Moxy (band)

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Moxy
Origin Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genre(s) Hard rock, Rock, Heavy metal
Years active 1974–1983/2000–Present
Label(s) Unidisc, Mercury, Pacemaker Records, Bullseye
Associated acts Zon
Leigh Ashford
A Foot in Coldwater
Website Moxy.ca
Members
Alex Machin
Earl Johnson
Jim Sampson
Kim Hunt

Moxy is a Canadian hard rock band, formed in Toronto, Ontario in 1974, from previous members of Leigh Ashford — including singer Douglas "Buzz" Shearman (former singer of Sherman & Peabody which also featured Greg Godovitz of Goddo and Gil Moore of Triumph), toured with Earl Johnson (former member of "Outlaw Music" and King Biscuit Boy), Bill Wade ( Former member of "Outlaw Music" and of "Brutus" under the alias Hally Hunter that also included Gino Scarpelli of Goddo) and Terry Juric, (former member of Outlaw Music) as Leigh Ashford before the name and sound change to Moxy was made in late 1974. Then enlisted Buddy Caine in 1975.

The new band, now billed as Moxy, toured extensively in Canada before having a hit in late 1975 with "Can’t You See I’m A Star". Moxy then toured the United States on the strength of their radio airplay. Markets in which the band was very popular included Ontario, Canada, Chicago, Illinois,, St. Louis, Missouri,, Detroit, Michigan and San Antonio, Texas . Joe Anthony, the Godfather of Rock in San Antonio on KISS-FM was responsible for the popularity of the band in Texas and would bring Moxy for their first headline appearance in the U.S in 1977 with AC/DC.

The Joe Anthony tradition is carried on into the 2000s on Texas Radio where Moxy's hits like "Can't You See I'm A Star", "Moon Rider", "Sail On Sail Away". "Midnight Flight", "I'll Set You on Fire" and "Are You Ready" are still on the daily rotation.[1]

Many of the guitar solos on the band's debut album were performed by guest session musician Tommy Bolin, who had previously been the lead guitarist for the James Gang and later replaced Ritchie Blackmore in Deep Purple.

Contents

[edit] History 1974 - 1983

On the demise of Leigh Ashford in 1973, Buzz Shearman joined up with Earl Johnson , Bill Wade and bassist Kim Fraser, and began playing together in the spring of 1974. Still calling themselves Leigh-Ashford make their first appearance on to the music seen in October 1974 at Scarborough's notorious rock pit " The Knob Hill Hotel". Fraser soon departed, and Johnson recommended Terry Juric, with the group changing it’s name to Moxy. The first single released was a trial run of "Can't You See I'm A Star", that was distributed by Yorkville Records. The promising sound of the single received heavy radio support from CHUM (AM) in Toronto and led to the band signing with Polydor Records of Canada in December 1974. The signing with Polydor Records was mainly due to the popularity and success of Leigh Ashford and Buzz Shearman’s reputation.

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The independently produced album self-titled Moxy, was recorded in the start of 1975 with Co-producer Mark Smith of BTO fame, in only two weeks. While in Van Nuys, California at Sound City Studio recording the self titled album also known as the Black Album, session guitarist Tommy Bolin was in the studio next door.[2] Bolin was so impressed with the no-nonsense, to-the-bones rock band, that when he was asked by Moxy's manager Roland Paquin to fill in for Earl Johnson he said yes. Earl Johnson was actually supposed to have done all the guitar parts, but got into a disagreement with the producer and was consequently tossed out of the studio.[3] Roland Paquin knew Bolin from when he was road manager for the James Gang. After the Moxy sessions Bolin continued to work on his first solo album Teaser, and later that year got the call from David Coverdale to join Deep Purple.[4] Having heard the impact of the twin guitars, Moxy then headed back to Toronto needing a rhythm guitarist to free up Earl Johnson to play on the road what Tommy Bolin had added to the songs in the studio. Earl Johnson enlisted friend and guitarist Buddy Caine, then hit the road with a Canadian tour through Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes in small venues (Bars/Night Clubs).

Buddy Caine, Buzz Shearman, Terry Juric, Earl Johnson and Bill Wade on drums (Moxy 1976)
Buddy Caine, Buzz Shearman, Terry Juric, Earl Johnson and Bill Wade on drums (Moxy 1976)

Moxy's hard-hitting style of wicked guitar riffs heavy on the blues, a thunderous backbeat and a shrieking vocalist, was loved by Canadian fans so much so that promotional copies of the first album found their way to hard rock stations in the southern USA. By the winter of 1975 "Can' t You See I'm A Star" and "Moon Rider" were receiving heavy radio support from KMAC/KISS in San Antonio, Texas. Bolin's contribution would also get some much needed attention for the album in the U.S media, even though Bolin always downplayed his involvement. Moxy then renegotiates a new contract with Polydor of Canada for distribution in affiliation with Mercury Records, (both labels were owned by PolyGram at the time, they are now owned by Universal Music Group) who then reissued the self-titled album in North America and worldwide in 1976. The spring of 1976 would see "Fantasy" and "Sail On Sail Away" hit the top 20 on KISS-FM radio in San Antonio, Texas. KISS-FM disc jockey Joe Anthony also had the freedom to play the album in its entirety on many occasions through the late 1970s.

‎

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“ We did an interview with a DJ in Texas, I asked him what songs of ours they were playing. He said, 'First we play the first side, then we play the second side.' I just about fell off my chair." Earl Johnson.[5] ”

A year into touring Moxy went from a bar band to headline concert attraction, with Buddy Caine and Earl Johnson, dual-guitar sound being the heart and soul of Moxy. Moxy II recorded in April 1976 came out a year after the first album for Canadian fans and just three months after the reissued copy of Moxy I was released. Moxy II was recorded in the bands home town of Toronto at Sound Stage studio with famed Aerosmith producer Jack Douglas. While not as strong musically as the debut with some slower paced songs, most consider It a carbon copy of the first album. Moxy II gets international press coverage for the band. Most reviews predict success for the band and comparisons are made to Aerosmith, Rush and Deep Purple.[6] Moxy II was also highly acclaimed on its release by Geoff Barton in the UK music publication Sounds (magazine), who made the album available to it's readers for the special price of only £1.50. Geoff Barton in later publication would come to call Moxy The Canadian Zeppelin.[7]

Moxy hits the road again through Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes, by the fall of 1976 are touring as the opening act with Black Sabbath,[8] and Boston throughout Texas, except for at the new Convocation Center arena in San Antonio October 24, 1976 where Boston is the opening act. November 17, 1976 "Take it Or Leave It", reached number 14 on the Top 30 CHUM AM in Toronto[9] and in Texas "Midnight Flight", "Cause There's Another" and "Take it or Leave It" receive heavy radio support. Moxy then tours through California, Illinois and Missouri . "Cause There's Another" would reach number 16 also on CHUM (AM) radio by March 26, 1977 .

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In March 1977, Moxy went back to the studio after touring non-stop since the release of Moxy II to record back at home in Toronto with Jack Douglas producing again. ‎Ridin' High once more contained all-original material written by the band members with an even harder/heavy sound than the first two albums. The record gets good reviews and got the band nominated for a Juno Award in 1977 for Most Promising Group of the Year,[10] but airplay was limited as FM radio in Canada and northern U.S goes to softer rock, except in the southern U.S and Europe were "Are You Ready", "Ridin' High" and "I'll Set You on Fire" received heavy radio support.

“ I remember going in doing radio interviews and 'Ridin' High' was the single and they would put it on and all the needles would just go tilt over right into the red and the station engineer would be freaking out." Earl Johnson,[11] ”
(Moxy 1977)
(Moxy 1977)

On July 27, 1977, Joe Anthony, brought the band to Texas for their first headline appearance in the US in Austin at Armadillo World Headquarters,[12] and the next night in San Antonio at the Municipal Auditorium and finally on July 29 in Corpus Christi, Texas at Ritz Music Hall, with AC/DC as opening act for all three dates,[13] Moxy then tours in California then with Trooper,[14] in Illinois, Missouri, Michigan and selected Canadian dates and headlined Massey Hall in Toronto.

The hard touring and a rigorous schedule was beginning to take its toll on the band by late 1977, considering that most of the band members had been touring since the late 60's in other bands before Moxy was formed. Living the life of sex, drugs and rock and roll, the band had been slowly self-destructing for the past year. Buzz Shearman by now had developed vocal cord problems and singer/soundman Brian Maxim (singer on Moxy V) had to be called in to hit the high notes off stage.[15] Buzz decided to leave the band in late 1977 after the Ridin' High tour, due to personality conflicts "Musical differences" and to seek medical attention for his vocal cords[16] and drinking problem.[17]

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Mike Reno (of Loverboy fame) then called Michael Rynoski replaces Buzz Shearman and made his debut in music on Moxy's next album, Bill Wade also left the band and was replaced by Danny Bilan (later joined Wild T and the Spirit after turn up on Hanover Fist's 'Hungry Eyes' album and Micheal White's album 'TheWhite'). The album's title track Under the Lights and "High School Queen" did make the charts in Canada, but the album lacked the punch of the band’s earlier works and had a laid-back style in the sound. Moxy then tours across Canada with Trooper and Triumph[18] but the band no longer sees the type of response from either record sales or audiences it had with "Buzz" as the vocalist. "Buzz" had formed his own band called Buzz Saw with ex-Christmas guitarist Bob Bulger and drummer Frank Russe. Earl Johnson would leave the band in the summer of 1978 and be replaced by Woody West.(Former member of the big band version of The Stampeders and a former member of "Brutus")

“ Under The Lights, wasn't even really a Moxy album. Mike Reno, great voice, but he just wasn't a hard-edged singer. I left the band a couple of months after it came out because I knew basically that Moxy wasn't what it started out to be." Earl Johnson[19] ”

"Buzz" would rejoin Moxy in late 1979 and tour Texas alongside new guitarists Doug MacAskill (Former member of the big band version of The Stampeders then was a member of The Arrows), leaving Reno free to form his own band called Loverboy that saw great success in the 1980s. In March 1980, "Buzz" was considered as a candidate to replace the deceased Bon Scott but his on/off again vocal cord problems would not allow him to tour extensively, AC/DC members finally decided on ex-Geordie singer Brian Johnson .[20] Moxy's record contract had expired by the early 80s and the band is just holding on playing some key dates in the Southern U.S but mostly clubs in Canada. 1981 "Buzz", Earl and Bill all helped fellow Canadian singer/songwriter Lee Aaron on her debut album called "The Lee Aaron Project". While shopping around for a new record deal tragedy struck when "Buzz" died in a motorcycle accident,[21] on June 16, 1983 at the age of 33.


Terry Juric had helped Thor for his 1978 album "Keep The Dogs Away" and would appeared on Pop Rocker Stanley Frank's 1980 album "Play It Til It Hurts". Buddy Caine, Terry Juric, Danny Bilan and Brian Maxin (Moxy's 70s Back up singer), would form the band Voodoo. Bill Wade had formed the band Bongo Fury's with fellow Canadian rocker Gino Scarpelli from the band Goddo and bassist Terry McKeowen . Bill Wade also was on The Cry's 1980 album "Wispear". Earl Johnson would soldier on with Tom Griffin (Co-Writer of "Candy Delight" that appears on Moxy V), Howie Warden and "Coke" in local Toronto bars and night clubs like El Mocambo, Gasworks and Larry's Hideaway till 1986.

[edit] Reunion 1999 - present

Three of the original members of Moxy reunited when Bill Wade got Moxy back into his home studio in 1999, with Earl Johnson and Buddy Caine after a 20 year recording gap, to produce Moxy's fifth studio album appropriately titled Moxy V. The new album V released in 2000, returned them to the hard rock sound of the first three albums. New vocalist Brian Maxim (former member of Stumbling Blind), who was considered a true member of Moxy, as Brian sung back-ups for "Buzz" on tour back in 1977, worked with Buddy Caine and Terry Juric in the band Voodoo and worked with "Buzz" in a building materials store in the early 80s . The album includes Working Man (early tune by Billy Wade), Yuccatan Man (unreleased Buddy Caine composition from the early Moxy days) and Walking On The Wild Side (unreleased Earl Johnson composition from the early Moxy days). Bill Wade grew very ill shortly after Moxy V was released. Unable to continue, a replacement for Bill became necessary and a bass player was also needed. Bill's replacement was Kim Hunt who like bass player Jim Samson are known in the Toronto area as the best rhythm section, they are former members of Zon, a very popular Toronto area rock band. Bill would succumbed to cancer[22] on July 27, 2001 at the age of 53.

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Moxy hits the road for there 25 anniversary starting in San Antonio alongside fellow special guests Saxon at the annual Legs Diamond bash in the Sunken Garden Theater to the delight of 6,000 fans. Then tour the rest of Texas, Illinois, Missouri, Michigan and Ontario the markets in which the band is still popular. The popularity that Moxy still holds in Europe prompted the band's first tour outside North America in 2001, accompanied with a new CD cover of Moxy V unique for the European fans. 2002 saw Moxy move to a new record label called Bullseye Records of Canada and release the live album Raw. Bullseye Records of Canada also re-released Moxy V in North America with some added live tracks from the same 2001 tour. Raw and Moxy V both features songs from Moxy's appearance at the Sweden Rock Festival on June 8, 2001 and there January 12, 2001 appearance at the El Mocambo in Toronto. Moxy's appearance at the El Mocambo was video recorded but has still not been officially released as a DVD. Brian Maxim would leave the band in 2003 and this is the most likely reason for the El Mocambo DVD not being released. World Studios however has released one song from the January 12, 2001 show for public viewing - World Studios - "Time To Move On" - .

Alex Machin • Earl Johnson Buddy Caine • Jim Samson • Kim Hunt (Moxy 2005)
Alex Machin • Earl Johnson
Buddy Caine • Jim Samson • Kim Hunt
(Moxy 2005)

Brian Maxim replacement was Alex Machin who fronted A Foot in Coldwater, another successful 1970s band also from the Toronto area. Alex also fronted Champion on one album released in 1984. A Foot in Coldwater are best known for there hit "Make Me Do Anything You Want" that is now played alongside "Isn't Love Unkind" at most of Moxy's present concerts.

2004 Moxy made KZEP FM in San Antonio, Texas Top 104 ahead of bands like Quiet Riot, Mötley Crüe, Whitesnake, Queensrÿche,and Iron Maiden. They were number 87,[23] For 2005 and the 30th anniversary of Moxy's classic debut album, referred to as the black album, Moxy played the Voyageur Days Festival in Mattawa, Ontario with other Canadian classic rockers Chilliwack, Toronto, Trooper, Goddo,Killer Dwarfs and Ray Lyell. On August 26, 2005 Moxy performed "Can't You See I'm A Star" and "Cause There's Another" - City T.V - the band's two biggest Canadian hits live on City TV in Toronto . "Can't You See I'm A Star" also appears in the Pierre Trudeau mini movie approximately 40 minutes into part two that was resealed in 2005. In 2006 Moxy was featured in an article that included band's like Ram Jam and Tucky Buzzard called Top 6 Classic Rock Bands You Never Knew You Didn't Know written by Dave White.[24]. Guitarist Buddy Caine decided to retire to spend more time at home with his family in the summer of 2008. Buddy was not replaced, Moxy continues to tour as a four piece, playing shows all over the Ontario region and with the occasional appearance in Texas.

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Moxy's first three albums with "Buzz" Shearman remain Moxy's best known and most commercially successful, with Moxy I on vinyl being especially sought-after by die-hard Tommy Bolin fans.[25] Their compilations have also done well over the years, especially in Texas when Moxy got together with the four original remaining members in 1983 to put on benefit concert and retrospective package, with proceeds earmarked for Valerie(Buzz's Widow) and Jesse Shearman(Son). The retrospective package released by Pacemaker Records called A Tribute to Buzz Shearman, features three previously unreleased Moxy songs with "Buzz" on vocals called "Highway", "Eyeballs" and "Trouble". 1989 the songs "Train" and "Time to Move On" appear on The Ultimate: The Best of Tommy Bolin box set. Best Of Moxy: Self-Destruction was released in 1994 and features a song in tribute to "Buzz" called "Feed The Fire" written by Buddy Caine and performed by is band called The Buddy Caine Band and again would feature the song "Trouble". 2004 the song "Cause There's Another" appear on a compilation album of Canada's most popular rock & roll acts called WHEN CANCON ROCKED!.[26] Moxy’s original catalogue of albums were again available starting in the mid 1990s when Valerie Shearman oversaw the release of all of Moxy's back catalogue on CD through Pacemaker Records, and again in the mid 2000s this time through Unidisc Music Inc. A new album is expected in the near future with the first demo released in late 2007 on the bands MySpace page Demo .

[edit] Original members

  • Buzz Shearman: Vocals (1973-1977) (1979-1983)
  • Earl Johnson: Guitar (1973-1978) (1999-present)
  • Bill Wade: Drums (1974-1978) (1999-2000)
  • Terry Juric: (1974-1983)
  • Buddy Caine: Guitar (1975-1983) (1999-2008) Note: Buddy Caine is listed on the album Moxy, but did not join the band until after the album was finished.

[edit] Current Members

  • Earl Johnson: Guitar (1973-1978) (1999-present)
  • Jim Samson: Bass (1999-present) - From Zon
  • Kim Hunt: Drums (2000-present) - From Zon
  • Alex Machin: Vocals (2003-present) also Vocals for A Foot in Coldwater

[edit] Former Members

[edit] Discography


[edit] References

  1. ^ "playlist at KZEP 104.5FM". sanantoniorock.com.
  2. ^ canehdian. canehdian.com/.
  3. ^ Tommy Bolin. The Bolin Page.
  4. ^ Tommy Bolin Archives. tbolin.com.
  5. ^ Earl Johnson Toronto Sun. jam.canoe.ca.
  6. ^ then and now. Toronto Sun.ca.
  7. ^ The Canadian Zeppelin. sanantoniorock.com.
  8. ^ Black SabbathTour dates for 1976. Black Sabbath.com.
  9. ^ Chart at CHUM AM. 1050chum.com.
  10. ^ Juno Awards nominations for 1977. junoawards.ca.
  11. ^ Riding High. Moxy.ca.
  12. ^ Armadillo World Headquarters archive. The University of Texas.
  13. ^ AC/DC Tour dates for 1977. ac-dc.net. Retrieved on 2006-09-22.
  14. ^ Earl Johnson Interview Topic:Trooper. angelfire.com.
  15. ^ MOXY MOXY MOXY Page. bolin fan page.
  16. ^ Moxy's disbanded. rockdetector.com.
  17. ^ Moxy self-destructing. yantz.com.
  18. ^ Bio at CanadianBands.comTopic:Triumph. CanadianBands.com.
  19. ^ Earl at Moxy.ca. Moxy.ca.
  20. ^ Moxy Bio. CANOE JAM! MUSIC - Pop Encyclopedia.
  21. ^ Motorcycle Death memorials. elvispelvis.com.
  22. ^ Bill Wade memoria. canadianbands.com.
  23. ^ KZEP 104.5 FM Top 104 for 2004.. legendmusic.ca.
  24. ^ article Top 6 Classic Rock Bands You Never Knew You Didn't Know. ClassicRock. About.com.
  25. ^ Tommy Bolin Bio VH1. vh1.com.
  26. ^ WHEN CANCON ROCKED!. bullseyecanada.com.

[edit] External links

Moxy
Members
Buzz Shearman • Earl Johnson • Buddy Caine • Bill Wade • Terry Juric
Tommy Bolin • Mike Reno • Danny Bilan • Brian Maxim • Jim Samson • Kim Hunt • Alex Machin
Discography

Studio albums: - Moxy (1975) • Moxy II (1976) • ‎Ridin' High (1977) • Under The Lights (1978) • Moxy V (2000)

Live album: - Raw (2002)

Compilation albums: - A Tribute to Buzz Shearman (1984) • Best Of Moxy: Self-Destruction (1993)
Languages