Year : 1989 (Wounded Bird Records Edition 2008)
Style : Melodic Hard Rock , Melodic Heavy Metal
Country : United States
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans + Video
Size : 174 mb
Bio:
Icon is an American heavy metal/glam metal band that formed in 1979, disbanding in 1990. Icon has fully reformed as of 2008, currently consisting of three-fifths of the classic lineup: Dan Wexler (guitar), Stephen Clifford (lead vocals), and John Aquilino (guitar), along with Dave Henzerling (bass) and Gary Bruzzese (drums).Originally known as The Schoolboys in 1979 (maybe earlier), Icon was formed in 1981, in Phoenix, Arizona by high school friends Dan Wexler (guitar), Stephen Clifford (lead vocals) and Tracy Wallach (bass). They were joined by Dave Henzerling (guitar) and John Covington (drums). Schoolboys released an EP Singin' Shoutin' and had a few songs on compilation albums. In 1984, Icon was signed to Capitol Records. By this point, Henzerling and Covington had left the band and were replaced by John Aquilino (guitar) and Pat Dixon (drums).In 1984, Icon released their self-titled debut,Icon and toured heavily to support it. The tour set list featured quite a few new songs intended for the next album as well as a few Deep Purple ("Highway Star") and Judas Priest covers.In 1985, Night of the Crime was released, produced by Eddie Kramer, mixed by Ron Nevison and featuring the songwriting talent of Bob Halligan Jr.. During the mixing of the album, vocalist Stephen Clifford decided to leave the band for personal reasons. Regrouping, the band tried out a few different vocalists, lost their record deal and released a local-only cassette called A More Perfect Union, featuring a polished pop-rock sound, a new singer (Jerry Harrison) and a keyboardist (Kevin Stoller). Although it was only released locally, it garnered enough attention to renew major-label interest in the group.In 1989, Right Between the Eyes was released on Atlantic/Megaforce, with Jerry Harrison on vocals and Drew Bollmann on second guitar. A video for "Taking My Breath Away" was played on MTV's Headbangers' Ball. Following the release of Right Between the Eyes and a supporting tour in the US opening for Ace Frehley and in the UK for King´s X, the later included David Lauser on drums (currently Sammy Hagar's drummer) replacing Dixon, Icon disbanded. Singer Harrison recorded with a new project called Harlequin. The other band members continued to be involved in music projects; guitarist Dan Wexler in particular wrote and recorded with Alice Cooper (who had performed backing vocals on "Holy Man's War" from Right Between the Eyes). In 1994, (An Even) More Perfect Union—an expanded version of A More Perfect Union, including tracks recorded for potential release on Right Between the Eyes—was released on CD. Icon also did a project together with lead singer Randy Baker, founder of the original Strange Daze a Tribute to the Doors band which included a 4 song demo and performing live.According to Baker, the project was "suggested by mutual management which in retrospect was a bad idea and lost me a record deal. As they were crashing and burning they took me with them."Icon was one of those few bands that historically many feel never got enough credit and has been ranked as one of the most underrated heavy rock bands of the 80's by fans.In August 2008, Icon celebrated their reunion with a re-issue of a 1984 Bootleg Concert on DVD. Original members Wexler, Aquilino and Dixon, along with former member Dave Henzerling and new singer Scott Hammons had plans to record new material potentially for a new album.On November 29, 2008, Icon opened up for Tesla at the Dodge Theatre in their home town of Phoenix, AZ. They received a very warm reception. Copies of their 1984 DVD were signed and sold and the band promised that new material was on the way. 93.3 KDKB, the local rock station, plugged Icon as a band they love yet rarely play.In May 2009, singer Scott Hammons decided to pursue a solo career so he decided to leave the band and was replaced with former Adler's Appetite vocalist Sheldon Tarsha, with whom the band played at Rocklahoma and opened for Queensryche in 2010. Previous plans to record new songs—possibly for a new album—still exist. However, Tarsha has left the band and original singer Stephen Clifford has re-entered the picture.There is a possibility both the original self-titled album Icon and Night of the Crime will be re-released in the near future.
Album:
Here’s the underrated, stupendous 1989’s album “Right Between The Eyes” from Phoenix, Arizona melodic hard rockers ICON. This is the final studio album from the band, musically mixing the rocking attack of their debut LP with the polished melodic detailed production from their second.This Wounded Bird Records remastered release is the version to have of this pretty killer, impressive US melodic hard rock album.Dropped by Capitol Records whom where experiencing many troubles in the second half of the Eighties, Icon recorded and released their third album by themselves (‘More Perfect Union’).By 1988, Megaforce Worldwide / Atlantic Records were interested in the band but asked for a return to their early, US metallic style. Icon’s chief guitarist Dan Wexler was thinking to take that direction for the band as well, so they got a deal.With a glossy production according to times and an edgy melodic hard rock delivery, “Right Between The Eyes” was recorded early in 1989 and released in August the same year.Overall, the songs on the album run for some kind of a mix between Alice Cooper’s style at the end of the ’80s (Trash and Hey Stoopid albums) – so it’s no surprise to hear him providing guest vocals on two tracks – a bit of the AORish side of Whitesnake (1987 album), and some Hurricane.Pure late ’80s stuff, sporting one of those iconic cover artworks from the era.This album showcases the talents of Wexler’s genius as guitarist, one of the most underrated axe-man from the ’80s. His awesome tone and thick, imaginative chords always reminded me of Randy Rhoads, perhaps more melodious but distinctive as well.The songs on “Right Between The Eyes” are catchy and commercial, yet meaty and powerful.Opener ‘Right between the Eyes’ kills with its hard rocking punch, ‘Two for the Road’ follows with Cooper as guest in a duet for just another ballsy tune, then ‘Taking my Breath Away’ has a more mid-paced rhythm with some of the aforementioned Whitesnake / Hurricane influences.Now it’s in the mid-part of the album where “Right Between The Eyes” delivers the highlights, although all songs are very good in my opinion.‘A Far Cry’ is one of my favorite Icon songs, a true 1989’s US melodic hard rock monster, next ‘In your Eyes’ is the perfect blend of melodic hard / AOR with superb musicianship and vocal harmonies, and then ‘Holy Man’s War’ completes the trifecta with wild riffs, bouncy rhythms and Alice Cooper appearing at the mid-part providing one of his classic ‘horror’ characters.These 3 songs worth this album alone.But quality doesn’t end there.‘Bad Times’ rocks simply but effectively, ‘Double Life’ bring to mind Icon’s first album with sharp riffs, same with ‘Running Under Fire’ and its indeed, fireworks stomp.‘Forever Young’ is the semi-ballad / midtempo song on the CD (a completely re-work from previous album ‘More Perfect Union’ song), another fav of mine with its melodic rock foundation.While for this album Icon toured America and UK with, among others, Ace Frehley, Electric Angels or King’s X, and the video for the first single “Taking My Breath Away” appeared on MTV’s Headbangers Ball both Europe and in the US on heavy rotation, unfortunately “Right Between The Eyes” was eclipsed by the load of excellent releases released in 1989 in the same musical style.This is another terrific Icon album that really deserve a place in in your ’80s melodic hard rock collection, remastered by Wounded Bird with a crisp output.
Line-Up:
Jerry Harrison - Vocals (lead) (1985-1990) - See also: ex-Harlequin, ex-Lydian, ex-Neurotic Outsiders
Dan Wexler - Guitars (1981-1990, 2008-present) - See also: ex-Lydian, ex-Randy Backer, ex-Section 8, ex-The Schoolboys, ex-Thieves in the Temple, ex-Tomcats
Drew Bollmann - Guitars, Vocals (backing) (1989-1990)
Tracy Wallach - Bass, Vocals (backing) (1981-1990, 2024-present) - See also: ex-Lydian, ex-Randy Backer, ex-The Schoolboys
Pat Dixon - Drums (1981-1990, 2008-2010, 2024-present) - See also: ex-Loosely Tight, ex-Randy Backer, ex-Tomcats
additional musicians:
Alice Cooper – guest vocals on 2 and 6
Kevin Stroller – keyboards
Mark Prentice – keyboards on 9
Production:
Executive-Producer – Dan Zelisko, Ed Trunk
Producer – Dan Wexler
Engineer – Steven Escallier
Engineer [2nd] – Rich Spector
Mastered By – Ted Jensen
Mixed By – Scott Mabuchi
Mixed By [Assistant] – Lolly Grodner
Producer – Dan Wexler
Tracklist:
01. Right Between The Eyes
02. Two For The Road
03. Taking My Breath Away
04. A Far Cry
05. In Your Eyes
06. Holy Man's War
07. Bad Times
08. Double Life
09. Forever Young
10. Running Under Fire
11. Peace & Love
+ Video "Taking My Breath Away" (Official Video)
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