Jeff Slate, founder and frontman for beloved indie outfit, The Badge, has announced that his first solo-project LP release Birds of Paradox will be available today, October 9, 2012, with an album release party to follow at Joe's Pub Wednesday, October 10, 2012.
Following on the success of Jeff Slate's 2010 single Dreamtime, which featured longtime
David Bowie cohorts Earl Slick, Carlos Alomar and Gail Ann Dorsey, the album boasts performances from legends in the NYC scene, spanning decades of legacy. Gary Van Scyoc (bass, vocals) and
Adam Ippolito (keyboards, vocals) played with
John Lennon's Plostic Ono Elephant's Memory Band, on
Yoko Ono's recordings, and have played with
Chuck Berry,
Bo Diddley,
Paul Simon,
Keith Moon,
Mick Jagger and many more. Steve Holley (drums) was a member of Wings for 3 years and has played with
Elton John, Joe Cocker,
Chuck Berry,
Ian Hunter and many more over his illustrious career. Jimmy "Mack" McEggliott (guitar, vocals) was a member of 1980s New York New Wavers The Propellers and has performed with countless rock legends as well, including Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famers Tommy Ramone,
Tommy James and
Gene Cornish, and Denny Lane. The title of the LP, Birds of Paradox, is taken from the song written by
John Lennon about
May Pang, "Surprise, Surprise; Sweet Birds of Paradox", owing to the fact that Pang introduced the members of Jeff Slate's band, leading to their first performance together at her 60th birthday party in 2009.
"It began as an act of charity," Jeff Slate says in the liner notes to Birds of Paradox. "I was the musical director for a charity event and Steve Holley, who used to be the drummer in Wings, was one of the guest performers. We hit it off and I asked him to drum on some songs of mine in the studio a few weeks later. When we got in there it was exciting. The songs sounded better than I could have ever dreamed. After 15 years making records and playing live with The Badge a new door had opened and I was excited again about making music."
With a setlist of songs from Birds of Paradox, crowd favorites from Slate's tenure with The Badge, and classics that Van Scyoc and Ippolito performed live with Lennon, as well as hits by
Bob Dylan, The Band, The Beatles and other giants of the last 50 years of popular music, upcoming live shows are sure to bring the house down.
"We rehearsed at the old Hit Factory, which is now the New York headquarters of Gibson Guitars, and then started with a few shows out of town in Rhode Island and near Woodstock" said Slate. "It sounds fantastic and the crowd response has been amazing. It's such a thrill to play these songs with these musicians. It's intimidating to think the last time Gary and Adam played 'Come Together' was with
John Lennon at
Madison Square Garden, but even more than that it's exciting."
Jeff Slate (vocals, guitar) is a singer/songwriter from New York City. He co-founded the 1980's mod/punk band the Mindless Thinkers, who were mainstays on the Northeast college circuit. In the mid-90's he released "The Townshend Tapes", on which The Who's
Pete Townshend acted as Executive Producer, and opened for
Sheryl Crow on her "Tuesday Night Music Club" tour. In 1997 he founded the band The Badge, who released four albums and countless singles, EPs and live "bootleg" sets and went on to become darlings of the UK/European "mod" scene in the 2000's. In 2010 Jeff released the single "Dreamtime", which featured Earl Slick (Lennon, Bowie) and Carlos Alomar (Bowie, Lennon). "Birds of Paradox" is his first solo album of original material. Jeff has appeared on television and radio numerous times and his songs have appeared in network television shows and major motion pictures. Jeff proudly endorses Gibson/Epiphone guitars, Hofner basses and Vox amps.
Gary Van Scyoc (bass, vocals) and
Adam Ippolito (keyboards, vocals) were key members of
John Lennon's Plastic Ono Elephant's Memory Band. They appeared on Lennon's 1972 album "Sometime In New York City" as well as at his "One to One" concerts at
Madison Square Garden and "Live In New York City" album and video of those shows. In 1973 they appeared with Lennon on
Yoko Ono's "Approximately Infinite Universe" double-album. In 2010 they appeared in the documentary film "LENNONNYC." Together and apart they have also appeared on recordings by or in concert with
Chuck Berry,
Bo Diddley,
Stevie Wonder,
Mick Jagger,
Jerry Garcia,
Neil Sedaka,
Keith Moon,
Paul Simon and Kool & the Gang.
Steve Holley (drums) was a member of
Paul McCartney & Wings from 1978-1981. He played on the mega-hits "Coming Up" and "Goodnight Tonight" as well as the critically acclaimed 1979 UK tour and album "Back To The Egg." Steve had previously worked with
Elton John, and since leaving Wings he has provided some of the most solid and creative beats for Joe Cocker,
Ian Hunter and a who's who of music, including
Julian Lennon, Dar Williams,
Chuck Berry, Popa Chubby, Denny Laine,
Phoebe Snow,
Gary Brooker, Warren Haynes,
Tommy Shaw and many others. In 2003 he released his first solo album 'The Reluctant Dog.' Steve proudly endorses Pearl Drums, Sabian Cymbals and Rhythm Tech Percussion.
Jimmy "Mack" McEggliott (guitar, vocals) has performed and/or recorded with countless music legends, including Rock & Roll Hall of Famers
Gene Cornish (Young Rascals), Tommy Ramone and
Tommy James (Shondells), Denny Laine (Wings, Moody Blues), Carlos Alomar (Bowie, Lennon),
Will Lee (Fab Faux, Letterman), Dennis Diken (Smithereens), Vince Martell (Vanilla Fudge),
Arno Hecht (Rolling Stones),
Peppy Castro (Blues Magoos), Juma Sultan (Hendrix), Ian Lloyd (Stories/Foreigner),
John Ford (The Strawbs), Rob Stoner (
Bob Dylan), Marshall Crenshaw and many others. Jimmy was a member of the 1980's New York City band The Propellers and appeared on the television cult classic "Uncle Floyd Show." His songs have aired on major FM stations including WLIR & WNEW-FM in NYC.
The album also features Laurence Juber (Wings), Gene Parsons (The Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers),
Alex Alexander (
Bruce Springsteen, Willie Nile), Simon Townshend (The Who,
Roger Daltrey) and Susie Collins (ELO, Ace Frehley).
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