Conference napalm::heavy_metal

    
    Nicko McBrain, current drummer for Iron Maiden used to play with
    Pat Travers.
    
    /prc

    
      Favorite and only album I have is Crash and Burn!  Born Under
    A Bad Sign is on of my fav's off that album.  And of course, the
    everybody sing-a-long...
    
                           Boom-Boom,  Out go the Lights! Yeah!
    
    
    
    
    B.A.

    I loved his live album.  I remember it dominating my tape deck for
    quite some time back in the late 70s.  
    
    I understand that Pat had quite a bout with addiction and spend a long
    time in recovery.  I believe that he's clean now, but the long absence
    from the music scene certainly hurt his career.
    
    gh

      It didn't take long. RE: -.1 I remember an article in one of the
    guitar mags a few years back where Pat referred to having problems
    with success and coping and blowing all you dough, without coming
    out and saying he had a drug and/or alcohol problem. But it's there
    between the lines. Also there's the obvious "Snortin whiskey,( drinking
    cocaine)" song from crash and burn.
      I, for one, would like to see something new.
    

    I saw a small article a couple of years ago on him and it said that
    he'd had extensive sessions in the rehab centers.
    
    I thought that he had a new album within the last couple of years that
    didn't do anything (probably didn't get any promotion...).
    

      in addition:
    
       There's a "best of Pat Travers" album out also. I haven't seen
    anything out on CD. Crash and Burn would sound great! 
    
       more interesting reading: see note 539.8 (scary stories) for
    some more info, I just ran across it.
    
       The last album I listed "Hot Shot" I believe was 1984 vintage.

    He played at the Channel earlier this summer, I think as one of the
    opening acts for .38 Special.  His gig was great.  He played his hits,
    and songs from a forthcoming new album.  The new stuff was good.
    One song I remember, "Woke up this morning, my gal gave me sass,
                          so I jumped in my Chevy, and stepped on the gas!"
    
    That was heavenly for a Chevy nut like me....
    
    But about his bouts with abuse: he was coherent, and his eyes looked
    alright, but something about his face reminded me of Keith Richards. 
    He must have done a TON of junk in the past.  If he kept it up, he'd
    probably be dead.
    
    Matt

    
     I went to highschool with Pat's brother Steve, the guy Pat wrote
    about in the song Stevie. Pat was inspired by seeing Jimi Hendrix
    at the old Capitol Theatre here in Ottawa around 1968 and he just
    kept at it until he made the big circuits. We were all really glad
    that somebody else could make it coming from this city where you
    see a lot of good talent go nowhere fast. Steve was really proud
    of Pat but unfortunately couldn't get as far in the business.
    
    We all used to check out Pat with Red Hot in the early 70's. He
    was excellent then and now...
    
    			       (and by the way....
    
                                                  JETHRO TULL RULES!!!
    
    
    

  	  I missed one album in the discography. "Radioactive" came
    out in 1981. It wasn't one of the better albums but there were a
    few good cuts. 
    	  I found an article in a September 1984 Guitar for the Practicing
    Musician dealing with his career going down and the alcohol/drug
    abuse thing. A few quotes from that article:
     "My career climbed really nicely right up until Crash and Burn.
    After that I didn't seem to know what I was doing anymore. I wasn't
    being turned on by the guitar or the music or the whole situation.
    I had problems with my manager and the business and owing people
    money. It was the same old story of getting out there touring
    and selling records and making money , but not seeing any."
      "One of the reasons why I screwed things up was because when things
    are going good you tend to ignore the little details, and when the
    sh*t hits the fan you have to account for those things... The worst
    is when you don't feel like playing. That's when drugs and booze
    turn into a big crutch. If you keep trying to get yourself buzzed
    enough to enjoy playing, it doesn't work anymore. In my case I played
    myself through it.... "
      I thought some of these insights were interesting. A lot of players
    drop out of the scene and you never hear anything until you read
    an obituary about so and so who was known at one time... etc.
                         

      The last drummer (on the last album anyway) was a Pat Marchino.
    The other drummer, besides Niko McBrain,Tommy Aldridge and Marchino
    was a Sandy Gennaro. I know Gennaro played in a band called Blackjack
    but I think he went onto something else after the 1984 Travers album.
      Still no word on a new album I guess.

    
    	I love the guitar work on "Snortin' Whiskey"!!
    
    							GTI
    

      O.K. Where's he playing. I hope he's doing a tour I can get to.
    P.T. never fails to please a rockin crowd! I was hoping somebody
    would say something about a new release coming out but so far no
    luck. When I saw him a little less than two years ago they sounded
    really good. 
      Definitly post a review!
    
    					- BOOM (..boom out go the lights)

      I'm calling around looking for the new "School of Hard Knocks"
    release. No luck yet. Must be real new - but if it's out there -
    I'll get it! Then I'll post a review. 
      I know he used to be on Polydor records. If anyone can tell
    me what label he's on now I'd appreciate it much.
    
    						-boom-

      I'm not having a lot of luck finding this new release. 
    Could one of you Kerrang readers tell me what label is
    listed for this. I've got the stores searching for me--
    
    
    						-boom-

    
    School if hard knocks = Episode LUS LP4
    
    FLip

      Thanx for the quick answer FLip! You must keep that issue in 
    your desk!  I've never heard of that label, but having that 
    information will help immensely. I'll call the stores and make
    them work for their money.
    
    						-BooM-

      Info time (but maybe I'm the only one who gives two *****)
    
        I'll get my hands on that new release, the CD store is working
      on it now. I found out there are other Pat Travers releases on
      CD, but they are all import! Released on CD are "Heat in the Street"
      "Go for What you Know (live)", and a two volume anthology.
        Time to kiss some money good-bye.
    
    							-/Boom/-
    

      I finally got one of my Pat Travers CD's. The store called me
    Saturday saying one of my orders came in. It ended up being the
    Anthology volume 2. I've been playing it a lot - nice stuff!
      Still waiting on volume #1 and the new release. 
    
    							--/BooM/--

     I got another call from the CD store. Pat Travers Anthology vol
    #1 is in. I'll pick it up today during lunch. Now all I need is
    the new release!
    
    						--Boom--

      I got me "Anthology vols 1 & 2". Good stuff crammed onto two CD's.
    It covers every album and some of the different stuff like the cover
    of Bob Marley's "Is this Love". There is one omission that I was
    surprised at. I expected "Crash and Burn" to be included in the
    compilation. There's one or two songs I would have left out to make
    room for that one. Oh well. 
      Altogether this is a nice set of rockin guitar material. The disks
    were Made in England and are high quality. Hopefully the new release
    will be in soon. 
    
    						-shortin' whiskey!
    
    						      |BooM|

      I got "School of Hard Knocks" yesterday. Good stuff after giving
    it a few listens. There's 14 cuts on the CD. One or two dogs in
    the bunch. A couple of the better cuts are the title cut and track
    14, appropriately titled "Guitars from Hell". The axework is amply
    handled by Pat Travers and Jerry Riggs. Anybody remember the old
    Riggs band from the movie Heavy Metal's soundtrack. Yup, same guy!
    Peter Cowling is still on bass, Pat Marchino does most of the drums
    but I believe P.T. has a new drummer. 
      I was surprised to get a call from the CD store, I had pretty
    much given up on them. 
    
    						-BooM-

      A friend of mine called from Virginia and told me Pat Travers
    is playing in a bar down in Springfield (VA) this weekend. If
    it wasn't such short notice and I didn't have all sorts of other
    things going on this weekend, I'd check it out. Besides, the weather
    is better down there than up here in Upstate New York Snowland.
    
    							-B()()M-

      Saw the MTV Def Leppard Rockumentary last night. Interestingly enough
    two bands mentioned in an interview about what kind of music they were
    listening to at the time of forming the band was Pat Travers and Queen.
    They got started by playing covers as well as originals in clubs.
    Another band they mentioned that they did covers by was UFO.
    
    							-B()()M-
    
    							

    
    Pat Travers realeases a video called Boom Boom Live through Castle on
    April 2nd.  He is also planning a UK tour to coincide.
    
    Flip

    Does anyone know if any PT is available on CD yet?
    
    I've been looking in the Noteworthy catalog, but so far no 
    luck.
    
    -Stevie D

    
      PT on CD:
    
      Polygram - Anthology vols. 1 and 2 (mix of studio and live tracks)
    		 Heat in the Street
    		 Go For What you Know (live)
    
      Episode  - School of Hard Knocks
    
        I highly recommend the Anthology. Like many artists, PT had some
    inconsistent efforts. "Heat in the Street","Crash and Burn", and
    "Hot Shot" are among his best. "Putting it Straight" and "Making Magic"
    are fairly good with a few very good cuts. "Radioactive" and "Black
    Pearl" are the bottom, but the better songs from these two are on
    Anthology. The live CD is decent, but I'm not that crazy about live
    recordings, I'd rather see it live!
    
    							-BOOM-

    Thanks for telling me that they've finally released some PT on CD.
    
    I'm sure the sound on Pat's live "Go For What You Know" won't be all that
    good (it wasn't that very good on vinyl).  But I won't let that stop me
    from buying one of the greatest party classics of all time on CD.  My
    record copies of this and "Crash And Burn" are covered with rings from 
    people using my turntable as a place to park their beers.  And my volume 
    knob is almost worn out from someone always cranking if way up whenever 
    "Boom Boom, Out Go The Lights" (hey, is that your theme song?) came on.
    
    "Go For What You Know" is Pat at his very best, doing what he does best; 
    jamming the blues.  His guitar work is both tasty and spectacular, and
    the rest of the band really rocks too.
    
    I'll be getting this one next time I order from Noteworthy...
    	

      Agreed that the live sound on GFWYK isn't the greatest. That's why I
    didn't bother with the CD. The anthology covers a lot of the best
    stuff, I wish they had included the song "Crash and Burn". There is
    the live cut of "Boom Boom" (my nicknamesake because I've played it
    for people at work).
      Travers is still doing the club circuit and according to a friend
    down in Virginia he's still drawing a good partying crowd!
    
    							-B()()M-

    
      There's an outdoor show coming up May 11 (Saturday) with Pat Travers
    and Foghat at the Lilac Festival in Rochester, NY. Here I am all set to
    go, then I realize my youngest sister is getting married that day!
    Hmmmm- when's the reception? I still might be able to pull it off!
      At least Travers is up in the Northeast again - expect to see other
    club/concert dates pop up.
    
    							-B()()M-

    Hey, KHa-B
    
    Pat T is playing at the Channel here in Boston soon.  Thought of ya 
    when I scoped out the ad.  Thinking about checking it out...methinks
    you should make a roadtrip for the show!!  ;^)
    
    Buck, who says "if you take the "s" out of Travers, it's TRAVER,
    like in Harry G. Traver!

      Okay - Post the date of the show and maybe I can pull something off.
    I really like the show P.T. puts on in a club. Uncontestable guitar
    oriented rock!!!!!! 
    
    							-KHaBOOM-

    
    
       I'm reading through my Guitar Player magazine yesterday and 
    end up seeing Pat Travers name in the music review section.
       This is weird!  His latest release is called "Blues Tracks" and
    has a combination of covers and originals. It is a "return to 
    your roots" effort sort of like Gary Moore. 
       Weirder yet is that the company that released it is Shrapnel!
    That's right the Mike Varney shredder factory!! 
    
    							-B{}{}M-

    So, does Pat still have most or all of his band together that
    comprised the Pat Travers Band of the "Crash and Burn" era?
    
    I thought I heard something from PTB guitarist Pat Thrall a few
    years ago but I don't remember where.
    
    What's the current lineup?
    
    -- 
    Kevin
    

    He toured through here a few months ago, played a cheezy little club to
    about 30 people.  I didn't even know about the show, it got almost no
    publicity.  My friend went though and said it was excellent!
    
    Greg

    I picked up "Blues Tracks" myself last weekend, read the cover notes
    on the back and promptly put it back on the shelf.
    
    I didn't recognise the 2 guys backing him on bass/drums and the songs
    included older numbers of his like "Statesboro Blues" which I've
    already got. Put my readies on the new Thunder album instead, which IMO 
    was a "safer" bet!
    
    Tom

    Is Pat Thrall still playing with him?
    
    Greg

    Re -1.
    
    ..Pat Thrall's definately not on the new one or "Boom Boom" - the live
    album he put out before it.
    
    Methinks they've long since gone their own ways...
    
    BTW IMO I thought Travers peaked around '78 with "Heat In The Street"
    and "Go For What You Know".
    
    If my memory serves me right, the line up was :
    
    P. Travers    - Guitar/Vocals
    P. Thrall     -   "      "
    Mars Cowling  - (Excellent) Bass
    Tommy Aldrich - Drums
    
    ..they blew up one hell of a storm!
    
    Tom

    
    Yup, Mars Cowling (love that name!) certainly is a cruel and unusual
    bassist.  I also liked Pat Thrall a lot.
    
    I'd be real interested in finding out what they're doing these days.
    
    -- 
    Kevin

I just saw Pat Thrall last month - he's playing guitar with the guy who
was the opening act at Eric Clapton's show (I forget the dude's name).
Pat was playing as well as ever.....

alan

    Bummer about Pat Travers not having Pat Thrall anymore, I always
    thought they made a good team.  Nice to hear that Thrall is still
    working though!
    
    Thanks for the info!
    
    gh

    I always hated those floor-mounted ADA flangers that the two of them
    used though ... every time they kicked them on, I was like "oh no,
    here we go again"!!

    
    Yeah, wasn't it just great!?!?
    
    -- 
    Kevin ". . . out go the lights."

    Pat Travers has released this year "Blues Magnet". It's, like its name
    suggests, blues rock and it received good critics.
    
    Sorin