**News Update at bottom of page concerning 'JUST PAST TOMORROW ' - The Blackstone Project.**
Mark Sorrels
Drew Camp
Gary Grice
Kenny Warden
Michael Lee Thomas
(1978)
Blackstone
was a Hard Rock group based in
Amarillo, Texas. Michael Lee Thomas
was the founder and sole original member
throughout the existence of the band from
1972 until 1982. While other groups from the U.S.
have performed under the same name
and one group even released an LP under the
Blackstone moniker in 1971, this
Texas bunch
was one of a kind. Throughout the different
incarnations of the band a little bit of a legend
grew. Then in 1977, it all came together. The right mix
of personnel and the right mix of
exceptional 100% Original music, Hard, Fast and
Determined! A style they called "Red Hot Rock-n-Roll!"
Mostly despised by the local music community for not following the cliques,
Blackstone became
a defiant and different form of music from the Texas
panhandle. The following of the band was loyal
and locked. The jealous told the lies and fed the
rumors. This page is dedicated as a toast to the
memory of a forgotten and remembered Amarillo band, who
for a brief moment in time made a
reach for history as winners of the 1978 Texxas World Music
Festival-Battle Of The Bands and then on
July 1, 1978, performed proudly in front of over 85,000
people in the Cotton Bowl-Dallas, opening
the First Texxas Jam. And for
Blackstone in that defining moment, the band made a lasting
statement
that could never be taken away. Although the group
disbanded only a few years later, that short flame of
victory would forever last as an enduring memory of
vindication.
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Blackstone: circa(1977-1982)
Michael Lee Thomas
- Drums (1972-1982); Mark Sorrels
- Lead Guitar (1975-1982);
Gary Grice - Rhythm Guitar
(1977 - 1979); Kenny Warden
- Lead Vocals (1977 - 1981);
Drew Camp - Bass Guitar
(1974 - 1982)
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Show Time - Headed To The Stage 07.09.78
Blackstone w/Rainbow & R.E.O. Speedwagon -
07.09.78
Civic Coliseum-Amarillo, Texas
Civic Coliseum - Amarillo, Texas
1st TEXXAS JAM - Cotton Bowl -Dallas - 07.01.78
1st TEXXAS JAM - Cotton Bowl -Dallas - 07.01.78
TEXXAS WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL
TEXXAS WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL
Amarillo Civic Auditorium - Battle
Of The Bands - 06.19.78 Dallas Fairpark Arena - Battle
Of The Bands - 06.30.78
1978 TEXXAS WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL
1978 TEXXAS WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL
Dallas Fairpark Arena - w/AC/DC &
Artful Dodger - 07.03.78
1978 TEXXAS WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL
Dallas Fairpark Arena - Michael
Lee Thomas / Drum Solo - 07.03.78
1978 TEXXAS WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
August 24, 1978, issue of Rolling
Stone Magazine noting The Appearance by 'Blackstone'
As Battle Of The Bands Winner and Opener of the First Texxas Jam, Cotton
Bowl-Dallas, July 1, 1978,
and Event All Access Stage Pass of Drummer, Michael Lee Thomas
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Blackstone w/Rainbow & R.E.O. Speedwagon -
07.09.78
Civic Coliseum - Amarillo, Texas
Blackstone w/Rainbow & R.E.O. Speedwagon -
07.09.78
Civic Coliseum - Amarillo, Texas
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BLACKSTONE
- 1978 Promo Picture
Gary Grice
Mark Sorrels Michael Lee Thomas
Kenny Warden Drew Camp
Post Show Party -
Head East Tour - August 1977
Pre-Tour Rehearsal Break - Summer 1977
Dodge City, Kansas Twichell Studio - Dumas, Texas
( w/Road
Manager - Curtis Weaver )
( w/Road
Manager - Curtis Weaver )
Blackstone Tour/Stage Set-up 1977 -1979
Load In - Fourteen Carrot Studios - Amarillo, Texas 1978
Polydor Pre-Production Sessions
Blackstone Crew -
Truck Load Up - 1979 Post Show Backstage Smiles - Summer 1978
(Curtis
Weaver, George Slocum, Andy McDonald,
Randy Tupin, Michael Lee)
Primary Photography By
Rik Andersen
( Band Staff Photographer 1977 - 1981 )
Dedicated to the memory of Bruce Acord (1960 -2006),
Crew Staff 1977 - 1980
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In May 2010, Michael Lee Thomas, Mark Sorrels and Gary Grice announced the launching of a Progressive Hard Rock Project reuniting the Three former members of Blackstone and Bass Guitarist Mike Lee Payne. The Project/Band name is 'JUST PAST TOMORROW', and the group will be designed to be a Power Four-piece. The band is about to begin rehearsals and pre-production for the intensive debut CD titled 'Shadow of the Stone' , scheduled to be released sometime in 2011, and also preparing for future LIVE performances! The project marks a Serious return to the Rock arena for Michael Lee and the reunion with his former Band-mates has generated a unique and spontaneous yet familiar creative energy! 'JUST PAST TOMORROW' will be coordinated through RealDream Productions and released through Darksilver Records America . More Details to Follow Soon!
JUST PAST
TOMORROW®TM
- The Blackstone Project -
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Questions or Comments: blackstone@darksilver.com
© 2010 Darksilver Records America