Lillian Axe Biography (The Ron & Darrin Years)
Throughout most of the 1980's vocalist Ron Taylor, guitarist Jon Ster & bassist Rob Stratton were the foundation of the popular regional touring band Stiff. Stiff toured around the US from the the Southeast where Taylor was from (Dallas, TX), up through the Midwest where Ster & Stratton were from (Michigan) and out through the Southwest and on to Los Angeles where the band recorded their debut album "Straight Up" and played multiple showcase shows for record companies.
At the same time, New Orleans-based hard rock act Lillian Axe was doing the same touring the southern U.S. club circuit. Within a few years, the band's legendary live show had built a reputation that could not be denied and while performing an opening stint with 80's superstars Ratt, Poison and Queensryche, the band caught the eye of MCA Records and Marshall Berle (nephew of Milton Berle) who, at the time, was managing rock superstars, Ratt.
In August of 1987, Lillian Axe guitarist, Steve Blaze and drummer, Danny King joined forces with Ron, Jon and Rob and one month later signed their first recording contract with MCA Records. By April of 1988, the band's self-titled debut album (produced by Ratt guitarist Robbin Crosby) was released, spawning the MTV and radio hit, "Dream Of A Lifetime" and the band hit the touring trail, supporting the likes of Krokus, Stryper and Lita Ford, as well as headlining countless shows of their own.
In November of 1988, the band hit the recording studio again, this time with legendary engineer/producer, Tony Platt (AC/DC, Cheap Trick, Foreigner), to begin work on their second album entitled "Love & War" - one which many hold in high regard as one of the most underrated albums of the times. Once again, radio and MTV hammered out the first single, "Show A Little Love", propelling Lillian Axe even closer to becoming one of the most up-and- coming and respected bands of the day. However, a fatal blow was dealt to the band's soaring momentum when the record label failed to sustain enough support to give the band that extra little push it needed to truly rise to the top. Radio, MTV and a huge fan base just didn't seem to be enough to satisfy their relationship with MCA so in early 1990, the band and the label parted ways.
April of 1991 found Lillian Axe with a new label home at Grand Slamm/IRS Records as well as a new bassist, Darrin DeLatte (Bang, Bang) and drummer, Gene Barnett (Dirty Looks). After releasing a successful compilation record of the first two MCA records called "Out of the Darkness Into the Light", the band got back to work in the studio once again, this time with producer Leif Mases (Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page, Black Sabbath) and this time the band would create their most successful album to date, "Poetic Justice", which hit the streets in January of 1992. Fueled by the hit single, "True Believer" and followed by a cover version of the Badfinger classic, "No Matter What", Poetic Justice reached the upper 100 of the Billboard album charts and with True Believer hitting number 37 with a "bullet" on radio's R&R charts, Lillian Axe seemed to be well on their way to finally becoming a well deserved success story.
Spending the better part of 1992 on the road, the band criss-crossed the United States numerous times and at the end of that year, finally got to meet their European fans by playing shows in the England, Wales, Scotland, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany.
Spring of '93 saw Lillian Axe back in the studio once again, this time with new drummer, Tommy Stewart (Godsmack), in the fold. The recording sessions for their fourth studio album "Psychoschizophrenia", again with producer Leif Mases, brought out some of the most dynamic performances of the band's career. Shortly after the recording sessions, the band once again found themselves in their second home - a tour bus. This time the tour would last for nearly three years as the band played any and every place that would have them, including yet another trip to Europe and an extended co-headlining tour of the US with German rockers Accept.
By 1995 the band found themselves to be simply worn out, as anyone would be who kept up the pace that Lillian Axe had set for themselves over the last eight years. The band had always been most at home when on the road together, but the time had finally come to move out of that house for a while and do something different. There was never a big "break-up" or typical soap opera story, the guys just took a break to do different things. Who knew the break would turn into four years away from the "old girl Lillian"?
During this new time of rest, rediscovery and experimentation, Ron spent time writing and recording with old Stiff bandmate Drew Smith and released a CD called "The Bridge". Darrin and Jon Ster threw wild gigs with their crazy, party band Bonerhead in the Dallas area and Steve joined up with his brother Craig to form the band Near Life Experience. Tommy took off to Boston to play drums with ex-Stripmind drummer Sully who was now singing for a new up and coming band called Godsmack!
Before the decade could come to an end, out of nowhere the guys were contacted with an offer from European label Z Records and Japanese label Pony Canyon Records, and asked if they would be interested in putting out a collection of unreleased Lillian Axe songs. The guys accepted, and in the summer of 1999, "Fields of Yesterday" was released, giving the band's hardcore following the breath of new life they had been waiting for. Advertisements for the new CD read, "The Bitch is Back", and that statement was oh, so true. Lillian Axe was definitely back indeed. Culled from master tapes that had been waiting to surface at some point in time, the thirteen songs that comprise Fields Of Yesterday had been held in high regard by Lillian Axe fans who had passed these unreleased songs through the tape trading channels for years. Now, for the first time, fans were able to enjoy songs such as, "Pulling the Rats Out", "For Crying Out Loud", "Death Valley Daze", "Twilight in Hell" and more, on CD.
As a predecessor to the album's release, the quintet went back to their old stomping grounds, the clubs that they had regularly toured for years during the early days, and were met with overwhelming response from old and new fans alike. Make no mistake about it, the fans, as well as the guys in the band, were very happy to see Lillian Axe back. And, for the first time ever, their longtime Japanese fans would finally get their chance to experience the magic of a live Lillian Axe show when the band hit the Land Of The Rising Sun!
2001 brought new drummer, Ken Koudelka on board as Lillian Axe continued to play spot shows and hit small tours across the US and Europe.
In 2002 Lillian Axe recorded a double live CD of all their greatest songs called Lillian Axe Live 2002, recorded in Houston, TX!
2004 would bring an end to Ron Taylor's 17 year career with the band with Darrin DeLatte following later in 2006.
Lillian Axe continues to record CD's and tour the world so we encourage you to go check them out! We love and support our brothers! www.lillianaxe.com
At the same time, New Orleans-based hard rock act Lillian Axe was doing the same touring the southern U.S. club circuit. Within a few years, the band's legendary live show had built a reputation that could not be denied and while performing an opening stint with 80's superstars Ratt, Poison and Queensryche, the band caught the eye of MCA Records and Marshall Berle (nephew of Milton Berle) who, at the time, was managing rock superstars, Ratt.
In August of 1987, Lillian Axe guitarist, Steve Blaze and drummer, Danny King joined forces with Ron, Jon and Rob and one month later signed their first recording contract with MCA Records. By April of 1988, the band's self-titled debut album (produced by Ratt guitarist Robbin Crosby) was released, spawning the MTV and radio hit, "Dream Of A Lifetime" and the band hit the touring trail, supporting the likes of Krokus, Stryper and Lita Ford, as well as headlining countless shows of their own.
In November of 1988, the band hit the recording studio again, this time with legendary engineer/producer, Tony Platt (AC/DC, Cheap Trick, Foreigner), to begin work on their second album entitled "Love & War" - one which many hold in high regard as one of the most underrated albums of the times. Once again, radio and MTV hammered out the first single, "Show A Little Love", propelling Lillian Axe even closer to becoming one of the most up-and- coming and respected bands of the day. However, a fatal blow was dealt to the band's soaring momentum when the record label failed to sustain enough support to give the band that extra little push it needed to truly rise to the top. Radio, MTV and a huge fan base just didn't seem to be enough to satisfy their relationship with MCA so in early 1990, the band and the label parted ways.
April of 1991 found Lillian Axe with a new label home at Grand Slamm/IRS Records as well as a new bassist, Darrin DeLatte (Bang, Bang) and drummer, Gene Barnett (Dirty Looks). After releasing a successful compilation record of the first two MCA records called "Out of the Darkness Into the Light", the band got back to work in the studio once again, this time with producer Leif Mases (Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page, Black Sabbath) and this time the band would create their most successful album to date, "Poetic Justice", which hit the streets in January of 1992. Fueled by the hit single, "True Believer" and followed by a cover version of the Badfinger classic, "No Matter What", Poetic Justice reached the upper 100 of the Billboard album charts and with True Believer hitting number 37 with a "bullet" on radio's R&R charts, Lillian Axe seemed to be well on their way to finally becoming a well deserved success story.
Spending the better part of 1992 on the road, the band criss-crossed the United States numerous times and at the end of that year, finally got to meet their European fans by playing shows in the England, Wales, Scotland, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany.
Spring of '93 saw Lillian Axe back in the studio once again, this time with new drummer, Tommy Stewart (Godsmack), in the fold. The recording sessions for their fourth studio album "Psychoschizophrenia", again with producer Leif Mases, brought out some of the most dynamic performances of the band's career. Shortly after the recording sessions, the band once again found themselves in their second home - a tour bus. This time the tour would last for nearly three years as the band played any and every place that would have them, including yet another trip to Europe and an extended co-headlining tour of the US with German rockers Accept.
By 1995 the band found themselves to be simply worn out, as anyone would be who kept up the pace that Lillian Axe had set for themselves over the last eight years. The band had always been most at home when on the road together, but the time had finally come to move out of that house for a while and do something different. There was never a big "break-up" or typical soap opera story, the guys just took a break to do different things. Who knew the break would turn into four years away from the "old girl Lillian"?
During this new time of rest, rediscovery and experimentation, Ron spent time writing and recording with old Stiff bandmate Drew Smith and released a CD called "The Bridge". Darrin and Jon Ster threw wild gigs with their crazy, party band Bonerhead in the Dallas area and Steve joined up with his brother Craig to form the band Near Life Experience. Tommy took off to Boston to play drums with ex-Stripmind drummer Sully who was now singing for a new up and coming band called Godsmack!
Before the decade could come to an end, out of nowhere the guys were contacted with an offer from European label Z Records and Japanese label Pony Canyon Records, and asked if they would be interested in putting out a collection of unreleased Lillian Axe songs. The guys accepted, and in the summer of 1999, "Fields of Yesterday" was released, giving the band's hardcore following the breath of new life they had been waiting for. Advertisements for the new CD read, "The Bitch is Back", and that statement was oh, so true. Lillian Axe was definitely back indeed. Culled from master tapes that had been waiting to surface at some point in time, the thirteen songs that comprise Fields Of Yesterday had been held in high regard by Lillian Axe fans who had passed these unreleased songs through the tape trading channels for years. Now, for the first time, fans were able to enjoy songs such as, "Pulling the Rats Out", "For Crying Out Loud", "Death Valley Daze", "Twilight in Hell" and more, on CD.
As a predecessor to the album's release, the quintet went back to their old stomping grounds, the clubs that they had regularly toured for years during the early days, and were met with overwhelming response from old and new fans alike. Make no mistake about it, the fans, as well as the guys in the band, were very happy to see Lillian Axe back. And, for the first time ever, their longtime Japanese fans would finally get their chance to experience the magic of a live Lillian Axe show when the band hit the Land Of The Rising Sun!
2001 brought new drummer, Ken Koudelka on board as Lillian Axe continued to play spot shows and hit small tours across the US and Europe.
In 2002 Lillian Axe recorded a double live CD of all their greatest songs called Lillian Axe Live 2002, recorded in Houston, TX!
2004 would bring an end to Ron Taylor's 17 year career with the band with Darrin DeLatte following later in 2006.
Lillian Axe continues to record CD's and tour the world so we encourage you to go check them out! We love and support our brothers! www.lillianaxe.com
