If classic rock radio stations in the 1990s air mostly music from bands that blossomed two or three decades ago, chances are that in the year 2020 Lillian Axe will be on such stations' playlists.
"There is a time and a place to let people hear music from 10, 20 years ago," said Steve Blaze, the lead guitarist responsible for writing about 90 percent of Lillian Axe's pop-metal rock 'n' roll, noting that a combination of old and new songs would be ideal."Classic rock in 20 years is the music that's happening now," Blaze told the Deseret News in a phone interview from Los Angeles, where the band played during last week's upheavals.
"There's a lot of great, new bands out there, and I think it's a shame that bands are out and happening right now yet have to take a back seat to (music aired on) classic rock stations," Blaze said about trends in mainstream U.S. radio.
Like its predecessors in the '60s and '70s, however, Lillian Axe, a New Orleans-based quintet, is paying its dues by playing almost everywhere in the world.
Since the band's birth in 1983, it has toured throughout the country with Queensryche and Ratt, heavy metalists and hard rockers respectively. They've also played Europe and released three albums and a best-of collection.
After some restructuring in 1990 - which included personnel changes and signing on with a new record company that cared, namely Grand Slamm/I.R.S. - Blaze, vocalist Ron Taylor, guitarist Jon Ster, drummer Gene Barnett and bassist Darrin DeLatte started getting serious again. And loud.
"A lot of people say we are the loudest band they've ever seen," Blaze said. "I think that just makes the music that much more powerful. You feel it as well as hear it."
Lillian Axe's 1992 release "Poetic Justice" produced several catchy rock tunes. "True Believer," an original, and "No Matter What," a nicely reworked Badfinger tune, are two outstanding numbers that make anyone's ears wiggle.
To get your share of noise ordinance violation, see Lillian Axe perform Thursday, May 7, at Rafters Restaurant & Night Club, 485 W. 4800 South, Murray. Tickets are $6 in advance and $8 at the door; advance tickets are up for sale any day after 11 p.m.
The club's doors will open at 7:30 p.m. and, depending upon how many opening acts will actually appear, Lillian Axe will begin about 11-11:30 p.m., a Rafters spokesman said.
"I think especially people that have never seen us and maybe have just heard `True Believer' on the radio, they're going to be very, very surprised when they get the whole vibe of what we're all about," Blaze said.
Besides ear plugs, perhaps, Lillian Axe doesn't require any additional safety guards, as far as language and gestures are concerned. After all, they're on a musical quest to become one of tomorrow's classic rock acts.