STARZ

INTIALLY UNDER CONTRACT TO ARISTA, UNDER THEIR ORIGINAL NAME OF FALLEN ANGELS, STARZ GOT OUT OF THE DEAL AFTER DISCOVERING THE LABEL HAD NO INTENTION OF RELEASING ANY PRODUCT, TO HOOK UP WITH CAPITAL RECORDS, WITH WHOM THE BAND RECORDED FOUR ALBUMS (FIVE, IF YOU INCLUDE THE SOUGHT-AFTER PROMOTIONAL LIVE ALBUM) BUT FAILED TO REALLY BREAKTHROUGH IN A MARKET LARGELY DOMINATED BY KISS, DESPITE GENERALLY BEING CONSIDERED MUSICALLY SUPERIOR. IT WAS MORE THAN IRONIC THAT THEY SHARED BILL AUCOIN AS MANGER!

RECORD LABEL PROBLEMS PREVENTED SINGER MICHAEL LEE SMITH AND GUITARIST RICHIE RANNO'S POST-STARZ BAND, THE HELLCATS, FROM GAINING ANY FURTHER GROUND, BUT IT IS TO RANNO'S ETERNAL CREDIT THAT HE'S SEEM FIT TO RELEASE AN INTREASTING ARRAY OF STARZ LIVE AND DEMO MATERIAL ON VARIOUS LABELS IN RECENT YEARS. UTTERLY RECOMMENDED: "STARZ" (1976), "VIOLATION" (1977).

STRAZ