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RIPLEY STREET REGION RUMBLE 2006 |
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RIPLEY STREETby Tom Lounges
“We came off of a really bad year (2004), so we’re like a bunch of guys who have been stranded on a desert island for too long at this point,” said Ripley Street vocalist Ken Williams. “We’re finally back up to speed and really charged up again.”
Bassist and co-writer, Guy-Joseph Guerico, succumbed to leukemia shortly after Ripley Street had performed on July 3, 2004 at the Midwest BEAT Magazine-sponsored Star Plaza Theatre show with national acts Jackyl, Skid Row and Dokken.
A few months later, Williams sustained substantial injuries in a horrific car crash; injuries the singer believes would have been fatal if it had not been for his seat belt.
Hoping all the bad is at last behind them, Ripley Street is pushing ahead with a recharge vitality and renewed vigor, keeping their word to Guerico that they would not quit.
The Ripley Street story began eight years ago, when Williams returned to the region after spending the late ‘80s and early ‘90s on the West Coast fronting the national group, Ground Cloud.
Lead guitarist Charlie Jones and rhythm guitarist Mark Rossi had both known Williams from the 1970s region club circuit. Once those three hooked up, keyboardist Theron Schmeckpeper, drummer Tim Majkowski and bassist Guercio were added to the mix and the band was born.
“We used to be called Threshold, but we thought that was a pretty lame name,” mused Williams. “One day, driving to the beach, I saw a sign for ‘Ripley Street’ and thought it sounded like a great band name.”
Ripley Street released a self-titled, 12-song CD in 2003, which got the band airplay and guest shots on a variety of radio programs.
“Last January, we started auditions to fill Guy’s place in the band,” said Williams. The bass spot now belongs to Bill Tervo.
The group’s Region Rumble set on January 14th will be comprised of some material from their first CD and some new songs from the band’s second album, which they plan to officially release the day of the Rumble.
“We’ve been working hard on the album and by being included in the Rumble it has put a fire under us to get it done and not drag our feet,” added Jones.
The new album will feature Guerico on two of the tracks.
“We had recorded those with Guy before he got too sick and we are keeping his tracks on those songs,” concluded Jones. “He’d be happy we’ve finally gotten the album done!”
CATCH RIPLEY STREET ON JANUARY 14 AT MIDWEST BEAT MAGAZINE’S 7TH ANNUAL REGION RUMBLE AT THE STAR PLAZA THEATRE IN MERRILLILLVILLE, INDIANA |
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