Head East founder & keyboardist Roger Boyd Interview (Part 1 of 2) 011121
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- Опубликовано: 22 авг 2024
- This video is dedicated to the memory of the original Head East guitarist Mike Somerville (born Michael A. Somerville on August 15, 1952 in Peoria, Illinois) died on February 28, 2020, at age 67 died after a period of illness. Mike had been instrumental in securing the band’s record deal with A&M after he helped record and self-release their debut album Flat as a Pancake in 1974. As a result of airplay from copies sent to radio stations, they secured a contract; and their first two singles, “Never Been Any Reason” and “Love Me Tonight,” were both Somerville’s compositions.
Head East is an American rock band originally from East Central Illinois. The band was formed by vocalist John Schlitt, guitarist Danny Piper, keyboardist Roger Boyd, bassist Larry Boyd, and drummer Steve Huston. They met and formed the band while John, Roger, and Larry were studying at the University of Illinois, Steve was at Eastern Illinois University 45 miles away and Danny was not in college. Eventually both Larry and Danny dropped out of the band and were replaced by Mike Somerville (guitar) and Dan Birney (bass). The band achieved success in the Midwest during the 1970s, but fell into obscurity in the following decades on both coasts while remaining strong in the Midwest and South. They remain best known for their AOR hit "Never Been Any Reason".
Originally known as the TimeAtions, the band adopted the name Head East on August 6, 1969, at the suggestion of the band's roadie, Baxter Forrest Twilight. In a 2011 interview, founding member Steve Huston claimed that soon after sunrise one morning in 1969, Baxter Twilight woke the band members in their communal home/practice facility. Having been up all night sitting in the front yard consuming acid, the roadie said that when the sun rose, it turned into a giant talking head and told him the band's new name should be "Head East". After thinking on it briefly, the band liked the unusual nature of it and has kept the name. However, other members of the band dispute Huston's claim about the naming.
Head East recorded their first album, Flat as a Pancake, in 1974 at Golden Voice Recording Studio in South Pekin, Illinois. Released on their own record label, Pyramid Records, all 5,000 records and 500 eight-tracks produced were sold. Several midwest album rock radio stations, chief among them KSHE 95, St. Louis and KY-102 in Kansas City and others, began airing songs from the album as well. With those sales, and the song "Never Been Any Reason" on radio, A&M was impressed enough to sign the band and re-release the album in 1975. The album reached gold status by 1978 and would remain their most popular album, spawning another hit in the song "Love Me Tonight", which peaked at number 54.
The band followed with the albums Get Yourself Up and Gettin' Lucky, released in 1976 and 1977 respectively. Neither album achieved the success of their debut album. However, their fourth album simply titled Head East (1978) produced another hit with the band's cover of former Argent singer Russ Ballard's "Since You Been Gone", which peaked at number 46.
In 1979, the band released the double-LP Head East Live! and A Different Kind of Crazy. The former peaked at number 96 on the US Top 100 charts.
In March 1980, bassist Dan Birney and guitarist Mike Somerville left the band, while singer John Schlitt was fired over a drug dependency. He would later recover, become a born-again Christian and reappear as the lead singer of legendary Contemporary Christian Music band Petra.
Remaining members Boyd and Huston hired bassist Mark Boatman, guitarist Tony Gross, and former drummer and singer Dan Odum (during Huston's absence) to record their following album titled U.S. 1, released in October 1980. The album was their last to reach the charts and last recorded release on A&M.
The band continues to tour to this day, playing 30 to 40 shows each year.
Head East Stuff to Own::
The Best of Head East: 20th Century Masters: amzn.to/3p1Xk5W
Flat As A Pancake: amzn.to/3i1Fsqs
Live: Head East: amzn.to/3yOwNO0
Raise A Little Hell: amzn.to/3c3dCGx
Different Kind Of Crazy: amzn.to/2RW5LDZ
Head East: amzn.to/34vjwvU
On-Air Personality and Show Host DC conducted this zoom interview at the bar at AJ's On Main Street in historic downtown Grapevine, Texas. The guest was at his rural home in Illinois looking all presidential sitting in front of his fireplace.. This interview was pre-recorded on 011121.
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Hey man, great interview! Glad to see Roger here. I know exactly where Houston, IL is. Nice DC and Roger!
I had the opportunity to see Head East a few times. The last time was in the mid 80's at a small bar at a holiday inn in Mt. Pleasant Mi. Maybe 100 people. After the show Roger Boyd and I was playing pool and just had a great time talking about life on the road. What a awesome time and evening. After talking a short time the rest of the guys from Head East called him to the stage to do some extra jam time. The only people that was left in the place were the few employees of the bar and and me and about 15 of my friends. We were invited to their rooms to party cuz it was after hours. What a very much down to earth guy Roger was. It was one of the greatest times I ever had. A friend and I was just talking about that night last week Roger if you read this, thanks for making that night so memorable. Smallest crowd for a concert I have ever attended but the best shows. It was like the show was my personal concert
Your interviews and guests are awesome
That was kind!!! Please feel free to share. 🙂
Roger Boyd is Alright growing up I was in and out of Hospitals Doctors Offices so my Uncles give me all their Beatles collection and Music was my escape I had to withdraw from 9th grade HS had to have major surgery and diagnosed with a serious illness when I got home to recover supposed to be a year my oldest Brother had a Great Classic Rock Album collection and everyday I had a jam session loud and Head East was one of the Bands and the very first time I got to go out and do something my Brother took me to my first concert Head East had the Album with that looked like street siign and we were close and it was the original lineup and I was Blown Away that was it I am now within a couple concerts of having been to 70 concerts and several were Head East during mid to late 80s I was with that Band a lot Rodger was So Nice to me and I remember first time seeing him Never Been Any Reason and he would jerk that whole organ and about 3 Friends I grew up with in Longview Ricky Lynn Gregg and I was Always at Westend Market Place Dallas like Rodger was talking about even a Air Force Base So Much Fun Head East will Always be a Big part for me!
Mississippi River Festival (MRF) at SIU Edwardsville. Like a mini-Woodstock. Great time what I can remember. I just went there even if I didn't know who was going to play. Great memories and great bands. (And great girlfriends).
Carlyle Lake 50th anniversary 2017 with Head East.
RIP Steve Huston
Roger was a great performer. My only beef is his incessant talking during intros of songs, especially on their biggest hit, "Never Been Any Reason". Their last live album, they did a great job of performing the song without Roger adding his vocals during the intro.
Roger's mom was a piano teacher (RIP).
Roger, Larry and I are Carlyle natives. Roger was my Little League coach one year. Larry is a super guy as well, and a big shout out to Stanley Gill. Stanley won't remember me but we jammed together at my house. He played an old upright, Carl Gallion played guitar, and I played drums. And don't forget getting drunk at the Milestone with the original Head East.
This interview sounds more like a personal conversation between you and Roger Boyd than a real interview. You hardly talk about Head East at all and the only album that gets any mention is 'Flat as a Pancake.' The original Head East recorded 6 really good albums for A&M Records from 1975-80, other than 'Flat..' the others get no mention at all. Head East was a great live band and by their second album, 'Get Yourself Up,' released in 1976 they were playing many outdoor festivals in addition to their club dates. Their third album, 'Gettin' Lucky,' released in 1977 saw them third on the bill of five bands playing festivals like Super Jam 77, St. Louis, MO., Busch Stadium:
REO Speedwagon
Ted Nugent
Head East
Gypsy
Judas Priest
They played the Texas Jam before a crowd of 100,000 fans twice on the middle of bill. Drummer, Steve Huston told me they loved playing middle of the bill at festivals because by the time they took the stage the crowd was primed and ready to rock! Also, on their third album, 'Gettin' Lucky,' they worked with veteran record producer, Richard Podolar and engineer, Bill Cooper that produced and engineered the majority of both Steppenwolf and Three Dog Night's albums and hit singles, as well as some albums by Black Oak Arkansas, Iron Butterfly, and Blues Image, that had a big hit with, Ride Captain Ride. Their fourth, self-titled album, 'Head East,' released in 1978 was their second best-selling album that featured their best-selling single, 'Since You've Been Gone,' which landed at #46 on the Billboard charts. While any real success on the east and west coasts eluded them, they were huge throughout the heartland and southern states, headlining many shows in those areas. In 1979 A&M Records released, 'Head East Live,' a double album, that captured the band at what they do best, playing live shows! It may not have cracked the top 40 but it sold reasonably well and is their third best-seller. 'A Different Kind of Crazy,' followed in 1980, another top 100 album, but sadly their last one.
The main songwriters in Head East were Mike Somerville, Steve Huston, and John Schlitt. It would have been interesting to know how they went about working together in writing songs, their inspirations, how the songs came about. Mike Somerville was also a very underrated guitarist. I would have also liked to have heard some road stories, what it was like being on the road with Head East in their glory days, who were some of their contemporary (rock star) friends. I know Ted Nugent liked them, they did a lot of shows together. They also rented a couple of cars on one tour with Ted's bass player & drummer in one car and Dan Birney (driver) of the other car with a couple of other Head East members. They had a race across Texas from one gig to the next one. Before the race, Ted asked Dan, I hear you're driving the Head East car. Do you boys really think you can beat a couple of Motor City Madmen to the next gig? Dan replied, oh yeah! The Head East car won by 30 minutes!!
Jaciinda ❤
K-SHE. Something in the water.
Hey Roger, do you remember Arem Bay?