Head On (band)


Head On was a San Francisco rock band of the early 1980s. Although only putting out independent releases, their influence has worked its way into such diverse bands as Guns N' Roses and The Mars Volta.

History

Head On was started by James Ray, a guitar player transplanted from New Mexico to the San Francisco Bay Area. He soon recruited Mark Berglund, a Bay Area native, as lead vocalist and song writer. Together with Ray, Mark wrote a majority of Head On's material. Rick Tweed and Howard Teman were soon added as was lead guitarist Frank Wilsey.
Working their way through and eventually dominating the San Francisco club scene, Head On went on to support such bands as Ted Nugent, Cheap Trick, Joe Perry, Y&T, Motörhead, Aldo Nova, Kix, Shooting Star, Mötley Crüe and others. Noted for their lively and outrageous shows, Head On was likened to such bands as the New York Dolls and Aerosmith.
During its brief career Head On released several independent collections that were sold at local retailers in the San Francisco Bay Area. They were featured and landed covers on local underground publications as well as being reviewed in the well-known British rock magazine Kerrang!. Their music was played on local radio stations and the band made guest appearances on local TV.
As San Francisco became a hot bed for underground metal, Head On often found themselves mismatched and headlining metal shows with openers like Anvil Chorus, Lȧȧz Rockit and Trauma. As a result of the rise in metal popularity, bookings began to slow and Los Angeles soon emerged as the mecca for the glam revival music Head On had championed in the Bay Area. Head On soon discovered however that Los Angeles at the time had little appreciation for San Francisco bands to the point that club owners refused to book them. On one notable occasion while attempting to secure a show at LA's Madame Wong's West they were told, “I don’t care if you are the Beatles, if you are from San Francisco, no one in LA will come to your show.”

Career

Throughout their short but illustrious career, Head On had both incredible luck and almost comical misfortune.
Record contract negotiations stalled when attempts to change the band's sound and lineup were met with opposition. After several ill-fated record contract negotiations, Head On disbanded in March 1984.

Head On Music on TV

Several Head On songs have appeared on TV shows over the years.
Post Head On, Mark Berglund worked on a modern rock project with future Mars Volta and Racer X bassist Juan Alderete then changed his name to Miro Berglund and joined a short lived San Francisco band led by Randy Jackson of American Idol fame and Italian producer Corrado Rustici called Holiday of Hands. Through his relationship with Rustici, Mark contributed songs to various recording artists in Italy during the 1980s and '90s including Loredana Bertè, Gianluigi De Franco, Enzo Avitabile and Corrado Rustici's own solo effort. Mark can also be heard singing background vocals on the Narada Michael Walden album Divine Emotion.
James Ray continued performing and writing in two bands following Head On. Sybil and Mutha Jones completing independent album releases for both. Joining forces with comedian Rob Schneider and Rob's brother John, James managed the successful South of Market nightclub DNA in San Francisco and has since retired to Florida.
After moving to Los Angeles, Howard Teman worked with Guns N' Roses on the Lies and Use Your Illusion albums as well as becoming a prominent graphic artist focusing on celebrity and music related works. While continuing his graphic artwork, he now has become one of the most sought-after tattoo artists in Los Angeles and owns and operates T-Man Tattoo.
Frank Wilsey went on to perform with the Sea Hags in San Francisco before moving to Los Angeles and joining Arcade followed by a long musical relationship with Stephen Pearcy and various incarnations of Ratt.
Collaborations
In 2002 an effort was made by Rob Schneider's manager John Schneider to reunite the writing team of James Ray and Mark Berglund. Mark and James were asked to write some original music for the then up-coming Rob Schneider film The Hot Chick. The re-connection proved to be successful and not only resulted in a collection of new material but re-established Mark and James' collaborative musical relationship.

2010 reunion

On August 28, 2010, the five original members of Head On regrouped and played their first show together in 25 years.

''Washington & Battery'' album

On February 11, 2011 Head On released its first full-length album titled Washington & Battery. The release, on Demon Doll Records, contains a collection of demos and promo recordings recorded during the band's peak period, remixed and remastered. It also includes a newly recorded version of their live show staple "Look the Other Way".

Members

Albums