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Home , Aaron Lewis, Andy Powell, Andy Pyle, Joe Crabtree, Martin Turner, Mike Mushok

------Feature • ------The Power of One By Deborah Kennedy 200. Lewis was compared to . 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 released 14 Shades of Gray which he’s from ? 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 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 , which came out March 1 on the label Stroudavarious Records. Fans of Staind and of Lewis the solo ------Feature • ------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 ’s At and his father is a Catholic of Ital- Fillmore East, Derek and the Dominos’ Lay- ian, Welsh and English descent 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 ’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. 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 ) 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 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 , who left a year later, and pretty hard to get your hands on. Only 4,000 Heavyweights , 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 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 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 and Terry In an interview with MassLive, Lewis Ash took their blues-influenced rock in a On the controversy front, Powell, ac- Date (, and ). 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 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 . 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. Paul navale it will be. and Susan Stephens Be prepared on of Fawn Liebowitz Saturday, May Photos by and DJ’s, 7 as Headwaters Mark Lahey Double J and Park overflows Maxx will with red shirts, entertain the red balloons and crowd. You red bicyclists in can also hear the concerted motivational effort to raise speakers, en- $50,000 for ter the 50/50 the AIDS Task raffle or take Force, which a moment to serves all of reflect at a Northeast Indi- panel of the ana. It may not AIDS Me- sound like morial Quilt m u c h that travels money, but VIVE LE ROUGE PART DEUX the U.S. For in times Saturday, May 7 • 3-10 p.m. those who like these Verizon Event Pavilion like to con- grassroots Headwaters Park • Fort Wayne Fort Wayne boasts tinue the party into the early morning hours, organiza- one of the Midwest’s registration includes free admission to Baby- tions are the $5, www.vivelerouge.org oldest comprehensive lon., the East Masterson Street dance club. hardest hit, agencies for AIDS and It is not too late to register or to sponsor especially ones that represent the interests HIV. This year marks the 30th year of the a team. There is no minimum amount and of those affected by such a misunderstood virus’ discovery, and the agency has been you can register as an individual or a team. disease. around for 26 of those, offering support, Those who raise $50 or more will receive Currently, there are over 9,000 people in counseling, compassion and care to patients a commemorative T-shirt designed by the Indiana known to be living with AIDS and and their families. They also offer testing for popular artist, Portley Colwell. 611 people in Northeast Indiana alone. This the community and encourage everyone to Don’t forget to wear red!

WISHBONE ASH - From Page 5 to create Martin Turner’s Wishbone Ash, which from the evidence with a French documentary crew and emerged with a rockumentary appears to be more of a nostalgia circuit act than Powell’s band. In dubbed “This is Wishbone Ash.” The DVD chronicles the Wishbone any event, the Wishbone Ash headed by Powell has Powell as the Ash creative process which, Powell said, ended up following the eat- 40-year thread. “I’ve been here everyday,” he said. ing schedule of the filmmakers. The current lineup is Powell and Muddy Mannenin on twin lead, “They’re French,” he said. “Their day revolves around food. on drums and Bob Skeat on bass. And for Powell’s That gave us the framework for our days.” money, this lineup does the trick. In keeping with a trend among touring acts these days, Powell “I wouldn’t still be in this band if it weren’t stimulating,” he and Wishbone Ash will play Argus in its entirety at 4D’s. said. “Can’t really use the term ‘progressive’ if we’re not progress- “We’ll play the whole album and other material from other al- ing. I’ve got the band of my dreams at the moment. Can’t really rank bums around it,” he said. “There will be new music as well. We’re it among the others because they were different bands, but this is a working in the new album. It’s going to be an evening of power and dream team. We play our new stuff and then shift back to the older melody, with twin lead guitars. People will be pleasantly surprised work like a well-tuned Mercedes.” that we’re not stuck in a time warp. This is a vibrant band, and we’re Wishbone spent a few weeks in 2009 in the French countryside making new music.” 6------www.whatzup.com------April 28, ’11