Steve Couch- Lead Vocals , Ronnie Grimes-Keyboards, Louis Melchor-Guitar/vocals , Eddie Arce- Bass/ Vocals, Norb Bush-Drums/Persussion
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| Top-Center-Clockwise- Steve Couch, eddie Arce, Ronnie grimes, Louise Melchor, Norb Bush |
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| Star performing at a private party- winter 1974 |
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Star was probably the most creative and at the same most dysfunctional bands I ever played with. Great musicians, incredible ability, we all wanted to be the most technical and innovative band in town. We played everything difficult when it came to covers. Yes, ELP, Jethro Tull, UK, Genesis, and Happy the man were a few of trail blazing group we choose music from. We even played some Stevie Wonder, so we could at least say we have something in main stream pop.
The band came together from meeting each other over a couple of years.
I was introduced to Norb Bush from a keyboard player I used to jam with. Norb had been playing with Luis Melchor in another group. We met Ronnie Grimes through an old high school friend of mine who was one of the more popular Disco singers in town. We had all had a few moments to discuss music we like and we were all on the same page.
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We first got together with Eddie Arce, Louis Melchor, Ronnie Grimes, Dave Rapport and me. We started playing a few pop covers but our musical interest began to drift towards the more “progressive Rock” sound of the 70’s. Dave became particularly dissatisfied with that approach, tensions developed in the band, resulting in Dave’s departure. We immediately called Norb Bush and asked him to stop buy and check us out.
Norb quickly established himself as an integral part of our sound. His drum style was more rock-jazz-influenced and similar to the drumming sound of Bill Bruford. His approach really rounded out the sound of the band.
We almost immediately abandoned any attempt at commercially popular music and began to concentrate our efforts on the English Progressive rock sound. We learned “Roundabout,” “Long Distance Runaround” ‘” Starship Trooper “, “Yours is no disgrace” and “Close To the Edge” by Yes. Not wanting to get too nailed down to one group, we also began picking up some ELP with Karn Evil 9, Knife-Edge, and the Barbarian. Ronnie was amazing keyboard player and was as comfortable with classical piano as with synthesizers and organs. We soon began to add other Progressive Rock tunes, from UK, Genesis and others.
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| Quality of this shot is terrible- but I am having trouble finding photos- we just did not take many- too wrapped up int he music |
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At this point, although we played from incredible private parties and a few clubs, the gigs were not over abundant because we did not appeal to all commercial rock fans and disco was quickly rising and taking over other performance venues.
We began writing originals and things really became fun. We did not have a lot of rules and the thus the songs were imaginative and rather non-commercial.
The band's onetime stated aim was to "expand the frontiers of contemporary popular music at the risk of becoming very unpopular,"—I think we achieved that! I think it was evident when we got fired after the first set when playing at one the most popular disco clubs in Ft. Lauderdale,” The Flying Machine” because the owner said NO ONE danced, they just listened! Well..Shame on us!!!
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I have attached a few recording to this page as representation of the band. .
Fantasy –Star this is the only studio original recording from this band. The recording only has:
Ronnie Grimes- Keyboards, Norb Bush on drums and I am on vocals. (Louis had left to attend Berkley School of Music and Eddie never could be reached in time) Ronnie covered the Bass on keys and we did without a guitar part.
Ronnie had been playing with Florida National Recording Artists” Tiger Tiger” and was able to attain some free Studio time at Criteria Recording studios. We only had a short window of time to record and mix everything. The recording is not a final mix, but a mix that was made for me to work on additional harmonies. There was never a final mix of this song that I know of.
The song was first introduced to the band by Louis Melchor and became one of our most recognized originals.
Close To The Edge –Yes this was done in our rehearsal space on a 2 track recorder when Norb had just entered the band. We were not well rehearsed and were attempting some challenging stuff. No mixing- just raw recording- just learning it so give us a breakJ
In The Dead Of Night- UK – Again this was done at the same session in our rehearsal space on a 2 track recorder. No mixing- just raw recording-again the just learning it so give us a break
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