Rude Awakening (band)

Rude Awakening was formed in 1986 in Richmond, Virginia at the height of the art-rock scene which centered around Virginia Commonwealth University and also spawned such bands as GWAR, the Alter-Natives and the Good Guys. It was the first musical project for bassist Robert Ryder (a.k.a. Robert Calkin) and drummer Joey Ballard who subsequently applied for and received the federal trademark for the Rude Awakening band name. Ultimately the band has recorded ten albums and toured in ten countries over the past twenty years. The band recently celebrated their 20th anniversary with a concert at Paladino's nightclub in Reseda, California.

The band was originally comprised of Ryder, Ballard, guitarist Mark Moogalian and guitarist Steve Train. After Moogalian and Train left the band, guitarist Roy Schneider joined and wrote the original songs which have propelled the band to their current popularity. This material resulted in the album "An Act Of God" which was recorded in 1986 in Fredericksburg, Virginia at Wally Cleaver's Recording Studio. The album was so named due to the statement the owner of the recording studio made when told of the band's plans to record their first album in ten hours. "That will be an act of God," he told them. When vocalist Tony Taylor failed to show up for most of the session, vocalist Dan Ruth stepped in to record most of the songs.

This line up toured the East Coast and surrounding areas of Richmond, Virginia until the band members changed again, adding Tom Hirsch on guitar and Tony Taylor on vocals. They decided to move to Los Angeles sans drummer Joey Ballard in 1987, and eventually Robert Ryder was the only remaining member left. He recruited vocalist Franki Chance, drummer Kai Ballard (no relation to Joey) and guitarist Peter Hinkle. Together they crafted and recorded the follow-up release "Wake Up and Smell The Pavement" at Artisan Sound Studios in Hollywood with producer Alan Grier. The band toured America in 1989 and 1990 on their "The World is Our Toilet Paper Tour" after replacing Kai and Pete with drummer Tiny Bubbles (a.k.a. Anthony Biuso, current Hedpe drummer) and guitarist Jim Hill. This line-up played hundreds of shows during this time period and was a mainstay on the Sunset Strip and Hollywood showcases. Franki Chance left the band soon after and was replaced briefly by vocalist Mike Place. The band then recorded "Bent To Our Will" with engineer and Dave's Underground studio owner Dave Anthony. Mike Place then departed and Robert Gaston stepped in on vocals. John Goodwin (Rhodes, Life After Death, Von Skeletor, James Blunt) was added on guitar. This line-up was signed to Statue Records and recorded the CD "Silent Cry" in 1992 again with engineer Dave Anthony but also with Joe Floyd and Sean Kenesie at Silver Cloud Studios.

The band then toured the United States again. Upon their return, vocalist Gaston decided to form a solo project called Talisman. This meant the band needed to get a new singer and did so, finding Mitch Urban (Tempus Fugit) after extensive auditions. They also replaced John Goodwin with Bill Sablan on guitar. This line-up went into Signet Sound Studios with engineer Mike Simpson and recorded "Headbutter". Their follow-up to this CD was "Scaring The Paper People" with producer Lee Popa. On August 20th, 1996, in honor of Philip Lynott of Thin Lizzy's birthday and also in the tenth year of his passing, the band held a tribute concert at the Palace in Hollywood. Robert Ryder flew Philomena Lynott (Phil's mum), Dennis Keeley (her partner) and Smiley Bolger (the original promoter of the Vibes For Philo in Ireland) to Los Angeles to attend and appear at this memorial concert entitled "A Celebration Of The Life Of Philip Lynott". Rude Awakening, Phantom Blue, John Norum, Carmine Appice, Rudy Sarzo, Billy Sheehan, Marc Ferrari and Roy Z. among others, all made live appearances playing only Philip Lynott/Thin Lizzy tunes. On January 4th, 1997, the band was asked to perform at the Vibe For Philo by Smiley Bolger at the Temple Bar Arena in Dublin, Ireland. The Irish Daily Star on January 5th claimed they "stole the show with their deft--and occasionally downright daft--metal approach!" Before arriving in Ireland for that performance, the band played a show in Twickenham, England which was attended by Kid Jensen, the man who "discovered" Thin Lizzy and first played them on British radio. He pronounced Rude Awakening to be the best tribute act he had ever heard. After a ten year hiatus, John Goodwin returned replacing Jim Hill and the band recorded and self-produced "A Tribute To Thin Lizzy" in Gumby Studios in Santa Monica and was invited by Philomena Lynott to play the 2nd Annual Philip Lynott Statue Celebration in Dublin in August 2007.

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