When the smoke clears...

The rehearsal space at Jim and Flo's is quiet once again.  Heavy metal power chords and pounding drums have gone away and with them the final chapter of a band of boy-kings; the faint odor of stale beer and sweat are permanently ingrained into the walls and like the song says, "The Memory Remains".

The reunion show went off pretty much as planned.  We came, we saw, we rocked.  Again.  If you were there at the Portuguese Hall in Santa Cruz you saw four guys in their forties get up on stage and relieve their glory days with, for the most part, fairly accurate results.  Sure, there were differences in some of the songs – maybe a solo wasn't quite the same, maybe a vocal line had been changed a bit, perhaps a bass note or drum beat was dropped – but the sound and the fury that was the basis of all things TYR was still there.  Hair was shorter, waistbands were wider, and there was a more mature, deliberate and mellow stride to the movement on stage.  It was apparent that the individual members of TYR had matured as musicians in their own way and at their own rate. 

And nobody wore spandex.

Gregg's rhythm lines were chunkier, (thanks in large part to the loan of a brand new Line 6 amp from local rocker Nick Boyd of Suicide Mafia),  and his leads were more free flowing while still retaining many of the signature notes that made songs such as "Looking Out For #1, "Are You Lonely", and "Nice Girls" memorable.  The TYR guitarist had his work cut out for him when it came time to ready for the reunion in that not only did he have to go back and remember/relearn most of the material but since he'd been playing guitar in Gator Alley – a southern rock and distinctly un-metal sounding band – he was pressed to recreate the "sound" of rolling thunder. Resplendent in vintage 1989 black stretch denim and a cutoff vest adorned with rhinestones, studs and assorted patches, Michaels and his white high top Reeboks made the statement that the 80's can and will be trotted out like a proverbial show pony from time to time. 

Making the trek from Iowa, Joel Valentine delivered the goods, proving that once a frontman always a frontman.  A steady stream of acclaimed theatre and vocal performances over the last few years added a new depth to the singing style of yesteryear, and the rest of the combo were surprised to see that Throat Coat tea had replaced cigarettes and alcohol as the beverages of choice.  Only slightly hampered by weak onstage monitors, Valentine once more showed himself to be the voice of TYR as he powered through the set list, relying less on the frenetic stage moves and choreography of the past and more on sheer vocal ability and showmanship.  The screams and growls were still there and able to be awakened and Joel's command of the stage was once again evident  - when exhorted to get their hands up in the air and "let me hear you say rock and roll", the crowd's response was immediate and raucous. 

Dave Hayes proved that time and a myriad of responsibilities – though sometimes taking the focus away from the matter at hand – does not dim the desire to rock.  With apparently only a limited amount of time to devote to the reunion Hayes stepped up to the plate to cover the bottom end as only Dave Hayes could. Locking in once again with drummer Kevin St. James, Hayes played like a man possessed and as though he never left the stage of the Stone in San Francisco – the only thing lacking was the hair of a true metal head. Fingers flew, strings were pounded, and Rubberman lived again for 45 plus minutes of heavy metal abandon.

Drummer St. James had the unenviable task of trying to hold together not only the musical aspect of the night but also the planning, preparation, and execution of the event as the TYR reunion coincided with his 40th birthday party.  Over the last few years, St. James has switched from drums to bass and even vocals in other musical projects and showed his mastery of each Endeavour, but as soon as Kevin sat down behind the kit it was absolutely apparent that he hadn't lost any chops and was still one of the premier drummers to come out of the SF Bay's Hair Metal era.  Playing with a power and tempo that showed a renewed energy as well as evident attention to detail, he was a human drum machine, making the highly concentrated and precise drumming appear completely effortless – something that younger drummers would be well advised to emulate.

Was there drama?  Of course there was drama, but only in a way that would make a pretty boring and not well rated "Behind the Music" episode.  Early rehearsals became mired down with equipment problems and tempers flared unnecessarily when sight of the big picture was lost and old habits that have only become worse with time made themselves known.  Outside forces and concerns with day-to-day lives reared their heads and certain people were dismayed and disappointed to see that it was beginning to look like bitching, moaning, and beating a dead horse was going to stand in the way of just putting the bullshit aside for one last blast from the past.  Rehearsals that should have been only a time for fun and renewing friendships instead became a forum for accusations, temper tantrums, and thinly veiled sarcastic comments that showed that old wounds hadn't entirely healed for everyone and that for some the past does not entirely remain almost 20 years gone. 

But, it wasn't all bad, not by a long shot.  Old friends were in attendance and relationships were renewed, rekindled, and remembered.  Long time supporter Todd Townsend made an appearance with a vintage 1988 TYR "Tonight You Rock" T-shirt, and many friends and fans walked away with original Gregg Michaels guitar picks. Former TYR bassist Rich Van Dine was there as was Former Drummer Jeff Kidd, but one of the most surreal things had to be seeing a second generation of TYR fans singing along to "Too Late Now", "Can't Be Bad", "Tell Me No Lies" and the classic set closer, "It's a Long Way to the Top if You Want to Rock and Roll".  There was good cheer, good vibes, and a good amount of laughter and recollections about shows and parties and good times past.  If you were there, you'll remember the music, the laughter, and the excitement and promise of the evening. 

Will there be another TYR reunion?  Probably not.  Lives move on and each member of the band has grown and set down roots in their own way and time.  Families have been forged and a second generation of Michaels, Valentine, Hayes, and St. James are finding their own footing in the world.  From 1986 to 1990 there was a certain special chemistry between four friends that came together to make some noise and take over the world and in October of 2006 there were a few fleeting moments  when you could feel that chemistry in the air once again.

TYR personal:

Gregg Michaels – Guitar 1982-1991

Joel Valentine – Vocals 1985-1990

Kevin St. James – Drums 1985-1989

Dave Hayes – Bass 1986-1991

Dana Birt – Guitar 1983-1985, 1986-1988

Jeff Kidd – Drums 1989-1991

Rich Van Dine – Bass 1985

Chris "CP" Nelson – Guitar 1985

Sean "Allen" Yarbourough – Drums 1983-1985

Mike Peterson – Bass 1983-1985

Greg Beaumont – Keys 1983-1985

John Owen – Vocals 1983-1985

Jon Simon – Vocals 1991

Stan Triston - Vocals 1983

Nate McCormick - Drums 1981-1983

Chuck Keller - Bass 1981-1983

Russell White - Guitar 1981-1982

Gary (Red Rocker) Hagen - Guitar 1981-1982

Andrew (Stig) Singleton - Vocals 1981-1982