THE
WAYSTED WE WERE
www.waysted.co.uk
© October 2004
In
1982 PETE
WAY
undocked from the UFO mother-ship and launched FASTWAY with
MOTÖRHEAD's Eddie Clarke. Before this project was fully
off the ground Pete took off yet again, with OZZY OSBOURNE.
After a relatively safe landing, Pete formed WAYSTED with
ex-HEARTBREAKERS guitarist RONNIE KAYFIELD,
and UFO's PAUL
RAYMOND on keyboards. Vocals were provided by Scotland's
finest - FIN (ex FLYING SQUAD)
- and occupying the drum-stool was ex-STAMPEDE, WILD HORSES
and DEF LEPPARD drummer FRANK NOON.
Signed
to Chrysalis Records they brought out their debut album 'Vices',
which was produced by MICK GLOSSOP
who had also produced UFO's 'Making Contact'. Vices was full
of powerful guitarwork and was dominated by Fin's gravel-soaked-in-whisky
vocals. Guitarist BARRY
BENNEDETTA was added to the line-up in time for
their American dates in support of MÖTLEY CRÜE and
OZZY OSBOURNE. This was an incompatible marriage, and both
Bennedetta and Kayfield were soon out. Raymond was the next
to go, prior to the 1984 tour with DIO, and by the end of
this tour WAYSTED was down to its foundations - just Pete
and Fin remained.
Frank
Noon was briefly replaced by ex-ANGELIC UPSTARTS drummer DECCA
WADE, and NEIL SHEPARD
(previously with the JESS COX BAND) took up guitar duties.
By late 1984 Pete had talked UFO drummer ANDY
PARKER into joining the band, and also brought
PAUL CHAPMAN in from UFO to help
teach Neil Shepard how to play the UFO classics. Chapman stayed,
and after the 'Waysted' EP was recorded in 1984, Shepard was
the one to leave.
WAYSTED
went on to open
for IRON MAIDEN on their UK tour, after which ex-MOTÖRHEAD
drummer PHILTHY PHIL TAYLOR replaced
Andy Parker. Taylor then left, to be replaced by ex-HUMBLE
PIE and FASTWAY drummer JERRY SHIRLEY.
The next album - 'The Good, The Bad, The Waysted' was produced
by TEN YEARS AFTER's LEO
LYONS, who had also produced UFO's classic albums
from the 70s. Keyboard-player JIMMY DE
LILLA, who had been in Chapman's D.O.A., was also brought
in. But then in late 1985, Fin left - and DANNY
VAUGHN, the singer from CIRCUS CIRCUS was recruited
to take Fin's place, along with ex-WORLD WAR III drummer JOHNNY
'DEE' DiTEODORA
This line up, under the management of WILF
WRIGHT (who had previously looked after UFO) signed
to Capitol Records, and 'Save Your Prayers' was the result,
which included the single 'Black And Blue'. SIMON
HANHART was the producer of this much gentler album.
A tour of
Europe followed in support of STATUS QUO, and then in 1987
they toured America with IRON MAIDEN, this time with young
American guitarist ERIC GAMENS in
tow. There was also a show in
Israel with ALVIN LEE and MARILLION. The WAYSTED line up was
in its familiar state of flux and Danny Vaughn left to form
TYKETTO, whilst Dee joined BRITNY FOX.
By now the Capitol Records deal was out of the window, so
Pete Way went into the studio to record some demos with Dee,
Eric Gamens, SPIKE from the QUIREBOYS,
and MARTIN CHAISSON. Singer
JON DEVERILL (ex-TYGERS OF PAN TANG) and keyboard player
GED RYLAND also did a brief stint.
Gamens and Chaisson went their separate ways, the former joining
COLD SWEAT and the latter forming IF ONLY.
In
the early 90s, Pete Way found his way home and rejoined UFO,
and after the classic reunion album Walk On Water, founded
the UFO side-project MOGG/WAY with Phil - releasing 'Edge
Of The World' and later 'Chocolate Box', but never totally
giving up on the idea of reforming WAYSTED.
'Save Your Prayers' was re-issued along with some demos which
had never before seen the light of day. The 'Wilderness Of
Mirrors' album which included WAYSTED's interpretation of
CREEDANCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL's 'Fortunate Son', and another
collection of material under the banner 'Your Prayers Are
Saved', kept the WAYSTED pot simmering.
In the summer of 2003 Fin, Paul Chapman and Pete all met up
again in Ohio, and the next chapter of the WAYSTED saga began......
5th October 2004
© www.waysted.co.uk
