Rocks Push

Rocks Push - Three Good Reasons For The Blues - 2003 - Big Rock

In mid 2003, the late Rose Tattoo guitarist, Pete Wells formed the short lived blues rock band, Rocks Push. The band also featured the immensely experienced English born guitarist, Chris Turner, and the great drummer from Adelaide, Australia, Rob Grosser. Again, as stated before on this blog, it's great to hear these great musicians taking a break from the sometimes overpowering AOR sound, and going back to the blues. "Three Good Reasons For The Blues" is a great album. Terrific power blues rock played by three very experienced musicians. As well as a few originals, the album includes three Willie Dixon songs. There is also a great version of the Samwell/Potter tune, "What’cha Gonna Do About It ", which interestingly enough was covered in 1966 by the British Small Faces band with Steve Marriott, and Ronnie Lane. The late Pete Wells plays bass on this album. Chris Turner's guitar work, and Rob Grosser's drumming is faultless. "Three Good Reasons For The Blues" really rocks. Try and listen to Pete Wells' last recording, "Bodgie Dada" album, which is a great collection of classic blues covers. Tim Gaze & Rob Grosser's "River City Blues" album is also worth a listen, as is Chris Turner's ‘Guitar Stories Vol. 1’ album. Rob Grosser also played on The Hoochie Coochie Men's s/t alnum, featuring Deep Purple's Jon Lord, which is electric / acoustic blues at it's best, and well worth seeking out.

TRACKS / COMPOSERS

Evil (Willy Dixon)
What’cha Gonna Do About It (Samwell/Potter)
It’s A Jungle Out There (Wells/DeSoto)
Rookwood Blues (Turner)
It’s All Gonna Burn (Wells/DeSoto)
Say Mamma (Meeks/Earl)
Hangin’ Around (Wells/DeSoto)
Stranger (Turner)
Built For Comfort (Willy Dixon)
Where The Hell Is Jesus (Turner)
Backdoor Man (Willie Dixon)
Treat Me Like A Dog (Turner)
I Hear You Knocking (Traditional)

BAND

Pete Wells R.I.P (vocals/bass)
Chris Turner (vocals/guitar)
Rob Grosser (drums)

BIO (PETE WELLS) - Wikipedia

Peter Wells or Pete Wells (circa 1948 – 27 March 2006) is best known as the slide guitarist with Australian rock band Rose Tattoo. Wells first rose to prominence as bassist with the pioneering Sydney-based heavy metal outfit Buffalo in the 1970's. In 1976, Wells formed Rose Tattoo with former Buster Brown vocalist Angry Anderson, guitarist Mick Cocks, bassist Ian Rilen and drummer Dallas Royal. The band's hard rock style soon developed a strong following in Sydney leading to Albert Productions offering them a record contract. Their single "Bad Boy for Love" became a hit and their self-titled debut album established their reputation with production by George Young and Harry Vanda formerly of The Easybeats. Rilen left the band to be replaced by former Buster Brown bassist Geordie Leech. After the release of their second album Assault and Battery, Rose Tattoo embarked on an international tour. They were the loudest band to play at the Marquee Club, London since Led Zeppelin. After the release of their third album Scarred for Life, the band supported Aerosmith and ZZ Top on US tours. Wells left the band in 1983 with Royal and Robin Riley who had replaced Cocks in 1982. After Wells left Rose Tattoo, he fronted The Pete Wells Band. He also worked on side projects to his credit, such as the Lucy DeSoto Band, Rocks Push with Rob Grosser and Chris Turner, and Hillbilly Moon with Paul Norton and Cletis Carr. Rose Tattoo reformed briefly in 1993 to support Guns N' Roses on an Australian tour. In 2002, Wells was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Australian musicians played benefit gigs for him in 2005 including Rose Tattoo, Peter Garrett, The Beasts of Bourbon, Tex, Don and Charlie, Paul Kelly and Tim Rogers and the Temperance Union. Peter Wells died on 27 March 2006 from the disease.

CHRIS TURNER (BIO)

London born guitarist, started playing in 1961 around the London rock scene. Hofner Club 40 Hofner Club 40a.jpgWatkins 17 Watt Watkins 17Watt Amp.jpg He appeared on the same bill as Bowie, Frampton and The Small Faces with Steve Marriot. His band also did shows with John Mayall, Manfred Mann and Johnny Dankworth to name just a few. He played the Mecca Ballroom Circuit with his band The Consorts until 1965. The late sixties saw the’ Chris Turner Group’ and 'The Wranglers' emerge in Auckland, New Zealand where he toured the North Island learning his trade not only as a guitarist but also as a band leader. He did a stint with hit band 'Summer Wine' and 'The Soundelles', Aukland's only professional band at the infamous Oriental Ballroom. In 1970 Chris moved to Sydney, Australia. He signed up with a package show called ‘The Action’ and set of on a tour of The Philippines and Vietnam, barely escaping with his life! On his return from overseas Chris once again formed his own band and toured New South Wales and Queensland, one tour lasting over 18 months. 1973 Chris ‘s eight piece band ‘Drain’, which featured two drummers and a horn section, worked around the Sydney hard rock clubs, including the world famous Chequers Night Club. In 1974 Chris was asked to join heavy rock band ‘Buffalo’, recording and writing the title track on the fifth album ‘Average Rock n’ Roller ‘. Buffalo did numerous radio and television spots and toured Australia with ‘Richie Blackmores’ Rainbow. Throughout this time Pete Wells and Digger Royal (Rose Tattoo)were stable members of The Chris Turner Band which could be seen every Monday night at the infamous night club Chequers from late till dawn. ‘The Chris Turner Band’ continued to work and tour throughout the late seventies with Chris taking time out to work with ‘Rose Tattoo’, F J Holden and the Easybeats’ Stevie Wright. Litrally hundreds of musicians past through Turner's band as it relentlessly toured Australia Chris was asked to record a track for ‘The Australian Guitar Album ‘and also featured on the ‘Concert Of The Decade ‘with F J Holden. His solo album, ‘My Guitar n’ Me ‘was released in 1980 and his band toured constantly. 1982 Saw Chris release his only ever single ‘I’m Crazy ‘ – his band continued to tour ! In 1983 Chris teamed up again with La De Da’s veteran Ronnie Peel (Rockwell T James) to form the $cattered Aces. The ‘Aces’ released a single ‘Waltzing Matilda / C’mon Everybody ‘followed by the EP ‘$ix Pack’, a rollicking good example of Aussie Pub rock. Rose Tattoos’ Pete Wells augmented the line up along with Turner’s ex manic drummer, Paul Demarco.( Fred Zepplin ) Turner and Peel surfaced with ‘Slightly Shady ‘and ‘The Chris Turner Band ‘continued!!! Chris did countless sessions on radio and TV ads and produced the Lucy De Soto Album ‘Three Girls And A Sailor ‘ Chris, together with Status Quo’s Alan Lancaster, recorded ‘Exile’, a rock album featuring many of Chris’s friends. Chris did some recording with the Party Boys and was featured on the hit album ‘Hold Your Head Up”. In the late eighties Chris recorded and produced the BB Strutt album ‘Four Play’ and toured with the band promoting the product. Chris also worked his bands ‘The Tom Cats ‘,'The Wasted Seamen'and ‘The Wolf Tones’ around NSW. Chris produced the Adam Carl Stephens album ‘Skybrain Surfing’ and was featured on the Pete Wells album ‘Orphans’ as well as playing on albums by Rick Veneer and Tony Ryan. Chris established The College Of Contemporary Guitar in Sydney and underwent major hand surgery. “Natural Born Trucker ‘– Truckin’ Bill n’ Doc Guitar was Chris’s next project, the album receiving national air play and the title track was included on a compilation album called “Trucking Towards 2000” which included many overseas legends. Stacey Morris’s CD ‘The Sweetest Thing’ and Will Scarlet’s ‘Wanted It That Way’ were two more Turner projects together co-producing ‘Shadows To The Max’ for Max Paton. Chris Turner’s current album – ‘Guitar Stories Vol. 1’ is an instrumental record with the ‘stories’ included on the twelve page slick. Chris produced ‘Tribute To Roy Orbison’ with The Tee Jays and Robin Lee Sinclair This is currently sold out! Chris Turner & The Wolftones were asked to perform at the ‘Gimme Ted’ concert at Fox Studios in March 2001. This was a benefit to raise money for fellow muso Ted Mulry who was suffering from cancer. Unfortunately Ted died before the money could be used and Chris Turner’s performance was mysteriously not included on the DVD! Chris then released ‘No Bollocks – Just Rock!’ with The Wolftones, produced by Rose Tattoo’s Peter Wells. This album is Pub Rock at its finest and shows Chris at his rockin’ best. This album contains the notorious track” Have A Nice Day”, an underground hit for Chris. In 2004 Chris completed a blues album with Pete Wells & Rob Grosser titled ‘Three Good Reasons For the Blues’ The Band is called ‘Rocks Push’ and was featured at The Manly Jazz Festival. A DVD of this band and the making of this CD are planned for the future. He was also a featured guest artist on “Sydney Blues Live” CD with Tim Gaze and Rob Grosser and his version of “King Bee” is receiving a lot of airplay in the US. Chris Turner is recording three albums at this time: The Blues Pirates – “Skullduggery”, ‘A Little Bit Country’ and ‘Guitar Stories Vol. 2’. Chris Turner’s Blues Pirates were asked to open the show for the Pete Wells benefit concert, Rock & Roll Outlaw', held at The Enmore Theatre in September 2005. The show featured a cast of thousands including Rose Tattoo, The Angels, Lucy De Soto and Dave Tice. The night was a huge success. Chris continues to work and record and is featured heavily on the double CD “25 Years of Big Rock” This is a compilation of music going back 25 years, from Pub Rock and though to today’s power blues. It shows much Australian talent that has been overlooked or rejected by the music industry at large. Chris Turner is currently working live with The Blues Pirates and The Wolf Tones (ref. Gig Guide) He also works as a freelance guitarist and does solo spots. 2007 has brought a re release of the Buffalo albums and the classic 'Average Rock n' Roller', which featured Turner and Tice at their wicked best. the album has been re mastered and given the new full package treatment. It is available on Aztec Music. © www.big-rock.com.au

ROB GROSSER (BIO)

Rob is originally from Adelaide where he played with various bands before moving to Melbourne then finally settling in Sydney. Rob also teaches Music Business as well as music technology at Wyong Tafe, Quakers Hill Tafe, Shellharbour Tafe and Northholm Grammar High School He has also been teaching music at Morisett Psych Hospital and Kariong Maximum Security Centre. © www.big-rock.com.au