Michael Shelley is a New York City Singer/Songwriter. Since the late nineties, he has released five albums filled with great tunes with insightful lyrics, catchy hooks, incredible harmonies and jangley guitars. He had toured all over the world with such critically acclaimed musicians as Shonen Knife, Jonathan Richman and They Might Be Giants. He also has been a DJ on WFMU-FM, New York, City’s cool community alternative music station, for many years and can be heard Saturday’s from 11AM-1PM. Here is my interview with Michael. Of course, we played some his best loved songs, as well. You can listen to The interview HERE
Back in the fifties and sixties, Design Records was a subsidiary of Pickwick International. A low budget label, it churned out cheesy corn like, "Polkas For Parties", "99 Men In Brass Play Marches" and "The Fabulous Beats Go Country Style". In 1965, in a rare stroke of hipness, they released this excellent set of spy jazz.
Cashing in on the mid-sixties James Bond/secret agent craze, this album features swinging covers of "Thunderball", "Man From U.N.C.L.E” and the “I Spy Theme”. According to the liner notes (which were not always 100% factual) the album features jazz luminaries J.J Johnson on trombone and Milt Hinton on bass. The arrangements are heavy on brass (with trombone featured on several tracks) and the improvisation is excellent.
What separates the album from many other similar records that were released at this time is the fun factor. This album screams SIXTIES. From the album cover to the arrangements that feature such non-jazz elements as, hippieish flute solos and harpsichord runs. Imagine, a jazz album that doesn’t take itself too seriously. When’s the last time you heard one of those.
Here is my audio tribute to longtime Cleveland horror host, Ron “The Ghoul” Sweed who passed away a few weeks ago at the age of seventy. A mix of music from his show, rare radio clips from his years on CKLW in Windsor, Ontario and an interview I did with Dale Kay of Eerie House Radio who worked with the Ghoul on Channel 61 in Cleveland back in the eighties. RIP Ron Sweed. You can listen to the show HERE (Be patient, it takes about thirty seconds to load.)
Mr. Speed is a KISS tribute band out of Cleveland, Ohio. The band has been performing for over twenty-five years. The current line up consists of Rich Kosak as the Starchild (Paul Stanley), Jim Seda as the Demon (Gene Simmons), Quinton Kufahl as the Catman (Peter Criss) and Mark Hermansen as the Spaceman (Ace Frehley).
I must confess that in my youth, I was not a KISS fan. From my late teens into my early thirties, I was basically a music snob. I thought I was too cool for bands like KISS. (As I have mentioned before, I was sadly mistaken. I may have been a lot of things back then but cool was not one of them. Trust me, I've seen pictures.)
Eventually as I entered middle age, I realized I'd missed out on a lot of fun by being "too hip for the room" and I am actually much more open-minded now then I ever was in my twenties. Which brings us to MR. SPEED.
A few weeks ago a couple friends of mine, who were KISS fans growing up, and I made plans to attend one of the upcoming KISS farewell shows. However, after seeing the ticket prices we decided to find a less expensive alternative.
MR. SPEED was the alternative, they did not disappoint. It was a fun show.
Here is my interview with Rich Kosak, singer, guitarist and the founding member of MR. SPEED talking about his passion for all things KISS and life in a tribute band.
CASEY: When did you first discover KISS?
RICH: I first got into KISS around the age of twelve. The very first time I saw them, to the best of my memory, was on the Paul Lynde Halloween Special. I was captivated by them. The next time I saw them was on a Saturday afternoon while watching TV and a commercial aired for the KISS radio. When I saw the explosion and heard the music again, I was captivated. The song was "Detroit Rock City". That was followed by an appearance on the American Music Awards where I believe they aired a taped rendition of "Rock N Roll All Night" from Largo, Maryland.
CASEY: When did you attend your first KISS show?
RICH: My first KISS concert was in the summer of 1979. The date was July 21st to be exact. I went with a childhood friend named Chris and we had fifth row seats. It was my third concert overall at the time and the first time I ever smelled pot and an experience that has obviously shaped the person I am today.
CASEY: How many shows have you seen and which was your favorite?
RICH: I have been fortunate enough to see KISS sixty-four times in concert. A few were less memorable than most but by far my favorite show, aside from the very first one, was December 4th, 1998. We had first row seats for the show and I proposed to my wife afterwards backstage with Paul Stanley standing right next to me. I knew the local promoter in town and arranged through that connection to set up the proposal and have Paul there. We were very fortunate because I don't believe that would happen today or at least not without a large price tag.
CASEY: When did you start playing guitar?
RICH: I started fiddling around with the guitar around the same time that I was being infected by KISS. My older brother was my inspiration and I would hear him playing every day in his room. He was into a lot of progressive bands like Yes and artists like Jimi Hendrix and Robin Trower. So hearing the music coming out of his room, I was always listening. For a brief time, he would play Frampton Comes Alive and I loved it. Soon I acquired my own copy and would wear out needles on my parent's console stereo in the living room playing all four sides.
CASEY: What was the first band you ever played in?
RICH: The first band I ever played in was never really a band at all. My friend Chris was also dabbling in guitar at the time and he knew another kid named Todd. I knew a drummer named Don and together we nervously set up what little equipment we had in one of our neighbors front yards. We rehearsed for what seemed like weeks but, in reality, it was probably no more than a day or two. We learned three songs one of which was by Bread, if you can believe it. We certainly didn't set the world on fire and I'm also certain that we never performed together again after that. Honestly, I don't think you can even categorize us as a band but I'm sure we thought we were. It was four kids following the lead of one who had some talent and I'm here to tell you, it wasn't me.
CASEY: What bands did you play in prior to MR. SPEED?I
RICH: Prior to MR. SPEED, I was only in one other band. Right out of high school I was asked to join, by default mind you, a group of guys that were really established in my high school. These guys played assemblies at school and were known around the community as the local rock stars. For whatever reason, they needed another guitar player and someone suggested me. What's funny about this scenario is these guys were really not a "rock" band like KISS. In fact, they hated KISS and weren't very fond of me either. But they needed someone and I filled the void. I can even recall an incident before I joined their band where I ran into the keyboard player at our Fourth Of July community event. I happened to be wearing a KISS t-shirt and he approached me and said, and I quote, 'I loathe that band'. Funny how things have a way of working themselves out, right? So I show up to audition for their band with my original Ibanez Paul Stanley PS -10, scared out of my mind. We played two shows that entire year at the same venue on a Friday/Saturday night and I think I made forty dollars for both nights.
CASEY: How did MR. SPEED come together?
RICH: MR. SPEED came together through a chance meeting between myself and a guy named Mike Gavigan. We met on a Sunday morning at a Pittsburgh area record show. We hit it off pretty well and spent six months teaching each other KISS songs. After six months we thought to ourselves that what we were doing sounded pretty good. After a quick conversation, which included putting a band together, we placed an ad for a bass player and a drummer. Twenty-five years later here I am talking to you and I am still talking to you and still answering questions about my passion for KISS. The idea really did blossom from an article that I came across in Metal Age Magazine. The article shines a light on a KISS band from L.A called, Cold Gin. Ironically, this band contained the current lead guitarist in KISS, Tommy Thayer. I was intrigued and thought, why not? So we continued to practice and formulate some sort of plan as to what we were going to do. Never thinking it would last twenty -five minutes, much less, twenty-five years.
CASEY: Why did you pick the Starchild (Paul Stanley) character instead of Ace or Gene?
RICH: In September of 1978, KISS released their solo albums. I practically lived at our local record shop and one day I paid them a visit and found two of the four albums in their New Release bins. Right there in front of me were the new solo albums by Paul Stanley and Peter Criss. I ran home and confronted my dad and begged for eight dollars. He asked me why and I hesitantly gave him a reason. He relinquished the money to me and I ran back to the store and stood there staring at the two painted faces. For whatever reason, I grabbed Paul's album, slapped the money down on the counter and then ran back home again to my bedroom and to my turntable. I can honestly admit that from the very first listen, I was hooked. Up until that point, I was equally enthralled by all four members of the band but that moment for me defined why Paul would become my favorite KISS member and help me to transform myself into his image in MR. SPEED.
CASEY: Does the band do their own make up?
RICH: Yes, each one of us does our own make up. It's part of the whole process. We each vary in our techniques and in the time it takes to apply it. We range anywhere from sixty minutes to up to three hours, depending on the individuals.
CASEY: How many KISS songs can the band play?
RICH: For each and every show we usually perform roughly twenty songs. We can probably play forty, or so, very well. We're always trying to work on and implement different songs into our live show. We tend to stick with one set for the majority of each tour and when time or ability permits, we'll filter in a song here or there. We have always had a sense of pride in being the KISS tribute band that stepped outside the box, so to speak, and tried to perform songs that are a challenge. I believe it shows our muscle and ability a bit more than just rolling over the same songs year after year after year.
CASEY: What are your five favorite favorite KISS songs?
RICH: This is a really tough question for any fan of any band to answer. But for the sake of this interview, I will answer with these five songs: "Magic Touch", "Shout It Out Loud", "Thou Shalt Not", "Mr. Speed" and "Creatures Of The Night".
CASEY: Have you had any interaction with the members of KISS?
RICH: We don't have any interaction with KISS or its members. Subsequently, we don't get KISS tickets for free or anything of that matter. In the end, being a fan is what we all started out as and we're cool with continuing that trend and being confident in ourselves in the process. They are aware of who we are as a tribute to them and that's good enough for us. There are so many versions of what guys and girls call a KISS tribute band but very few of them really tap into the heart and soul of what KISS means to the fans. I believe that we do that and have for sometime now. In my opinion, I don't believe that KISS or its members really care that much about tribute bands. We fill a void for them in markets and for fans that simply can't afford the ticket prices or that KISS would never visit. For us it's simply a matter of taking our passion for KISS via our tribute band to Anywhere, USA to share with other fans what we all feel. We are constantly asked when KISS ends their final tour would we take over? I'd be lying if I told you the thought hasn't crossed my mind but I'm quite sure it's not going to be that simple. But if the opportunity presents itself, we would certainly give the audition one hell of an effort.
CASEY: What are MR. SPEED's future plans?
RICH: MR. SPEED has big plans in store for our immediate future. We plan on an entirely new stage set and show for as early as 2020 complete with new costumes, props and songs. You can keep up to date with where we are headed by visiting our website at, www.mrspeedonline.com for the latest in our tribute to KISS.
WFMU-FM is a great community alternative radio station located in Jersey City, N.J. Michael Shelley hosts a great two hour radio program Saturday’s from 11am-1pm. He plays a cool mix of obscure pop, rock and country by both old and new artists. He also does great interviews with musicians and songwriters like Jonathan Richman, Ken Nordine, P.F Sloan, Howard Kalyan, Sandy Nelson, The Cactus Blossoms and literally hundreds of others.
I have listened to the show for a longtime and was very honored when Michael played my song “Bowl All Night” last week on his program. Thanks Michael.
You can check out his complete list of shows HERE. Take some time to listen, it is definitely worth your time.
Michael is also an accomplished singer/songwriter and musician. His music is available via iTunes, Spotify, Amazon etc..Go to his website for his complete discography.
Here is the playlist to my latest edition of Casey’s Musical Dustbin Podcast,
“Superheroes, Lemmy & Brian Jones” You can listen to the podcast HERE
PLAYLIST
Top Shelf. The Hi-Risers
Farmer John. The Delmonas
Spider-Man Theme. Sounds Of Monday
Batman Theme. Neil Hefti
Comic Book Collector. The Trashmen
I Go Ape. The Rockin Vickers
Stranded By The Highway. Magic Slim
Fuzzy & Wild. The Ventures
You’re My Brian Jones. Palmyra Delran
I Wanna Be Your Man. Rolling Stones
Last Time. Rolling Stones
Guitar Slim. Guitar Slim
One Step Beyond. Madness
Don’t Give It Up Now. The Lyres
Carol. The Chevys
Hey, Deannie. The Chevys
