The article that follows is from: RAW (Rock Action Worldwide) No 13
Thank You to Swedish ICON fan Maciej Stoinski for the article

Missing in Action: ICON


THEY SHOULD have been huge. ICON, the Phoenix power-rockers who came racing across the Hard Rock universe like a cataclysmic platoon of sonic reducers force-fed on Mike Tyson's personal hormonal rampage. It was 1984. The album was simply called 'Icon'. An import on the Capitol label. Bliss. A year later, out popped 'Night Of The Crime'. September. Again on Capitol. Slightly more reserved, but nonetheless an excellent effort. As with its precedessor, 'Night....' hit hard but to little avail. The label lacked the will to make things happen. The band disappeared. Never to be heard from again ... until now!

For Icon are back. A new deal has been struck with the Megaforce organization, a new LP is being recorded. Things are blossoming again in Phoenix. And no-one is more relieved than Icon guitarist Dan Wexler. "Oh God, the last few years have been an unbelievable experience. Where do I start to explain?"

So, let's get a few facts down on paper. The first blow to hit the boys came on July 3, 1985 ("I remember the date so vividly" recalls Wexler) when lead vocalist Steve Clifford quit. The remaining fellas then spent an age "auditioning hundreds of potential singers looking for the right replacement. But we couldn't find the perfect, wildly powerful guy. So we took on Jerry Harrison, who was the nearest we could find to our ideal vocalist" Thus armed, Icon then showcased for Capitol in an effort to persuade the powers-that-be at the company that they were worth backing. The ploy failed. The label dropped the act.

"To be honest, Capitol never did anything for us. They were never interested in Icon. Do you know we sold 40,000 copies of 'Night of the Crime' in the US during the first month of release? Yet Capitol failed to take advantage of this base. Mind you, a lot of it was also down to our lame management (Peter Morticelli, who also briefly handled affairs for Wrathchild UK; he no longer represents either act)"

So without a deal, Icon set about resurrecting their career. They recorded new demos during early '86 and released these in tape form locally during '87 under the title of 'More Perfect Union'. The new songs saw the band alter their direction, heading towards a decidedly wimpier style, something Wexler vigorously fought.

"We'd had such bad luck playing Heavy Metal that most of the guys in the band wanted to change. I was completely against this from the start, but was outvoted. The upshot was that the tape didn't sell at all well and the others realised that I'd been right all along - the new direction was totally wrong."

At this point, enter Megaforce, specifically Vice-President Ed Trunk. He began a two-year dialogue with the band, which ended recently with the aforementioned deal being inked. And now they're preparing a new album. As yet untitled, it's being produced by Wexler himself at Chaton Recorders in Phoenix (just down the road from the guitarist's house - convenient) and should be out on May 1, with distribution through Atlantic. Joining Wexler on the project are Harrison plus original members Pat Dixon (drums) and Tracy Wallach (bass). Long-time associate Kevin Stoler will be guesting on keyboards, and there's also possibility that a second guitarist will be added. This final piece of the jigsaw might well be original Icon axeman John Aquilino, who left soon after the Capitol debacle in '86. Some 12 songs are to be recorded, before the final choice is made, and among those numbers set to be whacked out are: 'Forever Young' (written in 1986) 'Take My Breath Away', 'Running Under Fire', 'Two For The Road', 'Bad Times', 'Sweet Young Sinner', 'Holy Man's War', 'Right Between the Eyes' and 'Gold Bullets'.

The album will be mixed in Los Angeles and, says Wexler, "It's gonna be rock'n'roll dripping with 'f**k you'! The LP will have the hardness of that debut record coupled with some of the better elements from 'Night ...' and I tell ya, Megaforce are so into this project. It's great at last to be involved with people who really believe in us."

Most bands would have given up after all the disappointments of the past few years. Fortunately, Icon are made of sterner stuff. I still cherish warm memories of their debut effort. I look forward to the new product with antici... pation!

Malcolm Dome *********






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