Point Blank (band) explained
Point Blank was an American rock band hailing from Irving, Texas, United States. The band formed in 1974 in Irving, Texas, and recorded six albums between 1974 and 1982.[1] Garnering occasional airplay on AOR radio stations, the band is best known for their only hit single, "Nicole", from 1981. Point Blank broke up in 1983.
History
The band was discovered and managed by Bill Ham's Lone Wolf Productions (ZZ Top, and Eric Johnson). The original six albums were recorded in Memphis with engineer/producer Terry Manning. Point Blank's sound is rooted in southern rock and boogie, but drifted towards hard rock and mainstream AOR by the early 1980s.[1] In 1981, they released their fifth album, American Exce$$,[1] which included the hit single "Nicole". With strong air-play on AOR radio stations the track reached #20 on Billboard Magazine's Rock Tracks. Subsequently, "Nicole" was also released as a 45 RPM single and peaked inside the Top 40, at #39 on Billboard's Hot 100, before quickly dropping off the charts. In their heyday they were known for playing more than 200 shows per year. In 1984, the band broke up.[2]
In late 2009, Point Blank released Fight On!, their first studio album in 27 years. Both the Reloaded and Fight On! albums were released on the Dixiefrog label.[3]
Guitarist Kim Davis died on October 18, 2010, from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, aged 58.[4]
James Russell Burns, better known as Rusty Burns, died in Denver from lung cancer on February 19, 2016, aged 63.[5]
The singer and a founding member, John O'Daniel, died from cancer on November 17, 2018; he was 70.[6]
Discography
Albums
- Point Blank (Arista, 1976) (US #175)
- Second Season (Arista, 1977)
- Airplay (MCA, 1979) (US #175)
- The Hard Way (MCA, 1980) (US #110)
- American Exce$$ (MCA, 1981) (US #80)
- On A Roll (MCA, 1982) (US #119)
- Reloaded (Dixiefrog, 2006)
- Fight On! (Dixiefrog, 2009)
- Volume 9 (Fairway, 2014)
- Very Best (2019)
Singles
- Let Me Stay With You Tonight (1981) (US #117, US Rock #38)
- Nicole (1981) (US #39, US Rock #20)
- On a Roll (1982) (US Rock #27)
- Let Her Go (1982) (US #109)
- Great White Line (1982) (US Rock #34)
Members
1974
- Rusty Burns – Guitar
- Kim Davis – Guitar
- Phillip Petty - Bass
- John O'Daniel – Vocals
- Richard Heaton– Drums
1975
- Rusty Burns – Guitar
- Kim Davis – Guitar
- Phillip Petty - Bass
- John O'Daniel – Vocals
- Richard Heaton – Drums
1976
- Rusty Burns – Guitar
- Kim Davis – Guitar
- John O'Daniel – Vocals
- Buzzy Gruen – Drums
- Phillip Petty - Bass
1979
- Rusty Burns – Guitar
- Kim Davis – Guitar
- John O'Daniel – Vocals
- Buzzy Gruen – Drums
- Bill Randolph – Bass
- Steve Hardin – Keyboards
1980
- Rusty Burns – Guitar
- Kim Davis – Guitar
- John O'Daniel – Vocals
- Buzzy Gruen – Drums
- Bill Randolph – Bass
1981
- Rusty Burns – Guitar
- Kim Davis – Guitar
- Buzzy Gruen – Drums
- Bill Randolph – Bass
- Bubba Keith – Vocals
- Mike Hamilton – Keyboards
2005
- Rusty Burns – Guitar
- John O'Daniel – Vocals
- Phillip Petty – Bass
- Buzzy Gruen – Drums
2007
- Rusty Burns – Guitar
- John O'Daniel – Vocals
- Phillip Petty – Bass
- Mike Gage – Drums
- Buddy Whittington – Guitar
- Jeff Williams – Piano
2007
- Rusty Burns – Guitar
- John O'Daniel – Vocals
- Phillip Petty – Bass
- David Crockett – Drums
- Buddy Whittington – Guitar
- Larry Telford – Keyboards
2008
- Rusty Burns – Guitar
- John O'Daniel – Vocals
- Phillip Petty – Bass
- David Crockett – Drums
- Mouse Mayes – Guitar
- Larry Telford – Keyboards
2012
- Rusty Burns – Guitar
- John O'Daniel – Vocals
- Mouse Mayes – Guitar
- Larry Telford – Keyboards
- Kirk Powers – Bass
- Greg Hokanson – Drums
2014
- Rusty Burns – Guitar
- John O'Daniel – Vocals
- Mouse Mayes – Guitar
- Larry Telford – Keyboards
- Kirk Powers – Bass
- Mike Gage – Drums
2016
- John O'Daniel – Vocals
- Mouse Mayes – Guitar
- Larry Telford – Keyboards
- Kirk Powers – Bass
- Greg Hokanson – Drums
External links
Notes and References
- Book: The Guinness Who's Who of Heavy Metal. Colin Larkin. Colin Larkin (writer). Guinness Publishing. 1995. Second. 0-85112-656-1. 278.
- Web site: Breznikar. Klemen. Klemen Breznikar . June 21, 2011. Point Blank Interview with John O'Daniel & Rusty Burns. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201123163034/https://www.psychedelicbabymag.com/2011/06/point-blank-interview-with-john-odanie.html. November 23, 2020. February 27, 2021. It's Psychedelic Baby! Magazine.
- Web site: Point Blank . Dixiefrog Records . February 27, 2021.
- Web site: The Loss of Kim Davis – News from southeastern Connecticut . subscription . February 23, 2016 . The Day.
- News: Christian . McPhate . Rusty Burns, ZZ Top and Stevie Ray Vaughan Collaborator, Has Died . February 26, 2021 . Dallas Observer . February 22, 2016.
- Web site: Tribute for John Edward O'Daniel . Wayne Boze Funeral Home . February 26, 2021.
