PRESS GUIDE

[published]: 1984, September 1
[in]: RPM, Vol. 40, No. 26, p. 2, 4, 10
[article]: Kick Axe album gets boost in consumer/retail contest; RPM 100 Albums; TOP CANCON Albums
[by]:

Toronto: Vices, the debut album on the CBS-distributed Pasha label from the Vancouver-based, Regina-bred heavy metal unit Kick Axe, recently received an added push through a CBS consumer/retailer contest.

For the consumer portion of the contest, the company distributed 200,000 ballots across the country. To enter, the consumer simply had to answer one question about the band, and the other about the prize - a Harley Davidson XR-1000 motorbike.

There were three prizes in the retailer contest of $1,000, $750 and $500. With CBS suppying the point-of-purchase material, the stores had to come up with the best displays, photograph it, and send them to CBS.

Vices was produced by Spencer Proffer who also produced the successful heavy metal group Quiet Riot.

RPM recently spoke to George Criston, lead vocalist of the group. Why the move to Vancouver?

"The Regina club scene is not the biggest, so Vancouver was the next closest big city. The club scene is much more steady in Vancouver."

Criston said Proffer allowed a lot of freedom in the studio during the recording of the LP.

"Spencer's a genius at bringing out the best in musicians. He knows when you're good and bad. We went in with one direction and he intensified it. He brought us to our peak."

Kick Axe has recently been touring opening for Judas Priest in the U.S. One of their songs appears on the Up the Creek soundtrack and Black Sabbath is expected to record four of the bands songs for their next LP.

Kick Axe album Vices at the position #67 of RPM 100 ALBUMS

Kick Axe album Vices at the position #9 of TOP CANCON ALBUMS