Le Mans were one of the original HM guitar bands featured on Mike Varney’s Shrapnel label during the early 80’s.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Le Mans
ALBUM: On The Streets
LABEL: Shrapnel
SERIAL: SH 1010
YEAR: 1983
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Peter Marrino – vocals * Derek Frigo – guitars * Josh Ramos – guitars * Richard Burns – bass * Kenny Stavropoulos – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 Live To Rock * 02 On The Streets * 03 Nervous Breakdown * 04 Outside Looking In * 05 Get Him Out Of Here * 06 Hard As A Rock * 07 Take Me Down * 08 Hells Halls * 09 Computer Defense
WEBLINKS: NA
Le Mans Background
Le Mans were one of the original HM guitar bands featured on Mike Varney’s Shrapnel label during the early 80’s.
They first came to our attention on the US Metal II Compilation album during 1982. All thanks to their sonic rendition of the track ‘Waiting’, these boys were doing anything but.
The song was a monstrous blast of pure heavy metal. Both guitarists Derek Frigo and Josh Ramos blazed a path through anything that got in their way.
Most of the Le Man’s lineup were originally from Chicago, but moved west to San Fransisco to further their careers.
Frigo in particular was a standout, an Eddie Van Halen clone but with enough tricks to warrant further attention.
The Songs
Lets face it, when looking back on it, the music presented here is not particularly inventive. Just solid mind bending HM riffs. It’s played at cracking speed with breakneck guitar solos interspersed within the songs.
Great for some, boring for most. However, considering we have some extreme guitar talent on display, it’s worthy of a mention.
In ways they are similar to Racer X, but less technical, and more rabid. Tracks like ‘Nervous Breakdown’ and ‘Computer Defense’ are some examples.
On a track like ‘Outside In’, their sound ventures into gonzoid territory. Frigo’s guitar solo sounds like he’s strangling a horse!
In Summary
The band released one further album in 1986. By then they had changed their direction completely, to a more Journey oriented sound.
Apparently many thought this was a step in the right direction (not me.. Ed), but away from their HM roots. That album bombed big time unfortunately.
Marrino went on to Cacophony with Jason Becker and Marty Friedman. Stavropoulos went on to join Starship and Big Bad Wolf.
Frigo hooked up with party popsters Enuff Znuff while Ramos has since played with The Storm and Two Fires.
All in all, these boys were a productive lot. But this is where it started for them.
Le Mans on Video
On The Streets
Click to go to YTM album page.
Single file only.
