Starcastle

{{Short description|American progressive rock band}} {{Other uses|Star Castle (disambiguation)}} {{More citations needed|date=November 2019}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Starcastle | image = Starcastle "77" WPLR (9535639507).jpg | landscape = yes | background = group_or_band | caption = Starcastle in 1977 | origin = Champaign, Illinois, United States | genre = Progressive rock | years_active = 1969–1987 1997–2007 | label = Epic Records | website = [http://www.starcastlerocks.com/ starcastlerocks.com] | current_members = George Harp Bruce Botts | past_members = Gary Strater Matt Stewart Steve Hagler Steve Tassler Herb Schildt Terry Luttrell Ralph Goldhiem Mauro Magellan Scott McKenzie Mark McGee }}

'''Starcastle''' was an American progressive rock band from Champaign, Illinois, United States. Formed in 1969, the group played many shows under the names Pegasus and Mad John Fever before eventually settling on Starcastle. They signed their first record deal with Epic Records in 1974,<ref name="LarkinHM">{{cite book|title=The Guinness Who's Who of Heavy Metal|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=Guinness Publishing|date=1995|edition=Second|isbn=0-85112-656-1|page=338}}</ref> and received extensive airplay and frequently played in the St. Louis area. The original lineup included former REO Speedwagon vocalist Terry Luttrell and computing author/programmer Herb Schildt. They released four albums on both the Epic<ref name="LarkinHM"/> and CBS labels. The band's debut album ''Starcastle'' sold well, garnering worldwide airplay.<ref name="LarkinHM"/>

Their later albums ''Fountains of Light'', ''Citadel'', and ''Real to Reel'' did not sell as well as the first and they were often criticized for sounding too musically similar to Yes.<ref name="LarkinHM"/> They were opening acts for such bands as Jethro Tull, Gentle Giant, Fleetwood Mac, Kansas, Boston, Rush, Journey, and others. After several line-up changes, the band went on a ten-year hiatus from 1987.

In 2002, Gary Strater, Steve Tassler and Steve Hagler all released solo albums on the band's own Sunsinger label. This led to work on the band's final album ''Song of Times'', before Gary Strater's death on September 19, 2004, from pancreatic cancer. ''Song of Times'' was released in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seaoftranquility.org/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=4945|title=Starcastle: Song of Times|website=Seaoftranquility.org|accessdate=November 23, 2019}}</ref>

In November 2018, the band's official website announced the release of ''Alchemy'', an archive release of studio and live material from the band's 1980s line-up. Additionally, their website announced a new line-up of the band consisting of George Harp (vocals) and Bruce Botts (guitar), both of whom were in the 1980s line-up.

==Players==

'''Past''' * Gary Strater – bass, bass pedals, backing vocals (1969–1987, 1997–2004; died 2004) * Matt Stewart – guitar, backing vocals (1969–1981, 1997–2006) * Steve Hagler – guitar, backing vocals (1969–1980, 2006) * Steve Tassler – drums, backing vocals (1969–1980, 2006) * Herb Schildt – keyboards (1969–1978, 1997–2006) * Terry Luttrell – lead vocals (1973–1978, 2006) * Ralph Goldheim ("Caribou Ralph") – lead vocals, keyboards (1979–1981) * Bruce Botts – guitar, keyboards, vocals (1982–2019) * Scott McKenzie – drums, backing vocals (1982–1987) * Mark McGee – guitar (1985–1986) * George Harp - lead vocals (1982–1986, 2015–2019)

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==Discography== {| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible" |- ! Year !! Title !! Notes !Album Type |- | 1976 | ''Starcastle'' | First studio album. |Studio |- | 1977 | ''Fountains of Light'' | Re-issued on CD in 1998. |Studio |- | 1977 | ''Citadel'' | Features cover art by the famous Brothers Hildebrandt. Re-issued on CD in 1998. |Studio |- | 1978 | ''Real to Reel'' | Re-issued on CD in 1998. |Studio |- | 2001 | ''Chronos I'' | Archive release featuring demos and unreleased tracks. |Studio |- |2002 |''Eleven to the Fourth Twice'' |Gary Strater. Synthesized electronic ambient music based on fractal equations. |Solo |- |2002 |''Alive Beyond Recognition'' |All compositions, performances, programming and production by Steve Tassler. |Solo |- |2002 |''Echoes of Light'' |Steve & Carol Hagler. |Solo |- |2006 |''Alive In America: Live 1978'' |Also released as ''Shine On Brightly'' and ''Concert Classics Volume 5'' |Live |- | 2007 | ''Song of Times'' |Final studio album. |Studio |- |2018 |''Alchemy'' |A compilation of songs written while based in San Francisco, taken from demos, live shows and rehearsals. |Multiple |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{official website|https://www.starcastlerocks.com/}} * {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p20721}} * {{Discogs artist}}

Category:Musical groups from Champaign, Illinois Category:Progressive rock musical groups from Illinois