the men who don't give inThis song was written for men and the women who love them. It is about those who help protect America from Constitutional challenges, both foreign and domestic. They are in the organized, and unorganized militias in the land. They are the good guy gun owners of America. In times of peace they are on standby, always prepared. Steve Graham wrote the music, sings lead and played all guitar parts except the solo by Curtis Cunningham. Boyce Pittman played bass and Damon Wayne Nelson played drums. Steve and I co-produced it, and I was the the recording and mix engineer.
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steve graham |
out there" "Out There" is a tongue-in-cheek look at right-wing paranoia. Is there danger?....or are many just being vigilant? The talented Dave Peck sings. When he finished his vocal, he asked, “Am I going to get in trouble for singing this?” …. I said I didn't see how......Steve Graham laid nine guitar parts on the musical bed, and sang backing vocals. Robyn Ward also on background vocals, John Bringhurst on drums, Chris Kilgore on bass. This is one of our very favorites. Steve and I co-produced and I was the recording and mix engineer.
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dave peck |
Where cowboys playSteve Graham and I invited Peter Richardson to sing and co-write "Where Cowboys Play". That's Steve on guitar and backing vocals, Pete on keyboards and lead and backing vocals, John Bringhurst on drums, and Chris Kilgore on bass. Robyn Ward on background vocals. We think this one is catchy and has a good beat. Steve and I co-produced and I was the recording and mix engineer.
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Mike, Pete, Steve |
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peter richardson |
jack londonSteve Graham sang lead vocals with Dave Peck on "Jack London". Steve did the guitar and bass, with Dave on drums. Not everyone knows this little known story about Jack London. Steve and I co-produced and I was recording and mix engineer.
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STEVE GRAHAM |
jACK lONDON |
she's woundedThe next three songs are all written with Richard Pasillas. "She's Wounded" is the Fairbanks version, one of the four rewrites we did to the song and clearly the best one. Richard sang lead and did the crunchy guitar part. Steve Graham did the clean part which helps make this song a favorite. Dave Peck on drums, Randy Reaves on bass, and all four did background vocals. Richard and I met in highschool on Eielson AFB. We started writing songs together as teenagers about 1971. Richard and I co-produced, co-recorded and co-mixed this.
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richard and jayson pasillas |
gas riot"Gas Riot" is another one we really like, coming from our four-song EP called Beat The Cynics. This song features Richard on guitars, lead vocals and keyboard, with Mike Wedgwood on bass and Pat Fitzgerald on drums. The recording quality is basic, but you get the idea. Recorded at our Bunnell Street Studio on primative gear. Engineered and mixed by Richard and Mike Wedgwood. Richard and I co-produced. Mike W. plays amazing bass and we love Pat's drumming.
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RICHARD PASILLAS |
richard with marty beggs, pat fitzgerald and jeff on keyboardsThis pic was a recording session at KUAC about 1975. |
american economicsWe like to think of the Cynics as Alaska's first punk rock band. "American Economics" is a fun song with wonderful guitar work and vocals by Richard. Mike Wedgwood is on bass, with Marc Seigmeister on drums. I'll put this up against any punk rock song out there. Mike W. and Richard didn't always get along, but excellent results were present. Mike W. and Richard co-engineered and mixed, while Richard and I co-produced.
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Richard pasillas |
mike wedgewood |
rock of chickamaungaThis is the story of a Confederate soldier lamenting losing the Civil War due to a strategic victory at Missionary Ridge led by George Henry Thomas, the "Rock of Chickmauga". When I gave Steve Graham the three page lyrics for this song, I was astonished that he actually put them to music. This song features Steve on guitars, backing vocals and the Union soldier voice, while Peter Richardson sings lead and backing vocals (the Confederate lead voice) and plays keyboard, with Chris Kilgore on bass and Johnny Bringhurst on drums. George Henry Thomas was a brilliant defensive-minded general. Steve and I co-produced, and I was the recording and mix engineer.
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george henry thomas |
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steve graham |
high north countryRandy Reaves came to Fairbanks in 1980 along with Dave Peck. We wrote some good commercial stuff together. Randy played bass, wrote the music and sang lead vocals on this one. Dave Peck on drums with Steve Graham and Richard Pasillas on guitars and all did backing vocals. Co-produced by Randy and I, and I engineered and mixed. We like Fairbanks. We loved Randy, who passed away in June, 2019.
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Randy reaves |
wild frontierOne of our favorite Alaskan songs, Steve and I wrote this for the Spirit of Adventure album. Drums and bass by John Bringhurst and Chris Kilgore. Brilliant guitar parts by Steve and a cool lead vocal by himself. Backing vocals by Steve, Dave Peck and Robyn Ward. The only song on earth that mentions Wiseman and Nolan, Alaska, where I once owned some mining claims with my partner Larry. Steve and I co-produced, while I was recording and mix engineer.
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wild frontier band
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swimming the strait of hormuzIt was a blessed day when the English-born Mike Wedgwood moved to Fairbanks in 1980 at the exact time our first studio opened. Mike is a world class talent, and a former member of Curved Air and Caravan in the UK. Mike played bass on all of Beat The Cynics. He and I wrote Swimming The Strait Of Hormuz a bit later with Mike on lead vocals and playing every instrument except the guitar by Steve Graham. In fact, Mike is the one who enticed Steve to move to Alaska in the early 80's for which I am very grateful. This was the first release from the new Minnie Street studios. Mike W. engineered and mixed, and we co-produced.
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mike wedgwood |
rock apocalypseRock Apocalypse is also from Beat The Cynics. Richard Pasillas wrote the music, sang lead vocals and played the guitar parts. Mike Wedgwood played bass and keyboards and helped arrange it. Mark Seigmeister played drums. Recorded and mixed by Richard and Mike W. and Richard and I co-produced.
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richard pasillas |
searching for eldoradoEarl Hughes and I wrote "Searching For Eldorado", and Earl did lead vocals. Steve Graham helped arrange it and played the guitar parts, while the gifted Derrick Jackson (RIP) contributed bass and drums. Earl, Steve and I produced it, and I was the recording and mix engineer.
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derrick jackson - All around great professional...RIP |
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earl hughes |
under northern skiesDave Peck gives this song a rich lead vocal, yet another ode to life in the rugged far north. Steve and I wrote this during the Wild Frontier days, so it's John Bringhurst on drums and Chris Kilgore on bass. Well, admit it, Fairbanks is a spectacular place to live... mostly. Oh, and kudos to the brilliant Mr. Eric Nichols, who knows stuff. Steve and I co-produced, and I was recording and mix engineer.
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dave peck |
eric nichols, our genius tech |
beautiful jesusI became a believer in Yeshua Christos in 1979, and wrote Beautiful Jesus with Marty Beggs in 1982. Robyn Ward on lead vocals. This and the three Cynics songs included were recorded at our original Unregulated Recording Studio, which opened in spring of 1980 on Bunnell Street. At this studio we learned how to record and started learning about gear. We moved to the Minnie Street studio in early 1984. Marty on bass, Pat Fitzgerald on drums and I think Richard on guitar, with Mike Wedgwood on keys.
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robyn ward with steve graham, chris kilgore and david peck |
from left...Bob Green, Marty Beggs, Mike Wedgwood, Paul Porter
she's wounded (london demo)She's Wounded London-second best version, but nice period punky vibe from spring of 1978. The vocals and guitar are convincing. I like the lyrics. Dennis Cowan on bass with London session musicians. Recorded by Dennis Mutumbo at Gooseberry Studio on 1 inch eight channel tape. The sound is not bad for a quick patchup job. The London groove of that era was somewhat captured.
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Richard Pasillas |
do you cry too?We returned to London one year later in January 1979 and recorded five songs at Rockstar Studio because we wanted 16-track. All too rushed but we almost got something catchy with "Do You Cry Too", but nope, never could quite capture it. Tried again in Fairbanks to better results. Same London band as before.
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Richard and Mike
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so she tells herselfThe earliest actual recording session I had with Richard and his band Brown Peter, at Music Grinder Studio in Los Angeles, March 1976. We did four songs in two song sessions. Our Moose Creek, Alaska mates were the band. Mike Henderson (RIP) on drums, Marty Beggs on bass and brother Dave Pasillas on rhythm guitar and vocals. Nobody was satisfied with it. You will see why.
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Mike Henderson in rear; David Pasillas and Marty Beggs; Richard Pasillas in front |
Marty Beggs |
western frontNot wanting to leave you with a weak early version of my work, here is a 1997 song from Wild Frontier's Spirit Of Adventure CD. Steve's guitar work is stunning, with three-dimensionally pulsing timbres, especially in the solo. Fabulous drumming by John Bringhurst, deft bass work by Chris Kilgore, and soothing lead and backing vocals by Robyn Ward. Steve sang lead vocals. Steve and I co-produced, and I was recording and mix engineer.
Someone once said "always be the worst member of the band". I call that sage counsel and so far, i've always managed to hold down that role. Thanks to all involved! |
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Bill Zumwalt, many thanks for gear loans and advice.Keep up the chops cause ya never know.
Ken Bettisworth, you are clearly the man. Thanks for knowing what good sound is. |
John Bringhurst, Drums (right) with Dave & Mike
steve graham |
