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Years active 1983–1995; 1999–present Associated acts Angel, Apache Black, Blitz, Bon Journey, Brand New Machine, The Bridge, Catch Velvet, Crowbar, Dirty Looks, Evildead, Far Cry, Hagan, Killian Dare, Krymson, Logan, Lowside, Madhouse, Metal Church, Moxi, Near Life Experience, Oz, Persia, Ratt Poison, Rottweiller, Savage White, Social Distortion, Stiff, Taboo, Velvet Poker Dogs, Veruca Salt Members Steve Blaze, Ron Taylor, Ken Koudelka, Sam Poitevent | ||
Lillian Axe is a hard rock band from New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, best known for its major label albums, Lillian Axe, Love + War, Poetic Justice and "Psychoschizophrenia". Originally formed in 1983, the group is still active, though only the guitarist Steve Blaze remains from the original line-up.
Contents
- Biography
- Acclaim
- Current line up
- Original line up
- Former members
- Compilations
- Live albums
- Videos
- Songs
- References
Biography
The classic line-up came together when former Stiff members, Ron Taylor (lead vocals) and Jon Ster (rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals), teamed up with Lillian Axe members Steve Blaze (lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals), Rob Stratton (bass guitar, and Danny King (drums) in 1987. The band caught the attention of Ratt's management which led to a record deal with MCA and Ratt's Robbin Crosby producing the band's first album, Lillian Axe. However, neither this nor the 1989 follow-up, Love + War, produced by Tony Platt, met commercial expectations and the group was quickly dropped. A compilation of both MCA albums, (1987-1989) Out of the Darkness - Into the Light, was released in 1991.
The band found a new label home with Grand Slamm/I.R.S. Records for Poetic Justice, released in 1992, with Darrin DeLatte (bass guitar) and the former Dirty Looks member Gene Barnett (drums) replacing Stratton and King, respectively. The album peaked on the Billboard Top Heatseekers at No. 28, the band's biggest success to date, in part based on the strength of the single, "True Believer". Returning to the studio with the Swedish producer Leif Mases, the group issued Psychoschizophrenia in 1993, with Tommy Scott replacing Barnett on drums. Unable to capitalize on their previous success, Lillian Axe disbanded in 1995. Taylor formed The Bridge, while Blaze teamed up with his brother, the drummer Craig Nunenmacher, in Near Life Experience, and Scott, aka Tommy Stewart, found success with Boston's Godsmack, appearing on the band's platinum selling Godsmack and Awake albums.
In 1999, Lillian Axe released Fields of Yesterday, consisting of unreleased demos and album outtakes, followed by Live 2002, recorded in May 2002 in Houston, Texas, with only Taylor and Blaze remaining from the classic MCA line-up.
After several line-up changes, the band recruited as lead vocalist Derrick LeFevre, who appeared on Waters Rising (2007), Sad Day on Planet Earth (2009) and Deep Red Shadows (2010). On June 23, 2010, Ronny Munroe, formerly of Metal Church, replaced LeFevre, but he departed four months later before recording any material with the band. He was replaced by Brian C. Jones who can be heard on the latest album, XI The Days Before Tomorrow (2012).
On August 8, 2013, Lillian Axe was involved in an automobile accident.
Lillian Axe released One Night in the Temple, an acoustic live album, early in 2014. On November 29, 2014, former guitarist Jon Ster died from heart failure at the age of 52.
Acclaim
On May 16, 2010, in Erwinville, Louisiana, Lilian Axe became the first hard rock act to be inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
Current line-up
Original line-up
Former members
Compilations
Live albums
Videos
Songs
Show a Little LoveLove + War · 1989
The Day I Met YouPsychoschizophrenia · 1993
True BelieverPoetic Justice · 1992