Starcastle
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Starcastle is a progressive rock band from St. Louis, Missouri and Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. The band began life in 1969 as "St. James". Heavily influenced by the British progressive rock movement of the time, the band began writing material that would eventually appear on the first album. They also began a rigorous schedule of support gigs at clubs throughout the Midwest, honing their stage show and working in original material with covers. Despite relative success, and the release of a (now rare) single, something more was needed. Five years and a few name and line-up changes later, Starcastle was born. With tight musicianship, glorious vocal harmonies and a fleet-fingered bassist named Gary Strater, they were on their way.
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[edit] Albums
Work began on the band's first self-titled LP and it was released in early 1976. The response to the music of Starcastle was positive and despite some detractors' accusations that they sounded like a Yes clone, the album received heavy FM airplay throughout the US & Canada. The group began an even more intensive touring schedule including some of the biggest shows of their careers. The first album sold well, and Epic sent the band to Le Studio in Morin Heights, Quebec with producer Roy Thomas Baker.
Although Roy was well known for his success with Queen, the band was not sure if it was a good fit or not. The atmosphere and surroundings of Le Studio were idyllic, but the final product, “Fountains of Light” turned out to be something other than what the band envisioned. More touring followed this time including a number of headlining shows in small halls and universities, with Journey and Foreigner supporting Starcastle on some dates. “Fountains of Light” garnered the band critical acclaim, and while the single "Diamond Song (Deep is the Light)" failed to chart, the album sold respectably.
Despite issues with Roy Baker’s style, the label sent Starcastle to England to record their third offering, “Citadel” with Baker once again handling production. The band was under pressure at this time by their record label for a more commercial rock sound, but Starcastle kept to its progressive rock roots. After more touring, the cracks in the band were starting to show. "Real to Reel" was an album the band felt should have never been released, because of its pop-like sound and disappointment with fans. Most of the more ‘progressive’ demos done for the record were rejected by CBS, and the band had stopped believing in what they were doing. The album was released and fell flat. During the subsequent tour, keyboardist Herb Schildt decided it was time to leave to pursue his passion – computers, and Terry, who had his eyes on producing, left after the group’s final date of the tour with Aerosmith. This, coupled with disappointing sales figures, prompted CBS to drop Starcastle from its roster.
[edit] Subsequent regroupings
Undeterred, Starcastle regrouped and in 1979, the band began touring again, this time with Steve Hagler assuming lead vocal duties, without a record contract. While this line-up worked for a while, Matt remembered a vocalist he had met and became friends with a few years earlier: Ralph Goldhiem. Ralph had toured the Midwest with another CBS/Epic group called Timberline. While the Timberline sound was more similar to The Eagles and Poco, it gave Ralph a taste of what he wanted to do. He moved to Los Angeles temporally joining up with former Trapeze / Deep Purple vocalist Glen Hughes in rehearsals for a possible album which never materialized. It was during this time Matt called Ralph about joining Starcastle as keyboardist and vocalist. After touring and working with Jeff Glixman (producer - Kansas)on a new record deal, the band packed up and moved to Atlanta in hopes of revitalizing the sound. In 1980, and after some minor label interest, guitarist Steve Hagler and drummer Steve Tassler both left the group and Steve Tassler went on to become a doctor (General Practitioner). Shortly thereafter, guitarist Matt Stewart left. Disillusioned, remaining member Gary Strater returned to Champaign to regroup.
In 1982, Gary moved to the San Francisco Bay Area where he began to reinvent his own musical direction. Ultimately, this led to Gary forming a new and more modern version of Starcastle with Bruce Botts (guitar/vocals), George Harp (lead vocals) and Scott McKenzie (drums/vocals). Much new material was written and performed during this time drawing critical praise and interest from Bill Graham. Bruce Botts left the group in 1985 and moved back to the Midwest. He was replaced by Mark McGee (Vicious Rumors) This line up carried on until 1987.
Gary eventually moved back to Champaign. In 1997 Gary Strater and Bruce Botts rekindled their association and, operating from the Midwest, began work on a new recording. Eventually members from all incarnations of the band came together to work on this project. In 2001, Gary formed Sunsinger Records and released an archive CD, “Chronos I”, with demos and unreleased tracks. He followed that up in 2002 with a solo release, "Eleven To The Fourth Twice", an experimental album based purely on fractals and computer equations. Ex-drummer Steve Tassler would also release a solo album that same year on Sunsinger entitled "Alive Beyond Recognition."
In April 2004, a benefit show was arranged for Gary Strater, as he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2003. Ultimately, Gary was joined onstage by all the original members for a four song performance. This would be Gary's final performance with Starcastle, and he would succumb later that year at the age of 51. During his chemotherapy treatment Gary and the other members continued to work on the new record. Gary finished his parts only weeks before passing away. The album, Song of Times, was finished in late 2006 and due for release on the Prog Rock Records label on March 15, 2007.
[edit] Personnel
[edit] Final Line-up
- Al Lewis - Lead Vocals
- Gary Strater - Bass
- Herb Schildt- Keyboards
- Matt Stewart - Guitar
- Bruce Botts- Guitar
- Jeff Koehnke - Drums
[edit] Former members
- Terry Luttrel - Vocals (Ex-REO Speedwagon)
- George Harp - Vocals
- Ralph Goldheim - Vocals and Keyboards
- Steve Hagler - Guitar
- Mark McGee - Guitar
- Steve Tassler - Drums
- Scott McKenzie - Drums
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio Albums
| Year | Title | Notes |
| 1976 | Starcastle | First studio album. |
| 1977 | Fountains Of Light | Reissued in 1998 by Renaissance Records, Inc. |
| 1977 | Citadel | Features cover art by the Hildebrandt Brothers. Reissued in 1998 by Renaissance Records, Inc. |
| 1978 | Real To Reel | Band's final studio offering. |
| 2001 | Chronos I | Archive release featuring demos and unreleased tracks. |
| 2007 | Song Of Times | New release featuring new band line-up. |
Live Album:
Alive In America (Recorded live in Boston in 1978)
