Kick Axe

{{Short description|Canadian rock band}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Kick Axe | image = | caption = | image_size = | background = group_or_band | alias = Spectre General, Hobbit | origin = Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada | genre = Heavy metal, glam metal, hard rock | years_active = {{start date|1974}}–{{end date|1988}} 2002–present | label = Pasha, Epic, Song Haus Music | associated_acts = | website = {{URL|www.kickaxe.net}} | current_members = Daniel Nargang Brian Gillstrom Victor Langen Raymond Harvey | past_members = Larry Gillstrom George Criston Charles McNary Gary Langen Dave Zurowski Wally Damrick }}

'''Kick Axe'''<ref name="Music Express">{{cite web|url=http://kickaxe.wz.cz/press/1984-07-Music-Express/index.htm|title=Music Express, Vol. 8, No. 81, p. 44: The Vice Squad's Heavy Metal Shuffle by Keith Sharp|date=July 1984|access-date=2018-01-27|archive-date=2018-01-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129004253/http://kickaxe.wz.cz/press/1984-07-Music-Express/index.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Indianapolis Star">{{cite web |url=http://kickaxe.wz.cz/press/1984-07-06-Indianapolis-Star/index.htm|title=Indianapolis Star, p. 22: Canada's Kick Axe Prefers to Be 'Heady' Metal by Jill Warren|website=Kickaxe.wz.cz |date=6 July 1984}}</ref><ref name="Indianapolis News">{{cite web |url=http://kickaxe.wz.cz/press/1984-07-07-Indianapolis-News/index.htm|title=Indianapolis News, p. 14: Kick Axe Taking Heavy Swing by Zach Dunkin|website=Kickaxe.wz.cz |date=7 July 1984}}</ref><ref name="Deseret News">{{cite web |url=http://kickaxe.wz.cz/press/1984-07-27-Deseret-News/index.htm|title=Deseret News, p. W9: Band Enters via Great White North by Jerry Spangler|website=Kickaxe.wz.cz |date=27 July 1984}}</ref><ref name="Kerrang!-1">{{cite web |url=http://kickaxe.wz.cz/press/1984-08-Kerrang/index.htm|title=Kerrang!, No. 75, p. 20: The Vice is Right by Howard Johnson|website=Kickaxe.wz.cz |date=23 August 1984}}</ref><ref name="Metal Hammer-2">{{cite web |url=http://kickaxe.wz.cz/press/1987-08-Metal-Hammer-UK/index.htm|title=Metal Hammer (UK), Vol. 2, No. 8, p. 100: Kick Axe|website=Kickaxe.wz.cz |date=August 1987}}</ref> is a Canadian heavy metal band from Regina, Saskatchewan. Influenced by rambunctious arena rock from the 1970s and early 1980s, the group is perhaps best known for their 1984 album ''Vices'',<ref name="Kerrang!-5">{{cite web |url=http://kickaxe.wz.cz/press/1984-06-Kerrang/index.htm|title=Kerrang!, No. 71, p. 9: Vices album review by Howard Johnson |website=Kickaxe.wz.cz |date=28 June 1984}}</ref> praised by publications such as ''AllMusic'' for its "down-and-dirty guitar riffs" and managing to crack the American market.<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/vices-mw0000311540|title=AllMusic: Vices album review by Steve Huey |website=AllMusic |date=January 2018}}</ref> The band achieved moderate commercial success in the mid-1980s on the strength of the singles "Heavy Metal Shuffle", "On the Road to Rock", "With a Little Help from My Friends", and "Rock the World". Following the release of their 1986 album ''Rock the World'',<ref name="Kerrang!-7">{{cite web |url=http://kickaxe.wz.cz/press/1987-03-Kerrang/index.htm|title=Kerrang!, No. 142, p. 19: Rock the World album review by Derek Oliver|website=Kickaxe.wz.cz |date=19 March 1987}}</ref> Kick Axe disbanded and remained on hiatus for many years. In 2004, they re-emerged with the album ''Kick Axe IV''.<ref name="PRWeb-1">{{cite web |url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/9/prweb154928.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041103190555/http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/9/prweb154928.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 3, 2004|title=Cision PRWeb: Kick Axe Returns With New Studio Album 'Kick Axe IV' On Song Haus Music On September 7, 2004 'Kick Axe IV' Is The First Album From The Canadian Hard Rockers Since 1986 by Bret Adams |date=4 September 2004}}</ref>

The band's "classic" mid-1980s lineup consisted of George Criston (vocals), Larry Gillstrom (lead guitar), Raymond Harvey (lead guitar), Brian Gillstrom (drums), and Victor Langen (bass guitar). Vocalist Criston did not return for the band's 2004 reunion, being replaced by Gary Langen, who had actually been a founding member of the band in the late 1970s.

== History == ===Early years (1974–1980)=== Kick Axe was formed in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, in 1974 by Larry Gillstrom (guitar), Victor Langen (bass guitar), and his brother Gary Langen (drums, lead vocals), but at those times they called themselves Hobbit. In 1976, they changed the name to Kick Axe. After several line-up changes, by 1979, they added a guitarist Raymond Harvey and relocated to Vancouver, British Columbia, in search of greater exposure. Gary Langen was not willing to leave Saskatchewan and was replaced by Larry's brother Brian Gillstrom. The group began recording in 1979 but scrapped the sessions because they felt they needed a more distinguished front man. Vocalist Charles McNary was brought in and the band started to make waves, even making an appearance on a ''Playboy'' compilation album.

===Career expansion, decline and fall (1981–1988)=== McNary left the band in 1982, and, after an international search, he was replaced in 1983 by George Criston (from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US), giving Kick Axe the "distinguished front man" they had long desired. Shortly after his joining, the group signed a major label deal with Spencer Proffer's Pasha Records. Their debut album ''Vices''<ref name="Kerrang!-5"/> was released in 1984 to critical acclaim, and the band toured behind such top acts of the day as Judas Priest, Whitesnake, Scorpions, and Pasha label-mates Quiet Riot. A cover of Humble Pie's "30 Days in the Hole" appeared on the ''Up the Creek'' movie soundtrack in 1984 as well as on the chromium dioxide cassette version of ''Vices''.<ref name="Kerrang!-5"/> The song also appeared on the first of two Muchmusic compilation albums, promoting the network's weekly ''Power Hour'' program. ''Vices'' meant for Kick Axe their biggest commercial success, reaching position No. 126 at the Billboard 200 album chart.

The band's follow-up album, ''Welcome to the Club'',<ref name="Kerrang!-6">{{cite web |url=http://kickaxe.wz.cz/press/1986-05-29-Kerrang/index.htm|title=Kerrang!, No. 121, p. 16: Welcome to the Club album review by Derek Oliver|website=Kickaxe.wz.cz |date=29 May 1986}}</ref> was released in 1985, and included a handful of guest stars. Meanwhile, the group appeared on ''The Transformers: The Movie'' soundtrack under the name "Spectre General", the name change being due to legal complications. The band name still appeared as Kick Axe on the Canadian release of the album. They recorded two songs under that name: "Hunger" (later covered by King Kobra on their 1985 album ''Ready to Strike'') and "Nothin's Gonna Stand in Our Way" (originally by John Farnham for the film ''Savage Streets'') which were included on the soundtrack. Guitarist Harvey left the band in 1986, and the band elected to carry on as a four-piece.<ref name="Metal Hammer-2"/> Their next album, ''Rock the World'',<ref name="Kerrang!-7"/> a return to their heavy metal roots, was released but by then all momentum had been lost. By 1988, dropped by their record label, Kick Axe broke up.

===Reunion without Criston (2002–2022)=== The band reformed in 2002 with original member Gary Langen singing for Criston who was unavailable to join the reunion due to prior work commitments. The new album, entitled ''Kick Axe IV'',<ref name="PRWeb-1"/> was released the following year. In 2008, Gary Langen left the band and was replaced with new vocalist Daniel Nargang, formerly of the Regina metal band Into Eternity. They went on to play Canadian tour dates <ref name="RUR Publicity-1">{{cite web |url=http://rurpublicity.com/?p=1041|title=RUR Publicity: Kick Axe - Still on the Road To Rock by Bonita Patoine|website=Rurpublicity.com |date=15 February 2010}}</ref><ref name="RUR Publicity-2">{{cite web |url=http://rurpublicity.com/?p=5868|title=RUR Publicity: Kick Axe & Helix - Capitalizing CANADIAN CLASSIC ROCK by Bonita Patoine |website=Rurpublicity.com|date=4 February 2012}}</ref> and rock festivals over many years.<ref name="KelownaNow">{{cite web |url=https://www.kelownanow.com/app/webroot/featured/The-Resurgence-of-Rock-and-Roll|title=KelownaNow: The Resurgence of Rock and Roll by Savannah Bagshaw & Cami Hill|website=Kelownanow.com |date=August 2016}}</ref><ref name="Sleaze Roxx">{{cite web |url=http://sleazeroxx.com/kick-axe-to-play-cannafest-in-grand-forks-british-columbia-canada-on-august-11th|title=Sleaze Roxx: Kick Axe to play CannaFest in Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada on August 11th by Olivier|website=Sleazeroxx.com |date=12 June 2017}}</ref>

=== Modern-day comeback and death of Larry Gillstrom (since 2023) === On July 26, 2023, almost 20 years since their last release, Kick Axe released a new single with Daniel Nargang on vocals, "Blackout Crazy".<ref>{{Cite web |title=KICK AXE Unveils Video For New Single "Blackout Crazy" |url=https://bravewords.com/news/kick-axe-unveils-video-for-new-single-blackout-crazy |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=Bravewords.com |date=17 July 2023 |language=en}}</ref> This was followed up with the anthemic rock song "Run to the Thunder" on October 15, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-17 |title=Kick Axe unveil new single "Run To The Thunder" |url=https://sleazeroxx.com/kick-axe-unveil-new-single-run-to-the-thunder/ |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=Sleazeroxx.com |language=en-CA}}</ref> The band's websites and social media pages were updated to include information on an upcoming album, their first since ''Kick Axe IV'', scheduled for release in "early 2024".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kick Axe |url=https://kickaxe.net/home |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=Kickaxe.net}}</ref>

On August 11, 2025, the band announced via social media that the founding member Larry Gillstrom had died on August 4, at the age of 70.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sleazeroxx.com/r-i-p-kick-axe-guitarist-larry-gillstrom-1955-2025/|title=R.I.P. Kick Axe guitarist Larry Gillstrom (1955-2025) |website=Sleazeroxx.com|date=August 12, 2025|access-date=August 12, 2025}}</ref>

==Band members== ===Current=== *Victor Langen – bass, keyboards, backing vocals (1974–1988, 2002–present) *Brian Gillstrom – drums, backing vocals (1980–1988, 2002–present) *Raymond Harvey – guitars, backing vocals (1978–1986, 2002–present) *Daniel Nargang – lead vocals (2009–present)

===Former=== *Larry Gillstrom – guitars, keyboards, backing vocals (1974–1988, 2002–2025; died 2025) *Gary Langen – drums (1974–1980), lead vocals (1974–1980, 2002–2008) *Dave Zurowski – guitars (1975–1978) *Todd Player – keyboards (1975–1976) *Roland Gibbs – keyboards (1975–1976) *Wally Damrick – keyboards (1978)<ref name="Kick Axe Fan Site-1">{{cite web |url=http://kickaxe.wz.cz/bio.htm|title=Kick Axe Official Fan Site: Biography |website=Kickaxe.wz.cz |date=January 2018}}</ref> *Charles McNary – lead vocals (1980–1982) *George Criston – lead vocals (1982–1988)

==Discography== ===Studio albums=== * ''Vices'' (1984) (No. 66 Canada)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.8532.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - September 15, 1984|website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca}}</ref> * ''Welcome to the Club'' (1985) (No. 93 Canada)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.0630.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - February 15, 1986|website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca}}</ref> * ''Rock the World'' (1986) * ''Kick Axe IV'' (2004)

===Live albums=== * ''Captured Live!'' (1984) (promotional album)

===Singles=== * "Weekend Ride" and "One More Time" (1981) * "On the Road to Rock" and "Stay on Top" (1984) * "Heavy Metal Shuffle" (1984) * "With a Little Help from My Friends" and "Can't Take It With You" (1985) (No. 79 Canada)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.0622.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - January 18, 1986|website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca}}</ref> * "Comin' After You" and "Feel the Power" (1985) * "The Chain" and "Red Line" (1986) * "Nothin's Gonna Stand In Our Way" and "Hunger" (1986) (outside Canada released under the name "Spectre General" instead of Kick Axe) <ref name="Kick Axe Fan Site-2">{{cite web |url=http://kickaxe.wz.cz/disco/1986-Transformers/1986-Scotti-SZ-40430/index.htm|title=Kick Axe Official Fan Site: Discography: Transformers: The Movie 1986 Scotti Brothers SZ-40430 CAN release|website=Kickaxe.wz.cz |date=January 2018}}</ref><ref name="Kick Axe Fan Site-3">{{cite web |url=http://kickaxe.wz.cz/disco/1986-Transformers/1986-Scotti-Z-40430/index.htm|title=Kick Axe Official Fan Site: Discography: Transformers: The Movie 1986 Scotti Brothers Z-40430 USA release |website=Kickaxe.wz.cz |date=January 2018}}</ref> * "Blackout Crazy" and "Run to the Thunder" (2023)

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.kickaxe.net Kick Axe] Official website * [http://kickaxe.wz.cz Kick Axe] Official Fan website * {{Discogs artist|Kick Axe}} * {{IMDb name|id=10740247}} * [https://canadianbands.com/artists/kick-axe/ Article at canadianbands.com]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kick Axe}} Category:1976 establishments in Saskatchewan Category:Canadian glam metal musical groups Category:Canadian hard rock musical groups Category:Musical groups established in 1976 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1988 Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2003 Category:Musical groups from Regina, Saskatchewan