Smash Palace (rock band)

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Smash Palace are a power pop rock band currently based out of Southern New Jersey.

SMASH PALACE
Smash Palace - Everybody Comes And Goes 2008 CD - Zip Records
Website http://www.smashpalacemusic.com

Brothers Stephen and Brian Butler originally led a new wave power pop band called Quincy. The band recorded an LP for Columbia Records in 1980 and began to tour, but their momentum was curtailed when producer/performer Quincy Jones saw the name "Quincy" on the marquee at the Whiskey A Go-Go in Los Angeles, CA. He sent the band a trademark infringement "cease-and-desist" order and "Quincy" were no longer allowed to use the name and broke up soon afterward. "Quincy" did record one more EP for Columbia records but under the new name " Lulu Temple". Stephen and Brian became unhappy with the direction that the band was taking and quit while the record was being recorded. The "Lulu Temple" EP was released in 1983.

The Butler brothers quickly formed a new band called "Smash Palace" and signed with Epic Records in 1985. The new line-up included Stephen Butler (lead guitar and vocals), Brian Butler (lead vocals), Phil Barnett (aka Rizzo) (bass guitar), Harry Lewis (drums) and Greg Persun (rhythm guitar). The band's first self-titled LP was released in the fall of 1985 along with an MTV video of the first single " Living On The Borderline" (directed by Nigel Dick).

Smash Palace toured extensively throughout the United States and Canada with Mr. Mister, and the Cruzados. When Smash Palace's A&R man, Dick Wingate, left Epic Records in 1985 he asked the band to come on over to his new label, Polygram Records. Unfortunately, once the band left Epic, the offer from Polygram melted away.

Disillusioned and broke, Stephen and Brian took staff song writer jobs at CBS Songs, EMI, and then with BMG. Not finding much happiness or success in the hit song writing business, the brothers left the music business altogether for a while. Stephen was the first to return in 1997, working as a co-writer and guitarist with the band Mary Lee's Corvette. This has been a lasting relationship that Stephen has maintained for the past 10 years and he has produced the most recent Mary Lee's Corvette CD " Love, Loss and Lunacy" which was released in 2006.

In 1999 the Butler Brothers reunited to record a new Smash Palace CD "Fast, Long, Loud"; the follow-up recording to their 1985 LP with a 14 year gap in between. The new CD was recorded by just the brothers themselves at Stephen's house using recording equipment he had just recently purchased. Once the tracks were completed, Smash Palace signed with the indie label "Imagine Records".

The first single "Another Man" was a top 100 rock radio track for the summer of 1999. Smash Palace then re-formed to play out live with a new line up which included Stephen Butler (lead vocals and lead guitar), Brian Butler (drums and vocals), DyAnne DiSalvo (rhythm guitar and vocals), Phil Rizzo (bass guitar) and Greg DiDonato (keyboards).

Anthony Bezich took over drumming for the band in 2004 with the retirement from live performing by Brian Butler. Brian is still active in the writing and recording aspects but spends his time these days pursing other passions such as art and photography.

In 2001 the next Smash Palace CD released was titled "Unlocked" and followed by 2004's "Over The Top". "Best Of 99-06" came out in 2006 on Zip Records.

Smash Palace have currently been touring the east coast of the United States and also the United Kingdom. Their newest CD " Everybody Comes and Goes" was released in January 2008.

[edit] Smash Palace - Band Line-Ups

Original 1985 Line-Up

Brian Butler - Lead Vocals
Stephen Butler - Lead Guitar & Vocals
Greg Persun - Rhythm Guitar
Phil Barnett (Rizzo) - Bass Guitar
Harry Lewis - Drums

1999 Line-Up

Stephen Butler - Lead Vocals & Lead Guitar
Brian Butler - Drums & Vocals
DyAnne DiSalvo - Rhythm Guitar & Vocals
Phil Rizzo - Bass Guitar
Greg DiDonato - Keyboards

2004 Line-Up

Stephen Butler - Lead Vocals & Lead Guitar
Anthony Bezich - Drums
DyAnne DiSalvo - Rhythm Guitar & Vocals
Phil Rizzo - Bass Guitar
Greg DiDonato - Keyboards

Current 2008 Line-Up

Stephen Butler - Lead Vocals & Guitar
DyAnne DiSalvo - Rhythm Guitar
Phil Rizzo - Bass Guitar
Greg Didonato - Drums
Wally Smith - Keyboards

[edit] Smash Palace - Discography

Smash Palace - "Smash Palace" (Self-Titled) (1985 - Epic Records) Note: This album was never released on CD / Only LP & Cassette Tape.
Smash Palace - "Fast, Long, Loud" (1999 - Imagine Records)
Smash Palace - "Unlocked" (2001 - Back Porch Records)
Smash Palace - "Over The Top" (2004 - Smash Palace Studios)
Smash Palace - "The Best Of '99-06" (2006 - Zip Records)
Smash Palace - "Everybody Comes And Goes" (2008 - Zip Records)