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Issue 9,  9 Feb, 2003

1) Band News
2) Tour Dates - updated concert schedule
3) The U.S. 1 Album
4) Ask The Band - band members answer your questions
5) Lyrics - song lyrics to your favorite Head East songs
6) Mail - comments from Head East fans

* Fans in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area were recently treated to a special appearance by original Head East drummer Steve Huston on December 28th at St. Paul's Roy Wilkins Auditorium. Huston played percussion (tambourine, cowbell, etc.) and sang on several Head East favorites, enriching the band's signature harmonies. Huston is the author of Jefftown Creek, City Of Gold, Fly By Night Lady and several other Head East Classics. Since leaving the band in the mid-80's, Huston has worked as a recording studio engineer and is an instructor at the Art Institute of Houston, where he teaches classes in audio engineering for the Multimedia and Web Design Department.

* A recent issue of AAA's Home & Away Magazine worked in a reference to Head East and their classic hit, "Never Been Any Reason". The reference which appears in the Here and There section of the magazine, has a photo of the Great Wall of China with the caption Head East above it. The text under the photo of the Great Wall begins ... "There's never been any reason better for visiting China ...".

When asked about the reference, copy/associate editor Tamra Willett-Johnson gave the following response. "As copy editor of Home & Away magazine I often write headlines, subheads, department items and the table of contents. For my own amusement, and to keep my creative juices flowing, I try to slip in a music or literature reference at least once an issue. When it came time for me to write the General Tour's item in the Here & There department, Head East and their big hit song came to mind. Many moons ago, I was a deejay in Alaska and always cranked up the studio speakers to 11 when I played "Never Been Any Reason." Sometimes I'd sing my lungs out and sometimes I'd play some wicked mean air drums."

* Numerous updates have been made to www.head-east.com over the past few months. New images have been added to the band photo and miscellaneous photo pages, and a site map has been added as a guide to content and navigation. Additionally, new easier to read fonts have been incorporated on all pages and changes have been implemented to give the site increased consistency regardless of the browser used to view each page. The site which began in May of 2001, consists of nearly 50 pages of information and images from the band's beginnings in 1969 to present. Since its inception less than 2 years ago, the site has had over 35,000 visitors and has received nearly 1,000 emails from fans throughout the United States and all over the world.

* The 1979 film "J-Men Forever" was reissued in DVD format in November of 2002. This cult classic features music from several 70's era A&M Records artists to include Head East. The DVD is available through most online video and music retailers with prices ranging from around $10 to $15. Compare prices and availability before ordering. Many retailers do not have the DVD in stock and have to special order it which will add to the delivery time.

* We would like your opinions on the Head East Newsletter. Please email us and tell us what you like or dislike about the newsletter, and any suggestions you have for improvements. Please email us using the email account through which you receive the newsletter. Even if you have no comments or suggestions, please drop us a few lines so that we know that you are receiving your newsletter.

Additional concerts are in the works for 2003. Check the tour dates page frequently for updates to the tour schedule.

* Any dates marked with an asterisk are tentative. All concerts may be subject to change. Please check with each venue before heading to the concert.

U.S. 1 was Head East's 7th album on A&M Records but it was the debut album for a new line-up that consisted of founding members Roger Boyd and Steven Huston, and new members Tony Gross, Dan Odum, and Mark Boatman. Just six months after the classic line-up of Boyd, Huston, Birney, Schlitt, and Somerville had played their last concert in April of 1980, the new line-up had already performed live and had completed the recording of U.S. 1, which was released on 18 October, 1980.

The album, which was recorded at famed Long View Farms Recording Studios in North Brookfield, Massachusetts, contained a cover art rendering of a van driving down a foggy U.S. 1. The cover art is in keeping with band's recurring theme of being on the road that is present in many of their songs and album covers. When asked about the significance of the album title and the cover of the album, Head East keyboardist Roger Boyd replied, "Highway U.S. 1 runs the length of the East coast, hence the tie in to Head East. And Long View Farms where the album was recorded is not far from where U.S. 1 passes through Massachusetts. The van that appears to have hit the U.S. 1 sign on the cover is not based on any true life story. However, the van wreck pictured on the cover turned out to be prophetic since that was our last Head East studio album for A&M Records."

New lead guitarist Tony Gross became a member of Head East as a result of a chance meeting with Roger Boyd at a party after a concert in New York. Gross who was only 19 at the time, presented Boyd with a demo tape which led to an audition and ultimately to his hiring. He remained with the band until the mid-80's and returned for a short stint in the late 80's. Today, Tony Gross is the president of GFI Music in Ontario, NY. (for more info on Tony Gross see "Ask The Band" in section 4 below).

New lead vocalist Dan Odum had previously been a member of Head East for a short period from 1971 to 1972, at which time he was drafted into the Army. Though Odum was originally an Army medic, he was able to join an Army Choir shortly after being assigned to Germany and had the opportunity to perform throughout Germany and many parts of Europe. After serving his tour in the Army, Odum returned to Illinois where he held jobs as a grocery store manager, fireman, and a vocalist. When Roger Boyd was reassembling Head East in the spring of 1980, he called Odum and asked him to rejoin the band as their new lead vocalist. Odum remained with the band for two albums, leaving in the mid-80s, and today resides in southern Florida where he works in the vacation rental property industry.

New Bassist Mark Boatman had previously worked as a crewmember for the band. Boatman is the brother of Debbie (Boatman) Boyd who was married to Roger Boyd at the time (and is pictured on the cover of Head East Live!). Mark is from St. Louis and was only 21 when he became the bassist for Head East in 1980. Commenting on Mark's abilities, Roger Boyd stated, "He's an excellent bass player. Fortunately, all the new players can sing lead, and Mark is outstanding as a balladeer." Boatman left the band in the early 80's and today lives in the St. Louis area where he works as an attorney.

A 1980 A&M Records press release made the following observations about Head East's three newest members:

•  "The new Head East includes three gifted new members whose contributions are immediately apparent."

•  "Gross has all the zest of a teenager, dashing about, playing guitar with skill far beyond his years."

•  "Odum, with his curly locks, U-moustache, goatee and bone earring, resembles nothing so much as a Barbary pirate. He's a natural energy builder which helps account for the wild enthusiasm the new band engenders on stage."

•  "Boatman creates a female frenzy onstage with his handsome good looks and searing bass notes every time he steps forward."

U.S. 1 was the last Head East studio album on A&M records, who later dropped Head East and several other AOR bands in order to dedicate more resources to newer bands that were gaining popularity at the time. The album contains 9 tracks that A&M Records described as, "an album full of hard-driving rock n' roll and solid rock ballads." Though the Head East sound had evolved on U.S. 1 due to the influence of its new members, the classic Head East sound is still present and the album remains a favorite of many Head East fans to this day. U.S. 1 is out of print, but copies in LP, cassette, and 8-track formats can be found through retailers who specialize in used and out of print releases. Additional information on the this release can be found on the U.S. 1 album page of the Head East Discography located at:   www.head-east.com/us1.html.

* Notes - (1) Information in the above article is based on A&M press releases and personal conversations with Roger Boyd, Tony Gross, and Dan Odum. (2) Neither A&M Records or any of their parent companies have ever released U.S. 1 in CD format. Beware of unauthorized copies in CD format. Neither the band, their publishing company, or A&M/Universal benefit from the sale of these unauthorized CDs.

Q1.  You were only 19 years old when you joined Head East in the spring of 1980. It must have been a big step for you to join a seasoned professional rock band at such a young age. Can you tell us what it was like to take on the role as lead guitarist of Head East?

Tony Gross answers:  "The experience was surreal. Think of it, 19 years old and joining a very experienced group that already went through most of the B.S. so I wouldn't have to. They had the support of a major label (A&M) and a fairly large booking agency at the time. The world became very colorful, very fast. I enjoyed almost every moment."

Q2.  Can you tell us about your chance meeting with Roger Boyd in 1980 that led to you joining Head East?

Tony Gross answers:  "It was a very lucky, chance meeting for me. My girlfriend at the time was doing some interning at a radio station that promoted a Head East show here in Rochester, NY. At some point in the day she was asked to go to the after show party. After the invite, she called me and asked me to meet her there. I believe it was at the Holdiay Inn. On the way out I grabbed my demo tape of three songs, the lead singer on the tape was Phil Naro who went on to work with Billy Sheehan. Anyway, I was sitting having a drink with this guy wearing a University of Illinois windbreaker and some sort of baseball cap. Not knowing who he was, I asked if he knew of any bands that needed a guitarist. He said, "I will in a couple weeks", then he introduced himself. It was Roger Boyd. I believe that we listened to the demo tape that night and he invited me back to this room the following morning to audition at 7:30 am. I joined the band around Easter of 1980."

Q3.  Do you have any general comments about your time with Head East, especially as it relates to the making of the U.S. 1 album?

Tony Gross answers:  "I have some great memories and stories. Times were different then and making records was a different experience than it is today. Let me tell you this, as a result of the experience of making U.S. 1 with Head East, I ended up in the studio business and tried modeling the studio after Long View Farm were U.S. 1 was recorded. Then I started a small label called Beyond Records. I sold the name in 1998. Overall, I have been successful in music thanks to a chance meeting with Roger Boyd at a Holiday Inn in Rochester, NY."

Specialty
(Lyrics by Mike Somerville)

I know somebody you know
Someone who knows how to please
Thinkin' maybe you got her
You think you're all she needs

I don't want to disappoint you
But there's something that you don't know
Girl's gonna leave you screamin'
Someplace where you don't want to go

Makin' you feel like nothing
Bringin' you to your knees
Leavin' you out in the cold is her specialty

The Lady's got an obsession
You're like all the rest
Just like all the others
She's callin' you the best

I don't want to disappoint you
But you ain't the first or last
And sooner than you think my friend
You're another man in her past

Makin' you feel like nothing
Bringin' you to your knees
Leavin' you out in the cold is her specialty

Makin' you feel like nothing
Bringin' you to your knees
Leavin' you out in the cold is her specialty
Is her specialty
Her specialty
Her specialty
Yeah, it's her specialty
Her specialty
Oh, her specialty

* Lyrics printed above are as sung on the studio recording from the Head East album, "A Different Kind of Crazy", and differ slightly from those sung live on Concert Classics Vol. 7.

• I fell in Love with Head East the very first time I heard the Live album. I immediately went out and bought the entire catalog.

• Head East's great harmonies and lyrics struck a chord in me. Their musical influences have spread throughout this country.

• I think a lot of people have been greatly influenced by Head East. I have always thought of them as superstars.

• I grew up in Illinois in the 70's and 80's. No album collection was complete unless it contained Flat As A Pancake.

• Head East Live! is one of the greatest double live albums of all time!

• Never Been Any Reason has got to be one of the best rockin' songs ever!

• My Favorite song is It's For You. The harmonies are great. Every time I hear it I have to turn it up loud!

• You guys are Timeless! I've been a fan since the early 70's.

• Best Rock band in history, what a sound!

• Great job on the website! But how could it be anything but great, with such good subject matter.

• Thanks to your website I've discovered so much about the band that I didn't know. I'm gonna go out and buy all their stuff.

• Great site! I spent all night pursuing the site, viewing the photos, reading the history, and looking at the timeline of members.

• The site looks great! Everything loads like it should, no broken links or long delays, very readable fonts, and color schemes that don't weld your eyes shut after a long day online.

(The above comments were extracted from fan mail and guestbook entries from the past two years. Selected fan mail and band questions will be chosen for publication in a future newsletter and are subject to editing by the publishers of this newsletter. Click here to e-mail your comments, questions or stories to the Head East Newsletter.

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