:DSR
 

Blackstone Archives

                **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.       

         ____________________________________________________________________________                            

                                                     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)  

        _____________________________________________________________________________

                 
        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
        

     ______________________________________________________________________________________________

                                                                             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 - 

 _________________________________________________________________________________________


                                                                                                                        

                                                                

                                                                                           Questions or Comments:  blackstone@darksilver.com

 

                                                                                                            

 

 

 

                                                                                                      © 2010 Darksilver Records America  

                                                                     

 

 

 

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