line up 1  (1969)

- Jeffrey Cheen -- keyboards

- C.J. -- vocals

- Tony Diorio -- drums, percussion

- Frank Ferrara -- bass, vocals

- Frankie Glicken -- lead guitar, vocals

  line up 2  (1969-72)

- Tony Diorio -- drums, percussion

- Frank Ferrara -- bass, vocals

- Frankie Glicken -- lead guitar, vocals

  line up 3  (1972-73)

- Frank Ferrara -- bass, vocals

NEW - Bruce Garry -- drums, percussion (replaced Tony Diorio)

- Frankie Glicken -- lead guitar, vocals

  supporting musicians (1972)

- Duris Maxwell -- drums, percussion

- Pete Sears -- keyboards

- Brahman (Duris Maxwell)

- The Knack (Bruce Gary)

Genre: rock

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  Bang

Company: Capitol

Catalog:  ST 11015
Year: 1971

Country/State: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: --

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 3166

Price: $50.00

Another album that sat it my listen-to pile for a couple of years.  I guess David O'Hara's Roy Lichtenstein-styled cover kept me passing it over.  Ultimately my fault for ignoring the "never judge a record by its cover" parable ...

Having met in high school and discovered a mutual passion for hard rock, bassist Frank Ferrara and guitarist Frankie Glicken started playing together as sixteen year olds.  In a move certain to have pleased their parents, the pair dropped out of high school and started looking for a drummer.  An ad in a local paper netted them 26 year old drummer Tony Diorio.  Not only was Diorio older, bt he was married and had a family.  In spite of the age differences, the trio quickly found a musical connection in their love of hard rock.  As The Magic Band, they recruiting a stream of keyboard players and singers, they started playing local parties, clubs and even a mental hospital.

Back to a trio, the band relocated from Philadelphia to Claymont Delaware where Diorio got a job managing a local discount store; the band practicing in the basement.  The next year and a half were spent writing material and rehearsing.  Aware of Captain Beefheart's claim to The Magic Band nameplate, they also opted for a name change - Bang coming to them after seeing it used in a Rolling Stone article on the onslaught of British bands.  Taking out a $1,000 bank loan the trio headed for Florida where  they managed to talk their way into an opening slot for a a Rod Stewart and the Faces headlined show at the Orlando Sports Stadium.  Concert promoter Rick Bowen was impressed, stepping in as the band's manager and opening the door to a steady stream of opening slots for the likes of Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper, Humble Pie and Mountain.  Bowen subsequently took the band in Miami's Criteria Studios where they were teamed with producers Ron and Howie Albert and started working on a long planned concept album - "Death of a Country."  With multiple labels showing interest in the band and their album, they ultimately signed with Capitol.  Ironically Capitol then rejected the album, fearing the concept album wasn't commercial enough.

Going back into the Criteria Studios with producer Michael Sunday (aka Michael Chechik) of Blue Cheer fame, the trio were informed they had two weeks to come up with an album of all new material.  The other notable change was having bassist Ferrara take over lead vocals from Glicken.  Supposedly producer Sunday felt Ferrara looked more like a rock and roll singer so he should handle the vocals.  LOL  All hyperbole aside, a young band (Ferrara and Glicken were still in their teens) with limited recording experience being able to respond with an album this good stands as an amazing accomplishment.    

I've listened to 1971's "Bang" dozens of times over the years and about all I can say is it's an overlooked slab of proto-type of metal; an album that gives bands like Black Sabbath a run for their money (incidentally Sabbath was a band Bang opened up for earlier in the career and whom they deeply admired).  Exemplified by tracks like 'Lions, Christians', 'The Queen' and 'Future Shock' the Sabbath flavor was pretty obvious; all the more so given Ferrara's vocals bore a distinctive resemblance to Osbourne, while Glicken's thick, crushing guitar sound recalled Tommy Iommi at his best. Perhaps the biggest difference from Sabbath came from the fact Diorio's lyrics were nowhere near as dark as Sabbath's inspirations. Slightly more commercial than the other seven tracks, 'Questions' was tapped as the single.  With Diorio responsible for the lyrics and Ferrara and Glicken handling the music these eight originals may not have been the most original album of the year, but the performances were universally consistent.  Curiously, under his given name "Michael Chechik" producer Sunday was  listed as a co-writer on all eight songs  Not a deal breaker but I always wondered why the performance credits list the drummer as Tony D'Iorio.  It's also one of those album's that gets better the louder you play it.  (PSA - be careful if you're listening to it with headphones.)

Capitol threw considerable effort into the trio (including "Bang Day"); the result being the album hit #164 in the States, while the single peaked at # 90.    

"Bang" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Lions, Christians (Tony Dirio - Frank Ferrara - Frankie Glicken - M. Chechik) - 3:58   rating: **** stars

If you heard 'Lions, Christians' cold cocked, there's a good chance you'd wonder if this was a Black Sabbath track that you'd somehow missed along the way. Frank Ferrara's vocals just had that Ozzy-esque flavor to them.  A song about Christian martyrs being fed to the lions?   Someone out there will know. Still hard for me to believe these guys hailed from Philadelphia.  Looking a little older, YouTube has a live performance of the song from a June, 2017 performance at the Maryland Doomfest.  Neither the sound or video quality are great: Bang - "Lions, Christians" (6/24/17) Maryland Doomfest (youtube.com)

1.) The Queen (Tony Diorio - Frank Ferrara - Frankie Glicken - Michael Chechik) - 5:24   rating: **** stars

Hum, if you've ever wondered whether the genre molten rock really exists, then 'The Queen' might be a good place to check out the sound.  Hard to believe a trio was capable of generating such a thick, all-encompassing sound.  Great intro to Glicken's crunching lead guitar.

3.) Last Will   (Tony Dirio - Frank Ferrara - Frankie Glicken - Michael. Chechik) - 4:09   rating: **** stars

Interesting to hear the band slow things down.  Yeah, 'Last Will' was a sweet  ballad, but it was a heavy ballad.  LOL  Recorded in front of an enthusiastic New Castle, Delaware crowd, YouTube has a January 2014 performance of the song: BANG "Last Will & Testament". Live In New Castle, DE. January 31, 2014 (youtube.com) 

4.) Come with Me   (Tony Diorio - Frank Ferrara - Frankie Glicken - Michael Chechik) -  4:18   rating: **** stars

Powered by a tasty Glicken guitar riff and one of his best solos, 'Come with Me' added a touch of commerciality to the underlying metal base.

(side 2)

1.) Our House  (Tony Diorio - Frank Ferrara - Frankie Glicken - Michael Chechik) - 3:26   rating: *** stars

Nah, it wasn't a cover of the CSN&Y song.  I'd suggest spinning 'Our House' for anyone who didn't think metal could be melodic.  The song was also interesting for demonstrating the band could actually handle harmonies.

2.) Future Shock  (Tony Diorio - Frank Ferrara - Frankie Glicken - Michael Chechik) - 4:38  rating: **** stars

Geez, anyone doubting the Sabbath influence need only listen to the molten rocker 'Future Shock.'   All of the ingredients are in the mix on this one - Ferrara's Ozzy-styled vocals; Glicken's Iommi-styled fretwork and that ominous vibe that penetrates so many of Sabbath's best compositions.  YouTube has a June 2017 performance of the song from an appearance at Tyrolen, Muskelrock, Alvesta, Sweden: Bang - Future Shock - Muskelrock 2017 - 1/2 - YouTube

3.) Questions  (Tony Diorio - Frank Ferrara - Frankie Glicken - Michael Chechik) - 3:50  rating: **** stars

The album's most commercial offering, producer Summer wasn't enamored with 'Questions' feeling it didn't fit in with the rest of the album's vibe.   YouTube has a surprisingly impressive clip from a July 2018 performance at Philadelphia's MilkBoys: Bang performs Questions their 1971 hit on Capitol Records at MilkBoys in Phila.,Pa July 5,2018 Live (youtube.com)

- 1972's 'Questions' b/w 'Future Shock' (Capitol catalog number P 3304)  # 90 US Billboard pop charts

4.) Redman  (Tony Diorio - Frank Ferrara - Frankie Glicken - Michael Chechik) - 4:48 rating: **** stars

Always loved the tone Glicken got out of his guitar on this one and he gets an opportunity to showcase his chops throughout..

For anyone interested, there's a nice Bang website at: https://www.bangmusic.com/

© Scott R. Blackerby August, 2024