Saturday Concert

After more than two decades together, 38 SPECIAL still plays over 100 cities a year. And at every show, thousands of audience members are completely blindsided by the explosive power of the band's performance. "When we come out, people are like, 'Whoa! It's like a freight train coming at them,'" says vocalist/guitarist DON BARNES.

Their many Gold and Platinum album awards stand in testament to the endurance of a legendary powerhouse. Most associate them with their arena-rock pop smashes, “Hold On Loosely,” “Rockin’ Into the Night,” “Caught Up in You,” “Fantasy Girl,” “If I’d Been the One,” “Back Where You Belong,” “Chain Lightnin’,” “Second Chance,” and more. Timeless hits that have paved the way to their present-day hard edge, immediately noticeable from the first opening chord.

Barnes says it's all about maintaining the intensity that they deliver in their live shows. “We never wanted to be one of those groups that had gotten a little soft or complacent over the years. We’ve always said that we don’t slack up, we stack up.” It’s that truth coupled with steely determination that lives on in the hearts of those ‘Wild-Eyed Southern Boys.’

So when the group went in to record Drivetrain (Sanctuary Records), it sought to capture that live energy on disc. And as a result, 38 Special, over twenty-five years later, has never sounded so powerful and in your face.

Having had its share of success in the rock-pop realm - selling some 20 million albums - the group sought to make this latest offering all about attitude. "This album won't get labeled as the pop record of the year," frontman DONNIE VAN ZANT says with a hearty laugh, noting that, to him, Drivetrain is the ultimate 38 Special album: "It really personifies what rock and roll is all about. It's greasy, it's loud and it's proud.” And the name just seemed to fit. “The drivetrain on any motorized machine - from giant earth-movers to Indy cars - is what keeps the wheels on the road and in the game," Van Zant states, "This music keeps our wheels on the road. We've always been a band that tried to stay honest with what has driven us over the years. And it's the greatest validation just to endure, to reach that longevity.”

The often-bombastic blues-rock tracks compiling Drivetrain owe their rawness to a more natural production approach favored by Barnes and fellow guitarist/vocalist DANNY CHAUNCEY, who produced the disc together. Barnes says, "In the past, we had assumed that recordings needed to be sonically clean and compressed with no ambient noise, you know… everything in its place and nice. But our goal this time was to make it not so nice. The actual sound pressure in the room is part of the track.” And no other track on the album reveals their edge and horsepower like the lead radio single, "Hurts Like Love."

Danny Chauncey offers his take on the production. "Sometimes controlled chaos can be a good thing, so we cranked up the amps and kept the room mics open to get the ambient noise from the bashing drums and bass. We wanted to capture that explosive attitude, what we sound like LIVE with a 50-foot-tall P.A. system."

Drivetrain's southern-rock-tinged, big chorus-laden tracks cover issues as diverse as love, hope, politics, and rampant passion. But mostly, it shows the heart of a seasoned band after decades of intense roadwork. "Something I Need," "Quick Fix," as well as the first single from the album, "Hurts Like Love," focuses on extreme desire to the point of obsession. "Jam On," like many of the cuts on the disc, came from an idea that 38 had been kicking around for a couple of years. After Barnes saw U2 frontman Bono waving an American flag on the cover of Time magazine, they were inspired to finish the track. The song became sort of a reaction to the war-torn world we now live in, with an idealized solution. "That one was kind of our little political commentary. The rest of ‘em are about cars and girls," Barnes says with a laugh. On "Haley's Got a Harley," Van Zant gets more expressive and dynamic than ever: "As a vocalist, I really wanted to get outside of myself on that," he says. “It’s good to push your boundaries.”

Van Zant is a unique driving force for the band, with an unending spirit that propels the rest to always take it up a notch. His name is synonymous with Southern rock royalty, being the younger brother of icon and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, the late Ronnie Van Zant, singer and founder of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

While it's been a few years since the last full 38 Special studio record, it's not as if the band has been dormant. Far from it. The group also wrote the complete score and performed music for Searchlight Films’ “Super Troopers.” (the Drivetrain song, "Trooper With an Attitude," first appeared in the film). It was a first for an entire band to provide a soundtrack and score sequential scenes. The boys in 38 enjoyed doing the work, finding it “musically liberating,” and are presently reviewing offers for more.

A complete live 38 Special show was filmed in 1999 and is available on DVD - Live at Sturgis – filmed and recorded at the legendary annual motorcycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakota. (available on Sanctuary Records as a DVD and companion CD).

In addition to cutting a spirited holiday album, “A Wild-Eyed Christmas Night,” and contributing a track to a Hank Williams Jr. tribute disc, the band recently joined with country superstar Trace Adkins in filming the CMT televised series, “Crossroads.” Trace Adkins and 38 Special onstage together, performing their classic songs, rocked country music television like never before.

(In interview segments, Trace re-emphasized 38’s influence and impact on many new artists. The telecast has been one of CMT’s top requested re-aired segments among fans nationwide.)

For 38 Special onstage, rounded out by bassist LARRY "L.J." JUNSTROM, drummer GARY MOFFATT and keyboardist/vocalist BOBBY CAPPS, it’s a celebration of camaraderie and brotherhood unmatched. A precision team of seasoned veterans bringing the dedication and honesty to a long history of classic, timeless songs, as well as surprisingly fresh new material.

Since 1976, the band has released more than 15 albums, and from the start, they’ve toured relentlessly, bringing their signature brand of ‘muscle and melody’ to fans worldwide. While attending to this year’s rigorous touring schedule, 2011 will see the band deliver an explosive live set, 38 Special - Live From Texas.

The entire history of hits are there with some new surprises, including songs from their movie soundtracks, as well as a 38 Special version of the Top-10 country radio hit, “Help Somebody,” recorded by Donnie and his brother Johnny on their debut as Van Zant. Live From Texas, recorded at various outdoor festivals across the state, captures the rowdy party-atmosphere attitude and approach that fans have long associated with the band. “And the magic's still there,” says Van Zant. "It's a high I can't describe. It's like being strapped in a rocket. When I walk up those steps to that stage and hear that audience roar, sometimes I feel like Don and I don't even have to sing, because the crowds are so vocal! And it just takes off from there."

Says Barnes, "We've always carried an attitude that we're going out there to win, no matter who shares the stage with us. Call it a competitive edge or whatever. It’s just that we've never taken a backseat to anyone. We try to move the crowd, sort of take ‘em for a ride, you know?”

Van Zant adds, ”And since we've had the good fortune to have a lot of well-known songs over the years, each show is a victory for us. We just line 'em up and shoot 'em down. More bang for the buck, I say. By the end of the show, the crowds are so amped up, they're completely exhausted,” laughs Van Zant…"along with us!"

The Shooting Star story began one winter day in 1960 when 5-year-old Ron Verlin moved into 5-year-old Van McLain's neighborhood in suburban Kansas City. They lived one block apart from each other and became good friends. In February 1964 when the Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan show they, like so many other kids around the country, were hooked, and they drove their parents crazy begging to take guitar lessons. They put a band together with their brothers Craig McLain and John Verlin and played along to Beatles records in Ron's dad's garage. They named the band The Shooting Stars, a name inspired by Bill Haley & the Comets. Two years later Van and his brother Craig moved away to a different school district, and their garage band split up. Upon entering Shawnee Mission South High School, Van and Ron met up again. With the 50's nostalgia craze of 1971 brewing they jumped at the opportunity to put together a band that played classic 50's hits. After seeing Sha Na Na in the movie Woodstock they added three dancers to the act and called the band The Shooting Stars featuring The Galaxy's. The band played their first gig at a local school. Sock Hops were so popular they began receiving offers during the next three years to play frat parties, country clubs and schools throughout the Midwest. By 1974 Van had begun serious song writing, and the band decided to stop playing cover songs and perform their own music. Later that year they recorded a four-song demo tape and planned a trip to London, England to shop their songs for a record deal. On January 6, 1975 they embarked on a journey to London in search of fame and fortune. After three weeks of shopping their music to different record labels they were thrilled to be offered a recording contract with Arista Records. Upon signing, The Shooting Stars were then offered the opportunity to play a showcase performance at the legendary Marquee Club in London. The club was the birthplace of such bands as The Rolling Stones, The Who, Rod Stewart and the Faces, Led Zepplin, Elton John and many others. The band then made their way to Morgan Studios to record their first single, 'Take the Money & Run.' Shortly after this record was cut, Steve Miller released his title of 'Take the Money& Run,' which became a huge hit. Arista Records released The Shooting Stars from their contract and they returned to Kansas City after living in London for several months. Finding themselves without a drummer, they added Steve Thomas in January of 1976. Steve had spent the previous three years doing extensive touring of the US and Canada with a band out of St. Petersburg Florida. The boys then persuaded fellow musician Gary West to join the group as a singer and song-writing partner for Van. Gary had been a member of the premier Kansas City rock band of the 60's, The Chessmann. He had left the quartet and moved with Jim McAllister to New York City in 1974. There he formed the group The Beckies with songwriter Michael Brown, formerly of the group The Left Bank. They released one album on Sire Records. Upon Gary's return to Kansas City he and Van began songwriting in earnest. With Ron on bass and Steve on drums, they added Bill Guffey on keyboards and Charles Waltz on violin and vocals. In 1977 they shortened their name to Shooting Star and started recording demo's in Gary's garage, all the while playing gigs around the Midwest. After saving up enough money and putting a press kit together, they decided to roll the dice one more time and try to secure another record deal in New York City. Through connections that Gary had made while a member of The Beckies, the band booked a showcase at the now infamous punk rock club CBGB's. A New York management firm was among the crowd who saw the band that night, and they offered them a contract. Shooting Star returned to Kansas City with management deal in hand to continue to write new material. Six months later, in 1978, the band's management arranged for them to play another showcase at the famous New York club, Tracks. After that successful show, three different record companies - Atlantic Records, Virgin Records and A&M Records, began a bidding war over Shooting Star. They all made offers to sign the band, but Virgin Records prevailed. Virgin, then a small British record label, was looking for a rock group to break into the US market. For that purpose, Shooting Star was their first American signing. In May of 1979 they returned to London to record their self-titled debut album with producer Gus Dudgeon of Elton John fame. In January 1980 the album Shooting Star was released, and they embarked on a national tour opening for Robin Trower. With their impressive debut the band gained popularity with songs Last Chance, Tonight, You've Got What I Need and Bring It On. With radio success, Shooting Star returned to the studio in 1981 to record Hang On For Your Life with producer Dennis McKay. The album generated hits with Flesh & Blood, Breakout, Hollywood and Hang On For Your Life. In support of this record the band toured extensively with ZZ Top, Cheap Trick, Todd Rungren, Jefferson Starship and Journey. They did the radio shows Rock Line, King Biscuit Flower Hour, The Source and Westwood One. They also began headlining showcase clubs across the United States, setting attendance records as they went. In 1982 the band began recording their third album, III Wishes, at the legendary studio Caribou Ranch outside Boulder, Colorado. At the helm of this record was Journey producer Kevin Elson. Without missing a beat, they returned to touring with such acts as REO Speedwagon, John Mellencamp, Jefferson Starship, Kansas and others. 1983 saw their continued collaboration with Kevin Elson on their fourth album, Burning. This record produced radio hits Straight Ahead, Winner and Train Rolls On. While touring in support of this record, the band witnessed the departure of bassist Ron Verlin who had become disenchanted with the music industry. In 1985 bassist Norm Dahlor was recruited to take over for Ron, and the band began to record their fifth record, Silent Scream, with producer Ron Nevison. This effort produced the radio hit, Summer Sun. After completing Silent Scream the band was asked to record two songs for the movie soundtrack Up the Creek. The songs were Get Ready Boy and Take It. Van, Norm and Steve were also the backing band on Ian Hunter's single from the soundtrack, Great Expectations. The band then toured with Heart, Bryan Adams, ZZ Top and Joe Cocker. In 1986, after eight years of touring and five albums, Shooting Star decided to call it quits. Over the next several years fans from around the world grew frustrated over not being able to find Shooting Star records. By now they were all out of print even though the band continued to receive radio airplay. In July of 1989 V&R Records acquired the rights to The Best of Shooting Star. This release marked the first time that any Shooting Star record appeared on CD. The CD also included one new song written by Van called Touch Me Tonight. With the success of The Best Of, and fans' desire for new material, Shooting Star was offered a new recording contract with Enigma Records. Returning to the group were original members Ron Verlin and Van McLain. To fill out the band, they recruited Dennis Laffoon on keyboards, Rod Lincoln on drums and vocalist Keith Mitchell. The band flew to Los Angeles to make a video for the new song, Touch Me Tonight, which received extensive airplay on MTV and rose to #51 on the Billboard Singles Chart. This was the highest charting single of the band's career. The song also appeared in the Dolf Lungren movie I Come In Peace. In 1990 the band recorded their sixth album, it's Not Over. This album received critical acclaim throughout Europe and helped broaden the Shooting Star audience. The band toured with Bad English, Bryan Adams and 38 Special. After the release of this album, and with the general decline of classic rock music, the band went into semi retirement, resurfacing every few years to play occasional concerts. In 1998, after recovering from a fight with cancer, Van was asked to perform at a cancer benefit concert in Chicago. On stage were members of Night Ranger, Cheap Trick, Survivor and 38 Special. Van received a heartfelt response from the fans and his friends on stage, sparking his interest in playing again. Upon retuning home from the show, Van began writing songs and contemplated recording. In the summer of 1999, while vacationing in Nashville, Tennessee, Van was reunited with producer/engineer Kevin Beamish. Among many others, Kevin's list of credits include REO Speedwagon, Jefferson Starship, Elton John and Clint Black. Kevin and Van had met 20 years earlier while Shooting Star was recording their first album. At the time Kevin was a young engineer for Gus Dudgeon. Out of this chance meeting grew the plans to record and release Shooting Star's eleventh album, Leap of Faith. The recording took place at Sound Stage Studios in Nashville, Tennessee from December 1999 through February 2000. After the tragic events of September 11, Van wrote Let's Roll in honor of Todd Beamer. At the taping of the band DVD "Tonight" in June of 2002 the band performed the song and it brought the house down. It was then that Van decided to re-release Leap Of Faith to contain the new single. The song was well received and the band played many benefits and performed the national anthem at numerous NFL games in 2002 after the 1 year aniversary of 9/11. With a new found energy the band continued to tour. 2004 saw the return of original drummer Steve Thomas to the band as well as a licensing deal with Frontiers Records (Italy), to produce its eighth studio album, thier first in almost six years. This begins a new era as Kevin Chalfant joins the band as the new front man. Shooting Star continues to rock into the next decade of the new millineum. Shooting Star will be celebrating their 27th year as recording artists with the release this summer of their lastest studio album "Circles&quot. Watch for a tour to follow this fall. The band continues to display its resilience and love of music, while never forgetting that this could be your Last Chance! http://www.shootingstarmaniacs.com/band