Location: AMERICA NORTH: USA: Florida (FL)
AVALANCHE is defined by Webster's as: "an unstoppable natural force"...and this all-original rock band certainly seems to fit that definition...overcoming the odds to produce some of the very best original hard rock anywhere! With an unorthodox strategy for success in 1978 (which included 18 months of intense rehearsals, their own record label, $75,000.00 worth of state-of-the-art stage gear, and a record on over a dozen New England radio stations for three months...all before ever playing a live gig) AVALANCHE's debut show was attended by over 3500 people..and the band was immediately playing to sold-out shows and standing room only crowds wherever they appeared. Within a month after their first gig, AVALANCHE was headlining in large club venues, and shortly after that, the band was opening tour dates and sharing concert stages on AC/DC's "Highway To Hell" tour, as well as with DERRINGER, and THE PAT TRAVERS BAND. They were also considered as a tour opener for TOTO's First U.S. Tour. A tight and well rehearsed rock-n-roll machine...this band did whatever was necessary to bring studio-quality hard rock to the live-concert stage...and they did it without the support of a major record label. Now recording again, with all the surviving members of the original lineup...here is the first new AVALANCHE music in over twenty years...as well as some of their old music too, (most of the recordings have never been available before). AVALANCHE continues to defy the odds with their staying power and persistence...and by remaining "unstoppable"...they are here NOW....for you to sample and enjoy!
Members of Avalanche have played in bands with Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, Big Mama Thornton, The Steve Miller Band, Johnny Winter, Matt "Guitar" Murphy (from The Blues Brothers), The James Cotton Band, Mitch Ryder, Lester Chambers (The Chambers Brothers), The Electric Flag (1988), Kal David and The Real Deal, The Buddy Cage Band, The Jeff Pitchell Band, The Commitments, The Foster Brothers Band, The Easton Brothers Band, Sweet Daddy Cool Breeze, Eight-To-The-Bar, and The Mohegan Sun All-Stars (formerly The Shaboo All-Stars...a group which Avalanche leader Michael Foster and his brother David Co-Founded and which Michael was the Musical Director of for many years...and occasionally still performs with...when schedules and geography permit. The "All Stars" features past and present members of CS&N, Tower of Power, The Joe Cocker Band, Dr. John, Orleans, the Fabulous Rhinestones, Maceo Parker, James Brown, Rod Stewart, and many, many other artists. That group is currently the "House Band" at The Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut...one of the largest Casinos in the world ..and the band has constantly changing personnel...it is truly an "All-Star" group).
Avalanche members have also been "guest artists" in bands with B.B. King, Muddy Waters, The James Montgomery Band, Rick Derringer, and numerous other groups.
In addition, Avalanche members have opened major concerts to dozens of National and Internationally known recording acts.
Interview
Why this name?
One of Avalanche's original roadies was listening to the band rehearse during a period of very intense rehearsals and equipment purchases shortly after the group formed in 1977...and commented that "this band is happening just like an avalanche". The second I heard him say that...and checked the definition in the dictionary...I knew we had our band name.
Do you play live?
We have played live extensively, although at this present time we are unable to do that due to the lack of "live venues" capable of providing us with enough work to meet the financial requirements needed to keep the band performing...because maintaining this band as a live entity is extremely expensive. In the past we have done tour dates with AC/DC, DERRINGER, PAT TRAVERS, and were considered as a "tour opener" for TOTO"s first U.S. Tour. It is our hope that financial backing will show up...and that Avalanche will be able to again be brought to the live music stage.
How, do you think, does the internet (or mp3) change the music industry?
The Internet provides the only real vehicle for unsigned original artists to reach a worldwide audience in today's music environment.
Would you sign a record contract with a major label?
If the label was right...and the terms were fair. Too often today...major labels exploit their bands...rather than develop them. We are always ready to discuss that with any label that is "for real".
Your influences?
We are an all-original hard rock band that writes Mainstream songs that draw from many influences...we have been told repeatedly that our songs are clearly different, yet vaguely familiar, both at the same time. Avalanche's original writing style is largely Colliseum-style 70's British Rock...married to American Blues-Oriented Southern Rock...but there are clearly elements from many other distinct and not-so-distinct influences as well...and today the new Avalanche draws from ALL of those influences to be fresh, current, and viable...but still remains completely true to it's original band identity. Some of those "other influences" include Joe Walsh, Billy Gibbons, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Mick Abrahams, Paul Kossoff, Luther Grosvenor, Deep Purple, Humble Pie (w/Frampton), The Allman Brothers Band, Foreigner, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Humble Pie, Spooky Tooth, Free, Aerosmith, The Foo Fighters, U2, CSN&Y, The Eagles, The Beatles, Green Day, The Goo Goo Dolls, Lynch Mob, The Sullied, Soul Dust, Matt Beal, and many, many, other artists.
Favorite spot?
Palm Beach, Florida...Negril, Jamaica...Hawaii...Eastern Connecticut. And of course, in any recording studio or on stage...and wherever I happen to be at any given moment, most of the time.
Members:
Michael Foster: electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards, vocals.
Mark Easton: electric and acoustic guitars, vocals.
Barry Easton: drums.
Michael Corsini: bass, background vocals.
Stephanie Krowka: vocals.