James Gang
Encyclopedia
The James Gang was a rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...

 band formed in Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...

, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...

 in 1966. Though the band was not a huge commercial success, except in the Northeast Ohio area, the fame garnered by guitarist Joe Walsh
Joe Walsh
Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has been a member of three commercially successful bands, the James Gang, Barnstorm, and the Eagles, and has experienced notable success as a solo artist and prolific session musician, especially with B.B...

 has since made the group more notable.

History

The original band members were drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...

 Jim Fox
Jim Fox (drummer)
Jim Fox is a musician best known as the drummer and organist of the James Gang, as well as the band's founder and its namesake. He is the only member of the group to appear in every incarnation of the band...

, bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...

 Tom Kriss, guitarist Ronnie Silverman, keyboardist Phil Giallombardo and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...

 Greg Grandillo, who was quickly replaced by Dennis Chandler. Bill Jeric replaced Silverman when he entered military service. After Chandler left, the group featured local guitar legend Glen Schwartz
Glen Schwartz
Glenn Schwartz first came to the attention of rock music audiences as the original guitarist for The James Gang, based in Cleveland.He left the James Gang in early 1968 when he moved to California...

. However, none of the early line-ups released any material.

In January 1968, Joe Walsh
Joe Walsh
Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has been a member of three commercially successful bands, the James Gang, Barnstorm, and the Eagles, and has experienced notable success as a solo artist and prolific session musician, especially with B.B...

 replaced Schwartz after Schwartz had left the band the previous month to move to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

, where he ended up forming Pacific Gas & Electric
Pacific Gas & Electric (band)
Pacific Gas & Electric was an American blues rock band in the late 1960s and early 1970s, led by singer Charlie Allen. Their biggest hit was "Are You Ready?"-Career:...

. The band continued as a five piece for a short time until Giallombardo left to become involved in other pursuits. Jeric and Walsh worked together on guitar parts but Jeric ended up leaving as well in the spring of 1968. He was then replaced by a returning Ronnie Silverman, who had been discharged from the service.

In May 1968, the group played a concert in Detroit at Motown's Grande Ballroom
Grande Ballroom
The Grande Ballroom is a historic live music venue located at 8952 Grand River Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. The building was designed by Detroit engineer and architect Charles N. Agree in 1928 and originally served as a multi-purpose building, hosting retail business on the first floor and a large...

 opening for Cream
Cream (band)
Cream were a 1960s British rock supergroup consisting of bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, and drummer Ginger Baker...

. At the last minute, Silverman informed the others that he would not be joining them at the show. The band, desperately in need of the money, took to the stage as a trio. After discovering that they liked their sound as a threesome, the group decided to remain that way. In March 1969 the band (now consisting of Fox, Kriss and Walsh) released its debut LP, Yer' Album
Yer' Album
Yer' Album is the first album by the James Gang, released in 1969.This is the only album featuring the bassist Tom Kriss. On each side of Yer' Album next to the label are grooves. On side one they say "Turn me over". On side two they say "Play me again"...

.

Later in 1969, the group's producer, Bill Szymczyk
Bill Szymczyk
Bill Szymczyk is an American music producer and technical engineer best known for working with rock and blues musicians, most notably the Eagles in the 1970s. He produced many top albums and singles of the 1970s, though he retired from the music business by 1990...

, was music coordinator for the movie
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...

 Zachariah
Zachariah (1971 film)
Zachariah is a film starring John Rubinstein as Zachariah and Don Johnson as his best friend Matthew. The film is loosely based on Herman Hesse's novel Siddhartha, surrealistically adapted as a musical Western by Joe Massot and two members of the Firesign Theatre comedy troupe...

, a sort of "western rock musical" based on the novel Siddhartha
Siddhartha (novel)
Siddhartha is a novel by Hermann Hesse that deals with the spiritual journey of an Indian man named Siddhartha during the time of the Buddha.The book, Hesse's ninth novel , was written in German, in a simple, powerful, and lyrical style. It was published in the U.S. in 1951 and became influential...

by writer Hermann Hesse
Hermann Hesse
Hermann Hesse was a German-Swiss poet, novelist, and painter. In 1946, he received the Nobel Prize in Literature...

, directed by George Englund
George Englund
George Englund is an American film editor, director, producer and actor. At one time he was married to Cloris Leachman, the actress. He was born in Washington, D.C. Was best friends with Marlon Brando. He wrote a memoir about their friendship.-Television:* Golden Girls television series * The Ugly...

 and co-written by Joe Massot
Joe Massot
Joe Massot was a writer and director who was most notable for the film Wonderwall which featured George Harrison's first soundtrack, and the Led Zeppelin concert film The Song Remains The Same...

 and the Firesign Theater comedy group. He got the James Gang into the movie as performers and two new songs, "Laguna Salada" and "Country Fever", were recorded for the film. At the time of the songs' recording, a new singer/frontman, Kenny Weiss, was brought in allowing Walsh to concentrate on his guitar playing. Weiss sang lead on "Country Fever" but was gone by the time the group flew down to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

 to appear in the movie. "Laguna Salada" and "Country Fever" later reappeared as extra tracks on a 2000 re-release of James Gang - Greatest Hits.

In November 1969, bassist Tom Kriss was replaced by Dale Peters.

In July 1970, the band released its second album James Gang Rides Again
James Gang Rides Again
James Gang Rides Again is the second album by American band James Gang, released in 1970 . This was the first album after Dale Peters replaced Tom Kriss.-Reception:...

, which included the popular single "Funk #49". The band opened for The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...

 during a tour of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

.

After two more albums, Thirds
Thirds
Thirds is the third studio album by James Gang, released in 1971, and is the last studio album led by Joe Walsh. "Walk Away" was released as a single, making the Top 40 on at least one national chart, reaching #51 on the Billboard Hot 100, the best placement of a James Gang single...

(released in April 1971 and featuring the popular single "Walk Away") and the live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...

 James Gang Live in Concert
James Gang Live in Concert
James Gang Live in Concert is a live album by the James Gang, released in September 1971. It contains highlights of performances at Carnegie Hall, New York City...

(December 1971), Walsh left the band (in late 1971) to embark on a solo career. Vocalist Roy Kenner
Roy Kenner
Roy Kenner is a Canadian singer and songwriter, most notable as the lead vocalist of Mandala in the late 1960s and as the lead vocalist of The James Gang during 1972-1974.-History:...

 and guitarist Domenic Troiano
Domenic Troiano
Domenic Troiano was a Canadian rock guitarist, most notable for his contributions to Mandala, The James Gang, The Guess Who and as a solo artist.-History:...

 then joined the band for the next two albums, Passin' Thru (July 1972) and Straight Shooter (October 1972). But Troiano left in 1973 and ended up joining The Guess Who
The Guess Who
The Guess Who are a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Initially gaining recognition in Canada, they also found international success from the late 1960s through the mid-1970s with numerous hit singles, including "American Woman", "These Eyes" and "Share the Land"...

 in 1974. He was replaced by Tommy Bolin
Tommy Bolin
Thomas Richard "Tommy" Bolin was an American-born guitarist who played with Zephyr , The James Gang , and Deep Purple , in addition to doing solo work...

 (ex-Zephyr
Zephyr (band)
Zephyr was a blues-based hard rock band formed in 1969 in Boulder, Colorado by guitarist Tommy Bolin, keyboardist John Faris, David Givens on bass guitar, Robbie Chamberlin on drums and Candy Givens on vocals. Although the charismatic performances by Candy Givens were originally the focal point for...

). Bolin appeared on two albums, Bang!
Bang (James Gang album)
Bang is the sixth studio album by James Gang, released in 1973. This is the first James Gang album featuring lead guitarist Tommy Bolin after Domenic Troiano left the band.-Reception:...

and Miami, and his presence as an already popular guitarist figure temporarily bolstered the band's popularity, though they were never again as big a concert attraction as they'd been during Walsh's tenure. Bolin ended up leaving the Gang in late August 1974 and went on to join Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...

 by 1975.

By early 1975, Fox and Peters decided to try again with a new lineup that included vocalist Bubba Keith and guitarist Richard Shack who made an album, Newborn
Newborn (album)
Newborn is the eighth album by James Gang, released in 1975, and the only released on Atlantic Records.Guitarist Tommy Bolin and singer Roy Kenner left the band, and were replaced by guitarist Richard Shack and vocalist Bubba Keith...

, featuring an Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....

 cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...

, "Heartbreak Hotel
Heartbreak Hotel
"Heartbreak Hotel" is a song recorded by American rock and roll musician Elvis Presley. It was released as a single on January 27, 1956, Presley's first on his new record label RCA Victor. His first number-one pop record, "Heartbreak Hotel" topped Billboards Top 100 chart, became his first...

". Scottish guitarist Jimmy McCulloch
Jimmy McCulloch
James 'Jimmy' McCulloch was a Scottish musician and songwriter, born in Dumbarton and raised in Clydebank and Cumbernauld, Scotland, who was best known for playing lead guitar in Paul McCartney's Wings from 1974 to 1977...

 had been approached to join the new lineup as well. But in the end, he elected to stay with Paul McCartney & Wings. The band released a final recording, Jesse Come Home
Jesse Come Home
Jesse Come Home is the final album by James Gang, released in 1976. This album is the only one recorded with lead guitarist Bob Webb and keyboardist Phil Giallombardo . The album title refers to the "namesake" of the band: Jesse James...

, in February 1976, which referred to the band's namesake, the outlaw Jesse James, with the collaboration of early member Phil Giallombardo, who rejoined along with new guitarist/vocalist Bob Webb. But none of the post-Walsh lineups achieved the level of success they briefly enjoyed while Walsh was a member. Fox was the only remaining member of the original quintet when they disbanded early in 1977.

The "classic" lineup of the band (Walsh, Peters, Fox) reunited to perform at an election rally for Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...

 at the Cleveland State University Convocation Center on November 4, 1996. They also appeared on The Drew Carey Show
The Drew Carey Show
The Drew Carey Show is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from 1995 to 2004. The show was set in Cleveland, Ohio, and revolved around the retail office and home life of "everyman" Drew Carey, a fictionalized version of the actor....

in the 1998-99 season and at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...

 and the Allen Theater
Allen Theater
The Allen Theatre is a theater, on Euclid Avenue, in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, part of Playhouse Square. The largest of the four primary theaters in the Playhouse Square complex, it primarily hosts touring musicals and other larger productions....

 in Cleveland for three shows in February 2001. In the summer of 2005 the group performed another handful of shows in the Cleveland area.

As of May 2004, Glenn Schwartz was playing guitar and singing Thursday nights at "Major Hooples" in the Flats, Cleveland.

In April 2006, it was announced that the Walsh, Peters, Fox lineup of the group would be touring the United States later that summer, featuring a keyboardist and backing vocalists. The trio appeared in August performing live on The Howard Stern Show on Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...

.

Discography

  • Yer' Album
    Yer' Album
    Yer' Album is the first album by the James Gang, released in 1969.This is the only album featuring the bassist Tom Kriss. On each side of Yer' Album next to the label are grooves. On side one they say "Turn me over". On side two they say "Play me again"...

    (March 1969)
  • James Gang Rides Again
    James Gang Rides Again
    James Gang Rides Again is the second album by American band James Gang, released in 1970 . This was the first album after Dale Peters replaced Tom Kriss.-Reception:...

    (July 1970)
  • Thirds
    Thirds
    Thirds is the third studio album by James Gang, released in 1971, and is the last studio album led by Joe Walsh. "Walk Away" was released as a single, making the Top 40 on at least one national chart, reaching #51 on the Billboard Hot 100, the best placement of a James Gang single...

    (April 1971)
  • James Gang Live in Concert
    James Gang Live in Concert
    James Gang Live in Concert is a live album by the James Gang, released in September 1971. It contains highlights of performances at Carnegie Hall, New York City...

    (December 1971)
  • Passin' Thru
    Passin' Thru
    Passin' Thru is the fourth studio album by James Gang, released in 1972.This was the first album after guitarist and vocalist Joe Walsh left and was replaced by the singer Roy Kenner and guitarist Domenic Troiano, who left the band after Straight Shooter and was replaced with ex-Zephyr guitarist...

    (July 1972)
  • Straight Shooter
    Straight Shooter (James Gang album)
    Straight Shooter is the fifth studio album by James Gang , released in 1972, and the final one released on ABC Records...

    (October 1972)
  • The Best Of Featuring Joe Walsh (January 1973)
  • Bang
    Bang (James Gang album)
    Bang is the sixth studio album by James Gang, released in 1973. This is the first James Gang album featuring lead guitarist Tommy Bolin after Domenic Troiano left the band.-Reception:...

    (December 1973)
  • 16 Greatest Hits (December 1973)
  • Miami (August 1974)
  • Newborn
    Newborn (album)
    Newborn is the eighth album by James Gang, released in 1975, and the only released on Atlantic Records.Guitarist Tommy Bolin and singer Roy Kenner left the band, and were replaced by guitarist Richard Shack and vocalist Bubba Keith...

    (May 1975)
  • Jesse Come Home
    Jesse Come Home
    Jesse Come Home is the final album by James Gang, released in 1976. This album is the only one recorded with lead guitarist Bob Webb and keyboardist Phil Giallombardo . The album title refers to the "namesake" of the band: Jesse James...

    (February 1976)

Band members


1966
  • Greg Grandillo: Guitar
  • Ronnie Silverman: Guitar
  • Tom Kriss: Bass, percussion, vocals
  • Jimmy Fox: Drums, percussion, keyboards, vocals
  • Phil Giallombardo: Keyboards, vocals

1966
  • Dennis Chandler: Guitar
  • Ronnie Silverman: Guitar
  • Tom Kriss: Bass, percussion, vocals
  • Jimmy Fox: Drums, percussion, keyboards, vocals
  • Phil Giallombardo: Keyboards, vocals

  • 1966–1967
  • Ronnie Silverman: Guitar
  • Glenn Schwartz: Guitar
  • Tom Kriss: Bass, percussion, vocals
  • Jimmy Fox: Drums, percussion, keyboards, vocals
  • Phil Giallombardo: Keyboards, vocals

  • 1967
  • Glenn Schwartz: Guitar, vocals
  • Bill Jeric: Guitar
  • Tom Kriss: Bass, percussion, vocals
  • Jimmy Fox: Drums, percussion, keyboards, vocals
  • Phil Giallombardo: Keyboards, vocals

  • 1968
  • Joe Walsh: Guitars, keyboards, vocals
  • Bill Jeric: Guitar
  • Tom Kriss: Bass, percussion, vocals
  • Jimmy Fox: Drums, percussion, keyboards, vocals
  • Phil Giallombardo: Keyboards, vocals

  • 1968
  • Joe Walsh: Guitars, keyboards, vocals
  • Ronnie Silverman: Guitar
  • Tom Kriss: Bass, percussion, vocals
  • Jimmy Fox: Drums, percussion, keyboards, vocals
  • Phil Giallambardo, Keyboards

  • 1968–1969
  • Joe Walsh: Guitars, keyboards, vocals
  • Tom Kriss: Bass guitar, percussion, vocals
  • Jimmy Fox: Drums, percussion, keyboards, vocals

  • 1969
  • Joe Walsh: Guitars, keyboards, vocals
  • Tom Kriss: Bass, percussion, vocals
  • Jimmy Fox: Drums, percussion, keyboards, vocals
  • Kenny Weiss: Vocals

  • 1969
  • Joe Walsh: Guitars, keyboards, vocals
  • Tom Kriss: Bass guitar, percussion, vocals
  • Jimmy Fox: Drums, percussion, keyboards, guitar, vocals

  • 1969–1971
  • Joe Walsh: Guitars, keyboards, percussion, vocals
  • Dale Peters: Bass, guitar, percussion, vocals
  • Jimmy Fox: Drums, percussion, keyboards, guitar, vocals

  • 1971- 1973
  • Dominic Troiano: Guitars, backing vocals
  • Roy Kenner: Vocals, harmonica, percussion
  • Dale Peters: Bass, percussion, vocals
  • Jimmy Fox: Drums, percussion, keyboards, vocals

  • 1973–1974
  • Tommy Bolin: Guitars, synthesizer, vocals
  • Roy Kenner: Vocals, harmonica, percussion
  • Dale Peters: Bass, percussion, vocals
  • Jimmy Fox: Drums, percussion, keyboards, vocals

  • 1975- 1976
  • Richard Shack: Guitars, vocals
  • Bubba Keith: Guitars, vocals
  • Dale Peters: Bass, percussion, vocals
  • Jimmy Fox: Drums, percussion, keyboards, vocals

  • 1976- 1977
  • Bob Webb: Guitars, vocals
  • Dale Peters: Bass, percussion, vocals
  • Jimmy Fox: Drums, percussion, keyboards, vocals
  • Phil Giallombardo: Keyboards, vocals

  • 1977- 1996

    Band Split

    1996 & 1998
    • Joe Walsh: Guitars, keyboards, vocals
    • Dale Peters: Bass, percussion, vocals
    • Jimmy Fox: Drums, percussion, keyboards, vocals

    2001 & 2005
  • Joe Walsh: Guitars, keyboards, vocals
  • Dale Peters: Bass, percussion, vocals
  • Jimmy Fox: Drums, percussion, keyboards, vocals
  • Mark Avsec: Keyboards

  • 2006
  • Joe Walsh: guitars, mandolin, keyboards, synthesizers, vocals
  • Dale Peters: Bass, percussion, vocals
  • Jimmy Fox: Drums, percussion, keyboards, vocals
  • Bill Appleberry: Keyboards, synthesizers
  • Gia Ciambetti: Backing vocals
  • Robbyn Kirmsse: Backing vocals
  • Stacy Michelle: Backing vocals

  • Further reading

    • Wolff, Carlo
      Carlo Wolff
      Carlo Wolff is a prolific freelance journalist who writes for publications including the Boston Globe, the Chicago Sun Times, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the The Plain Dealer and the Christian Science Monitor. He specializes in music criticism, book reviews and feature articles about popular...

      (2006). Cleveland Rock and Roll Memories. Cleveland, OH: Gray & Company, Publishers. ISBN 978-1-886228-99-3

    External links

    The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
     
    x
    OK