White Hot Odyssey
Encyclopedia
White Hot Odyssey is an American hard rock
band formed in Eugene, Oregon
in 2002 by Cherry Poppin' Daddies
vocalist Steve Perry
and guitarist Jason Moss
, along with musicians Mark Rogers (guitar), Ed Cole (bass) and Jivan Valpey (drums).
", an experiment in "sexual, stupid, big dumb rock" reminiscent of the glam, hard rock and protopunk
of the 1970s. Perry explained that he had always wanted to front a band of this style since he was an adolescent and listened to groups such as the New York Dolls
, The Stooges
, Sweet
and T. Rex
. Having experimented with glam rock under the production supervision of Tony Visconti
for the Daddies' 2000 single "Diamond Light Boogie
", Perry was inspired to pursue the idea further. In a nod to the extravagant and outlandish fashion of glam rock (and perhaps the early years of the Daddies), i.e. feather boas and other such androgynous attire, White Hot Odyssey was styled around Louis XIV
powdered wigs and knee-length pantaloons.
The band originally formed as "Vagiant", playing their first show in early 2003 as an opening act for the Cherry Poppin' Daddies (due to their lavish costumes, however, most people had no idea that it was, in fact, Perry performing in the opening act as well.). Shortly afterwards, their name was changed to "Vagiant UK" following the discovery of another band by the name of Vagiant, and finally to "White Hot Odyssey" after their signing to Jive Records
to avoid legal complications. The group performed steadily throughout the next two years, playing major venues throughout the Northwest such as Portland's Crystal Ballroom
and Eugene's W.O.W. Hall
and McDonald Theatre
, often as a supporting act for the Daddies.
In 2004, White Hot Odyssey was signed to Jive Records, largely due to the success that the similarly theatrical hard rock/glam band The Darkness had then seen, and released their self-titled debut
in November 2004. Perry was surprised because the same label representative had rejected a similar demo earlier.
White Hot Odyssey played their last show in late 2005. As of 2010, there has been no official announcement as to whether or not the band will continue performing or recording.
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band formed in Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
in 2002 by Cherry Poppin' Daddies
Cherry Poppin' Daddies
The Cherry Poppin' Daddies are an American band established in Eugene, Oregon, in 1989. Formed by Steve Perry and Dan Schmid , the band has experienced many membership changes over the years, with only Perry, Schmid and Dana Heitman currently remaining from the original line-up.The Daddies' music...
vocalist Steve Perry
Steve Perry (Oregon musician)
Stephen Henry Perry is an American musician, best known for being the lead singer, songwriter and rhythm guitarist for the ska-swing band the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, of which he is the founding member.-Early life:...
and guitarist Jason Moss
Jason Moss (musician)
Jason David Moss is an American musician, known for his work as the lead guitarist for the ska-swing band the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, of which he was a member from 1992 to 2010.-Early life:...
, along with musicians Mark Rogers (guitar), Ed Cole (bass) and Jivan Valpey (drums).
Biography
In frontman Steve Perry's words, White Hot Odyssey was an attempt to bring the "roll" back to "rock and rollRock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
", an experiment in "sexual, stupid, big dumb rock" reminiscent of the glam, hard rock and protopunk
Protopunk
Protopunk is a term used retrospectively to describe a number of musicians who were important precursors of punk rock in the late 1960s to mid-1970s, or who have been cited by early punk musicians as influential...
of the 1970s. Perry explained that he had always wanted to front a band of this style since he was an adolescent and listened to groups such as the New York Dolls
New York Dolls
The New York Dolls is an American rock band, formed in New York in 1971. The band's protopunk sound prefigured much of what was to come in the punk rock era; their visual style influenced the look of many new wave and 1980s-era glam metal groups, and they began the local New York scene that later...
, The Stooges
The Stooges
The Stooges are an American rock band from Ann Arbor, Michigan first active from 1967 to 1974, and later reformed in 2003...
, Sweet
Sweet (band)
Sweet was a British rock band that rose to worldwide fame in the 1970s as one of the most prominent glam rock acts, with the classic line-up of lead vocalist Brian Connolly, bass player Steve Priest, guitarist Andy Scott, and drummer Mick Tucker.Sweet was formed in 1968 and achieved their first...
and T. Rex
T. Rex (band)
T. Rex were a British rock band, formed in 1967 by singer/songwriter and guitarist Marc Bolan. The band formed as Tyrannosaurus Rex, releasing four folk albums under the name...
. Having experimented with glam rock under the production supervision of Tony Visconti
Tony Visconti
Anthony Edward Visconti is an American record producer and sometimes a musician or singer.Since the late 1960s, he has worked with an array of performers; his lengthiest involvement with any artist is with David Bowie: intermittently from Bowie's 1969 album Space Oddity to 2003's Reality, Visconti...
for the Daddies' 2000 single "Diamond Light Boogie
Diamond Light Boogie
"Diamond Light Boogie" is a song by American band the Cherry Poppin' Daddies on their 2000 album Soul Caddy. It was the first and only single released off Soul Caddy and the Daddies' fourth and final single to be released by Mojo Records....
", Perry was inspired to pursue the idea further. In a nod to the extravagant and outlandish fashion of glam rock (and perhaps the early years of the Daddies), i.e. feather boas and other such androgynous attire, White Hot Odyssey was styled around Louis XIV
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
powdered wigs and knee-length pantaloons.
The band originally formed as "Vagiant", playing their first show in early 2003 as an opening act for the Cherry Poppin' Daddies (due to their lavish costumes, however, most people had no idea that it was, in fact, Perry performing in the opening act as well.). Shortly afterwards, their name was changed to "Vagiant UK" following the discovery of another band by the name of Vagiant, and finally to "White Hot Odyssey" after their signing to Jive Records
Jive Records
Jive Records was a record label based in New York City, operating under RCA Music Group. Jive was primarily known for a string of successes with hip hop artists in the 1980s, and in teen pop and boy bands in the late 1990s. The word "jive" was inspired by Township Jive, a form of South African...
to avoid legal complications. The group performed steadily throughout the next two years, playing major venues throughout the Northwest such as Portland's Crystal Ballroom
Crystal Ballroom (Portland, Oregon)
Crystal Ballroom, originally built as Cotillion Hall, is a historic building in Portland, Oregon, United States. Cotillion Hall was built in 1914 as a ballroom, and dance revivals were held there through the Great Depression...
and Eugene's W.O.W. Hall
W.O.W. Hall
The W.O.W. Hall is a performing arts venue in Eugene, Oregon, United States.It was formerly a Woodmen of the World lodge.The W.O.W. Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996....
and McDonald Theatre
McDonald Theatre
McDonald Theatre is a theater and music venue in Eugene, Oregon, United States. Opened in 1925 as a movie house, the building was converted to a theater for performing arts, and is still in business...
, often as a supporting act for the Daddies.
In 2004, White Hot Odyssey was signed to Jive Records, largely due to the success that the similarly theatrical hard rock/glam band The Darkness had then seen, and released their self-titled debut
White Hot Odyssey (album)
White Hot Odyssey is the debut album by American hard rock band White Hot Odyssey, released on Mojo/Jive Records in 2004.-Track listing:All songs written and composed by Steve Perry.#"Good Head" – 3:49#"Permanent Juvenile" – 3:52...
in November 2004. Perry was surprised because the same label representative had rejected a similar demo earlier.
White Hot Odyssey played their last show in late 2005. As of 2010, there has been no official announcement as to whether or not the band will continue performing or recording.
Members
- Steve PerrySteve Perry (Oregon musician)Stephen Henry Perry is an American musician, best known for being the lead singer, songwriter and rhythm guitarist for the ska-swing band the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, of which he is the founding member.-Early life:...
(Le Count d' Monet) – vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
/guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Jason MossJason Moss (musician)Jason David Moss is an American musician, known for his work as the lead guitarist for the ska-swing band the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, of which he was a member from 1992 to 2010.-Early life:...
(Jace) – guitar - Mark Rogers – guitar
- Ed Cole – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Jivan Valpey – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Studio albums
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | White Hot Odyssey White Hot Odyssey (album) White Hot Odyssey is the debut album by American hard rock band White Hot Odyssey, released on Mojo/Jive Records in 2004.-Track listing:All songs written and composed by Steve Perry.#"Good Head" – 3:49#"Permanent Juvenile" – 3:52... |
Mojo Mojo Records Mojo Records was a California-based record label founded in 1995 by producer Jay Rifkin. It became a joint venture with Universal Music Group in 1996 and then sold to the Zomba Group in 2001, who placed it under their subsidiary Jive Records... /Jive Jive Records Jive Records was a record label based in New York City, operating under RCA Music Group. Jive was primarily known for a string of successes with hip hop artists in the 1980s, and in teen pop and boy bands in the late 1990s. The word "jive" was inspired by Township Jive, a form of South African... |
Non-album tracks
| Year | Track | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | "Look British, Think Yiddish" (Steve Perry Steve Perry (Oregon musician) Stephen Henry Perry is an American musician, best known for being the lead singer, songwriter and rhythm guitarist for the ska-swing band the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, of which he is the founding member.-Early life:... ) – 3:40 |
available on official site since January 2005 |
External links
- White Hot Odyssey
- Steve Perry's White Hot Odyssey blog at Blogspot.