” It was also then that his management changed his professional name to Alan Merrill.
When The Lead broke up, Merrill went solo, recording two popular albums: “Merrill 1″ and “Alone In Tokyo” in 1970 -’71. He became the biggest foreign pop star in Japan’s domestic market, hosting his own segment on the popular TV show “Young 720,” acting in the soap opera “Ji Kan Desu-yo,” and being featured in commercials, including major campaigns for Nissan cars and Jun clothing. He was signed to the most powerful agency in Japan, Watanabe Productions. Alan soon grew tired of being a “teen pop idol” and left the agency, recording with a number of artists as a session musician, playing on recordings by the popular artists Garo, Hirao Masaaki, Yamashita Keijiro, Yuya Uchida, Too Much, Miki Curtis, Monsieur, and Alan was a core member of the studio band Godzilla and Yellow Gypsy. Weary of sessions for other artists, and anxious to get back on stage, Alan Merrill formed the hard-edged glam rock group Vodka Collins (as lead singer and guitarist) in 1972 with Hiroshi Oguchi. The band was quickly successful.
The charismatic Oguchi was already a well-known drummer and media celebrity who had been with the chart hit popular band, The Tempters. Vodka Collins recorded one album, “Tokyo-New York,” for EMI Records, and it’s proved their most-enduring work. Now available on CD, it remains a consistent seller. Vodka Collins had three hit singles off of the album: “Sands Of Time,” “Automatic Pilot” and “Billy Mars.” The song “Scratchin’” from the “Tokyo-New York” album was used as the theme for a gangster TV show. All these songs were Merrill compositions, with Japanese lyrics added on a couple (which then became domestic market hits) by drummer Hiroshi Oguchi. After a dispute with their manag
One very important fact about Alan Merrill
: He was the lead singer and songwriter of the first and original 1975 version of “I Love Rock N Roll” with his band, The Arrows. The song has become an enduring international rock anthem, recorded by Joan Jett, Britney Spears, and many others. Joan Jett saw Merrill perform the song on a British television pop show in ’76, while on tour with her band, The Runaways, and she was deeply inspired. Her 1982 version of the song was #1 for 8 weeks in the USA.
Alan Merrill was literally born into the world of music. Named Allan Sachs at birth, his parents, Helen Merrill, and sax/clarinetist Aaron Sachs of Earl ‘Fatha’ Hines Band, are world-renowned musicians.
After starting to play music in semi-pro bands in Greenwich Village, Alan eventually moved to Japan in his late teens. Starting his professional career in music with the RCA-Victor Tokyo-based recording group, The Lead, in 1968, Alan replaced Mark Elder as guitarist in the band. They had one hit single, titled “Blue Rose.” It was also then that his management changed his professional name to Alan Merrill.
When The Lead broke up, Merrill went solo, recording two popular albums: “Merrill 1″ and “Alone In Tokyo” in 1970 -’71. He became the biggest foreign pop star in Japan’s domestic market, hosting his own segment on the popular TV show “Young 720,” acting in the soap opera “Ji Kan Desu-yo,” and being featured in commercials, including major campaigns for Nissan cars and Jun clothing. He was signed to the most powerful agency in Japan, Watanabe Productions. Alan soon grew tired of being a “teen pop idol” and left the agency, recording with a number of artists as a session musician, playing on recordings by the popular artists Garo, Hirao Masaaki, Yamashita Keijiro, Yuya Uchida, Too Much, Miki Curtis, Monsieur, and Alan was a core member of the studio band Godzilla and Yellow Gypsy. Weary of sessions for other artists, and anxious to get back on stage, Alan Merrill formed the hard-edged glam rock group Vodka Collins (as lead singer and guitarist) in 1972 with Hiroshi Oguchi. The band was quickly successful.
The charismatic Oguchi was already a well-known drummer and media celebrity who had been with the chart hit popular band, The Tempters. Vodka Collins recorded one album, “Tokyo-New York,” for EMI Records, and it’s proved their most-enduring work. Now available on CD, it remains a consistent seller. Vodka Collins had three hit singles off of the album: “Sands Of Time,” “Automatic Pilot” and “Billy Mars.” The song “Scratchin’” from the “Tokyo-New York” album was used as the theme for a gangster TV show. All these songs were Merrill compositions, with Japanese lyrics added on a couple (which then became domestic market hits) by drummer Hiroshi Oguchi. After a dispute with their manag
“I love playing bass and reaching people souls with my music. Music is a part of me and that’s what I have to share with the people of the world.”
Tony Saunders is an American bass player and keyboards player in the genres of jazz, gospel and world music. He is a composer, arranger, and music producer, and head of his own studio, Magic Castle.
Saunders comes from a musical family. His world famous keyboardist father, Merl Saunders, got him started at an early age. He began singing at the age of five, and played piano from age eight. Herbie Hancock and Sly Stone were among Saunders’ early teachers, and Sly gave Saunders an organ at the age of ten. At age fourteen he began playing the bass.
In the 1969 he, his brother Merl Saunders Jr., and his sister Susan Saunders recorded a jingle for the San Francisco Giants under the name The Man Child Singers. They also appeared in the Joseph Dolan Tuotti musical Big Time Buck White (which featured Muhammad Ali and Donald Sutherland among others), with music and lyrics by Oscar Brown Jr. and musical direction by Merl Saunders. The Man Child Singers performed and recorded the songs Right On and Mighty Whitey from that play on a 45 produced by his father’s label Summertone Records. This single was included in the compilation CD Home Schooled: The ABCs Of Kid Soul in 2007.
Tony received his first piano lesson from Herbie Hancock, and was awarded a fellowship at the prestigious San Francisco Conservatory of Music for piano. His first bass guitar was a gift from Tom Fogerty, brother of John Fogerty and rhythm guitarist for Creedence Clearwater Revival. He graduated from the Conservatory of Music in San Francisco. He received an Emmy with his father for the children’s special Soul Is, a PBS documentary featuring Black poetry accompanied by Saunders on the bass.
At age eighteen he began playing with his father and Jerry Garcia, and was a featured musician in Merl Saunders & the Rainforest Band, and other projects of his
father’s. Legendary bassist Chuck Rainey, Jack Cassidy and John Kahn all took interest in Saunders’s ability. John Kahn turned Saunders on to James Jamerson, and Saunders modeled his playing around all of his teachers. Other influences include Stanley Clarke, Alphonso Johnson, Rufus Reid, Ralphe Armstrong, and current favorite Marcus Miller. This has led to a very flexible and diverse style.
The 1970 Isle of Wight Festival was held on 26–31 August 1970. It was held on Afton Down, an area on the western side of the Isle of Wight. It was the last of three consecutive music festivals to take place on the island between 1968 and 1970. It was widely acknowledged as the largest musical event of its time (until Summer Jam at Watkins Glen in 1973), greater than the attendance of Live Aid, Woodstock and Rock in Rio. The Guinness Book of Records estimate
d 600,000 to 700,000, and possibly 800,000 people attended.
The Isle of Wight Festivals had already attracted a massive reputation in 1968 and in 1969 by attracting acts such as Jefferson Airplane, T. Rex, The Move, Pretty Things, Joe Cocker and Bob Dylan (in his first performance since his 1966 motorcycle accident) and The Who in their foundation years. The organisers Fiery Creations (brothers Ronald Foulk and Raymond Foulk) were determined to make the 1970 event a legendary event. In this aim they enlisted Jimi Hendrix. With Jimi confirmed, artists such as Chicago, The Doors, The Who, Joan Baez, and Free willingly took up the chance to play on the island. The event had a magnificent but impractical site, a strong but inconsistent line up and the logistical nightmare of transporting 600,000 onto an island with a population of less than 100,000. The aftermath and commercial failings of the festival ensured it would be the last event of its kind on the Isle of Wight for thirty-two years.
The opposition to the proposed 1970 Festival from the residents of the Isle of Wight was much better coordinated than it had be
Tony Fox Sales (born September 26, 1951) is an American rock musician. A bass guitarist, Sales and his brother, Hunt Sales, played with Todd Rundgren, Iggy Pop and Tin Machine with David Bowie.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of 1950s/’60s TV comedian Soupy Sales (January 8, 1926–October 22, 2009) and Barbara Fox (born c. 1928), Tony grew up in Detroit, Michigan, with his younger brother, Hunt Sales (born 1954).
His first musical group was with Hunt, a drummer, in Tony and The Tigers. The band appeared on a TV show hosted by Steve Allen in 1965 and performed two songs, “I’ll Be On My Way” and “When The Party’s Over,” vintage clips of which are featured on YouTube.
Tony and The Tigers released the song “Turn It on Girl,” which was a minor local hit in Detroit, appeared on the show Hullabaloo a couple times, December 20, 1965, hosted by Jerry Lewis, and April 4, 1966, hosted by their father, Soupy Sales. The band also appeared on the local Detroit/Windsor dance
show Swingin’ Time hosted by Robin Seymour.
In 1970, the Sales brothers joined Todd Rundgren in the newly formed group, Runt, and recorded two albums. They recorded the album Kill City with Iggy Pop in 1975. They provided the rhythm section for Pop’s album Lust for Life (1977), which was produced by David Bowie, who also played keyboard. The brothers joined Pop on his subsequent tour, recorded as TV Eye Live 1977 and released in 1978.
He and Anulka Dziubinska were married on August 20, 1978, in Los Angeles. He and his brother, Hunt, did some recordings together. Sales had a car accident in 1979 and was in a coma for over eight months. His recordings with Hunt were stored away. He recovered from his injuries and went back into music.
Sales and Taryn Power, daughter of the late movie star Tyrone Power and actress Linda Christian, had two children, Anthony Tyrone “Tony” Sales (born September 4, 1982) and Valentina Fox Sales (born September 10, 1983).
In 1982, Sales joined a band named Chequered Past, which included singer/actor Michael Des Barres, ex-Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones, bass player Nigel Harrison and drummer Clem Burke. According to Des Barres, the choice of name was not an idle one. “All the members have been through a lot,” he told the Los Angeles Times at his house in Hollywood, including the fact that Sales h![]()
