CLASSIC ROCK INTERVIEWS: #Detroit

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

THE RAY SHASHO SHOW WELCOMES WALLY PALMAR GUITARIST-SINGER-COMPOSER FOR 'THE ROMANTICS'

WALLY PALMAR OF

'THE ROMANTICS'

IS THE SPECIAL GUEST

ON THE RAY SHASHO RADIO SHOW

Our Very Special Guest Today is multi-instrumentalist, singer and composer Wally Palmar of The Romantics.

1980's music legends The Romantics, Wally Palmar, Mike Skill, Rich Cole and Brad Elvis, best known for their mega hit single “What I Like About You,” are touring the US in support of their forthcoming album to be released on K-Tel Records titled “Up From The Rubble”!

While it's true that the Romantics took much of their simple thunder from the British Invasion, their primary influence was the Frenzied excitement of the late 60's Detroit rock scene. They cut their teeth on that High Energy sound characterized by the MC5, the Psychedelic Stooges, Bob Seger and the Last Heard, Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, Scott Morgan's Rationals, SRC, and Garage icons the Underdogs, infusing it with sincerity, irony, spontaneity, and of course, Volume. The Romantics took the essence of this scene and translated it to suit their own modern experience. They favored short brash songs, “punk short” hair and popularized red leather suits.

After releasing their own independent single in 1977, consisting of the first two songs they had written - “Little White Lies” and “I Can't Tell You Anything” - The Romantics traveled east to establish an audience. Soon after Bomp Records' Greg Shaw sees them in Toronto and funds a single, which included “Tell It To Carrie,” “First In Line,” something of a stylistic matrix for The Romantics' music to come. The Romantics considered themselves well removed from the Sex Pistols' negativity. They didn't want Rock & Roll to go away rather they want, as Skill tells a reporter in 1979: “to still have fun with three chords.” The late 70's U.K. punk movement was then diluted and still misunderstood in America.

Through constant touring over three years and meetings with CBS Brass, Natt Weiss, & Nemperor A&R reps, they signed with Nemperor Records in 1979.

The original Romantics, Palmar, Skill, Cole and Marinos released their debut LP. Anchored by “What I Like About You,” “When I Look In Your Eyes” and a cover of The Kinks, Ray Davies' “She's Got Everything.” The album is an exemplary pop-rock period piece. The Romantics evoke a youthful portrait, haunting in its innocence, a direct contrast to the tough world they know in Detroit. Now nearly 30 plus years later they are still known for having created some of the most influential and beloved rock and roll of all time.

The 2nd record, “National Breakout” in late 1980, featuring standouts “Night Like This” and “Forever Yours” produced tours of Europe and Australia. The 3rd record “Strictly Personal” was released in1981. In 1983-84 they raised the bar with “In Heat” the platinum album bearing 2 top 10 singles, “Talking In Your Sleep” and “One In A Million” followed with a tour of Japan.

In late 1990, the Romantics added current Blondie drummer Clem Burke to the lineup, and in 1994 they released a 5 song EP titled “Made In Detroit” for Westbound Records, containing fellow Detroiter George Clintons' Funkadelic songs, “You & Your Folks” And “I Wanna Know,” along with three originals. Later that year, The Romantics received an award for Outstanding Pop/Rock Recording Artists from the Motor City Music Awards in 1992.

1995 saw The Romantics settle their 7 year old lawsuit against their former management

2011 brought the re-emergence of original bass player, vocalist, Rich Cole and Mike Skill back on guitar. The band is now able to expand their set list and include more songs from their first two albums, and include new and unreleased material. This now allows them to focus on more harmonies and get back to their original rock sound that established The Romantics from the very beginning.

Once again much to the excitement of their fans worldwide, The Romantics Palmar, Skill, Elvis, and Cole are touring the US and Europe in support of their recently released singles from their highly anticipated new album release “Up From The Rubble” for summer 2016!

It’s my great pleasure to welcome Wally Palmar of The Romantics to The Ray Shasho Show. Wally thank you for being on the show today!

WALLY PALMAR INTERVIEW

ON THE RAY SHASHO SHOW

-BBS RADIO NETWORK

Visit … The Romantics Official Website for concert dates and information about
their new release entitled ...
'Up From The Rubble' at www.romanticsdetroit.com

Visit The Romantics on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/romanticsdetroit

Visit The Romantics on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/romanticsrock

For more information about the 80’s cruise visit … www.the80scruise.com