General Velocity discussion
by webmaster on Feb.11, 2007, under Velocity
Post any comments you have about Velocity here.
4 comments for this entry:
Johnny’s Blog Spot
A Music Forum
Looking for something?
Use the form below to search the site:
Still not finding what you're looking for? Drop a comment on a post or contact us so we can take care of it!
February 12th, 2007 on 5:23 pm
Velocity was the most talented bunch of performers I ever played with hands down. from its beginings in 1982 up to 1985, every version of this band wrote great sondgs and had virtuoso playing. I had some friends that I would occasionally gig with in Southbridge. Norman Bastien had an incredible voice(he literally could hit any note without any effort). Curly Leblanc had a tremendous bass sound. I brought in Bobby Edwards to play drums and another guitarist. We recorded 5 tunes and i gave them to my friend Steve Fife, who said he had some investors. We played a few places as showcases and eventually signed with Sam Philips of Acton Corp in Acton. We were all on salary, had insurance, got to buy the best equipment, recorded for nothing and showcased for every record company. We even played on the White House lawn to save the Statue of Liberty. That band that did all this was Myself, Yale Bee Bee, John Foster ,Bobby Edwards and Phil Balzano. I wasn’t the only one who felt this was the best unsigned band in the US. We were a tight musically gifted crew. The trouble came when everybody thought they were the ones that made the horse go. Egos got involved. The other guitarist that played with me, went behind my back and told Management to get rid of me as he was a better player and sonwriter. This was a guy who got introduced to a whole new world in music by me. Wellmanagement fired him on the spot..cya later sportshirt. First the band got Bobby fired then Phil..who was next.. finally managment said enough is enough and the project folded..another waste of talent….thsi was getting to be a broken record to me, unfortunately that is life in the music business..either put up or shut up..no excuses….Johnny Press
February 13th, 2007 on 11:29 pm
I have to talk about the other members of this excellent group. Yale BeeBee is one of the finest musicians I know. He can literally play anything….well. He has fine songwriting skills and instincts and it was pleasure to write and arrange songs with him. John Foster is a multi talented Bass player,guitarist, singer and arranger. He saved our butt in Quebec when our singer couldn’t perform..oh and the women loved him . Bobby Edwards was rock solid and was a great inspiration to me while getting the band started, he was one of the originals and had a great fan base. Phil Balzano had one of the best voices I’ve ever come across. He was wacked in a New York kinda way..but that was his charm..man he could sing……these guys made it a pleasure for me to perform and never worry about what was gonna happen on stage. I knew they would be committed and right on..so all I had to think about were my parts..theirs was covered…Thanks guys for the music…Johnny Press
August 8th, 2007 on 7:33 am
“Other guitarist!” That’s perfect! Exactly the level of fame that sad individual deserves. Hell, he worked hard to earn it! I was once one of his unwitting victims as well.
I think this was, by far, my favorite of your bands. It was over way too soon. Though I always secretly (or maybe not-so-secretly) wanted to sing for Velocity, Phil’s voice was a monster. Never let it be said that I don’t know when to shut up and let somebody, WAY better than me, make it happen. I still listen to the Velocity stuff I have.
April 19th, 2008 on 4:05 pm
I finally got in touch with Velocity lead singer Phil Balzano. He had found this site and E Mailed me. It was great talking to Phil again and according to him, he can still hit the high notes. I’m glad he’s still around, alive and talented…now I know where all of Velocity is