Jimi Hendrix (1942–1970) was an American rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, and producer who made the 1967–68 Track/Reprise albums Are You Experienced, Axis: Bold as Love, and Electric Ladyland with his London-based power trio The Experience. Months after his 1970 live release Band of Gypsys, Hendrix died at age 27. Lauded in his lifetime as a […]
Heart are an American hard-rock band from Seattle that debuted with the popular album Dreamboat Annie on Canadian small-press Mushroom in 1975, followed by five studio albums on the CBS imprints Portrait and Epic between 1977 and 1983. In 1985, the band issued a self-titled album on Capitol that spawned a new round of success […]
Queensrÿche was an American metal band from Bellevue, Wash., that formed in 1980 as the Mob and broke through with the self-titled Queensrÿche EP on 206 Records in 1983. EMI America picked up the band for the albums The Warning, Rage for Order, and Operation: Mindcrime, which established its first decade through a mix of […]
Aviary was an American symphonic/hard-rock band formed in Seattle from a north-central Washington partnership between keyboardists Brad Love and Paul Madden. The original five-piece released the self-titled Epic album Aviary, then made an unissued follow-up in Britain before closing the original run. Archival tapes surfaced on Ambition in 2003, and Love later revived the name […]
Russia was an American hard-rock band from Seattle that evolved from Sorcerer’s Apprentice and moved to Los Angeles. Warner Bros. issued their 1980 self-titled album, followed by a second album under the Force 10 name. Members: Griff Stevens (lead vocals, woodwinds, guitar), Tom Richard Brighton (guitar, vocals), Richard Allyn White (keyboards, vocals), Larry Tuttle (bass, […]
Bighorn was a symphonic/hard-rock band from Seattle that self-released a 1974 standalone single and a 1978 self-titled album on CBS Canada. Members: Bob Andersen (drums), Steve Adamek (drums), Toby Bowen (guitar, vocals), Robb Clarke (vocals), Peter Davis (keyboards), Tom Erak (bass), Michael Ipsen (bass), Steve Isham (keyboards), Marv Jensen (keyboards), James Kenfield (bass), Norm Lombardo […]
Patrick Gammon (Jan. 15, 1956 — Oct. 28, 1996) was an American R&B singer, born in Seattle but based for most of his career in Munich, Germany. In 1978, he released the album Rawness on the German Gammarock label (issued on French Mercury as Effervescence.) His 1979 release, Don’t Touch Me , appeared stateside on […]
Don Mock (December 22, 1950 – April 14, 2025) was an American jazz-rock guitarist, educator, and author from Washington. He taught at Cornish School of Allied Arts, Olympic College, and the Guitar Institute of Technology in Los Angeles. In 1978, Mock released a self-titled album on Wolf Records. He later developed instructional books and recordings […]
The Pepper Porter Band was an American hard-rock band from Seattle that released the 1981 album Invasion on local-press First American. Members: Pepper Porter (guitar, backing vocals), Steve Teasley (bass, lead vocals), Paul Rieland (lead vocals, keyboards), Rob Reuber (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Nelson McFarlan (drums), Dave Horton (guitar), Fred Horton (drums), Ken Huseby (lead […]
Ballin’jack was an American brass-rock band behind the 1970–72 Columbia albums Ballin’ Jack and Buzzard Luck, followed by the 1973/74 Mercury titles Special Pride and Live and In Colour. Members: Luther Rabb (bass, vocals), Ronnie Hammon (drums), Glenn Thomas (guitar, mandolin), Jim Coile (saxophone, flute, clarinet), Tim McFarland (trombone, piano, backing vocals), Jim Walters (trumpet, […]
The Sonics were an American garage-rock band that released the 1965–66 albums Here Are the Sonics!!! and Boom on Etiquette Records. Members: Larry Parypa (guitar, 1960-72, 2007-15), Mitch Jaber (drums, 1960-62), Stuart Turner (guitar, 1960-62), Jerry Parypa (saxophone, 1960-61), Andy Parypa (bass, 1961-72, 2009), Tony Mabin (saxophone, 1961-63), Rich Koch (guitar, 1962-63), Marilyn Lodge (vocals, […]
