ABOUT DRUMMER AL KING

Al King is an energetic, hard-hitting Detroit Rock N' Roll drummer. It all began at a Destroy All Monsters practice in Ann Arbor, Michigan. With legendary Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton tuning his guitar in the background, 2-year-old Alexander King picked up a set of drumsticks for the first time and started jamming on his uncle Rob King’s kit.

From that point on, music became Al’s passion. He got his first drum kit at age 4 and was soon playing piano and guitar as well.

Al was raised on music. Grandfather Dick King was a jazz pianist and clarinet player as well as owning King’s Keyboards in Ann Arbor Michigan for decades.

Al's Dad, Jim King is a professional keyboard player who has played with the likes of Bob Seger, George Clinton and Dell Vikings. A multi-talented musician, Al also plays guitar and bass, but like his uncle Rob of the influential and revolutionary band, Destroy All Monsters, Al’s first love is the drums.

Raised in South Lake Tahoe, California, Al played drums in his first band at 13 and by 17, played the Vans Warped Tour. While in California Al was on drums in various bands (such as Elkos, with Xtreme Sports athlete Shaun Palmer) in Tahoe and later, LA.

Fast-forward to 2005 and Al was transplanted back to Michigan. Before long Al was rocking the Detroit scene with such famous musicians as Scott Morgan (The Rationals, Sonics Rendezvous Band), Mitch Ryder (Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels), Nikki Corvette and Deniz Tek (Radio Birdman).

Earlier in 2010 Al King toured the East Coast on drums with Nikki Corvette and Gorevette opening for the Donnas. Then returned from a tour of Japan in May. In August and September 2010, Al toured both East and West Coasts opening for Debbie Harry and Blondie.

When not touring, Al is a music teacher offering private lessons in drums, guitar and bass. He also teaches drums for Day Jams Rock Music Day Camp and Ann Arbor’s School of Rock.

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POWERTRANE NY POSTER

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Quirky NY Chick: Gorevette Brought Detroit Fun To NYC

We had a blast in NYC thanks to everyone that helped out with the show!
Read the full story below.

Quirky NY Chick: Gorevette Brought Detroit Fun To NYC

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NYC!

Highline Ballroom
431 West 16th St. between Ninth & Tenth Aves.
Wednesday, March 24, $20, 7:00
212-414-5994
www.highlineballroom.com
www.myspace.com/gorevette


From this week in NY:

“I wanna be like Nikki Corvette,” the Donnas declared on their 1998 song “Gimmie My Radio.” A dozen years later, the Donnas find themselves on the same inspired bill as the Detroit rock-and-roller, who has teamed up with Amy Gore of the Gore Gore Girls to form Gorevette. Along with GGG bassist Lianna Castillo and Powertrane drummer Al King, Gorevette melds 1970s punk with 1990s garage rock on their debut EP, LUSTFULLY YOURS (Strange Girl, January 2010), consisting of seven songs that would make the Runaways jealous.


Amy Gore Deniz Tek Nikki Corvette Session

The tunes fly by on a smooth sonic wave, from the Ramones-like “Baby Let’s Rock,” the shortest song on the album at 1:59, to the cool title track, the longest number at a mere 2:39. Radio Birdman’s Deniz Tek adds a stirring guitar solo to album opener “Nothings Gonna Stop Me,” a 1960s girl-group sound drives “Honey Don’t You Know?,” pretty background vocals lift “Fake It,” and harder-edged guitars power “Brand New Lover” and “Candy Man.” Gorevette will pull into the Highline Ballroom on March 24, playing with the Donnas and New York City indie band Russian Vogue.

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AL KING: MAZINGA! ANN ARBOR ROCKNROLL REVIVAL 2009

MARK!

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SCOTT MORGAN AND POWERTRANE MEDLEY

Scott's band,The Rationals, scored a hit record with their cover of Otis Redding's "Respect" in 1966 - a year before Aretha recorded it. He's been a major force in Detroit rock 'n' roll ever since...In the 1970's, he was the lead singer in Sonic's Rendezvous Band - a Detroit super group that also featured Fred 'Sonic' Smith of the MC5 and Scott Asheton of The Stooges. At the Concert of Colors, he performed a medley consisting of the early Bob Seger classic, "2+2", "Respect" and Fred Smith's "City Slang.

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Blowout!

GORVETTE!

Al King here.... So is the Metro Times Blowout! Next friday March 5 2010 my band Gorevette along with a great lineup of other bands is set to perform in the K of C hall (the big stage). here's what the lineup looks like.

K OF C HALL
1:00 AM DETROIT COBRAS
MIDNIGHT OCTOPUS
11:00 PM GOREVETTE
10:00 PM THE SUNDRESSES



This will be my 4th year at the Blowout. In the years past I have perfomed with Scott Morgan's Powertrane, Mitch Ryder, Gorevette, Mazinga and the 77'S. The Blowout is a super fun rock n roll weekend, however i always remember the blowout having really shity weather. I still wonder why they don't change the time of year for this event.
In 2008 i played @ Atlas Bar with Mazinga, The club was so packed that owner made us wait outside with our gear until we played, It was snowing hard at this point and we where cold and pissed off by the time we loaded in. We set up in record time and blasted through our set. Since it was "to packed" for the owner to let us in out of the cold Marc Mcfinn(Mazinga Singer) decided the stage and the club was to packed for him and used the bar as his stage(you can tell the owner is pleased in the pic).



There are so many good bands to see at this event and you just cant see them all, but here are a few of my recomendations. Chapstik, Detroit Cobra's, Blue Snaggletooth(Box Taylors band) and Black Irish.

Have fun out there

-A.K.

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REAL DETROIT

Smeared Kiss




"Going down to the Magic Stick last weekend to do a photo shoot for the cover of this weeks real detroit weekly with Gorevette was super fun. When we arrived photographer Joe Gall was there to greet us and go over his festive concepts. Since the magzines shoot is to promote bands playing there 11 year b-day bash, there were wraped presents, cupcakes and candy used as props.

As Joe led us into the shoot he introduced us to all the crew, extras and wardrobe. In wardrobe Angela had enough spandex to outfit the whole sunset sceen of the 1980's. Although her offer to outfit us was kind and tempting,

Gorevette is more of a lipstick n leather band. I did see the satin peaches took full advantage of the spandex in there cover shot though. After Joe got the shot he wanted we packed up and said hi and bye to Tony and Danny from the Muggs as they were getting ready for Joe to shoot them next. Im really looking forward to playing the Real Detroit B-Day Bash at the Magic Stick Gorevette goes on @ 11:45 right before I.C.P. "

Fun Stuff Al King February 19 at 10:13am

more info...

Gorevette's Super-Sexy Sonic Embrace

Gorevette had to invent a genre to describe their high-intensity, energetic blend of garage rock, bubblegum pop and hip-shaking swagger. Guitarist Amy Gore calls it “Lipstickabilly.”

Introduced at a Gore Gore Girls show in Los Angeles, Gore teamed up with singer Nikki Corvette in 2006. The situation progressed from songwriting to: "Wow, we’re in a band with this awesome name!" They then added Al King on drums and Lianna Castillo on bass.

With a debut EP, Lustfully Yours, ready to rock, the girls are gearing up for world conquest. Says Gore, “New jams are on the horizon, and we’re really excited to play Japan this spring.”

Before they take off, they’re bringing their supersonic punk party to the Alley Stage with a performance guaranteed to have people dancing in the aisles … err, lanes. “Amy, Al and Lianna are intensely rockin’ and I just sing, dance, flirt and have fun," says Corvette.

“I have a case of guitar-face,” Gore explains. “Lianna snarls at the crowd, and Al just rocks it. I’m not sure how playing on the lanes at the Garden Bowl is going to work. We’ve not done that before! I hope people keep their balls under control.” RDW

Gorevette is much too fast for The Alley stage at the Majestic Theater Complex • 2/27, 11:45 p.m. • gorevette.com • Birthday Break tix $10

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Machinegun Thompson and Johnny Bee Interview

photo; Len Beste

Went with Machinegun Thompson and Retro Kimmer to film a live interview featuring Johnny Bee of Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels fame.

It was a great opportunity for me to film two of my all time favorite drummers talking about Detroit Rock n Roll. Thank you to Retro Kimmer for having me along to film and thanks Machinegun and Bee for the inspiration.

-AK

Video; Al King

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Ann Arbor Rock-n-Roll Revival 2009...

Al and Chris

Chris Taylor has made his Rock-n-Roll dreams come true time and time again. Back in 2000, he emailed one of his favorite guitarists, Deniz Tek, out of the blue and asked him if he wanted to play a rock show. Surprisingly, Tek said sure, when and where?


Deniz Tek and Chris Taylor


Deniz Tek and The Epiphone

I wish I could have seen Chris' face when he got that response, because so many people whom either Chris or myself have asked to play want way too much money just to leave the house! Not Deniz Tek, though. He is ready to catch the next flight to Detroit whenever he gets the chance. That guy lives to play his Epiphone guitar he bought from the late great Fred “Sonic" Smith.


Dennis Machinegun Thompson and Kimmer (Louder Than Love Set)

Fast forward to 2009 when Chris and I met Kim Maki the blogger/promoter Retro: Kimmer and one of her good friends and client, drummer, writer lecturer, Dennis"Machinegun"Thompson.

Then one day, Chris and I were talking over a smoke...What if we could put Deniz Tek and Machinegun on the same stage again and call it a “Rock-n-Roll Revival Meeting”? So that’s exactly what we did, got in touch with Deniz Tek, and then he lined up his great friend Machinegun and away we went booking the bands and venue. Kimmer jumped in to help promote the event.


The Blind Pig


Mazinga

The Blind Pig was chosen as the venue for the Revival. We put our band Mazinga on the bill not only because we fit musically, but in all the years Chris has known Tek, Mazinga has never been on the same bill.



Nikki Corvette said she would be honored to be on the bill and would play for free (now how non rockstar is that???) so I made a call and Gorevette's on the bill. At this point, I’m getting busier and busier since I play drums for both Mazinga and Gorevette.


Al King Deniz Tek Chris Taylor

Unfortunately, Machinegun had to drop out of the gig Stanley T. Madhatter filled in at the last minute. You know what they say, "the show must go on” so I got a jingle from Chris asking if I would play drums in Machinegun’s place. Those are big shoes to fill but I’m never afraid of a challenge so of course I agreed to play!



I wasn’t too worried since the set list consisted of Radio Birdman and Sonic's Rendevous songs that I’ve been playing for years with both Scott Morgan and Deniz Tek. Deniz flew in, we all practiced and everything just came together.


Eric Pouille Photo

The night of the show I was excited to see the Blind Pig filling up early. By 10:30 the place was packed and Mazinga took the stage. We blasted through originals such as “Johnny Was a Robot” “Open the Blast Doors”, “547” and closed the set with the MC5’s “Lookin’ at You”.



The ladies of Gorevette and I took the stage and played everything off our debut record (due out 1-26-10) as well as some kick ass numbers from Nikki Corvette’s arsenal of songs. Next, Scott Morgan and the Rationals played soul tunes that are sure to make anyone feel the groove. I got a little break to catch my breath from drumming in the first 2 bands while the Rationals played.



The final act was a collaboration of songs that were organically grown right here in our backyard. Performed by Deniz Tek(Radio Birdman), Hiawatha (Cult Heroes), Rob King(Destroy All Monsters), Eric Pouille(Holy Curse), Scott Morgan, Chris Taylor and myself. Here is a copy of the set list.



Over all, it was a great night spent with fellow friends of Rock-n-Roll. It was my honor and pleasure to play drums with all the outstanding musicians who participated in the Ann Arbor Rock-n-Roll Revival Meeting. Looking forward to the next meeting.

Good Times

-Ak

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