Riverdogs

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Riverdogs
Riverdogs 2011
Riverdogs 2011
General information
origin Los Angeles , United States
Genre (s) Hard rock
founding before 1988
Founding members
Rob Lamothe
Nick Brophy
Vivian Campbell
Mike Baird
Current occupation
Vocals, guitar, keyboard
 Rob Lamothe
bass
 Nick Brophy
guitar
 Vivian Campbell
Drums
 Marc Danzeisen
former members
bass
 Cary Beare
Drums
 Ronnie Ciago

Riverdogs is an American hard rock band that has been led by Rob Lamothe, who also appears as a soloist, since 1988.

history

Rob Lamothe sang in a travel choir when he was pre- pubescent and also made records with him. He only started playing guitar at the age of 16 and composing his own songs for private use. When he was 18, his girlfriend told the future Ratt guitarist Robbin Crosby about it, who persuaded him to join his band Aircraft. In the mid-1980s, Lamothe had his first experience as part of a music group, which, however , disintegrated after a demo was created and a record contract was signed. Disgusted by his fellow musicians' ego trips, he moved to Orange County . In nearby Los Angeles there was a rock band called Riverdogs, whose drummer convinced him in 1988 to try again in the music business. That drummer had also previously worked for Aircraft. Lamothe also brought his roommate, guitarist Nick Brophy, with him, but he had to switch from guitar to bass. Prominent names appear in connection with the trial production in the same year: in the home studio of Steve Vai took Whitesnake guitarist Vivian Campbell the production . Campbell was visiting the Riverdogs in their rehearsal room more and more often, and soon everyone started jamming together . Finally, in January 1989, Campbell, who was dissatisfied with Whitesnake, asked if he could join the company. Campbell then took care of a professional producer to make an album from the existing song material. The chosen Michael Frondelli was involved as a sound engineer and / or mixer in classics such as The Song Remains the Same by Led Zeppelin , Big World by Joe Jackson or Rebel Yell by Billy Idol , as well as full producer of z. B. Henry Lee Summer and The Fountainhead and also brought experience with the glam metal bands Poison and Britny Fox , who were closest to the Riverdogs style. The Riverdogs drummer fell victim to Frondelli's authority because he did not meet his standards. Who was in a hurry Eddie Money - and Rick Springfield -Schlagzeuger Mike Baird (also tour drummer for Billy Idol and Journey committed) for the shootings, the predecessor can be seen as part of the first meaningful occupation because of unknown name . It did not become a permanent affair because the age difference was felt to be too great. In April 1990, Baird's successor in the person of Marc Danzeisen, a student of jazz legend Gene Krupa and founder of the BulletBoys , was determined. Before the album was released by the band for the pressing process, it was edited again by Jeff Glixman, who had to do with stylistically heavier bands like Gary Moore and Saxon . It went on sale at the beginning of June. With Toy Soldier , the Riverdogs then had a small successful title in the race for listeners' favor (# 26 in the US mainstream rock charts). Lamothe and Campbell took advantage of the current popularity and played acoustic sets in New York . The complete band consisted of Rob Lamothe (vocals, acoustic guitar, keyboard), Nick Brophy (bass, backing vocals), Vivian Campbell (electric guitar, before Whitesnake in Dio's band ) and Marc Danzeisen (drums, later in the service of Gilby Clarke ).

In early 1991 Campbell said goodbye. The lack of personal continuity due to a change of drummer, change of producer, change of label supervisor as well as changes at the highest company decision-making level and the associated unrest reminded him too much of the fluctuation that had prevailed at Whitesnake. In addition, due to his previous engagements in top bands, he had a high standard of living associated with running costs. He left with a heavy heart and in friendship. Later that year, coinciding with Epic's rejection of the rewritten material, Danzeisen also left. The manager wrestled with the label bosses for a release for his blocked protégés for over a year. In January 1992, Epic finally officially dropped the band. While the Riverdogs were thrown back to the beginning, Vivian Campbell found an undoubtedly lucrative job in the spring of 1992 with the established English band Def Leppard. In this situation, Lamothe was approached to take on the vacant singing post at Badlands . However, he chose to keep the Riverdogs alive. In order to keep the conversation going despite the lack of a contract, a showcase was held in front of almost 50 friends, fans and media partners, which was recorded for a planned publication. In March 1993 Absolutely Live appeared with four tracks of the debut plus a cover version of The House of the Rising Sun plus seven new tracks on the young German label Dream Circle Records . The band's philosophy coincided with that of the label's founder: Both viewed adhering to trends (like grunge ) as self-betrayal and profiteering. The cast on this album was made up of Rob Lamothe (vocals, guitar), Nick Brophy (now back on electric guitar), Cary Beare (bass) and Ronnie Ciargo (drums). This time Lamothe and - instead of Campbell - Brophy gave small acoustic performances in Germany. With this and other promotional events it should be explored whether a tour would be worthwhile. Ultimately, they trusted the encouragement of the music journalists and their positive reviews. The first European tour was understood as a "groundwork tour" because the public interest was modest, but those present were all the more enthusiastic. The second studio album Bone was released in September 1993. Musically, it offers new sound nuances, because the background choir, keyboards, harmonica and harp are new, the latter being played by Lamothes son Josh. The highlights were the two appearances at the Wacken Open Air in 1993 and 1994.

A solo CD by Rob Lamothe called Gravity , recorded in 1994 and on which he had put his voice in the foreground in a singer-songwriter manner, has been postponed for the time being. In 1995 Lamothe sang a title for Greg Chaisson, who went on a solo album after the breakup of Badlands. With the move from Lamothe in 1996 to Hamilton , Ontario , Canada , the geographical distribution of the musicians continued (initially only Los Angeles and Nashville were the separate home locations), which made the band work difficult and consequently slowed productivity. In his new environment he quickly found connection to the local music scene and continued to neglect the Riverdogs project. The late release of his solo debut gave him the opportunity to tour Germany and the Netherlands during this phase . Years of collaboration with various Canadian artists followed. In 2001 he was even joined by Vivian Campbell, heard on the EP Brave Enough . In March 2004, in preparation for a reunion with Vivian Campbell, Nick Brophy and Marc Danzeisen for live performances in August 2004, Riverdogs + On Air was released , a re-release of the two LPs from 1990 (the second was unofficial) in duplicate -CD network. The new material, written at the same time, was only slowly worked out and further pieces added, so that the new album World Gone Mad could not be completed until 2011 .

Since moving to Canada, Rob Lamothe has been traveling as a soloist with more or less accompanying staff. His second son Zander often acts as a drummer. The cover version of the Black Sabbath classic Paranoid , which he interprets quietly, slowly and soulfully, is a specialty in Lamothes ’work . It can be found on the CD Above the Wing is Heaven (2003). In 2011, the Canadian by choice, popular in music circles, sang the bonus track of Brian Robertson's second solo CD Diamonds and Dirt .

style

According to the assessment of the Internet encyclopedias and magazines Allmusic , Spirit of Metal , Rockdetector / Music Might and Hard Rock Haven , as well as the Rock Hard Encyclopedia , which was published as a book, as well as the music journalists Strednansky, Klemm and Richter from Metal Hammer (Henning Richter also wrote a review for the Musikexpress ) as well as Magin vom Break Out , the Riverdogs play rock to hard rock. Sometimes the note is added that it is kept in the classical melodic sense or that the American character is unmistakable.

Heavy metal only uses all music as a second category. The blues is seen as the greatest directional swing. In addition, the Rock Hard encyclopedia also sees folk parts. For Martin Popoff , author of the Collector's Guide book series, the combination is lovely would-be blues metal.

Most often a resemblance to John Mellencamp and Bad Company is noted. Also listed are: Tyketto and Hardline , The Smithereens , Crowded House and Badlands, Whitesnake, Bryan Adams , Bob Seger and Free . It was my own wish - at least in the early days - to be located between the Crowded House and Badlands.

Discography

  • 1990: Riverdogs (Epic)
  • 1990: On Air (Live radio appearance, CBS)
  • 1993: Absolutely Live (Showcase performance, Dream Circle Records)
  • 1993: Bone (Dream Circle Records)
  • 2004: Riverdogs + On Air (re-release of the two early albums as double CD, Bad Reputation)
  • 2011: World Gone Mad (Melodic Rock Records)
  • 2015: Riverdogs (re-release of the double CD from 2004 on just one CD, Rock Candy)
  • 2017: California (Frontiers Records)

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Rob Lamothe. Bio. In: maplemusic.com. Retrieved April 10, 2016 .
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j John Strednansky: Riverdogs. New tricks . In: Metal Hammer . The international hard rock & heavy metal magazine. No. 11-12 / 1990 , June 1, 1990, pp. 134 .
  3. ↑ a b Stefan Schilling: Riverdogs . Ed .: CBS press department (=  Plattenpass. Record Passport. Passeport de Disque ). Frankfurt / Main June 5, 1990, Background, p. [3] .
  4. ↑ a b c d e f g Holger Stratmann (Ed.): Rock Hard Encyclopedia . 700 of the most interesting rock bands from the last 30 years. Rock Hard GmbH, Dortmund 1998, ISBN 3-9805171-0-1 , Riverdogs, p. 336 .
  5. ^ Riverdogs. Billboard singles. In: allmusic.com. Retrieved April 10, 2016 .
  6. ↑ Booklet on Bone
  7. ↑ Have given up […] In: Break Out . The Heavy Rock Magazine. February 1991, News Cruise, p. 6 .
  8. ^ Andy Bradshaw: Shadow King. Shadow plays . In: Metal Hammer . The international hard rock & heavy metal poster magazine. December 1991, p. 122 .
  9. ^ A b Marco Magin: Riverdogs. Bitten through . In: Break Out . The Heavy Rock Magazine. (June / July), 1993, p. 17 .
  10. ↑ The Riverdogs have nothing but problems . In: Rock Hard . No. 53 (August / September), 1991, News, pp. 8 .
  11. ↑ a b c d e Chris Leibundgut: Riverdogs. Overcome the rapids . In: Rock Hard . No. 72 , May 1993, p. 26th f .
  12. ↑ Jörg Staude: Metal Review '92! In: Metal Hammer . The international hard rock & heavy metal poster magazine. January 1993, January [1992], pp. 30 .
  13. ↑ Viv Adrenalized! In: Metal Hammer . The international hard rock & heavy metal poster magazine. April 1992, Hard Fax, pp. 6 .
  14. ↑ After much back and forth, singer Ray Gillen has left Badlands after all . In: Break Out . The Heavy Rock Magazine. September 1992, News, p. 6 .
  15. ↑ Achim Karstens: Riverdogs. Absolute beginners . In: Metal Hammer . The international hard rock & heavy metal magazine. June 1993, p. 140 .
  16. ^ Riverdogs . In: Rock Hard . No. 66 , November 1992, News, pp. 10 .
  17. ↑ A new label announces its "birth" . In: Rock Hard . No. 59 , March 1992, News, p. 10 .
  18. ↑ Achim Karstens: Riverdogs. Honest hard work . In: Metal Hammer . The international hard rock & heavy metal magazine. March 1994, p. 134 .
  19. ↑ gates Wijnfurth: Greg Chaisson . In: Metal Hammer . The international hard rock & heavy metal magazine. May 1995, p. 60 .
  20. ↑ gates Wijnfurth: Rob Lamothe. Underdog with no aversion . In: Metal Hammer . October 1996, promotion round. Nine bands on the way up, p. 107 .
  21. ↑ a b c Riverdogs. Biography. (No longer available online.) In: rockdetector.com. Archived from the original on May 1, 2015 ; accessed on April 10, 2016 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.rockdetector.com
  22. ^ Brian Robertson - Diamonds and Dirt. In: discogs.com. Retrieved April 10, 2016 .
  23. ↑ a b c Riverdogs. Similar to. In: allmusic.com. Retrieved April 10, 2016 .
  24. ^ Riverdogs. In: spirit-of-metal.com. Retrieved April 10, 2016 .
  25. ^ A b Justin Gaines: Riverdogs. World Gone Mad. In: hardrockhaven.net. Retrieved April 10, 2016 .
  26. ↑ a b c Oliver Klemm: Riverdogs. Riverdogs . In: Metal Hammer . The international hard rock & heavy metal poster magazine. No. 13-14 / 1990 , June 29, 1990, pp. 57 .
  27. ↑ a b c d e Henning Richter: Riverdogs. Absolutely Live . In: Metal Hammer . The international hard rock & heavy metal poster magazine. April 1993, p. 57 .
  28. ↑ a b c d e Henning Richter: Riverdogs. Absolutely Live . In: Musikexpress / Sounds . No. 448 , May 1993, Rock, Pop, pp. 86 .
  29. ↑ a b c d Marco Magin: Riverdogs. Absolutely Live . In: Break Out . The Heavy Rock Magazine. (April / May), 1993, plates, p. 40 .
  30. ^ Henning Richter: Riverdogs. Bone . In: Metal Hammer . The international hard rock & heavy metal magazine. October 1993, p. 53 .
  31. ↑ a b c Martin Popoff: The Collector's Guide of Heavy Metal Volume 3: The Nineties . Collectors Guide Ltd, Burlington, Ontario, Canada 2007, ISBN 978-1-894959-62-9 , pp. 367 .

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