Benutzer:Sukuru/Go To Blazes

Go To Blazes

Formed in the D.C. area in 1987 by college buddies Ted Warren, Tom Heyman, Christopher Horner and Keith Donnellan, GTB recorded and released their self-titled debut, a revved-up rockabilly LP, in 1988 and quickly moved north to Philadelphia. Many whiskey-soaked nights playing in all kinds of places in Philly and New York City (alternative clubs as well as old-man alchy bars) toughened up the band considerably. Their 1991 follow-up, Love Lust and Trouble (produced by Ben Vaughn), was light years ahead of their first release. With almost any hint of rockabilly behind them, the band just got tougher and tougher, finally hooking up with producer, vibe-man, and father figure Eric "Roscoe" Ambel. From there things took off. The addition of Ted Popadopolous on bass solidified things, and a deal with roots rock label ESD led to 1994's Anytime, Anywhere, their classic. With Ambel once again in the producer's chair the band followed it up with the quieter GTB...And Other Crimes, also a winner. The album was mostly cover tunes and was recorded in one night.

The band had developed a following in Germany and toured there extensively. Glitterhouse released most of their catalog there as well. In 1997 the final disc, Waiting Around for the Crash, was released on the about-to-go-under ESD. It marked continued improvement in sound and songwriting, but still didn't top Anytime, Anywhere. GTB held their "final clearance sale" in 1997 and is sadly missed, at least in Philadelphia and on the lower east side of NYC. A posthumous release, Almost a Decade (the title is a tribute to their hero, Neil Young), combined unreleased demos, live tracks and B-sides.