| Kick Axe | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Genres | Hard rock Heavy metal Glam metal |
| Years active | 1976–1988 2003–present |
| Labels | Pasha Records Epic Song Haus Music |
| Website | Official website |
| Members | |
| Daniel Nargang Brian Gillstrom Victor Langen Larry Gillstrom Raymond Harvey |
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| Past members | |
| George Criston Charles McNary Gary Langen Dave Zurowski |
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Kick Axe is the name of a heavy metal band from Canada that reached its climax in the 1980s. They produced four albums during their career, with the longest gap between albums being 18 years. The albums are: Vices, Welcome to the Club, Rock the World and Kick Axe IV.
The band had minor success and was able to tour with some of the biggest names in the mid-1980s before disbanding. The band managed to be signed to the label that made Quiet Riot headliners, but was never able to match the same level of stardom.
The band's classic line-up was George Criston (real name George Widule from Waukesha, WI) (vocals), Brian Gillstrom (drums, percussion), Victor Langen (bass guitar), Larry Gillstrom (guitar) and Raymond Harvey (guitar). For their last album, Kick Axe returned without singer George Criston, but instead with its original (before the band's commercial debut) singer Gary Langen.
Kick Axe's greatest hits include "Vices", "Alive and Kickin´", "Heavy Metal Shuffle", "Stay on Top", "On the Road to Rock", "Welcome to the Club", "Make Your Move", "Rock the World" and the ballad "Never Let Go".
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Kick Axe was formed in Regina, Saskatchewan, in 1976 by Larry Gillstrom (guitar), Victor Langen (vocals/bass guitar) and his brother Gary Langen (drums). By 1978, they added a second guitarist in Raymond Harvey and decided to relocate to Vancouver, British Columbia. and its more lively music scene. Gary Langen did not move with the band and was replaced with Larry's brother Brian Gillstrom. The group began recording in 1979 but scrapped the sessions because they felt they needed a more distinguished front man. Vocalist Charles McNary was brought in and the band started to make waves, even appearing on a Playboy compilation album.
McNary left the band in 1981, and it was almost two years before George Criston replaced him. Shortly after his joining the group signed a major label deal with Spencer Proffer's Pasha records. Vices was released in 1984 to critical acclaim, and the band toured behind such acts as Quiet Riot, Judas Priest and Whitesnake. The third single from the album (appearing only on the cassette version), a cover of Humble Pie's "30 Days in the Hole" appeared on the Up the Creek (1984) soundtrack.
The band's follow-up album Welcome to the Club was released in 1985 and strayed away from their rock anthems for a softer sound, and included a handful of guest stars. It reached the Billboard top 200, but disappointed die hard fans. Meanwhile, the group appeared on the The Transformers: The Movie soundtrack under the name of Spectre General due to U.S. legal troubles. They recorded two songs under that name: "Hunger" (later covered by King Kobra in their 1985 album Ready To Strike) and "Nothin's Gonna Stand in Our Way" (a cover of a song by John Farnham from the film Savage Streets) which were included on the soundtrack. Harvey left the band in 1986, and was never replaced. One final album: Rock the World, a return to their roots, was released but by then all momentum had been lost. By 1988, they were without a label and then disintegrated.
Their cover of "30 Days in the Hole" appeared on the first of two Muchmusic compilation albums associated with the weekly Power Hour program.
The band reformed in 2003 with original member Gary Langen singing for Criston who was unavailable to join the reunion due to prior work commitments. The new album entitled IV was released the following year. In 2008 Langen departed from the group. The band continues to play Canadian tour dates and Rock festivals in 2009 and 2010 with new singer Daniel Nargang, who once sang for the Regina metal band Into Eternity from 2000-2002.