(left to right)~
Bob on Keyboards and vocals
.Mark (behind fire) Drums and vocals
Terry on Guitar and vocals
Mike on bass and vocals
The Bolts Band was originally conceptualized and formed by the drummer and all-time leader Mark (last name suppressed for privacy, pending permission) and was called "Billion Bolts Wide". Seriously ~ the more familiar, abbreviated title of "Bolts" was later used because the original name had too many letters ~ it wouldn't fit on the marquees.
The formula for success followed being a full-time working band, with the intention of working it like a 'job' so as to earn a living. This meant performing popular rock tunes from radio to the satisfaction of the night club audiences, supplemented by a dynamic stage show with plenty of live action and pyrotechnics.
Bolts held one strong advantage over most of the Detroit scene competition: All four members were exceptional vocalists. This lent an element of flexibility and enabled the band as a whole the physical endurance to withstand the demands of night-after-night repeat performances without vocal fatigue. Furthermore, the abundant vocal capability easily accommodated replication of the era's
This was the first - and only band - I'd ever worked in that had a full-time, classically trained keyboardist. At a time just before digital sampling popularity, and when analog electric "pianos" all sounded like bells, Bobby touted a Yamaha electric portable piano - which incorporated an actual cast harp and real honest to goodness piano strings - and sounded GREAT. Bob endured the extra hour required before EVERY show to precisely tune the delicate works to produce a consistently smooth and harmonious instrumental enrichment.
The Reason (On a) Long Journey
Some of the many clubs Bolts performed at included:
USA: * Harpo's * Main Act * September's * My Place * Struttin' Club * Rusty Nail * Rudy's Uptown * Silver Bird * Canto's (Flint) * Keg-A-Brew * Viking Lanes * Blue Water Bowl * Red Light Saloon * Brickyard * Pizza Company * Top Sail * 300 Bowl * Wildwood Inn (Ortonville) * The Firehouse *
Ontario Canada: * The Village Inn (Leamington) * Danny's Canadian Club * The Lido * Riviera (Windsor)
* Woodstock Inn * Snowbird (Sarnia) * The Barn (London) * Brantford Hotel *
Editor's Note: I'll try to add dates and organize these in chronological order, if and when I can sort it out. If anybody remembers seeing Bolts someplace not listed, please e-mail me or use the feedback forum ~ my memory's not what it used to be...)
Mike was a bass guitar instructor at one of the areas top music stores, and had a strong background and understanding of music theory. He was also an associate audio engineer and worked both sides of the glass at an area recording studio.
One day Mike walked into a band rehearsal without his bass, slapped a Mel Bay's 'Beginner's Guitar Guide Volume One' down in front of me, and stormed out.
I guess I should've taken the hint.
About 2 weeks later, we had added a second guitarist (to cover the guitar solos I was too lazy to do right), rounding us up to 5 piece.
I personally purchased 125 copies (hey, it was my first record), which I left behind in a box one time when I moved.
Bob, the keyboardist, had a quite serious asthma problem, and the smoky bars aggravated his condition to the point where he was eventually forced to make a decision between the band and his health. So, we became a 4 piece (2 guitar, bass, drum) band and made a conscious move toward more guitar oriented / heavier material (i.e., Judas Priest).
Mike - Bass, Vocals
Terry - Guitar, Vocals
Phil - Lead Guitar, vocals
Mark - drums, vocals,
business management, creative direction
In a strange twist of events ~ and I'm apprehensive to write about this ~ but I'm confident everyone is sure they made the right decision ~ Mark decided to attend a "Rock music is the work of the Devil" seminar just before Halloween in 198?. He had the intent of contesting everything they were saying about the Ozzy backward masking, etc. Ironically, they somehow impressed him, and he became a Born Again Christian. Really, this is fine. Power to anyone who finds belief in anything positive. But this made him re-think what we - as a party promoting entity - were representing ~ especially since so many of the songs we were covering seemed to promote and advocate 'sin' and 'the way of the Devil'.
Eventually, Mark just decided Rock wasn't what Jesus would approve of, and the whole thing folded.
:: The PUSH Band :: :: Bolts :: :: Street Elite :: :: Mondo Kane ::