Not many bands have had a great second run of success after their original lead singer departs. Van Halen comes to mind… and Bad Company, too.
Former Bad Company lead singer and writer Brian Howe plays the Peoria riverfront Saturday night, with Maiden Cane (featuring Jim Kiefer, formerly of Exit, the longtime GLO house band) opening the show. I enjoyed talking with Brian today about his career and the upcoming Peoria appearance, which he figures to be his sixth or seventh time here.
Brian was the main writer and lead vocalist for Bad Company’s second wave of success after Paul Rodgers split. He was with them for nearly a decade, writing songs like “Holy Water,” “If You Needed Somebody,” “No Smoke Without A Fire,” “How About That” and others that got plenty of rock radio and MTV airtime.
He got his big break in 1983 when Ted Nugent (“a model professional”) tabbed the unknown British singer for the Predator tour, which served as his rock and roll apprenticeship. You’ll hear how the Nugent offer accidently happened, how he nearly got arrested at the Peoria International Airport for lighting something on fire, who his vocal influences were and more.
Brian Howe, unlike the current Bad Company touring version, will play songs from the entire Bad Company catalog, plus his solo material. You can hear the interview I did with him in its entirety HERE. (Unfortunately it won’t open in Chrome.) He told me his band will be debuting a new single live for the first time. It’s titled, “Hot Tin Roof,” and I’ve enjoyed listening to the upbeat rocker, think you will too (see below).
Get your tickets, just $25 prior to Saturday at Co-Op Shows and Co-Op Records in Pekin, online at jaytv.com and by phone at 800-E-TIX. Brian Howe plays Peoria Saturday from Jay Goldberg Events and Peoria’s classic rock concert station, 95.5, GLO.
Doc Watson
