Lone Justice
Encyclopedia
Lone Justice was an American
country rock
band formed in 1982 by guitarist Ryan Hedgecock and singer Maria McKee
.
scene of the 1980s. Lone Justice was inspired by Hedgecock and McKee's mutual affection for rockabilly
and country music
. The group started out as a strict cover band
, but the additions of veteran bassist Marvin Etzioni and Don Heffington, a former drummer in Emmylou Harris
's Hot Band, prompted them to compose their own material. Their early recordings can be described as a fusion of country and punk rock
, with rockabilly elements. But by the time of their first album, the band had begun to incorporate elements of roots rock
and singer-songwriter
styles. Benmont Tench
of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
was a frequent guest musician at their live shows.
Lone Justice became a popular attraction and a local LA favorite. Rock Journalist Stann Findelle noticed and wrote about Maria McKee in Performance Magazine where she stole the show at the Whisky A Go Go from purported headliner Arthur Lee, who was attempting a comeback that night, but left after two songs. With the help of Linda Ronstadt
, they were signed to Geffen Records
and were soon hyped as the next big thing.
Their self-titled debut
appeared in 1985, followed by a tour in support of U2. Still, despite good press and media hype—Jimmy Guterman, then a critic at Rolling Stone
, included it in his list of the best albums ever made—Lone Justice failed to sell; produced by the band's manager, Jimmy Iovine
, it failed to connect with country or rock audiences. Even with radio-friendly singles like "Sweet, Sweet Baby" and "Ways To Be Wicked" (written by Tom Petty
and Mike Campbell), the album didn't meet commercial expectations. Regardless, the Pazz & Jop
Critics Poll for 1985 ranked it #24.
, bassist Greg Sutton, drummer Rudy Richman, and keyboardist Bruce Brody, Lone Justice recorded their second LP, Shelter. Steve Van Zandt was the producer. This record saw them almost completely abandoning much of their earlier cowpunk, rockabilly, and roots rock influences in favor of what could be considered more typical 1980s pop/rock production, with heavy emphasis on drum machines and synthesizers. Commercially, the album charted lower than its predecessor, only reaching #65 on the album charts. However, the title single did better than the band's previous two charting singles, reaching # 26 on the Rock Singles chart, and # 47 on Hot 100 chart.
"Sweet, sweet baby (I'm Falling)" released by BBC on "Old Grey Whistle Test 3" Compilation DVD, 2004.
between 1992 and 1993, appearing on the album Bitter Sweet & Twisted. Fontayne played guitar in Bruce Springsteen's band for the tour backing up the Lucky Town/Human Touch albums. After a decade removed from the music industry, Hedgecock returned in 1996 as half of the duo Parlor James. A posthumous Lone Justice retrospective, This World Is Not My Home, followed in early 1999, including early demo recordings. A brief, budget compilation was issued in 2003 as part of Universal Music's 20th Century Masters series.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
country rock
Country rock
Country rock is sub-genre of popular music, formed from the fusion of rock with country. The term is generally used to refer to the wave of rock musicians who began to record country-flavored records in the late 1960s and early 1970s, beginning with Bob Dylan and The Byrds; reaching its greatest...
band formed in 1982 by guitarist Ryan Hedgecock and singer Maria McKee
Maria McKee
Maria Luisa McKee is an American singer and songwriter. She is best known for her work with Lone Justice and her 1990 UK solo chart-topping hit, "Show Me Heaven".-Music:...
.
Early era
They began their career as part of the L.A. cowpunkCowpunk
Cowpunk or Country punk is a subgenre of punk rock and New Wave that began in the UK and California in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It combines punk rock or New Wave with country music, folk music, and blues in sound, subject matter, attitude, and style...
scene of the 1980s. Lone Justice was inspired by Hedgecock and McKee's mutual affection for rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
and country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
. The group started out as a strict cover band
Cover band
A cover band , is a band that plays mostly or exclusively cover songs. New or unknown bands often find the cover band format marketable for smaller gigs, and these bands may be known as a wedding band, party band and function band. A band whose covers consist mainly of songs that were chart hits is...
, but the additions of veteran bassist Marvin Etzioni and Don Heffington, a former drummer in Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including...
's Hot Band, prompted them to compose their own material. Their early recordings can be described as a fusion of country and punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, with rockabilly elements. But by the time of their first album, the band had begun to incorporate elements of roots rock
Roots rock
Roots rock is a term now used to describe rock music that looks back to rock's origins in folk, blues and country music. It is particularly associated with the creation of hybrid sub-genres from the later 1960s including country rock and Southern rock, which have been seen as responses to the...
and singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
styles. Benmont Tench
Benmont Tench
Benjamin Montmorency Tench, III is an American keyboardist best known as a founding member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.-Early years:...
of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers are an American rock band from Gainesville, Florida. They were formed in 1976 by Tom Petty , Mike Campbell , Benmont Tench , , Ron Blair and Stan Lynch...
was a frequent guest musician at their live shows.
Lone Justice became a popular attraction and a local LA favorite. Rock Journalist Stann Findelle noticed and wrote about Maria McKee in Performance Magazine where she stole the show at the Whisky A Go Go from purported headliner Arthur Lee, who was attempting a comeback that night, but left after two songs. With the help of Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden...
, they were signed to Geffen Records
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
and were soon hyped as the next big thing.
Their self-titled debut
Lone Justice (album)
Lone Justice is the self-titled debut album by American roots rock band Lone Justice, released in 1985 .-Track listing:#"East of Eden" – 2:37#"After the Flood" – 3:40...
appeared in 1985, followed by a tour in support of U2. Still, despite good press and media hype—Jimmy Guterman, then a critic at Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
, included it in his list of the best albums ever made—Lone Justice failed to sell; produced by the band's manager, Jimmy Iovine
Jimmy Iovine
James "Jimmy" Iovine is an American music producer, entrepreneur and chairman of Interscope-Geffen-A&M.-Biography:...
, it failed to connect with country or rock audiences. Even with radio-friendly singles like "Sweet, Sweet Baby" and "Ways To Be Wicked" (written by Tom Petty
Tom Petty
Thomas Earl "Tom" Petty is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and was a founding member of the late 1980s supergroup Traveling Wilburys and Mudcrutch. He has also performed under the pseudonyms of Charlie T...
and Mike Campbell), the album didn't meet commercial expectations. Regardless, the Pazz & Jop
Pazz & Jop
The Pazz & Jop critics' poll is a poll of music critics run by The Village Voice newspaper. It is compiled every year from the top ten lists of hundreds of music critics...
Critics Poll for 1985 ranked it #24.
Later era
In the record's wake, Hedgecock, Etzioni, and Heffington all exited the band, leaving McKee to lead Lone Justice alone. After enlisting guitarist Shane FontayneShane Fontayne
Shane Fontayne is the professional name of English rock guitarist Mick Barakan. Active since the 1970s, he was the guitarist for Bruce Springsteen during the 1992-1993 "Other Band" Tour, as Springsteen had disbanded his own E Street Band three years earlier...
, bassist Greg Sutton, drummer Rudy Richman, and keyboardist Bruce Brody, Lone Justice recorded their second LP, Shelter. Steve Van Zandt was the producer. This record saw them almost completely abandoning much of their earlier cowpunk, rockabilly, and roots rock influences in favor of what could be considered more typical 1980s pop/rock production, with heavy emphasis on drum machines and synthesizers. Commercially, the album charted lower than its predecessor, only reaching #65 on the album charts. However, the title single did better than the band's previous two charting singles, reaching # 26 on the Rock Singles chart, and # 47 on Hot 100 chart.
"Sweet, sweet baby (I'm Falling)" released by BBC on "Old Grey Whistle Test 3" Compilation DVD, 2004.
Disbandment
Shortly after Shelters release, McKee broke up the band for good and went on to a solo career. Heffington became a session drummer, while Etzioni recorded under the guise of Marvin the Mandolin Man. Rudy Richman played drums with UK rock band The QuireboysThe Quireboys
The Quireboys are an English hard rock band formed in 1984 in London, England, with strong ties to Newcastle. When the band formed they were originally known as The Queerboys and later as the London Quireboys in the United States....
between 1992 and 1993, appearing on the album Bitter Sweet & Twisted. Fontayne played guitar in Bruce Springsteen's band for the tour backing up the Lucky Town/Human Touch albums. After a decade removed from the music industry, Hedgecock returned in 1996 as half of the duo Parlor James. A posthumous Lone Justice retrospective, This World Is Not My Home, followed in early 1999, including early demo recordings. A brief, budget compilation was issued in 2003 as part of Universal Music's 20th Century Masters series.
Albums
| Year | Album | Chart Positions | Label | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
|||
| 1985 | Lone Justice Lone Justice (album) Lone Justice is the self-titled debut album by American roots rock band Lone Justice, released in 1985 .-Track listing:#"East of Eden" – 2:37#"After the Flood" – 3:40... |
62 | 56 | Geffen |
| 1986 | Shelter | 65 | ||
| 1993 | BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert (Lone Justice album) BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert is a live album by American country rock band Lone Justice, released in 1994 .-Track listing:#"Wait Till We Get Home" – 4:37... |
Windsong | ||
| 1998 | This World Is Not My Home | Geffen | ||
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Rock | US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
|||
| 1985 | "Sweet, Sweet Baby (I'm Falling)" | 73 | Lone Justice | |
| "Ways to Be Wicked" | 29 | 71 | ||
| 1986 | "Shelter" | 26 | 47 | Shelter |