Last Friday night, I set out with my camera, my notepad, and weeks of compiled research, to interview and take in a rock band that is back with a vengeance after 25 years. Their name is Autograph, and they have returned bigger, stronger, and louder than ever, adding a fresh, new and powerful flavour to their music. But first…a brief history…
Before Autograph was even a band, it was a man by the name of Steve Plunkett, a singer/guitarist/songwriter who had written songs he wanted to develop and record as a solo project. He brought in a few of his musician friends to elaborate on the tunes and lay down some tracks. They were lead guitarist Steve Lynch, bassist Randy Rand, drummer Keni Richards, and keyboardist Steve Isham.
Original Autograph lead guitarist, Steve Lynch, demonstrates his 4-fingered hammer-on technique.
By the time the songs were finished, it was clear they had created some serious rock material, and formed a good playing chemistry together. Drummer Keni Richards’ friend and running partner, David Lee Roth, offered to give their demos a listen. He was so impressed, he asked if they’d join Van Halen on their upcoming tour to open for them.
They were suddenly left with the task of coming up with a name for their newly formed band. They chose the name, ‘Autograph’, in ode to the song, “Photograph” by Def Leppard, and set out on a whirlwind journey as an unsigned band, playing with one of the biggest names in the rock music world, in front of massive audiences…a heady experience it must have been, to say the least. It wasn’t long before they were signed with RCA Records in 1984, and released their first album, Sign In Please in October of the same year. This album released their biggest hit to date, “Turn Up The Radio”, which still receives enormous airplay, and has appeared in various television shows and films.
They would release two more albums in the next three years, That’s The Stuff (1985), and Loud and Clear (1987). Songs for a fourth album bottomed out due to lack of support from their label. During this time, the band also saw the departure of both Keni Richards and Steve Isham. A new deal with Epic Records did not pan out, ultimately leading to the band’s frustration and eventual breakup in 1989. Much of their unreleased material from 1988 to 1989 would later be produced and released by Plunkett in the follow-up albums, Missing Pieces (1997), and More Missing Pieces (2003). However, in their short, six year tenure together, they left a lasting legacy of rock material, wrote a giant hit that continues to stand the test of time, and toured the world with the likes of Motley Crue, Heart, Aerosmith, Ronnie James Dio, Van Halen, Bryan Adams, and Whitesnake.
Original Autograph band member…bassist, Randy Rand. The man oozes stage presence.
Fast forward 25 years from the breakup of the band, Autograph has reformed and revamped themselves into a four piece powerhouse, re-emerging with two original members, lead guitarist Steve Lynch, and bassist Randy Rand…and two new members, lead singer/guitarist Simon Daniels, and drummer Marc Wieland. The following information is from some one-on-one time I had with the band prior to their performance at Ottawa’s Obsession Live Lounge.
Founding members, Steve Lynch and Randy Rand, met up at a NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) show in 2011. They had been longtime friends of one another and past roommates for six years. They chatted about the idea of getting together to revisit and jam out the tunes they had created all those years ago. Discussing such things while immersed in the musical surroundings at NAMM triggered the desire to play again, so plans were made to contact the other original members and set up rehearsals.
Lead vocalist/guitarist for Autograph, Simon Daniels.
Founding Autograph member, Steve Plunkett was contacted, but is now heavily involved in his many music writing, publishing, and artist development projects, and simply does not have the time to dedicate to the reunion venture. He gave them his blessing to take the songs and go forward with them. Original keyboardist, Steve Isham, sadly passed away from cancer in 2008, but the boys had already decided not to incorporate a keyboard player into the mix this time around. And finally, drummer Keni Richards had shown keen interest initially, but was not able to commit himself fully to the project.
Lynch and Rand brought in two very experienced, and interested players, singer/songwriter/guitarist, Simon Daniels (Agent X, Grind, Jailhouse, Flood), and drummer, Marc Wieland (Level, Phuse, Nabiha, Flood), who is also a freelance Recording/Mix Engineer/Producer. Bringing in these two talented artists, with their years of performing experience and growing network of connections in the music business was a smart move…adding just the right elements needed to carry this reinvented band forward into today’s rock music world.
Now armed with a library of songs and the well established Autograph name, the four members have an unlimited ceiling of musical creativity at their disposal. To pump up the songs, they’ve taken down the key a notch, and cranked the volume up to 11. Rehearsals began in September of 2013, followed by a tour that started earlier this year through the US, including some of the larger rock music venues such as the M3 Rock Festival in Columbia, Maryland, and the popular Monsters Of Rock Cruise, which departs from Miami, Florida.
Autograph drummer, Marc Wieland.
In conjunction with Ottawa’s music store emporium, Long & McQuade, Obsession Live Lounge became the setting for Autograph’s ninth show on this past Friday night of the Mother’s Day weekend. Fourteen songs were selected by the band for their set list from each of the first three Autograph albums. Song after song was delivered with their newly charged formula, giving them a more modern edge…virtually transforming them into new creations.
Opening with “Deep End“ (Sign In Please), and closing with “That’s The Stuff” (That’s The Stuff), the songs were rich in three part harmonies, led by Daniels’ smooth and strong lead vocals. Together with Rand’s steady thumping bass and Wieland’s precise and powerful drumming, they delivered the hard driving punch to all the material…my favorites being the highly charged, “Loud and Clear” (Loud and Clear), and the gritty grind of “When The Sun Goes Down”, also from the same album. Slicing through it all was Lynch’s masterful guitar work, complete with leads that would make your head spin, and of course, demonstrating his iconic four-finger hammer-on technique. The boys all use the beautifully crafted DBZ Diamond series guitars.
And saved for the encore, was the grand finale, “Turn Up The Radio”, the rock anthem that had the raptured audience singing along at the top of their lungs. The show was followed by a meet and greet for all to converse with the band members, take photos, and sign autographs.
Audience showing their love for the band…
Throughout the tour, the boys have been busy collaborating on new material, with plans to release individual songs, rather than a whole album, which seems to be the realistic way to go in these modern times. They are taking it one day, one step, and one show at a time, creating their own flow, developing and shaping their sound along the way, and enjoying the adventure. They openly welcome and converse with their fans, as they fully embrace the journey, forging a fresh sound for this rock band of the past made new again…the reformed and revamped, Autograph.
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