The Rockets (band)
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| The Rockets | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Detroit, Michigan, United States |
| Genre(s) | Rock |
| Years active | 1972-1983 |
| Associated acts | Mitch Ryder, The Detroit Wheels |
The Rockets were a Detroit, Michigan rock band formed in 1972 by former Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels members Johnny "Bee" Bandajek and Jim McCarty. Vocals and drums were handled by Bandajek, McCarty was on lead guitar, John Fraga was on bass and Marc Marcano was on keyboards. Johnny Bee was the driving force and primary songwriter for the Rockets. In the early days, The Rockets paid their dues playing gigs at venues such as, The Rainbow Room and The Peoples Ballroom in Detroit, and The Rock 'N Roll Farm in Wayne Michigan.
The band took on a new sound in 1976 when David Gilbert was brought in to take over vocals from Johnny Bee. Gilbert had fronted several garage bands and had a brief stint singing for Ted Nugent and The Amboy Dukes in 1971. His drinking and drug habits didn't set too well with the Motor City Madman. Gilbert's raw vocal power proved to be just the ticket to complete the Rockets sound. However, as Nugent had before them, Bandajek and McCarty quickly realized Gilbert would be trouble for the band with his frequent drug and booze binges. The friction between them would go on for seven years before it eventually tore the band apart.
Five studio albums produced several minor hits including a rocking rendition of Fleetwood Mac's "Oh Well". Always a popular group in Detroit, and Michigan, The Rockets had gotten some attention outside of the state, but never really got the big break to become a true national act. The first album, Love Transfusion, was released in 1977. It failed to produce any hits. The 1979 self-titled release featured the hits, "Oh Well" and "Turn Up The Radio". This record also featured on bass, David Hood, one of the "Swampers" from the famous Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Alabama. Muscle Shoals was mentioned in Lynyrd Skynyrd's southern rock anthem "Sweet Home Alabama". Also, this Rockets album was dedicated to Skynyrd members Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines, who all perished in Skynyrds infamous 1977 plane crash. The third attempt came in 1980 with "No Ballads", "Desire" was a popular tune from this album. Next came the "Back Talk" album in '81 and then finally "Rocket Roll" in 1982. "Rollin' By The Record Machine" from this release was the last hit for the band. The final release, "Live Rockets" was recorded on New Years Eve 1982 at the Royal Oak Music Theatre near Detroit.
The Rockets performed for their last two shows at Pine Knob (now known as DTE Energy Music Theatre) near Detroit on August 28th & 29th, 1983. The band splintered and the members all went their separate ways. Bandajek, McCarty and the rest went on to other projects. Gilbert played in a couple of short-lived local bands and ended up taking a job hanging drywall. David Gilbert was 49 when he died of cirrhosis in 2001.
[edit] Discography
• Love Transfusion 1977 RCA Records
Tracks
1) Fast Thing In "D"etroit
2) Fell Out Of Love
3) My Heart Needs You
4) Lookin' For Love
5) I Got To Move
6) Ramona
7) Fly Little Bird
8) Love Transfusion
9) She's A Pretty One
• David Gilbert: Lead Vocals
• John "The Bee" Badanjek: Drums
• Jim McCarty: Guitar
• Dennis Robbins: Guitar
• John Fraga: Bass
• Rockets (Turn Up the Radio) 1979 RSO Records Peak at # 56 Billboard charts Pop Albums
Tracks
1) Can't Sleep (Peak at # 51 Billboard charts Pop Singles)
2) Turn Up The Radio
3) Oh Well (Peak at # 30 Billboard charts Pop Singles)
4) Lost Forever, Left For Dreaming
5) Long Long Gone
6) Love Me Once Again
7) Something Ain't Right
8) Lucille
9) Feel Alright
• David Gilbert: Lead Vocals
• John "The Bee" Badanjek: Drums
• Jim McCarty: Guitar
• Dennis Robbins: Guitar
• Donnie Backus: Piano
• John Fraga: Bass
• David Hood: Bass
• No Ballads 1980 RSO Records Peak at # 53 Billboard charts Pop Albums
Tracks
1) Desire (Peak at # 70 Billboard charts Pop Singles)
2) Don't Hold On
3) Restless
4) Sally Can't Dance
5) Takin' It Back
6) Time After Time
7) Sad Songs
8) I Want You To Love Me
9) Is It True
10) Troublemaker
• David Gilbert: Lead Vocals
• John "The Bee" Badanjek: Drums
• Jim McCarty: Guitar
• Dennis Robbins: Guitar
• Donnie Backus: Keyboards
• Dan Keylon: Bass
• Back Talk 1981 Elektra Records Peak at # 165 Billboard charts Pop Albums
Tracks
1) Back Talk
2) Jealous
3) Lift You Up
4) Shanghaied
5) Love For Hire
6) I Can't Get Satisfied (Peak at # 42 Mainstream Rock)
7) Tired Of Wearing Black
8) I'll Be Your Lover
9) American Dreams
10) Lie To Me
• David Gilbert: Lead Vocals
• John "The Bee" Badanjek: Drums
• Jim McCarty: Guitar
• Dennis Robbins: Guitar
• Donnie Backus: Keyboards
• Bobby Neil Haralson: Bass
• Rocket Roll 1982 Elektra Records
Tracks
1) Rollin' By The Record Machine
2) Rock 'N Roll Girl
3) Gonna Crash
4) (I Wanna) Testify
5) Gimme Your Love
6) Born In Detroit
7) All Night Long
8) Kid With The Heart
9) Rollin' And Tumblin'
10) Mean Streets
• David Gilbert: Lead Vocals
• John "The Bee" Badanjek: Drums
• Jim McCarty: Guitar
• Donnie Backus: Keyboards
• Bobby Neil Haralson: Bass
• Live Rockets 1983 Capitol records
Tracks
1) Rollin' By The Record Machine
2) Desire
3) Can't Sleep
4) Sally Can't Dance
5) Takin' It Back
6) Open The Door To Your Heart
7) Oh Well
8) Turn Up The Radio
9) Born In Detroit
• David Gilbert: Lead Vocals
• John "The Bee" Badanjek: Drums
• Jim McCarty: Guitar
• Donnie Backus: Keyboards
• Bobby Neil Haralson: Bass
