Year : 1991 (Unofficial Edition)
Style : Melodic Hard Rock , AOR
Country : United States
Audio : 320 kbps + scans
Size : 95 mb
Bio:
Very good melodic hard rock / AOR band coming out of Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA.Born to an Irish father and Italian mother...JJ Bellew formed In 1986 with John Roebuck and Phil Mahr band WASHED.One of the first songs to be noticed was “I Need An Angel” as the band gained legions of fans, in 1988/90 Concrete Marketing & Promotions released a sampler that included “Alone” and “Turn It Around” by WASHED that received worldwide attention in different countries.Throughout the years WASHED were gigging with major acts like SKID ROW, JOAN JETT, and WHITE LION and never gave up hope on hitting the big time. Touring relentlessly, releasing demos and marketing their “Blue” album in 1991. The Band disbanded in January 1992.In January 1987 MIKE WHITMORE completed the line up for 1 demo and 6 months of gigs opening with “I NEED AN ANGEL” led the band to be thought of as Christian Metal. November of 87 brought change to the line up DANNY BROWN was recruited from NASTY NASTY replacing WHITMORE who joined OMYNUS. Locally the band was widely considered the first of the AIRPORT MUSIC HALL bands to break the mold buy performing strictly original music & within a year from its first gig (Apr-88) WASHED was the most popular local hard rock band. Sam Younes & (Pat Lenover who now works for LIVE NATION) booked the band in the NORTHEAST USA, networked with regional bands “SCREAMER/JIM DOFKA-Ohio/WV” “BACK TALK/Swizzles-York, Pa” and “SHOUTS manager booked/Club Narcissus-Boston” where brought to Allentown to perform at the Airport Music Hall buy Lenover/Younes & they reciprocated with WASHED going to there home turf.Stops included the “Empire Rock Room/Trocadero-Philadelphia” “The Silo/Hugo’s-Reading, Pa” “Metron-Harrisburg” “Hammerjacks-Baltimore” “Cat Club/Sanctuary-NYC” and select clubs through out Pennsylvania/New Jersey with artists such as SKID ROW, WHITE LION, JOAN JETT, KIX, TT QUICK, ZEBRA, PAT TRAVERS BAND, GREG HOWE, DIRTY LOOKS, TRIXTER, BRITNY FOX, CHILDS PLAY, BAD ENGLISH & HEAVENS EDGE.The band recorded the Power Ballad “ALONE” with producer KURT SHORE at Kajem Studios in Philadelphia the track received airplay locally from WZZO/RICK STRAUSS-WAEB 104.1/LAURA ST. JAMES! College stations WMUH/WLVR and specifically WXLV’s-MATT METAL-KAMAKIZE CRAIG-HEAVY METAL HEATHER gave the band an incredable amount of exposure!Concrete Marketing & Promotions Convention sampler in 1988 & 90 included “ALONE” and “TURN IT AROUND” respectively garnering the band international exposure in countries that included CANADA, AUSTRALIA, ITALY, UK, GERMANY, FRANCE, SWEDEN, GREECE & SPAIN. In early 1989 the lead vocal duties where offered to singer Robert Mason at the time fronting a local cover band but deided to stick with steady paycheck! Several years later he made his way west landing in “Lynch Mob” recording several albums but none ever made an impact like the George Lynch’s latter band DOKKEN.“Sept. of 89” on the strength of local support WASHED was voted by record company reps “WZZO Z-95’s 1st BACKYARD BANDS” winner to SRO crowd during the Allentown Fair. It was followed buy additional airplay from Philadelphia radio stations WMMR/CINDY DRUE and WYSP/RAY KOOB as the band performed for the Philadelphia Music Foundation at the Arch Street Empire. RICK STATKUS who engineered and co produced various tracks for WASHED came aboard in 1990 replacing JOHN ROEBUCK.With almost 3 years of intense rehearsing, gigging, and recording WASHED released the 13 track BLUE album in October 1991 selling several thousand copies worldwide with very little promotion that got the attention of ATCO, GEFFEN, WARNER BROS and ELEKTRA. But a record deal never came with the rise of “Seattle Grunge” in the early 90’s. The landscape musically was changing & it was not to long after that the Major Record Companies stopped supporting hard rock music of the 70/80’s all together as MTV dropped HEADBANGERS BALL officially marking the end of hard rock/metal in main stream America for the time being, does anybody remember the album sales & the arena’s filled??In January 1992 with possble gigs to perform at the legendary Brooklyn, NY club “L’AMOUR/KEN KREITE” where turned down starting with an opening slot with ZEBRA at the old Mystic Lounge/Thanksgiving Eve! The guys dispersed never performing ever again as BROWN went on to front IRON BOTTOM SOUND 1994-98 producing 2 CD’s & continues working to this day at MARTIN GUITAR’S in NAZERITH, PA. STATKUS kept up his studio production work with the area musicians and is still very active with various project’s at SIGNAL SOUND STUDIOS in QUAKERTOWN, Pa.PHIL MAHR has performed in several local bands and JJ BELLEW continued his song writing, recently performing with SARAH AYERS (Oct/2004-June/05 non metal). .. The bands song’s speak for themself, putting forth a great effort laying the path for record companies to sign area talent in the 90’s most notably FUEL!.
Album:
One of the mot obscure and unlucky bands in the whole metal universe.Washed only released a cassete lp in 1991 before disbanding and fading into obscurity.A few years ago the band was trying to get a record deal for an official rerelease of ''Blue'' and maybe even record new stuff but their tracks have been lost over the last two years and their myspace page remains inactive, though thousands of people still visit to listen to the underground anthem I need an angel. I advise you to listen for yourselves. The fact that this band didn't even get a record deal is one of the greatest mysteries of music. I need an angel could be a huge hit, being in the same league with songs like You give love a bad name (Bon Jovi) or Nightrain (Guns 'n' roses) . The ballad Steel could feel pain ranks among the best, showcasing tremendous power and emotional depth. When Washed got louder there were few metal bands that could match them. Guilty, Armed and Dangerous, Crawlin', three monumental heavy power songs that rivaled the best US metal bands. This band knew how to shift from melodic hard rock to uncompromised metal power. I wish this guys the best, because there were rumors some of the band members had serious health problems which caused the band to fold again and prevented the rerelease of ''Blue''. Here you can find 8 out of 11 tracks the original album included. The album front/back covers are selfmade. The songs were sent to me and several other people during the period the band was searching for a record deal.This is good but the band got much better when the line-up switched and JJ Bellew took over lead vocals and they brought in Danny Brown on rhythm guitar.This is more AOR leaning than the hard rock that followed.Washed are an example of its never too late, specially for bringing again what was best done in the 80s.The band saw the light of the day in 1986, by the hands of JJ Bellew, John Roebuck and Phil Mahr. Their debut single recorded the following year was called I Need An Angel, the first song from this promo cd. Sam Younes and Pat Lenover booked the band as much as possible in the Northeast USA, including some select clubs with artists like Skid Row and Joan Jett. Within a year, Washed became one of the most popular Hard Rock bands in the area.Their first album only came out in 1991, getting the attention to labels such as Warner Bros and Geffen. Although, the record deal never came. With the rise of the 90s Seattle Grunge and some changes occurred in the music scenario there was a lack of attention to 80s Hard Rock.Washed disbanded in 1992, and never had the chance to perform again as the guys dispersed into another projects. It wasnt until 2006, when theyve posted a bands MySpace page, and the song Guilty and Alone was included in Lehigh Vallery Rocks 1984-94 compilation that the world heard again I Need An Angel, their first song recorded, which became their anthem.This new promo cd is a compilation of old material, re-masterized. And glad they did it! I Need an Angel really is an anthem, a kind of song every 80s Hard Rock fan will like. As all the 80s band had, Washed are not an exception in having their own power ballad: Steel Could Feel Pain is a true reflection to an era.JJ Bellew has an incredible voice, a sort of mix of Jon Bon Jovis and Sebastian Bachs vocals, but still with his own essence, as the song Armed & Dangerous can perfectly show.In general, this Cd is a perfect metaphor for a turn back in time.
Line Up:
JJ Bellew (R.I.P. 2024) - Guitars, Lead Vocals - See also: ex-Sarah Ayers Band
Danny Brown - Guitars, Backing Vocals
Rick Statkus - Bass, Backing Vocals
Phil Mahr - Drums
+ past musicians:
John Roebuck – Bass, Vocals
Arnie Dannhower - Keyboards (1990-1992)
Tracklist:
01. I Need An Angel
02. Guilty
03. Dream
04. Steel Could Feel Pain
05. Turn It Around
06. Armed & Dangerous
07. Crawling
08. Alone
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
