LIONS & GHOSTS Tmming The Unknown
For Lions & Ghosts, the business of breaking big in rock 'n' roll can be a tricky thing. The L.A.-based trio doesn't exactly rely on an image to get their sound across, and their music—a straightforward, rootsy strain of rock—doesn't exactly fit in with the crunchy attack of metal or the slick seduction of mainstream pop.
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LIONS & GHOSTS Tmming The Unknown
Paul Jordan
For Lions & Ghosts, the business of breaking big in rock 'n' roll can be a tricky thing. The L.A.-based trio doesn't exactly rely on an image to get their sound across, and their music—a straightforward, rootsy strain of rock—doesn't exactly fit in with the crunchy attack of metal or the slick seduction of mainstream pop.
"We just play the music we like," says Lions guitarist and lead vocalist Rick Parker. "It's a mixture of things. It sounds really hip and contemporary to me personally, but it's nothing new—jt's just fresh."
Parker formed Lions & Ghosts with lead guitarist Michael Lockwood and drummer Michael Murphy while the three were living together in a huge, broken-down mansion near Hollywood. "A bunch of bands lived there, and we were just friends," Parker says. "We started playing for fun, then one thing led to another. . ."
After winning a contest held in conjunction with college radio stations in search of the best unsigned band in the country, Lions & Ghosts secured a recording contract with EMI Records. Their just-released second album, Wild Garden, reflects the band's growth since their 1987 debut Velvet Kiss, Lick Of The Lime.
"Our first record, we didn't know much of what we were doing," Parker admits. "This time, we had more of a focus on what we wanted to do. All you can do is play the music that you feel passionate about and make a record that you would want to buy. If it's good, people will pick up on it. It takes a little longer if you're not the latest trend at the time, but we're just kind of starting our own trend."
And though Lions & Ghosts may not be selling a million records yet, recording for a major label has brought some good fortune. "We don't have to work day jobs anymore!" Parker announces proudly. "That's the main, significant difference. It's a gas getting to make records and travel. We're more in this for the experience than for the monetary reward. And we're having a great time.
