---------------- Feature • Aaron Lewis --------------- The Power of One By Deborah Kennedy 200. Lewis was compared to Eddie Vedder. It was, as they say, on. I dare you to go up to Aaron Lewis and Success bred more success. In 2003 tell him he’s not a country boy. So what if Staind released 14 Shades of Gray which he’s from Massachusetts? So what if he’s likewise debuted at No. 1 on the charts, as spent the majority of his musical career did 2005’s Chapter V. Then, in 2006, Lewis bringing down the house with his hard rock made it to No. 49 on metal mag Hit Parad- outfit, Staind? Lewis, with his Popeye-like er’s Heavy Metal’s All-Time Top Vocalists. forearms (muscles, check; tattoos, check) is Not bad. Not bad at all. Staind’s most recent an intimidating dude. If he wants to go country, I say good for him. And he obviously has traded in his electric guitar for a twangy acous- tic, at least for his first solo effort Town Line, which came out March 1 on the label Stroudavarious Records. Fans of Staind and of Lewis the solo --------------- Feature • Wishbone Ash -------------- artist will want to mark their calen- dars for Thursday, May 5 when he’ll be performing hits from Town Line, as well as a few reworked versions of Staind standards, at the Honeywell Center in Wabash beginning at 7:30 p.m. Lewis, whose ethnicity makes Band in Progress his country conversion even more surprising – his mother is Jewish By Mark Hunter along with The Allman Brothers Band’s At and his father is a Catholic of Ital- Fillmore East, Derek and the Dominos’ Lay- ian, Welsh and English descent Andy Powell doesn’t remember the la and Other Assorted Love Songs, Televi- – was born in Longmeadow, Mas- last time he was in Fort Wayne, but that’s sion’s Marquee Moon and Thin Lizzy’s Jail- sachusetts, the birthplace of Johnny okay. Guitar heroes shouldn’t be required to break, among others. Argus reached No. 3 “Appleseed” Chapman, but I digress. clog their heads with archival data. Arcane on the UK charts and was named top album Perhaps more to the point is that Joey knowledge like that is best left to zealous of 1972 by Sounds magazine, no small feat Santiago, lead guitarist for the Pixies, fans tapping away at their keyboards, and if in 1972, which was the year Exile on Main likewise grew up there. Later Lewis the fans of Powell and his band, Wishbone St., to name one of many great albums, came moved to neighboring Springfield Ash, are anything, it’s zealous. out. where, at the tender age of 17, he be- Wishbone Ash emerged as one of the The story of Wishbone Ash fits perfectly gan playing acoustic more influential bands from the explosion of in the realm of rock n’ roll cliché. A couple shows around town. AARON LEWIS groups in late 1960s Great Britain. Though of guys get together to play blues-based rock It was during this release, 2008’s not entirely unscathed by the intervening covers and, through fits and starts, form a time that he com- Thursday, May 5 • 7:30 p.m. ironically titled four decades, Wishbone Ash have, under the band, change lineups, change names, begin posed some of his The Honeywell Center The Illusion of guidance of Pow- writing their own slightly lesser-known 275 W. Market St., Wabash Progress, charted ell, continued their WISHBONE ASH material, develop but still beloved tunes several singles, progression down a sound and hit the like “Angel,” “Some- Tix: $60-$27, 260-563-1102 including “Be- the long and bumpy Wednesday, May 4 • 8 p.m. road opening for thing Like Me” and lieve,” “All I rock n’ roll road. 4D’s Bar & Grill bigger names. In the “Bonghits for Breakfast.” (It is, as they say, Want” and “This is It,” which was included That road will 1820 W. Dupont Rd., Fort Wayne case of Wishbone the most important meal of the day.) on the soundtrack to Transformers: Revenge bring Powell and Ash it was Powell, It was likewise in the early and grungy of the Fallen. Wishbone Ash to Tix: $15 adv., $18 d.o.s. Martin Turner on 90s when Lewis’ first band, J-CAT, folded, But what about Lewis sans Staind? Fort Wayne for the 260-490-6488 bass and vocals, Ted and out of those ashes rose Staind, an act Lewis on his own is unapologetically po- first time since – Turner (no relation Lewis launched with the help of former J- litical. Many are calling his new solo hit, let’s say 1974 – when the band hits the stage to Martin and certainly not that Ted Turner) CAT drummer Jon Wysocki. Johnny April “Country Boy” a Tea Party anthem. Why? at 4D’s Wednesday, May 4 at 8 p.m. sharing lead guitar with Powell and Steve joined them on bass and Mike Mushok came Consider these lyrics: “This is me. / I’m “Nineteen seventy four, huh?” Powell Upton on drums who formed the core of the in on lead guitar. This was 1995. Lewis had proud to be American and strong in my be- said when reminded of their appearance band and remained so through 1973, when himself a real rock n’ roll band. liefs. / I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. opening for ZZ Top at Memorial Coliseum Ted Turner left and was replaced by Wise- In just a year he also had himself his first / I’ve never needed government to hold my roughly 37 years ago. “We were just kids. I field. Martin Turner left in 1980, replaced album, Tormented, which, until recently was hand.” think we’ll stir a few memories.” by John Wetton, who left a year later, and pretty hard to get your hands on. Only 4,000 Heavyweights George Jones, Charlie Back in 1974 this was a different band on and on. Over the years the band has had copies were sold during the first printing, but Daniels and Chris Young joined him in the personnel-wise, but the power of Wishbone eight lead guitarists, not counting Powell, Staind fans will be glad to know that they recording of “Country Boy,” so obviously Ash’s pioneering twin lead guitar sound re- seven bass players (Martin Turner returned can go to the band’s website and purchase Lewis’ crossover is being blessed not just by mains. As one of the first acts to utilize two two more times and Andy Pyle did two sep- the CD that helped Staind make their mark. right-wing causes but by several Nashville lead guitar players (in ’74 it was Powell and arate stints) and four drummers, with Ray They followed that up with 1999’s Dysfunc- gods as well. Laurie Wisefield trading solos) Wishbone Weston manning the stool twice. tion, team-produced by Fred Durst and Terry In an interview with MassLive, Lewis Ash took their blues-influenced rock in a On the controversy front, Powell, ac- Date (Soundgarden, Deftones and Pantera). summed up his political beliefs as being progressive direction, much like contem- cording to some accounts, trademarked the Soon the dudes from Staind were joining founded on the concept of personal respon- poraries such as Yes and Jethro Tull. They name Wishbone Ash without the consent of the dudes from Limp Bizkit and The Crystal sibility, something he takes very seriously reached their chart pinnacle with their 1972 either Turner, which spurred Martin Turner Method on the Family Values Tour. It was a both in life and in music: “Life isn’t fair. It’s release Argus, still considered by many to be heady time. Staind’s third album, Break the not all roses. It’s hard work. Life is commit- one of the top 10 dual-lead guitar albums, Continued on page 6 Cycle, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top ment; life is diligence.” April 28, ’11 ---------------------------------------------------------------------www.whatzup.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------5 -------------------------Feature • Vive Le Rouge Part Deux ----------------------- Seeing Red at Headwaters By Fernando Tarango year so far, the task force is serving 13 new “Know Your Status.” clients, five of which are under the age of So if you’re going be out partying it up Vive Le Rouge Part Deux. Vive le what? 25. that weekend anyway, why not start early Red. Long live red ... part two. It’s French. “There is a misconception that AIDS is and enjoy the weather and a few beers for But in Fort Wayne-speak, I think it means no longer an issue, but it is up to our gen- a good cause? Registration begins at 3 p.m., one great part party is about to throw down eration to stay vigilant and protect our loved followed by a half-hour walk/ride through at Headwaters Park. Talking to Jessica Hen- ones,” Henry said. “We are downtown Fort ry, who serves on the Board of Directors for people taking care of people.” Wayne and the the AIDS Task River Greenway at Force, confirmed 4:30 p.m. But the my hopes. party will have just “It’s gonna begun. be creative, artsy At five p.m. and fun! This the Dash-In on is the 15th year Calhoun Street in we have had an downtown Fort awareness walk Wayne will be pro- ... and it won’t viding food, beer, be your average wine and a coffee walk. It’s a Car- bar to enjoy while navale!” the musicians get And a Car- warmed up.