Kory Clarke Quits Trouble and Slags Band on Exit

I never thought Kory Clarke was a great replacement for Eric Wagner in Trouble...Kory has apparently come to the conclusion that Trouble wasn't a great fit for his "talent" (or lack thereof).

Kory is quoted as saying "It will be so nice to be working without the shackles that a previous singer has left behind of a band that is over 30 years old and acts and sounds like it. I like to do progressive, pushing-the-boundary lyrics in an individualistic style. I don't want to sound like Ozzy, like [Trouble's] old singer [Eric Wagner] tried to do. I am also glad when I look to my left on stage from now on I will not be seeing 'Derek Smalls' in my peripheral vision. [Laughs]." He added "I just cannot play with people who are fundamentalist Christians, or too family-oriented to the point that they can't tour, do records or knock down a few margaritas with me at the bar. This is rock 'n' roll, guys, not the Family Channel."



I could make comments about how Clarke's voice is shot, Warrior Soul hasn't been a name (much less relevant) for years and how Clarke's second restart of Warrior Soul seems to be going the same way of his last restart of the band (fizzled - and Clarke joined Dirty Rig) but...this video says everything.



Links:
Trouble

Kory Clarke/Warrior Soul Announce The Release of Chinese Democracy

Never one for subtlety, Kory Clarke has named Warrior Soul's forthcoming CD Chinese Democracy.

Chinese Democracy is the first studio album of new material since 1995's Space Age Playboys. Kory said "I'm really proud of this album. It's been great to make another Warrior Soul record and this line up is the best I've ever had."'

The current lineup of Warrior Soul has been together for about two years and has been touring in Europe to strong reviews. The band played their first NYC show in 12 years earlier this year at Ace of Clubs and the song "Let's Get Wasted" was captured on video.


The band is playing The Canal Room on October 26th as part of a Smoke The Vote/High Times event.

Chinese Democracy will be available for sale on Warrior Soul's US tour, which kicks off this month, and the disc will be available in retail stores early next year.

Links:
Warrior Soul's MySpace Profile

Warrior Soul (Kory Clarke) Play Ace of Clubs on May 31st

Who would have thought Kory Clarke would resurrect Warrior Soul? Kory put a new lineup together last year and the band has been getting great reviews for their shows in Europe. Finally, Kory is bringing the band to the US for their first NYC show since the one-off 'reunion' show at The Continental in 2004.

The Stoned are also on the bill and Kory is both the band's drummer and producer. With Kory having recently replaced Eric Wagner in Trouble, it is amazing that this guy can find the time to be in three bands.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door.

Links:
Warrior Soul's Website
Warrior Soul's MySpace Profile

Kory Clarke Replaces Eric Wagner in Trouble

I have missed a few key shows over the years as I always assume the band will be back through the area within the next 6-12 months. I missed Joe Strummer at St. Anne's and now I am kicking myself for missing Trouble's reunion show at BB King's last year. Trouble seemed back in action so I always figured that they would come back through the area once "Simple Mind Condition" was released in the US.

A year later..."Simple Mind Condition" has yet to come out (allegedly it will come out this month but...we have all heard this before) and singer Eric Wagner just left the band. The new singer for Trouble is Kory Clarke (from Warrior Soul and Dirty Rig). I love Kory Clarke but I am going to have to see him fronting Trouble before I decide what I think of this change. Kory has a great voice but I am just having trouble imagining him singing anything from Trouble's first two CDs. At the same time, I can easily image Kory singing the material from Trouble's Def America period.

The new lineup of Trouble is doing a live webcast on July 11, 2008. You can buy a 'ticket' (for $4.99) at www.deeprockdrive.com.

Links:
Trouble's Website

Dirty Rig Book NYC Date and Stream New Tracks on MySpace

Kory Clarke is gone but new singer Tom Morrissey sounds great. He has a deeper, raspier voice than Kory which gives the band more of a hard rock sound. There are two new tracks, with Tom singing, streaming on the band's MySpace page . Kickin' Screamin' sounds great and Don't You is a fun cover of the Simple Minds hit from the 80's.


The Simple Minds cover will be included on the CD sampler that comes with the September 22 issue of Classic Rock magazine. The magazine wanted the band to cover a song that was in a movie so the members of the band decided to run a promotion/contest with MySpace and let the fans determine the outcome of the cover song.

(from Blabbermouth) "There are so many great songs out there and everyone in the band had a different idea of what song to cover," says guitarist Chris. "I wanted to do something by WAYLON JENNINGS or AC/DC, Dave wanted to cover a RUSH track, Tom wanted to do a CHEAP TRICK tune and Buckshot wanted to cover 'Cockroaches' from 'Killing Technology' by VOIVOD even though that song was never in a movie. So we just said let the fans on MySpace decide. We dont know how this particular song got picked but what ever. We said we would do what ever song was chosen and we did. We always keep our word If you don't keep your word, then you ain't worth squat."

The band is (finally) playing a show in NYC and their upcoming show is at Crash Mansion on Oct. 26th.

Beers Up!

Kory Clarke Restarts Warrior Soul

Kory Clarke has restarted Warrior Soul (aka Warrior Soul 2007) and will be touring the UK in March. This isn't a reunion as Kory has assembled a new band but it should be worth checking out if they come through New York. Kory is still one of the best front-men around and it has been too long since he has played any Warrior Soul songs live.

Kory is still singing for Dirty Rig and they have a show tonight at Don Hill's with Vains of Jenna. Dirty Rig is scheduled to hit the stage @ 10:45PM and tickets are $10.

Dirty Rig @ Escapi Music Showcase, Snitch, NYC Nov. 1, 2006

Dirty Rig was the second act to play the Escapi Music showcase. Dirty Rig are rapidly becoming one of my favorite bands to see live and they did not disappoint last Wednesday night. They started with a sloppy (drunken?) version of "Drunk Again" but settled down after this for a great set.


Korey Clarke/Dirty Rig - Snitch, NYC Nov. 1, 2006


Buckshot/Dirty Rig - Snitch, NYC Nov. 1, 2006


Chas/Dirty Rig - Snitch, NYC, Nov. 1, 2006


Dirty Rig - Snitch, NYC Nov. 1, 2006

I have some additional pictures of Dirty Rig along with the other bands (Mahavatar & Tokyo Dragons) that played on Wednesday which I will post to Flickr in the next day or two.