I'm looking for the name of a band that played in the era of 1983-1984, I don't think they ever made it very big. I went to a concert of their's at Adventure Island in Tampa FL around the end of June 1983 where the lead singer played in his pajamas. The highlight of the band was a violin player (may be the lead singer)who could jam on the violin. I had two of their cassettes, one of which I was able to find in Phoenix AZ, so they had to be big enough to at least get circulated that much. Unfortunately, I can't remember the names of any of their songs, or albums,or the group either - I can only remember the violin intro to one of their songs - but you can't hear me hum that!! I know this is a real shot in the dark, but if anyone remembers a band where the violin was a big part of all of their songs, please respond!! Thanks, Valerie

Shooting Star...Fantastic Band. Still have their "Hang" album on vinyl. They WERE super live!! Saw them with another unknown band back then called Night Ranger.

> I'm looking for the name of a band that played in the era of 1983-1984, I
> don't think they ever made it very big. I went to a concert of their's at
> Adventure Island in Tampa FL around the end of June 1983 where the lead
> singer played in his pajamas. The highlight of the band was a violin
> player (may be the lead singer)who could jam on the violin. I had two of
> their cassettes, one of which I was able to find in Phoenix AZ, so they
> had to be big enough to at least get circulated that much. Unfortunately,
> I can't remember the names of any of their songs, or albums,or the group
> either - I can only remember the violin intro to one of their songs - but
> you can't hear me hum that!! I know this is a real shot in the dark, but
> if anyone remembers a band where the violin was a big part of all of their
> songs, please respond!! Thanks, Valerie

I've been here only about two weeks now, and I swear, if these q's regarding "mystery" songs/artists from the '80s on this board don't start getting a little tougher, I'm outta here! (evil grin)

Valerie, that rock band you saw playing at Tampa's Adventure Island in June of '83, which included an ace violinist (his name was Charles Waltz) and a lead singer who performed in his pj's (Gary West), was called Shooting Star. They're out of Kansas City, MO, and you're right, they were only moderately successful here in the U.S. Shooting Star did manage a few minor pop hits, the two most notable being "You've Got What I Need" in the Spring of '80, and "Hollywood" in the Spring of '82.

The band's heyday was from 1979-85, during which they released five albums ("Shooting Star", "Hang On for Your Life", "III Wishes", "Burning", and "Silent Scream"). They would've been touring in support of their newly-released 1983 album, "Burning", when you saw them in June of that year. And yes, they were signed to major labels during this stint, so their albums always had national distribution. Therefore, SS's vinyl LPs & cassettes would've been readily available in the early to mid '80s, inc. in both the Phoenix and Tampa areas. And you're in luck-just this Summer, all of those first five albums that I named above were re-issued on CD for the first time ever! (They also have a hits collection titled "Touch Me Tonight-The Best of...", which came out in '89. Unfortunately, that one's now out-of-print, but it was released on CD.) I myself have all six of these albums on cassette, inc. "The Best of...". Great classic "heartland" rock 'n' roll, '80s style-highly recommended!

After SS's 1985 album, "Silent Scream", basically flopped (despite being signed to a new label), the original lineup called it quits in '86. However, three years later, in 1989, lead guitarist (and back-up vocalist) Van McLain decided to re-form the band w/ some new members, and believe it or not, that incarnation of SS is still together to this day! Unfortunately for purists of the band, violinist Waltz and lead singer West were not among those who re-joined. The new lineup, spearheaded by founding member McLain, has since released two additional albums here in the '90s under the Shooting Star name, and continues to perform live shows in the Midwest.

If you click on the link I've provided below (http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Ithaca/8684/ShootingStar), it'll take you to an excellent web site on Shooting Star (affectionately known as the "Shooting Star Maniac Asylum"), run by a fellow fan named Robert Landrum. It includes many vintage pics of the band, inc. violinist Waltz and lead singer West in his pj's! Last Fall, Robert also started a mailing list through "ListBot" for us SS fanatics, which you can sign up for by going to "http://SSManiac.Listbot.com";. The mailing list is currently up to about 100 people, inc. yours truly and original SS keyboardist Bill Guffey! Why don't you join us, Valerie, and share your story of seeing the band back in '83??? (Never seen 'em live myself!) You can learn all about how & where to obtain all of the band's CDs, obtain vintage video footage(!), ask questions about their history, swap info w/ fellow fans, not to mention hear some of Bill Guffey's wild stories from the band's early days! It's pretty cool having one of the actual (former) band members on board. Always looking for new folks to join us, Valerie! :-)

> I'm looking for the name of a band that played in the era of 1983-1984, I
> don't think they ever made it very big. I went to a concert of their's at
> Adventure Island in Tampa FL around the end of June 1983 where the lead
> singer played in his pajamas. The highlight of the band was a violin
> player (may be the lead singer)who could jam on the violin. I had two of
> their cassettes, one of which I was able to find in Phoenix AZ, so they
> had to be big enough to at least get circulated that much. Unfortunately,
> I can't remember the names of any of their songs, or albums,or the group
> either - I can only remember the violin intro to one of their songs - but
> you can't hear me hum that!! I know this is a real shot in the dark, but
> if anyone remembers a band where the violin was a big part of all of their
> songs, please respond!! Thanks, Valerie

Hmmml, don't know about how much violin is used but... Dexy's Midnight Runners uses violins for certain, and Cutting Crew as a violin opening/closing in "I died in your arms tonight" (though it might be synthesized).

Jack