WALLY PALMAR OF
'THE ROMANTICS'
ON THE RAY SHASHO RADIO SHOW
Our Very Special Guest Today is
multi-instrumentalist, singer and composer
Wally Palmar of The Romantics.
1980's music legends The
Romantics, Wally Palmar, Mike Skill, Rich Cole and Brad Elvis, best known
for their mega hit single “What I Like About You,” are touring the US in
support of their forthcoming album to be released on K-Tel Records titled “Up From
The Rubble”!
While it's true that the
Romantics took much of their simple thunder from the British Invasion, their
primary influence was the Frenzied excitement of the late 60's Detroit rock
scene. They cut their teeth on that High Energy sound characterized by the MC5,
the Psychedelic Stooges, Bob Seger and the Last Heard, Mitch Ryder and the
Detroit Wheels, Scott Morgan's Rationals, SRC, and Garage icons the Underdogs,
infusing it with sincerity, irony, spontaneity, and of course, Volume. The Romantics
took the essence of this scene and translated it to suit their own modern
experience. They favored short brash songs, “punk short” hair and popularized
red leather suits.
After releasing their own
independent single in 1977, consisting of the first two songs they had written
- “Little White Lies” and “I Can't Tell You Anything” - The Romantics traveled
east to establish an audience. Soon after Bomp Records' Greg Shaw sees them in
Toronto and funds a single, which included “Tell It To Carrie,” “First In
Line,” something of a stylistic matrix for The Romantics' music to come. The
Romantics considered themselves well removed from the Sex Pistols' negativity.
They didn't want Rock & Roll to go away rather they want, as Skill tells a
reporter in 1979: “to still have fun with three chords.” The late 70's U.K.
punk movement was then diluted and still misunderstood in America.
Through constant touring over
three years and meetings with CBS Brass, Natt Weiss, & Nemperor
A&R reps, they signed with Nemperor Records in 1979.
The original Romantics, Palmar,
Skill, Cole and Marinos released their debut LP. Anchored by “What I Like About
You,” “When I Look In Your Eyes” and a cover of The Kinks, Ray Davies' “She's
Got Everything.” The album is an exemplary pop-rock period piece. The Romantics
evoke a youthful portrait, haunting in its innocence, a direct contrast to the
tough world they know in Detroit. Now nearly 30 plus years later they are still
known for having created some of the most influential and beloved rock and
roll of all time.
The 2nd record, “National
Breakout” in late 1980, featuring standouts “Night Like This” and
“Forever Yours” produced tours of Europe and Australia. The 3rd record
“Strictly Personal” was released in1981. In 1983-84 they raised the bar
with “In Heat” the platinum album bearing 2 top 10 singles, “Talking In
Your Sleep” and “One In A Million” followed with a tour of Japan.
In late 1990, the Romantics added
current Blondie drummer Clem Burke to the lineup, and in 1994 they released a 5
song EP titled “Made In Detroit” for Westbound Records, containing fellow
Detroiter George Clintons' Funkadelic songs, “You & Your Folks” And “I
Wanna Know,” along with three originals. Later that year, The Romantics
received an award for Outstanding Pop/Rock Recording Artists from the Motor
City Music Awards in 1992.
1995 saw The Romantics settle
their 7 year old lawsuit against their former management
2011 brought the re-emergence of
original bass player, vocalist, Rich Cole and Mike Skill back on guitar. The
band is now able to expand their set list and include more songs from their
first two albums, and include new and unreleased material. This now allows them
to focus on more harmonies and get back to their original rock sound that
established The Romantics from the very beginning.
Once again much to the excitement
of their fans worldwide, The Romantics Palmar, Skill, Elvis, and Cole are
touring the US and Europe in support of their recently released singles from
their highly anticipated new album release “Up From The Rubble” for summer
2016!
It’s my great pleasure to welcome
Wally Palmar of The Romantics to The Ray Shasho Show. Wally thank you for being
on the show today!
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80’s cruise visit … www.the80scruise.com
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