The Rockets (band)
Encyclopedia
The Rockets are an American rock band from Detroit, Michigan
founded by guitarist Jimmy McCarty
and drummer Johnny “Bee” Badanjek, both former members of the group Mitch Ryder
& The Detroit Wheels.
Along with slide and rhythm guitarist Dennis Robbins, bassist John Fraga, and lead vocalist David Gilbert, the Rockets reached their pinacle of success in 1979 with a Top 40 hit, a cover of the Fleetwood Mac
song "Oh Well
", and an appearance on the T.V. series The Midnight Special
.
In the early days, The Rockets paid their dues playing gigs at venues such as, The Rainbow Room and The Peoples Ballroom in Detroit, and The Rock 'N Roll Farm in Wayne Michigan.
The band took on a new sound in 1976 when David Gilbert was brought in to take over vocals from Johnny Bee and Donnie Backus took over on keyboards. Gilbert had fronted several bands and was the lead singer for Ted Nugent and The Amboy Dukes
in 1971, touring with them for a year and a half before forming Shadow which led to a record deal with RSO.
The Rockets made five studio albums produced several minor hits including a rocking rendition of Fleetwood Mac's "Oh Well".
Always a popular group in Detroit, and Michigan, The Rockets had gotten some attention outside of the state, but never really got the big break to become a true national act. The first album, Love Transfusion, was released in 1977. It failed to produce any hits. The 1979 self-titled release featured the hits, "Oh Well" and "Turn Up The Radio". This record also featured on bass, David Hood, one of the "Swampers" from the famous Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Alabama. Muscle Shoals was mentioned in Lynyrd Skynyrd
's southern rock anthem "Sweet Home Alabama". Also, this Rockets album was dedicated to Skynyrd members Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines, who all perished in Skynyrd's infamous 1977 plane crash. The third attempt came (with the addition of a new bass player, Dan Keylon) in 1980 with "No Ballads", "Desire" was a popular tune from this album. Next came the Back Talk album in '81 (with another new bass player, Bobby Haralson) and then finally Rocket Roll in 1982. "Rollin' By The Record Machine" from this release was the last hit for the band. The final release, Live Rockets, was recorded on New Year's Eve 1982 at the Royal Oak Music Theatre
near Detroit.
The Rockets performed for their last two shows at Pine Knob
near Detroit on August 28 & 29, 1983. The band splintered and the members all went their separate ways. Bandajek, McCarty and the rest went on to other projects. Gilbert played in several bands and learned the trade of Dryvit. David Gilbert was 49 when he died of liver cancer in 2001. Dennis Robbins went on to become a solo artist signed to Giant Records in the 90's and a multi-platinum hit songwriter, co-writing numerous songs such as "Two Of A Kind (Working On A Full House)", "Get Me To The Church On Cumberland Road", "Do You Love Me (Just Say Yes)", "Too Much Month At The End Of The Money", and more.
Bobby Neil Haralson died in the nineties. John Fraga, bassist, died September 27, 2010 at 69 (born July 1, 1941).
with the Distinguished Achievement Award. Two former members of the Rockets (Jim McCarty & Johnny “Bee” Badanjek) performed that night with their current band, The Hell Drivers. Shortly after that performance, and after receiving numerous requests from fans who attended The Hell Drivers local club shows for songs from the Rockets, the band decide that it was time revitalize the name, "The Rockets".
On July 2, 2010, the Rockets played their first official reunion show at the Stars and Stripes festival in Mt. Clemens, Michigan in front of 10,000 fans.
On August 21, 2010, the Rockets played their second reunion show opening up for The J Geils Band at the DTE Energy Music Theater. After opening for their old tour mates, comments made in several publications around town touted the Rockets / J. Geils show as the "best of the summer".
The band is now presently sorting through an enormous catalog of songs, most of them written by Badanjek, in anticipation of recording a brand new Rockets album.
On October 1, 2011, it was announced on the Rockets Facebook page that Jim McCarty had decided to quit the band (though no official reason was stated as to why), thus ending the existence of the band and any possibility of the Rockets recording and releasing any new material.
Bootlegs
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
founded by guitarist Jimmy McCarty
Jim McCarty (guitarist)
James William McCarty is an American blues rock guitarist from Detroit, Michigan. He has performed with Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels, the Buddy Miles Express, Cactus, the popular Detroit rock band The Rockets, the Detroit Blues Band, and more recently, Mystery Train.He also recorded with...
and drummer Johnny “Bee” Badanjek, both former members of the group Mitch Ryder
Mitch Ryder
William S. Levise, Jr , better known by his stage name Mitch Ryder, is an American musician who has recorded over two dozen albums in more than four decades.-Career:...
& The Detroit Wheels.
Along with slide and rhythm guitarist Dennis Robbins, bassist John Fraga, and lead vocalist David Gilbert, the Rockets reached their pinacle of success in 1979 with a Top 40 hit, a cover of the Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood...
song "Oh Well
Oh Well (song)
"Oh Well" is a song recorded by Fleetwood Mac in 1969, and composed by vocalist and lead guitarist Peter Green. It first appeared as a Fleetwood Mac single in various countries in 1969, subsequently appearing on the Greatest Hits album in 1971...
", and an appearance on the T.V. series The Midnight Special
The Midnight Special (TV series)
The Midnight Special is an American musical variety series that aired on NBC during the 1970s and early 1980s, created and produced by Burt Sugarman. It premiered as a special on August 19, 1972, then began its run as a regular series on February 2, 1973; its last episode was on May 1, 1981...
.
Biography
The Rockets were formed in 1972 by former Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels members Johnny "Bee" Bandajek and Jim McCarty. Vocals and drums were handled by Bandajek, McCarty was on lead guitar, John Fraga was on bass and Marc Marcano was on keyboards. Johnny Bee was the driving force and primary songwriter for the Rockets.In the early days, The Rockets paid their dues playing gigs at venues such as, The Rainbow Room and The Peoples Ballroom in Detroit, and The Rock 'N Roll Farm in Wayne Michigan.
The band took on a new sound in 1976 when David Gilbert was brought in to take over vocals from Johnny Bee and Donnie Backus took over on keyboards. Gilbert had fronted several bands and was the lead singer for Ted Nugent and The Amboy Dukes
The Amboy Dukes
The Amboy Dukes were an American rock music band of the late 1960s and early 1970s from Detroit, Michigan, best remembered for their hit single "Journey to the Center of the Mind", and for launching the career of Ted Nugent...
in 1971, touring with them for a year and a half before forming Shadow which led to a record deal with RSO.
The Rockets made five studio albums produced several minor hits including a rocking rendition of Fleetwood Mac's "Oh Well".
Always a popular group in Detroit, and Michigan, The Rockets had gotten some attention outside of the state, but never really got the big break to become a true national act. The first album, Love Transfusion, was released in 1977. It failed to produce any hits. The 1979 self-titled release featured the hits, "Oh Well" and "Turn Up The Radio". This record also featured on bass, David Hood, one of the "Swampers" from the famous Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Alabama. Muscle Shoals was mentioned in Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
's southern rock anthem "Sweet Home Alabama". Also, this Rockets album was dedicated to Skynyrd members Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines, who all perished in Skynyrd's infamous 1977 plane crash. The third attempt came (with the addition of a new bass player, Dan Keylon) in 1980 with "No Ballads", "Desire" was a popular tune from this album. Next came the Back Talk album in '81 (with another new bass player, Bobby Haralson) and then finally Rocket Roll in 1982. "Rollin' By The Record Machine" from this release was the last hit for the band. The final release, Live Rockets, was recorded on New Year's Eve 1982 at the Royal Oak Music Theatre
Royal Oak Music Theatre
The Royal Oak Music Theatre is a music venue theatre, located at 318 W. Fourth Street, Royal Oak, Michigan. It was built as a vaudeville theater and opened in 1928.-History and usage:...
near Detroit.
The Rockets performed for their last two shows at Pine Knob
Pine Knob
Pine Knob is a downhill ski area in Clarkston, Michigan. It is best known for its snow-making and marquee run, "The Wall." Pine Knob is the home mountain to a number of local high school ski racing teams, including Clarkston, Detroit Country Day School, Rochester Adams High School, Cranbrook...
near Detroit on August 28 & 29, 1983. The band splintered and the members all went their separate ways. Bandajek, McCarty and the rest went on to other projects. Gilbert played in several bands and learned the trade of Dryvit. David Gilbert was 49 when he died of liver cancer in 2001. Dennis Robbins went on to become a solo artist signed to Giant Records in the 90's and a multi-platinum hit songwriter, co-writing numerous songs such as "Two Of A Kind (Working On A Full House)", "Get Me To The Church On Cumberland Road", "Do You Love Me (Just Say Yes)", "Too Much Month At The End Of The Money", and more.
Bobby Neil Haralson died in the nineties. John Fraga, bassist, died September 27, 2010 at 69 (born July 1, 1941).
Reunion
On April 16, 2010, The Rockets were honored at the Detroit Music AwardsDetroit Music Awards
The Detroit Music Awards was initially proposed in 1988. Presented by the Motor City Music Foundation, the multi-genre awards ceremony was established to bring recognition to Detroit area musicians. The first award show was held in 1992 at Detroit's Music Hall, and moved to the State Theatre in...
with the Distinguished Achievement Award. Two former members of the Rockets (Jim McCarty & Johnny “Bee” Badanjek) performed that night with their current band, The Hell Drivers. Shortly after that performance, and after receiving numerous requests from fans who attended The Hell Drivers local club shows for songs from the Rockets, the band decide that it was time revitalize the name, "The Rockets".
On July 2, 2010, the Rockets played their first official reunion show at the Stars and Stripes festival in Mt. Clemens, Michigan in front of 10,000 fans.
On August 21, 2010, the Rockets played their second reunion show opening up for The J Geils Band at the DTE Energy Music Theater. After opening for their old tour mates, comments made in several publications around town touted the Rockets / J. Geils show as the "best of the summer".
The band is now presently sorting through an enormous catalog of songs, most of them written by Badanjek, in anticipation of recording a brand new Rockets album.
On October 1, 2011, it was announced on the Rockets Facebook page that Jim McCarty had decided to quit the band (though no official reason was stated as to why), thus ending the existence of the band and any possibility of the Rockets recording and releasing any new material.
Discography
- 1976 Rockets demo tape
- 1977 Love Transfusion
- 1979 Turn Up The Radio
- 1980 No Ballads
- 1981 Back Talk
- 1982 Rocket Roll
- 1983 Live Rockets
- 2005 Back Talk / Rocket roll (Reissue)
- 2006 Fast Thing From Detroit (unofficial greatest hits compilation)
Bootlegs
- 1978 Live at the Agora ballroom
- 1978 Live at J.B.'s, Mt Clemens
- 1979 Live in Cleveland
- 1980 Live in Poughkeepsie
- 2010 Live @ the Fillmore, Detroit (11.27.2010)
External links
- [ All music guide]