Beat Angels - Unhappy Hour
Produced by Gilby Clarke of Guns n Roses, The Beat Angels consist of some former Gentlemen After Dark musicians that Alice and Wagner where credited as Producers. Singer and songwriter Brian Smith who never toured with Alice but has co-wrote "Sideshow" from Alice's "The Last Temptation" album.
The Beat Angels are much better than GAD and have that party sound to them. They have no message of changing the world. They just trying to survive the next day's hangover, girlfriends and the next gig in town. With sounds of The Ramones, Boomtown Rats, and New York Dolls The Beat Angels are a good party band with upbeat music and snappy lyrics.

Beat Angels are: Brian Smith - vocals, Kevin Pate - bass, Keith Jackson - guitar, Jon Norwood - drums, Michael Brooks - guitar.

Beat Angels - Red Badge Of Discourage
Second album from Beat Angels is even better than the first one. Produced again by Gilby Clarke, they seem to have the whole sound down on this album. Some may think this title was a play on words from Stephen Crane's Red Badge of Courage. But what I heard they were influenced by paperback trash novels with their double entendre titles. From their punkish "Snot" to glam "Glitter Girl" with a bonus track Marc Bolan "Celebrate Summer" Beat Angels are an excellent band to listen too. They sound very Boomtown Rats more so on this album. Which is good since I was a big Boomtown Rats fan but that was before Geldof took the title of God.

A new change in the band is bassist Tommy Cardonna who played with Alice Cooper on the "Trash' tour. Beat Angels: Brian Smith - vocals, Tommy Cardonna - bass, Keith Jackson - guitar, Frankie Hanyak - drums, Michael Brooks - guitar.

On a side note I seen them perform at Mamakin's in Boston on Dec 20, 1997. They opened up for Gilby Clarke but I actually went to see the Beat Angels as they put on an excellent show. Brian Smith was like a hyper kid on stage as he leaped and twirled his arms around like a Warner Brothers cartoon character.

Dad's Porno Mag (Ryan Roxie) - Dad's Porno Mag
Alice played with so many musicians that after they tour with him they seem to come out with their own albums. It's like going to The Alice Cooper University. Well one of the graduates I have to say released one of the best albums. Dad's Porno Mags is the creation of Ryan Roxie who started playing with Alice since The Last Temptation tour. Ryan as of today is still touring and recording with Alice as he puts out number of albums with different bands. Ryan also played on Slash's Snake Pit second album.
Dad's Porno Mag is a pretty rockin' album. Some songs have that grunge sound as well as garage rock. The DPM members are: Ryan Roxie - lead vocals & guitar, Will Effertz - bass, Mike Fasano - drums. Ryan Roxie has a good set of vocals on him.

The songs on this album are amazing as DPM warns you not to take your girlfriend to their shows in "Smell My Finger" which starts off like a Cars song.

...if you think I don't like her smell my finger
if you did why you bring her
to the rock show to stand in front of me...

"Pigeons Are Rude" is one of my favorites on this album. Matter of fact Gilby Clarke produced that only track. That one and "Rule Me" remind me of Nirvana.
There is an untitled track no. 77, "My Bad Knee" (info given to me by Droid from Ryan Roxie's site) at the end which is also a favorite of mine.
The only thing I don't like is you have to wait five minutes of dead air space before it comes on.
I wish bands would stop doing that. It's a pain when you have more than one CD in a carousal tray.

I believe they came out with different covers. The one I have is the first ones issued out.
Ryan Roxie is into the 70's era so as you look through the CD cover of the kid's room you see '70 images such as Frampton Comes Alive, Boston and Journey albums. The posters on the wall of Linda Carter as Wonder Woman, Daisy Duke's Barbara Bach, Farrah Fawcett, Heather Thomas or is that Locklear? I get them confused.
Anyway excellent album a must buy.

Kip Winger - Down Incognito
Winger who first starting playing Bass w/ Alice on 'Constrictor' and 'Raise Your Fist & Yell' album later struck out on his own w/ one of top 80's Hair band Winger. Once Grunge came in most of the 80's Hair bands went limp. Winger was one of a number of bands that were ridiculed and mad fun of in many parodies such as on Beavis & Butthead animation. The same program MTV who at onetime hoisted Winger on the top ten videos were now the band to be kicked in the mosh pit.

For sometime Winger has disbanded and in '97 Kip Winger came out as a solo artist.
'Down Incognito' is his 2nd release as Kip Winger. This acoustic album has a new direction that Kip has made on DeadLine Records. Kip has 2 of his band mates Reb Beach & Paul Taylor on a few tracks.
Kip sings w/ a more rasp on a few numbers.
Some of my favorite tracks are 'Another Way', 'Daniel' and 'Rainbow In The Rose' to name a few. It's not a bad CD maybe if he has Ryan Adams produce it to give it a more Jesse Malin style I think it would sound better. It still has a hint of 80's a little like Bon Jovi's acoustic style.

Kip on guitar & vocals the band consist of guitarist John Roth, percusion Robbie Rothchild, bass Joe Tucker.

Happypill - HappyPill

Ryan is an amazing guitarist that played w Alice cooper for over 10 years. Being a good showman and the meaning of Rockstar Ryan formed a number of bands such as Dad’s Porno Mag, Roxie 77, and Glamnation , a tribute band of Glam songs.

Ryan decided after his marriage & starting a family of residing in Sweden. Happypill is one of his latest projects. Still glam related Happypill is one excellent band. This EP is only 4 tracks and out of those tracks you have only 2 songs "This Year" and "36 Hours".
Bonus tracks are 2 versions of "This Year". You have the Stadium Mix and Bonfire Mix. Stadium sounds like the actual cut w/ only an audience intro. The bonfire acoustic and just as good.

Now “This Year” and “36 Hours” are both great tunes w/ catching lyrics & good hooks it leaves you wanting more. Unfortunately that’s it.
I hope they come out w/ a full recording soon.


This EP was signed by the band & includes 2 Ryan Roxie 77Guitar picks.

The band consist of
Ryan: guitar, lead vocals, Johan: guitar, keyboard, background vocals, Magnus: bass, background vocals, Anton: drums, background vocals.

http://www.myspace.com/happypill07