Answer the trivia question
below and email it to
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win a free MP3.
What was the name of
The Beatles original
drummer
?
January
Indie Artist of the Month:
Dan Reed Biography
Dan Reed was
born in Portland, Oregon, but in early childhood moved
to South Dakota after his mother remarried the owner of
a cattle ranch. Growing up on 2000 acre's of land as an
only child gave Dan plenty of time to daydream and it
was here, riding tractor in the summer sun that Dan
first fantasized about becoming a musician while
listening to the Doobie Brothers, Kiss, Cheap Trick and
Van Halen blaring on the tractor cabs' AM radio. All
through his high school years he played trumpet in the
school band, while studying Shoto-Kan Karate, and
participating in every sport he could get his hands and
feet in to, but it wasn't until a Japanese exchange
student named Tsutomu Oki taught him how to play guitar
that Dan realized that this was what he was searching
for... the world of writing songs. After graduating from
Aberdeen, South Dakota's Central High School, he packed
his bags and headed west to Portland, Oregon, his place
of birth and the closest 'big city' he could find near
the ocean, a place he held in his childhood memory and
missed dearly living in the Midwest.
The
Dan Reed Network
Although there were many
incarnations of bands Dan performed with in South Dakota
and in Portland it was in December of 1985 where he
truly first began his musical journey as the lead singer
of a band called “The Dan Reed Network”. Garnering huge
local support the band signed to PolyGram Records in the
summer of
1987. Home of Bon Jovi, Def Leppard and
Tears For Fears. The Dan Reed Network released three
very successful albums to much critical and commercial
success between 1988 and 1992.
The band had the honor of 'seeing
the world', opening for such bands
as RUN DMC, UB40, David Bowie and
Bon Jovi, eventually becoming the
supporting act for the Rolling
Stones’ 1991 European tour. It was
at this time Dan journeyed to India
with Bob Guccione Jr. to interview
the Dalai Lama for Spin Magazine. It
was during this trip that Dan began
to hunger for more than the pop/rock
music scene had to offer.
This was the catalyst for the long
journey that Dan has taken, bringing
him back in 2008 where he belongs,
writing and performing new music
with experiences wth the “rock star
image” behind him. In the 1990’s he
started an independent record
company in his hometown of Portland,
Oregon to help promote local
Northwest bands, while at the same
time studying acting. Dan was cast
in a number of plays and small
role's in television and film
projects, and was given great
reviews for his performances, which
gave him confidence to take it to
the next logical step- screenplay
writing. 'Zigzag', a script penned
by Dan, caught the eye of a local
production company in Portland and
was produced in 1997 with Mr. Reed
playing the leading role. The film
reached the Top 20 in Billboard's
home video rental category.
OHM
Nightclub
IIn
1999 Dan became a partner in an
established blue's and rock music
nightclub in Portland called Key
Largo, the same club DRN played
regularly and where Bill Graham
first discovered the band. Realizing
that the electronic music scene was
primarily to date confined to
warehouses, special events and
outdoor parties, he saw an
opportunity to turn Key Largo into a
'hybrid club', having live bands
from 9pm to midnight and then
switching gears from midnight to 4am
with local and international DJ's.
Renamed 'OHM Nightclub", the venue
became the premier spot to check out
cutting edge music, while at the
same time introducing the future of
music to the rock audience.
After attending the Burning
Man festival in late 2004 Dan
realized that being pinned down in
the nightclub world had it's
dangerous side, for not only did he
help create a great success with
OHM, but he also succumbed to the
darker side of the nightclub
business fueled by alcohol and
drugs. He realized his talent and
his energy were being drained from
the constant parties, substance
abuse and endless late nights. With
his father Thomas Reed being
diagnosed with cancer and passing
away shortly thereafter, Dan rallied
his energy and left the Nightclub,
did construction work for a year to
clear his head, then headed back to
India. Ironically the same place
that gave him the courage to leave
the music business 15 years before,
was soon to become the inspiration
to return to the music. Immediately
upon arriving in Dharamsala, India
in 2005 Dan sought out the Tibetan
monks, feeling a need to connect
with their philosophy and lifestyle.
After befriending two monks Lobsang
and Sonam, Dan was invited to live
in a monastery guesthouse and with
that came the ability to attend the
daily prayer meetings and rituals.
India
During a year long journey in India,
Dan had met many Israeli musicians
and artists vacationing throughout
the country and became fascinated
with the stories of Israeli life,
the hope and the tragedies, and
after meeting a fashion designer
turned energy healer named Adi
Hadani, he decided he would venture
to the Middle East to see what he
could learn about the beauty and the
conflict of this most interesting
and enigmatic part of the world.
Upon visiting Kfir Shtivi in
Jerusalem, an Israeli musician he
met in Varanasi, India, Dan made the
decision to re-locate his recording
studio and his life from Portland to
the ancient city of Jerusalem in
2006. It was here that he found the
renewed spirit to channel his
energies to his first love. MUSIC.
Coming Up
For Air
IIt
was at this time Max Wasa, an old
friend, musical producer and creator
of LIQUID MUSIC GROUP, offered to
take Mr. Reed out of the home studio
and bring his music back in to the
light of the public. Max enlisted
her long time associate Clay Ostwald
of Miami Sound Machine and with his
partner Tommy Anthony of RED ROCK
PRODUCTIONS, they collaborated with
Max and co-produced the tracks Dan
had begun tracking back in
Jerusalem, working with Israeli and
Palestinian musicians alike. This
process was the beginning foundation
of how half of the new album was
created. The second stage was
'coming back home' to Portland and
working with producer/artist Rob
Daiker at 'The Commune' studios
which culminated in producing 6 more
tracks and creating the finished
product- 'Coming Up For Air'.
Zero One
Dan now lives in Paris, where he
has created the new label 'ZERO ONE'
where his debut solo album will be
released, as well as many other
artist will be represented. With
'Coming Up For Air' Dan presents a
group of songs that mirror his life
journey and the search for that
elusive deeper resonance we all
hunger for at some point in our
lives. With songs composed from Hong
Kong to New Delhi, Jerusalem to
London, he has come full circle to
do what he has always done best-
create and to perform to all who
will listen.
In case you're
asking yourself who
the @#%&*^% is
Barnaby Bye and you
really want to know,
here's the low down
dirty truth about a
band who recorded
two
LP's back in the
70's that captured
hearts and inspired
fans around the
world, but let's
start at the
beginning.
Billy and Bobby
Alessi aka the
Alessi Brothers, but
not officially yet
although they are
identical twins,
were enjoying
singing, dancing and
doing a lot of
jumping around at
the Biltmore Theater
in the Broadway cast
of "Hair" in 1970.
On of the cast
members introduced
them to Peppy
Castro. "I'll never
forget that day,
Bobby" recalls, "he
was wearing dungeree
overalls and was so
full of energy."
The cast of Hair was
made up of mostly
Broadway singers and
dancers and partly
of non Broadway
types like us.
After the show
closed most of the
other cast members
went on to
shows like "42nd
Street", "Jesus
Christ Superstar",
"Chorus Line", Cats
etc.
Peppy, Billy and
Bobby went on to
form "Barnaby Bye",
but it wasn't
"Barnaby Bye" yet.
Bobby was restoring
2 classic cars, a
1949 and 1951
Mercedes 170vs at
the time "Hair"
closed (Summer of
1972). Parts
were hard to come by
and his search led
him to the fact that
the only way to get
them was to go to
Germany.
Peppy was going to
Germany to spend a
little time with
Mary Kelly, his
former wife(who were
very close and still
are today). With the
flight only three
days away they
needed to do some
creative pulling
rabbits out of hats
which involved some
lies, a doctors note
a pair of crutches
and a neck brace.
They managed to get
Bobby a
passport and a
ticket on the same
flight as Peppy to
Munich and they all
planned to meet on
the plane. But
Peppy missed the
flight.
Bobby was on his way
to Germany with no
idea whether or not
Mary even knew he
was invited.
All he knew was that
she was a beautiful
fashion model and
that her name was
Mary. After
waiting for several
flights from New
York, hoping that
Peppy would show,
Bobby noticed a girl
that had been
hanging around the
same arrival gate
and decided to take
a chance and
approach her.
Mary didn't know
that he was coming
with Peppy, but
insisted he stat
with her in her
penthouse on
Leoapold Strasser, a
very upscale part of
Munich. When
they got to her car
(it was a Classic
Mercedes 170-V1
Bobby was playing
his guitar and Mary
started writing
lyrics to what would
become the first
song for "Barnaby
Bye", "Laneya".
Mary ia a very
gifted writer and
wrote "Jessie Girl"
with Peppy and also
wrote the Poem which
can be found on the
back of the groups
"Touch" LP.
This poem refers to
"Barnaby Bye" which
is where the groups
name came from.
Peppy Finally showed
up the next day, and
later their friend
Jonathan Stewart,
who later became
Barnaby Bye's
manager.
Peppy, Jonathan and
Bobby would take
their guitars to the
sidewalk cafe's and
do some sidewalk
entertaining.
A club agent
asked if they would
be interested in
playing at a club.
They were. When they
were asked what the
groups name was ,
they used the name
from the poem
"Barnaby Bye"
Meanwhile back in
the States Billy had
written a great song
"Carrie" that the
the group recorded
at the Warehouse
Recording Studio in
New York. The
magic was there.
Jonathan arranged
for a performance at
a small club on the
upper east side
called "Home".
The band was
acoustic at the time
and a talent scout
for Atlantic Records
was very impressed
and suggested that
the band do a
showcase so she
could bring a record
executive to see
them perform
Peppy had a friend
of a friend that was
Bubby Rich's
protégé, Jack
Scarangelia, he
became the groups
drummer and
performed at
"Kenny's Cataway"
where the real
history of the band
began.
Ahmet Ertegun,
founder of Atlantic
Records, showed up
along with many
other record giants
including Clive
Davis. After
the show Ahmet came
into the dressing
room and said "take
a ride to my house,
I want to talk to
you guys". The
band agreed but
insisted that he
ride with them in
Jonathan's 1950
Dodge. They
all climbed in and
went to Ahmet's town
house with his limo
and body guards
following close
behind. While
at his house he
explained that the
boys would
undoubtedly get
plenty of offers,
but no one in the
business had the
knowledge and the
experience that he
had. The group
signed with
Atlantic.
Although Jack
Scarangelia, was an
excellent drummer
the group decided
that they should
look for a more rock
oriented drummer.
Mike Riclardella was
the drummer for the
famous Long Island
band "The Illusion"
who had many hit
records and had
influenced
many musicians
including Billy and
Bobby . The
band asked Mike if
he would be
interested and since
"The Illusion" was
heading in a more
jazz oriented
direction and he
liked Barnaby Bye's
songs with their
warm harmonies
and Peppy's
infectious guitar
riffs, he answered
without any
hesitation...."I'm
in"
They recorded their
first album "Room To
Grow" at Atlantic
Recording Studios on
West 60th Street.
They shared the
studio with Bette
Midler, Hall an Oats
and Donny Hathaway,
just to name a few.
The first album took
14 months and
700 cheese burgers
to record. The
second LP "Touch"
was recorded in
Toronto
with Jack Richardson
producing .
The third is called
"Thrice Upon A Time"
and can be purchased
below or on
Amazon.com.
After all these
years the group is
still performing and
selling out concerts
around the world and
the rest is still to
be written.
Dreamscape Records is proud to welcome Red Totem Idol back on
the labels roster of artists. After a 12 year break the group has reformed and is in the process
of recording a new album.
To celebrate this occasion the label is re-releasing the groups first album "Mental" as a digital download
later this month. It is also possible, depending on the demand that the label will
also be releasing the album as a CD which can be ordered through this website.
Advance orders for the CD will be taken starting February 6th.
For additional information on both the band or the release of the CD please check back often for further developments and news.
Today as I write this there are only 20 shopping days till Christmas. Wow where did the time go. CD'S are one of the presents that you can buy for someone that keep on entertaining day after day.
I know we all have our favorite songs and many of bring back memories of pleasant times in the past, like the first time you met someone, or a place that you visited. Most everybody has heard someone say "There playing our song" .
Unfortunately Radio today seems to play the same artists and songs over and over and over again, as a matter a fact sometimes you can switch to another station and they are playing the same song. How many times has that happened to you? There are so many really talented independent arts that write and play good music that you never hear on the radio and I would like to suggest that you check out some of these artists and maybe even buy a cd or two from one of them and then spread the word about this great new group that you have discovered. Have a Very Merry Christmas everyone......
The CD Love Conquers Pain" by the Kavanaghs has just been released and make a wonderful Christmas gift for all lovers of POP Music and fans of music by the Beatles, Beachboys and Badfinger. To listen to the CD before you buy it
Ultra
Entertainment is the official manufacturer
of all Dreamscape
CD's. Excellent Quality, Great Product
and great Prices. Click on the
banner above for more information.
Dreamscape would like to thank Rick Lodie Geelens as the composer
of the music used on the title page.