The Rockets Reunite for Stars & Stripes Festival!!

Seminal Detroit Band The Rockets Reunite for Stars & Stripes Festival 

Detroit is known for having a distinctive kind of rock; a gritty, hard-working, blue-collar sound that is unmistakably Michigan born and bred. The Rockets just might be the perfect embodiment of this style. Formed in 1972 by Johnny "Bee" Badanjek (vox and drums) and Jim McCarty (lead guitar), former members of another Detroit rock band, Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, the core band consisted of Badanjek & McCarty along with John Fraga (bass) and Marc Marcano (keys). After bringing in Dave Gilbert as lead vocalist, the Rockets had a string of radio hits including "Desire", "Turn Up the Radio", "Rollin by the Record Machine" and the quintessential best version of Peter Green's "Oh Well" ever recorded. They appeared as special guest on tours with Kiss, J. Geils, Bob Seger, REO Speed Wagon, ZZ Top, Blue Oyster Cult, The Allman Brothers, Aerosmith, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Marshall Tucker Band, Ted Nugent, Robin Trower, and Loverboy, all top acts of the era. The Rockets returned home packing venues all over the state (including multiple sell out shows at Pine Knob - now DTE Energy Music Theater).

Recentlty playing some live shows around the Detroit area as The Hell Drivers, The Rockets founding members, Jimmy McCarty & Johnny "B" Badanjek, enlisted the help of local vocalist Jim Edwards to take over the frontman duties. Now signed with music booking agency Popular Music, the reunited Rockets are currently in the process of booking a national tour and will be debuting the newly reformed group this Friday night on the National Stage at the Stars & Stripes Festival, immediatley following the Fireworks in downtown Mt Clemens, Michigan. Live, the Rockets will be playing classic rock hits that they wrote for other artists in addition to the timeless hits that the Rockets penned themselves. With the core members McCarty and Bandajek on board, the new and improved Rockets are every bit as much of what fans loved in their earlier years.

The Rockets were also honored earlier this year by the prestigious Detroit Music Awards with a "Distinguished Achievement Award."   The award was presented to them at a ceremony on Friday, April 16, 2010 at Detroit's Fillmore Theatre where the also played a short set as The Hell Drivers.

The Rockets recorded five albums and one live album, which captured the band's raw talent and high energy. From their explosive beginnings in the Detroit Wheels, Bee and McCarty have contributed their sound, either together or separately, to the seminal rock recordings of Del Shannon, Rag Dolls, Edgar Winter, Alice Cooper, Dr. John, The Buddy Miles Express, Albert King, Mark Farner, Cactus, The Detroit Band featuring Mitch Ryder, Nils Lofgren, Les Paul, The Romantics, and many less famous acts. After Gilbert's death in 2001, it appeared that The Rockets and the unique vocals that accompanied the blistering guitars and thunderous drums would remain vivid memories in the minds of the hundreds of thousands of people who witnessed the band live.

In 2009 Badanjek, McCarty, and Conrad began appearing with Detroit veteran singer- Jim Edwards, playing a full night of songs that Badanjek and McCarty had written or recorded over the last forty-five years. Crowd favorites proved to be The Rockets songs. Crowds gathered. The right people began talking and after a special guest slot opening for Alice Cooper in front of more than 6,000, it was evident that this was a band that still rocks as hard as they ever did.

With a new vision, tenacity and spirit found only in Detroit, The Rockets have reunited with new lead singer Jim Edwards, bass player Marvin Conrad, and keyboard player Danny Taylor - and are bringing the band into 2010 with a bang. Conrad, a loyal and committed sideman has performed alongside McCarty in the blues band, Mystery Train. Edwards, formerly of the regionally successful, See Dick Run, brings a vocal style so close to Dave Gilbert that former Rockets crew members, close friends and family all have expressed their approval. With the final addition of rockin' Danny Taylor on Keys, the power of the band is complete.

Joining forces, The Rockets are moving onward in hopes of rekindling the flame that they ignited so many years ago. Using old favorites like "Oh Well", which is a re-mastering of an old Fleetwood Mac song of the same title, the Rockets are bound and determined to capture the publics' listening ears once again with their classic rock, intertwined with a bluesy sound and a slight twang. Other favorites such as "Desire", recalls a faster paced Rockets, complete with their true-to-life lyrics. Having been heralded as some of the best musicians ever by their peers Ted Nugent and Eddie Van Halen, the Rockets have what it takes to bring their style, swagger and talent into the new decade. Be sure to check them out over @ their website!

The Rockets play the National Music Stage at 10:30 pm Friday July 2nd during the Stars & Stripes Festival, check www.starsandstripesfest.com for more info.