Still Rockin' in 2020 Waiting for the Pandemic to end! ALSO SEE OUR MAIN SITE at https://sites.google.com/view/crystalhazeband/home
We are The Original CRYSTAL HAZE BAND Carrying the Banner for Rock N Roll since 1975
CRYSTAL HAZE BAND: The Legendary Progressive Rock Band from Decatur IL , from 1975 to the present day....still writing and
recording and performing. Started in the late summer of 1975, in Decatur Illinois, USA, as CRYSTAL HAZE BAND, this was originally
a hard rock group playing cover versions of bands like Rush, early Kiss, and Led Zeppelin. In August of 1975 the original
lineup of the group was: Greg Bickers (Lead guitar and Vocals); Bob Prust (Bass Guitar and vocals); Rick Beaman (Drums); Dirk
Tucker (Guitar); and Mike Lambert (Lead Vocals). But with the departure of founder guitarist Dirk Tucker in January of 1976,
and his replacement by guitarist/vocalist Dave Ellis at that time, things soon changed. (Ellis had been playing in bands in
Decatur IL in high school since the early 1970's; mostly with a band called LEGEND, through high school, a band which at one
time briefly included Jeff Klaven; later to become the drummer with Swiss supergroup KROKUS) and also in Legend was Tim Bailey,
later of Bethlehem Steal and Russian Roulette. Ellis says: " I was sitting in study hall in senior year of high school
at MacArthur High, and the guy across from me says you play guitar dont you. My cousin Greg Bicker's band just lost their
other guitar player. He then proceeded to throw me the phone numbers of these guys, and a couple days later, I was auditioning
for Crystal Haze Band, doing Anthem and In the End by Rush, and Train Kept a Rollin and Somebody by Aerosmith, and Strutter
and All the Way by Kiss. And I remember doing the Alex Lifeson solo on Working Man that day. I jammed with them that one afternoon
and they let me in the band. We were all still in high school, except for Beaman. Me and Greg Bickers were Seniors. I was
at MacArthur and he was over at Mt. Zion. Bob Prust was a year younger than us, and he was at Eisenhower High School. That
was in January of 1976. I had just written the song Truth of the Ages that week." The stand-up singer (Mike Lambert;
from the band. GUNSMOKE) left a few weeks later, and higher ranged, louder vocals were then taken over by Lead Guitarist Greg
Bickers, and softer vocals by Lead Guitarist - Songwriter Dave Ellis. The Original songs began to pour out from Ellis, and
were quickly incorporated into the band's repertoire, and ranged from mostly heavy tunes with lots of fast lead solos (unique
for that early of a time), down to acoustic psychedelic folksy sounds. Drummer Rick Beaman left to devote more time to his
family, and was replaced by Mike Stevens of Mt. Zion IL. After a few months of intense songwriting, plans began to take shape
for an album of all-original songs written by Dave Ellis; a few were songs that the band had been already playing at school
dance gigs and proms (Truth of the Ages; Stop; and D.N.J.) Others like FLAME were brand new. Keyboard player Brian (Bryant)
Minks was then added. Financed by Dave Ellis (with his college funds), a first album was professionally recorded from April
77 to July 1977 at Macon Tracks Studios in Decatur IL, and released in August 1977 on the Sirus Records label; simply as "Crystal
Haze". A firend of the band's, Tracey Bublitz, from Co-op Records; had a connection with A & M Records, through going
to parties with major artists with the Midwest Rep of A & M Records; Lyn Evanko from St. Louis. Dave Ellis got Tracey
to take a copy of the album and push it at Evanko during a meeting with Peter Frampton. Evanko was elated with the sound of
the album, and immediately contacted the band, and Herb Alpert and Sergio Mendez at the LA offices of A & M. Crystal Haze
Band was suddenly catapulted from being an obscure band in Decatur IL to being regional celebrities; with airplay on the FM
dial round-the-clock. The band's album was promoted by A & M Records; who distributed it nationally to all the major radio
markets, the band experienced a sudden meteoric Midwest popularity from the radio play of FLAME and JANUARY. Attendance at
concerts suddenly swelled, and even stage mobbing scenes began to occur. After doing a protracted nationwide radio blitz,
A & M unfortunately did not sign the band onto a retainer. (After that disheartening event, the band began to experience
numerous personnel changes; with Bickers going on to Russian Roulette, and then Clockwork Orange. Dale Ross went on to the
First National Band. Bob Prust moved to Oxford Mississippi to attend University there. Dave Ellis continued on with a string
of musicians; utilizing Dave Ward on vocals to take Greg Bicker's place, and then after Ward left; Ellis took over Lead Vocals
on a short tour of the Southeastern States; and then shared lead vocal duties between himself and drummer Keith Greene - no
relation to the gospel singer.) But the first album (on the SIRUS Records label); has proved to be one of the most sought-after
indie rock albums in history, with individual copies still selling for around $900.00 a copy on the original label. Subsequent
(inferior pressings) of bootlegs have appeared on the illicit British label Acid Nightmare Records on vinyl, CDs, and digital
downloads. The original remains a sought-after audiophile collectable. (One has to only look at the wild prices at the Rockadrome
Records website to see the truth of this). Keyboard player Brian (Bryant) Minks was accidently tragically killed in a horrible
railroad accident in early 1988. Then In 1990; while the band was based out of Branson for a couple of years; the first record
experienced a sudden second round of popularity,(thanks to A & M leaving copies of the album in Baltimore Maryland, where
it suddenly took off again like wildfire and started ansensation among audiophile catalogs; and began to circulate internationally
among audiophiles, from America to Japan to Europe to Russia. Demand for the recordings suddenly went through the roof again.
Ellis saw the viability of continuing Crystal Haze Band in perpetuity permanently; while often moonlighting with other live
acts and recording projects doing session work in Branson and Lake of the Ozarks; and in Arkansas. (For many years the band
had been struggling on, recording a lengthy second album of long epic half hour long progressive rock songs called DEAD OF
NIGHT, in 1979, and a third album, of shorter songs : TORNADO HOUSE in 1996 (so-called because the house it was recorded in
was completely destroyed by an F2 tornado in May of 1996). Tornado House would prove to be the first album to begin to incorporate
a lot of synthesizers also. In 1995 Dennis Bergeron of Monster Records offered the band a record deal, but protracted negotiations
with that label finally fell apart, after Ellis turned down the offer that was on the table. (Bergeron continued to promote
the band and first album through his ROKADROME RECORDS mail order and online store). A string of albums continued on by Crystal
Haze Band. The direction became increasingly muddled; but then with the 2018 album ROCKAHOLICS FROM DECATUR, The Original
CRYSTAL HAZE BAND returned to their core elements, with a hard core heavy rock album, even more defiant than their first album
in 77. Begun in 1975, " Original CRYSTAL HAZE Band "has endured now for over 45 years thus far, This dynamic progressive
rock group performs all Original music in a merger of Zeppelinish heaviness mixed with the progressiveness of Rush; coupled
with the melodic sensibilities of Queen and Todd Rundgren. ..along with a strange self described mix of "syrupy tunes
and Macabre doomish Gothic sounding creepy stuff". They have been an audiophile favorite for many years.
Their first album has fetched enormous prices for unopened copies on the original label, on 33 1/3 rpm, up to almost $900
US for single copies. Bandleader Ellis continues to credit A & M Records' original promotion of the first album for giving
the band a permanent place in Rock and Roll, and consequently giving the band the ability to continue for all these years.
Unfortunately, a British pirate company, Acid Nightmare Records, has also released a shoddily recorded knock-off (not
using the original masters of course) in England. But the band continues to enjoy enduring popularity among audiohiles in
the USA, Europe, and Japan. The band is hoping to have their two other old (previously unreleased albums out in the near future,
and has re-released the original crystalhazealbum on digital. Their continuous band website (which has been online since the
early days of the internet) is found at http://crystalhazealbum.tripod.com and contains extensive info on band history, current
happenings, and alot of their music that you can listen to right there, along with contact info for concert booking. he newer
site is at https://sites.google.com/view/crystalhazeband . They continue to write and record an electic mix of music, from
prog rock to smoozy ballads, to doom sounding stuff even, these days.(They are still led to this day by Dave Ellis, and are
not to be confused with a much later band using a version of the same name from out west...or with an even newer band from
Pennsylvania using the name, or various Mexican and European groups using some form of the Name. (Believe it or not...truth
is stranger than fiction). Since becoming aware of cover bands using their name, the Band has been careful to often add the
term: "The ORIGINAL" to their info to distinguish from the cover bands.) (Other odd trivia about this band is: that
Dave Ellis and Greg Bickers were both born on the same day and same year in the same town, and in the same hospital. Also
both would each sing and perform music for future Presidents of the USA. Dave would sing and play for Bill Clinton in Harrison
Arkansas, and again in Little Rock; and Greg would later sing and perform for Barack Obama in Illinois. Also, in the fall
of 1977, while being promoted by A & M Records; the band was at the center of a large supernatural haunting investigation
at the A.E. Gastman Auditorium, where they had their larger-than-life rehearsal hall, while preparing their roadshow. The
inestigation became an entire chapter in the first "Haunted Decatur" Book by Paranormal investigator and author
Troy Taylor, and was also investigated by famous Ghost Hunter Frank Ward of New Brunswick Georgia.) "THE ORIGINAL"
CRYSTAL HAZE BAND now has out a total of eighteen ALBUMS, with a number of the songs able to heard on REVERBNATION; SOUNDCLOUD;
AUDIOMACK; INDIE MUSIC PEOPLE; and on YOUTUBE.
<div align="center"><font color="#ff0000" face="Times New Roman,Times,serif" size="4"><strong>go
also to our new websites at
crystalhazeband.webs.com</strong></font></div><div align="center"><strong><font
color="#ff0000" face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><font color="#ff0000"
face="Times New Roman" size="4">WE ARE CURRENTLY PUTTING OUT NEW MUSIC CONSTANTLY...PLEASE JOIN US
AS OUR MUSICAL RIDE CONTINUES FOR A LIFETIME!!!</font></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><font
color="#ff0000" face="Times New Roman" size="4">Putting out Great Original Music for 43 Years
Now and We are still going!!!</font></strong></div>
Original Crystal Haze Band
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Started in the late summer of 1975, in Decatur Illinois, USA, as CRYSTAL HAZE BAND, this was originally a hard rock group
playing cover versions of bands like Rush, early Kiss, and Led Zeppelin. But with the departure of founding member Dirk Tucker
in January of 1976, and his replacement by guitarist/vocalist Dave Ellis at that time, things soon changed. The stand-up singer
also left, and higher louder vocals were done by Lead Guitarist Greg Bickers, and softer vocals by Lead Guitarist Dave Ellis.
The Original songs began to pour out from Ellis, and were quickly incorporated into the band's repertoire, and ranged from
mostly heavy tunes with lots of fast lead solos (unique for that early of a time), down to acoustic psychedelic folksy sounds..
Financed by Dave Ellis (with his college funds), a first album was professionally recorded from April 77 to July 1977 at Macon
Tracks Studios in Decatur IL, and issued in August 1977 on the Sirus Records label simply as Crystal Haze. It has proved to
be one of the most sought-after indie rock albums in history, with individual copies still selling for around $900.00 a copy
on the original label. Subsequent bootlegs have appeared on the illicit British label Acid Nightmare Records on vinyl, CDs,
and digital downloads. The original remains an audiophile collectable. For many years the band struggled on, recording a second
album DEAD OF NIGHT, in 1979, and a third album, TORNADO HOUSE in 1996 (so-called because the house it was recorded in was
completely destroyed by an F2 tornado in May of 1996). With the new album ROCKAHOLICS FROM DECATUR, The Original CRYSTAL HAZE
BAND has returned to their core elements, with a hard core heavy rock album, even more defiant than their first album in 77.
This will probably be considered their definitive work of the 21st century so far. Begun in 1975, " Original CRYSTAL
HAZE Band "has endured now for over 40 years, and is celebrating the 40 year anniversary of the release of their first
self-titled album (released in 1977). This dynamic progressive rock group performs all Original music in a merger of Zeppelinish
heaviness mixed with the progressiveness of Rush; coupled with the melodic sensibilities of Queen and Todd Rundgren. They
have been an audiophile favorite for many years. This year the band will mark the anniversary with the release of NEW ORIGINAL
Music, and historic photos from the band's earlier days, and anniversary shows. Their first album has fetched enormous prices
for unopened copies on the original label, on 33 1/3 rpm, up to almost $900 US for single copies. Unfortunately, a pirate
company, Acid Nightmare Records, has also released a shoddily recorded knock-off (not using the original masters of course)
in England. But the band continues to enjoy enduring popularity among audiohiles in the USA, Europe, and Japan. The band is
hoping to have their two other (previously unreleased albums out in the near future, and an upcoming re-release of the original
crystalhazealbum. Theis website is found at http://crystalhazealbum.tripod.com and contains extensive info on band history,
current happenings, and alot of their music that you can listen to right there, along with contact info for concert booking.
(They are led by Dave Ellis, and are not to be confused with a later band using a version of the same name from out west.
Since becoming aware of cover bands using their name, the Band has been careful to add The ORIGINAL to their name to distinguish
from cover bands.) THE ORIGINAL CRYSTAL HAZE now has out a total of fifteen ALBUMS, with a number of the songs able to heard
on REVERBNATION and on YOUTUBE. see site of the newest albums at https://sites.google.com/view/stickysituation and https://sites.google.com/view/rockaholics
My Post
Categories:
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LIVING IN THE FUTURE
The Official Website of the Legendary 70s Rock Group,
"The Original
CRYSTAL HAZE Band"
Since 1975 - Present Day
Now listen to the entire album here at this official website of
the Original Crystal Haze Band
Crystal Haze Band
(from 1975-present day)
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Rockin into 2017 With New Music
The Original Crystal Haze Band,
Originally from Decatur, IL USA
Formed in 1975, and burst onto the hard rock scene in 1977 with the release of the crystalhazealbum one of the most sought
after Indie albums of the Rock Era.
The Original Crystal Haze Band continues on to this very day, making great Original Rock & Roll music; and has been
putting out more brand new original music this year (2017).
Dave Ellis, Lead Guitarist of the Original Crystal Haze Band, says about the new music coming out for the new album (on
the 40th anniversary of the release of their self-titled first album):
The new stuff on LIVIN IN THE FUTURE is just total flat-out rock n' roll, wall of sound stuff. It is straight-forward
heavy rock, true to our roots...some timing changes at times...stuff to make you think...and lots of guitar solos, lots of
modal stuff, like playing in Phrygian-Dominant and harmonic minor modes etc. This is the stuff to blow down the walls with,
especially when you compare it to whats coming out new on the radio today. We are putting out stuff that we can EAT UP, and
that hopefully everybody else will too...who is into true rock and roll. All the tunes are original compositions (as usual).
All of them are brand new written this year, with the exception of Remson, which I wrote in early 1977 for the first album,
but of course, it missed the first album when Bryant Minks sold the 12 string fender electric that he was loaning me for use
of my VOX Jaguar organ. When the 12 string went away, I didn't have the necessary equipment in those days to compensate for
the unique sounds that I needed for Remson...but today I can just alter alot of guitar and keyboards sounds to cover for it.
Overall, I think our true fans will love this new stuff, and we are just grateful to have the opportunity to still be able
to make great rock n' roll in a time when so many of our contemporaries are literally dying off as we speak. There is a very
piano oriented song too....called So Ironic. It is more dark and moody. I really want to be able to continue to do this for
the rest of my life, and I have the utmost admiration for the Stones to just keep driving on, when everybody their age and
even a little younger than them has either quit or been buried.To all our friends and fans: PEACE.
The stuff on our new TWISTED NOCTURNES (video based) Album is very different for us, and
it is an excursion in the TWISTED realm of Original tunes, which are a mix of NOCTURNES, Floyd/Yes type stuff, and even commercial
type tunes; all composed on pianos and performed mostly on acoustic pianos.
The Original Crystal Haze Band began in Decatur Illinois USA, in the summer of 1975. The original bandleader Dirk Tucker,
left for another project in early 1976. A couple weeks later, Dave Ellis joined the band after his prior band broke up, sharing
lead guitar spots with lead guitarist vocalist Greg Bickers. The band at that time was playing hard rock cover versions of
things like Zeppelin and Rush. Within a few days, Dave began introducing Original Songs to the lineup, several of which from
senior year of high school, Truth of the Ages, Stop and D.N.J. made it onto the album a year and a half later. Dave Ellis
came up with an original album of all original Progressive Rock in early 1977, and recorded it with/as the CRYSTALHAZEBAND
over a three month period from May to July of 1977, releasing it in August of 1977.
The group was promoted by
A & M Records, but never signed by them. CRYSTALHAZEALBUM gathered immediate constant radio play on FM Rock stations;
which built and solidified their Midwest audiences from that day up until now still. New life was breathed into the The Original
Crystal Haze Band and the album in 1989 when it bolted into being one of the most sought-after indie albums of all time,
becoming popular in America, Europe, Japan, and Russia. THE ORIGINAL CRYSTAL HAZE BAND continues to this day, making Great
Hard Rock Music, infused with Progressive Writing. They have recorded other albums in the late 70's and the 90's, and are
currently working on an album of all new original progressive Rock. They have released a new music video in June 2017 TIME
MACHINE. followed by other upcoming videos. Powered by the thunderous guitars of Dave Ellis, THE ORIGINAL CRYSTAL HAZE BAND
continues on, performing ALL ORIGINAL MUSIC guaranteed to continue to please their many fans all over the world.
Friday, July 7, 2017
More new Crystal Haze Band music coming out
The Original Crystal Haze Band, featuring Dave Ellis....is preparing to put out much more BRAND NEW MUSIC this year, on
the 40th anniversary of the realease of their first CRYSTALHAZEALBUM. New tunes including: Rock and Roll Queen; extended cut
of Time Travel/Projection; the Time Travel solo song;The Storm; Just Say the Word;So Ironic; and the never-before-recorded
Remson that was supposed to be on the first crystalhazealbum 40 years ago, and more. All songs will come out in MP3 and MP4
four formats as separate audio and video. Everything continues to be all original material written by Dave Ellis (who wrote
the first album also).
Beware of Imitations....There is Only One
We are Still Rockin' Since 1975!!!
Unlicensed cover bands have come and gone (using our name) but we remain. (When marketing in the USA, we add the words
"The Original" to displays of our name to avoid confusion with the newer bands who are using our name or some variation of
it. We have never "abandoned" our name or our group and have been working since 1975 with no signs of stopping.)
The Storm
copyright 2017
by Dave Ellis (Lost Star Music)
A New song by the Original Crystal Haze Band
on SIRUS RECORDS
You are my RESCUE in the STORM
You are my STRENGTH when I am WEAK
Youre my COMFORT when Im hurting
And when Im CRAZY youre my PEACE
And I dont need no other WOMAN
You know you are my life
You may not have the plots and lots and the ring and the things
But I know youre my real and not a lie.
THE STORM is the first new Crystal Haze Band song of 2017, and is being issued "as is" in Demo format as part
of the 40 year anniversary release of the first crystalhazealbum.
Coming in 2017 NEW MUSIC from the Original
Crystal Haze Band
and new Vintage PR Photos
BELOW is our new video TIME TRAVEL (2017)and below that: the new videos CRASH IN THE NIGHT (2017) and SO IRONIC
(2017)
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ABOVE: Video for the new Original song "So Ironic" by Original Crystal
Haze Band recorded Summer of 2017
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Above is the cover art from the reissue of the Original Crystal Haze Album by Acid Nightmare Records in England. They have
issued this illegally, but it has helped our airplay in Europe greatly, so we have also seized their cover art and claim it
as our own and continue to use it
Listen to FLAME 1977
Photo:"The Original CRYSTAL HAZE Band"
Sept. 1977 in the E. A. Gastmann Auditorium, Decatur IL USA
Dale Ross: Bass; Greg Bickers: Lead Vocals,Lead Guitar;Mike Stevens: Drums;Dave Ellis: Lead Guitar and Vocals
Old Concert Photos of the Original CRYSTAL HAZE BAND
from our earlier days in the '70's and '80's
"The Original Crystal Haze Band" continues to Rock the World with its' Classic
Rock Sound.
"It has been quite amazing that there is still a great number of loyal followers
of the Original Crystal Haze Band recordings, not only in the USA, but in Europe, and Russia, and all over the world".
Greg Bickers (left); Mike Stevens (center); Dave Ellis (right)
Restoration of Old Les Paul Lawsuit era Flaming Maple Paul duplicate
of the one used on most of the Guitar tracks of first crystalhazealbum
DISCLAIMER for Legal reasons: Let it be noted
to all that we are not in any way affiliated with the newer group using the recently trademarked name "Crystal Haze" owned
by a Sean Miller of Mesa AZ. We are The Original "Crystal Haze Band" formed in 1975, in Decatur Illinois USA.
We recorded and put out : "The Crystal Haze Album" in 1977, which has become a benchmark in the Indie Music Scene as one of
the most hard to find LPs of all time, and one of the most sought after by record collectors, audiophiles, and afficiendos
of Proto-Heavy Metal and Hard Rock of the 1970s.
"THE ORIGINAL
CRYSTAL HAZE BAND"
AND ALBUM
This (first) album has a life of it's own. "The Crystal Haze Album" by
"Crystal Haze Band" has been repeatedly bootlegged in England and Europe (albeit illegally) continuously since its inception.
The Original Legal copies are the plain all-white cover with shrink wrap and Credits sticker. The newer bootlegs usually
have the Wolf cover.
"The Crystal Haze Album" industry has never ceased and has never
been legally ABANDONED, to utilize the actual legal term. Like many groups, the original "Crystal Haze Band"" as
both a "Band"and as a Company and purveyor of music, music products, licensed products, literature, and musical licensed
performances, has continued unabated ever since the 1977 Legendary album. We continue to write, record, and perform our brand
of Original Hard Rock.
We are The
Original "Crystal Haze Band" formed in 1975, in Decatur Illinois USA. We recorded and put out : "The Crystal Haze Album" in
1977, which has become a benchmark in the Indie Music Scene as one of the most hard to find LPs of all time, and one of the
most sought after by record collectors, audiophiles, and afficiendos of Proto-Heavy Metal and Hard Rock of the 1970s
Our First Album holds records
for being one of the highest dollar amounts ever bidded on for an Independent Label album copy.
Our biggest song: "Flame"
has been listed on one of the Record Review sites online as one of the Top Ten Hard Rock Songs of all time.
"The Original CRYSTAL HAZE Band" Live in Concert
in October 1977. From Left to Right: Band Lineup at time:
Greg Bickers: Lead Vocals, Bass Guitar, and Lead Guitar;
Mike Stevens: Drums and Percussion;
Dave Ellis: Lead Guitar and alternate vocals
This site is the OFFICIAL Web Site of:
The Original "Crystal Haze Band" (the Band,
which originally performed from 1975 to 1978 with all the original members, and has continued to perform and and has
maintained a continuous existence in various formats even unto the present day, under the continued leadership of Dave Ellis,
Lead Guitarist).
Crystal Haze are mostly shrouded in mystery, however it is known that the band sprang from the Decatur, Illinois sometime
in 1975. Basically comprised of high school friends, Crystal Haze tracked their sole album mostly live in the studio with
vocal duties being split between the two guitarists, Greg Bickers and Dave Ellis. After a rather slipshod attempt at mixing,
the album was pressed as is in extremely limited numbers. It is rumoured that only 100 copies were ever pressed. Since the
rather low-key release of their debut album, very little has ever been heard of Crystal Haze though it is believed the band
continued to gig around the area for another year before disolving. Crystal Haze is certainly one of the most elusive mid-70's
recordings in existence, fetching insane prices in collector's circles. From a rarity perspective, I can certainly understand
the fervor often raised by this album, given how rarely it ever surfaces. What about the music though? Well, let me just say
that the fretwork is fantastic. Excellent guitar tones & fiery performances abound here. Overall, the musicianship is
pretty solid considering how young the players were at the time. There's some cool dual guitar work here and there as well,
which elevates the intensity another notch. Standouts include the opening instrumental, "Flame" as well as two of the mellower
tracks, "In the night" and "Goodnight". 2011 Acid Nightmare vinyl reissue limited to 400 copies, includes new exclusive artwork
to replace the original edition sleeve that came out with no artwork in a plain white sleeve with a small paper glued with
credits and tracklist. This time Acid Nightmare revamps one of the most hard to find records of the U.S. Psychedelic Hard
Rock scene of the 70's!
You have reached one of the only legitimate and official websites
of "The Crystal Haze Album" and "Crystal Haze Band"; Legendary Seventies Rock Band from Decatur Illinois. (Our other
site, our fan site, is at www.crystalhazeband.webs.com and also has many pages of interesting info and our webstore.)
It has come to our attention that various persons in England and continental Europe, and, or organizations;
are attempting to reproduce, sell, or disseminate digital recordings of our album illegally.We urge the music buying public
to desist and resist any such illicit activity, as the afore mentioned companies (the illegal companies producing
these knockoffs; not our fans ) will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the laws of Illinois, and of the United States
of America.
The weird thing is...is that even though these companies have pirated and stolen from us...they have still
helped to continue to rev up interest in our Band and our Music worldwide, and we are glad that many more thousands of you
all have come to enjoy our music via the internet internationally...in America, Canada, Europe, Russia, Japan, and other places.
Our fans are NUMBER ONE to us...and always have been. We continue to make SOLID ROCK for you all.
Meanwhile, we will be able to offer the music buying public (in the near future) legitimate and legal
"Crystal Haze Band" recordings, both of our first famous album, and of later recordings. (via our new Web Store at
www.crystalhazeband.webs.com ) We thank you for your support over all the years.
Crystal Haze Band(album) and all songs contained therein (1977)
are copyright 1977;1984;1991;1998;2005;2008; 2011;2012;2014
"TheCrystal Haze Album" put out originally in 1977 on Sirus Records. The Original Crystal
Haze is affiliated with "SIRUS Records", owned by Dave Ellis.
All songs copyright 1977, 1984,1991,1998,2005,2008;2011,2012;2014
The lineup of musicians at the time of recording of this album, which was done in the spring and early
summer of 1977 was:
Dave Ellis: All guitars on all tracks ,plus lead vocals on In the Night and Goodnight
Greg Bickers: Lead Vocals, Harmony Vocals
Bob Prust: Bass Guitar
Mike Stevens: Drums and Percussion
Brian Minks (Bryant): Hammond Organ, Fender Rhodes Electric Piano (died 1988)
Studio: Macon Tracks, Rock Springs Rd, Decatur IL
The album was originally issued in August 1977 on no actual label or record company, self-pressed per Dave
Ellis mastered at the Discwerks, Schaumberg Illinois,and pressed onto vinyl at Wakefield Records of Phoenix AZ.
The label on the disc is red and says SIRUS RECORDS.
All songs were written by Dave Ellis, except STOP by Ellis/Bickers.
The "Crystal Haze Band" and Crystal Haze Band album can be contacted at:
The band originally began in 1975 in Decatur Il with Dirk Tucker on Guitar and vocals, Greg Bickers
on lead guitar, Mike Lambert on vocals,Rick Beaman on drums, and Bob Prust on Bass.
Shortly after starting the group, Founder Dirk Tucker dropped out to pursue other musical interests.
He was replaced by Dave Ellis on lead guitar and vocals. Soon after that event, Mike Lambert as vocalist
also left. Mike Stevens joined on drums in the spring of 1976, as Rick Beaman wanted to spend more time at home with his family.
During the 75-76 season the band played alot of high school dances and proms. During the summer of 76, the
band fell apart (for lack of work) but then reformed, in February of 1977, when Dave Ellis conceived of the idea
of writing an album to do with the group, and began rehearsals specifically with the album in mind. This was less
than a year after Dave and Greg graduated from High School. Bob and Mike were still in their senior years in high school
when the recording began in the spring.
The signature tune "Flame" was recorded first, and most of it was finished on the first day's sessions.
Part of "Truth of the Ages" was also laid down that day, but "Truth" proved to be a much more complicated song to
record, and actually took many days to finish, with the slow beginning, and the heavy second half actually being laid separately,
and then hooked together by the engineers. An alternate version of "Truth" was preserved, run off onto cassette from
the original pre-mix master, and survives to this day as the only alternate mix from the album. At the end of the Alternate
track on tape, the band can be heard jamming on Black Diamond,(which is obviously not included on the album). Two other
alternate versions existed at one time, of In the Night, and Goodnight, and were originally recorded at Pieces of Eight Studio
a few months earlier, but then re-recorded as they appear now during the Macon Tracks sessions. The recording went on
relentlessly, from April until early July,when the last things to be laid down were Greg's Lead Vocal tracks.
After the recording arrived from the record pressing plant, pandemonium soon ensued. Dave ran the
reord over to the local radio station at Millikin University; WJMU. To Dave's amazement, they interviewed him on the air,
and immediately began playing the album incessantly on the air, playing FLAME first, and then everything else on the
album, day in, day out, for many months.
1979 Publicity photo
This above shot is from a series of publicity photos for the band that were shot in Galesburg Illinois in 1979 when the
whole band was relocated there and working out of that town for awhile. Within a little over a year, external appearances
would change greatly, as later photos will show.
The second Crystal Haze Band album is a big departure from the original sounds of the band, and mirrors the then current
influences in Dave's life musically at that time. It has probably more of an affinity to Rush Hemispheres, than to anything
on the first album, while the first album owes more to Zeppelin, Ted Nugent, and a host of other heavy 70's bands.
The scratch tracks for the third album (in 1996) show a definite return to the influences which define the first
album, and still define the band's LIVE sound today (2014).
Photo of the Record label (Side One) of the Original Crystal Haze Band Album
This was pressed at Wakefield Records in Phoenix Arizona in the summer of 1977;
after having been mastered at the Discwerks in Schaumberg, IL in July of 77; after finishing all recording
at Macon Tracks on Rock Springs Road in Decatur Illinois USA.
The original 33 1/3 LPs were all issued on SIRUS Records label, and the bottom edge of Side One says: "All
songs by Dave Ellis copyright 1977 Lost Star Music". At the bottom edge of Side Two it states: "All songs by Dave Ellis,
except * by Ellis/Bickers. All songs copyright 1977 Lost Star Music".( The * asterisk stands for the song "Stop" which
was written as a collaboration with music by Dave Ellis, and lyrics by Greg Bickers.)(Lost Star Music Publishing is owned
by Dave Ellis, and all copyrights are renewed regularly and protected by the laws of the United States.)
The rather narrow sound of the recording (by 21st centruy standards, is from the fact that the whole album
was done on only Eight tracks, on a Teac Tascam console, even though on many of the songs more than eight tracks were actually
used by first bouncing and pre-mixing several tracks to one track to give several extra tracks (primarily to layer more guitars
on).
The actual instruments used on the album were as follows:
Pre-Lawsuit Ibanez Flaming Maple Les Paul. (on all electric guitar Lead and Rhythm tracks except:)
Blonde Stratocaster (only on one of the guitar tracks of Truth of the Ages)
Two Yamaha acoustics, one a concert size, and the other a dreadnaught.
A Hummingbird Acoustic.
The Bass that Bob used was a Gibson Grabber, ran directly into the recording console.
The drums that Mike used were Pearl Drums, with the augmentation of an old deep barreled wooden bodied snare
drums, with leather wallets taped onto it to get more full body to the sound (Note: Snare tones on "Flame")
Brian Minks used a Hammond M Series Organ with a Leslie Rotating Speaker on most of his tracks, and a Fender
Rhodes Electric Piano on the song "Stop".
Crystal Haze Band has always been known for the use of the Maestro Echoplex, but our use of it actually
began right after the album production wrapped up, and was featured in all early live performances, though Dave eventually
converted over to all Digital delays in performances in more recent years, due to the faltering abilities of the Echoplexes
with many years and wear and tear. He continued to use the ECHOPLEX up until 1998. The original first album also employed
the Small Stone Phase Shifter, and the second album also used it, and the Echoplez, and the CLONE THEORY from Electro-Harmonix,
which Dave began using a few weeks after the release of the first album. The Clone was actually supposed to be on the first
album, but arrived too late the dealer on the West Coast.
OTHER BAND MEMBERS
We have been blessed to have had a number of good band members over the years besides the
ones on the first album. These include, or have included:
Dale Ross, Bass Guitar (joined right after the realease of the first album when Bob
Prust left the State to go to College in Mississippi.)
Donnie Holman, Drums. (joined after Mike Stevens left the band in early 1978)
David Ward, Lead Vocals, Bass Guitar, (joined in 1978 after Greg Bickers left to front
his own band)
Wayne William Bass Guitar
Keiffer Greene Drums
Tim Tegg Drums
Dave Bundy: Bass
M..L."Green Machine": Green: Drums and Guitar
The Original Crystal Haze Band lives on!
Greetings from CRYSTAL HAZE BAND.
We are the Original Crystal Haze Band from Decatur Illinois. In continuous
existence since 1975, although the band has went through many changes, the Legendary 70's hard rock band The Original
"Crystal Haze Band" LIVES ON! Fronted by Dave Ellis (who composed all the songs on the first album), on Lead
Guitar, Lead Vocals, and keyboards, the band continues to churn out Original classic rock, WITHOUT COMPROMISE... whether
in one of our newer incarnation forms, which has even included second generation Crystal Haze Band family members at
times, but always with Dave Ellis; or in the "PERMANENT FORM" of the original surviving members, who all are accorded
the status of permanent members. Continue to come back to our NEW BLOG at www.crystalhazeband.webs.com/apps/blog for more info
01. Flame (3:26) 02. Truth Of The Ages (5:02) 03. In The Night (4:23) 04.
Jenny's Song (1:46) 05. Chance (3:42) 06. January (3:26) 07. Stop (2:47) 08. DNJ (3:31) 09. Two Times Under
(6:54) 10. Good Night (4:20)
This was the original cover (plain white) with sticker of credits
Below is YouTube of Flame from the 1977 Album Crystal Haze *
*The Crstal Haze Band and Crystal Haze Album is is no way affiliated with the new trademarked
group using the name Crystal Haze with Sean Miller of Mesa AZ
Below you can listen to the entire playlist of the whole first album by "the original
Crystal Haze Band"
(note:YouTube notes contain an error. This album came out in 1977, not in 1975. Also
notes state that it was recorded "mostly live" in the studio. Really it took us three months to record in the studio, layering
and re-layering on top of the "bed" tracks.) It was recorded at MACON TRACKS by engineers Chuck Davidson and Dan Henry, and
produced by Dave Ellis.
SHOULD I REGISTER MY MARK?
Is registration of my mark required?
No
. You can establish rights in a mark based on use of the mark in commerce, without a registration.
Ours is continuously valid since 1975
Cover art from the bootleg European version
photo of the bootleg European version with the actual 33 1/3 record
and black
Crystal Haze Band record sticker as is being marketed
under the bootleg British Company
Interview with Dave Ellis2014
When did the Crystal Haze Band actually start?
Dave: The band actually first got together in the summer of 1975. It was originally led by, and put together by Dirk
Tucker. He was from Blue Mound Illinois. It ‘s a little town just southwest
of Decatur. Dirk played guitar and sang. I always remembered him froma band called “Solar Fire” from the early
Seventies. The early Crystal Haze Band was Dirk on guitar and vocals and Greg Bickers from Mt. Zion on Lead Guitar and Lead
Vocals, and Rick Beaman from Decatur on drums, and Bob Prust from Decatur on Bass Guitar, and a Stand-up Lead Singer named Michael Lambert on Lead Vocals.
Mike, I remembered from an early Seventies Decatur Band called “Gunsmoke”.They (Crystal Haze Band) were playing School
dances in the Fall of 75 around Central Illinois. At the same time, I was playing still with my band called “Legend”
which was a “Cocktail Lounge” type band (that actually worked constantly) but played a lot of stuff that I was
really no longer into, after doing it since freshman year in High School. So at the same time, I was always jamming with other
people on my nights off, with people that were (like me) into heavy rock, and playing a lot of Zeppelin and Rush and Aerosmith
and early Kiss etc.This created a dynamic clash in my regular band, and by
the early fall of 75, Legend agreed to break up as of mid January of 76, after our string of gigs would run out. So I began
looking about, to either rebuild a new band that would playonly real rock n
roll; or either get into a cool band that was already playing the type of stuff I was doing. At the same time, I kept writing
my own songs, which I had been doing ever since 1971.
SO how did you end up in the Crystal Haze Band?
Dave: I was in senior year of High School. I had just transferred over from St. Teresa’s to MacArthur HS. I
was sitting across from this kid in study hall, and told him that Legend was breaking up. He told me that his cousin Greg
Bickers needed a guitar player for his band. So I called up Greg. He told me that Dirk Tucker had just quit the baned, (and
it was actually Dirk’s Band) and that Rick Beaman and him (Greg) were now running it. He invited me to come over to
East Street in Decatur that week and try out. I came in and played with them allafternoon
and evening and did a bunch of Rush, Aerosmith, and Kiss songs, and they invited me to join up…which I did immediately.
That was around the end of January or beginning of February of 1976. At that point, Greg and I were still senios in High School,
Bob was in Junior year at Eisenhower, and Rick Beaman and Mike Lambert were
already older and married, with their own homes.
I never was 100 % on the circumstances, but Lambert left the early band, shortly after I joined…like within
a couple months or so. We played a lot of school dances, and school concerts and then proms in the spring. We really didn’t
do much of the Lounge scene like Legend had been doing. We did, howver play one Prom as an impersonation of Legend, since
Legend was booked a year ahead to play the 1976 Prom in Assumption Illinois. So we just showed up, and put up the old Legend
Sign in front of us and jammed out, and it all went really well. That was very funny actually.
What is also curious is that we were already playing a few of the songs that would make it onto the album (a year
later), playing them at these school type gigs and concerts. I wrote Truth of the Ages, Stop, and DNJ during that Spring of
76. DNJ is whatBob and Greg called it, cuz I didn’t give it a name at
the time. They called it “Dave’s New Jam” or DNJ. I would later have Gregrewrite the words to Stopin 77 during the album recording.Beaman was planning to quit after the end of the prom season in 76, so we started having Mike Stevens
from Mt. Zion come around and fill in at gigs and start to pick up on the vibe of the band. That way when Beaman finished,
Mike Stevens was already in with all the material and there was no real transition to try to do.
Graduation came in June of 76, and within a few weeks the band just kinda collapsed, with nobody really doing the
booking, cuz Beaman had preety much handled that after Dirk quit. I kept on working on my song writing, and by January of
77, I had come up with this plan to to put everything into recording all these tunes for analbum. At first I was just going
to have it be a Dave Ellis record, but really realized that the whole thing needed a Band feel to it, to have any real purpose,
or to try to get ahead with it and market it. Also during this period of time, the first Boston album came out, and everybody
began to change their ideas about recording, and layering guitars on tape and such. And I was no exception. So as I began
to line up people to do the album, it happened that everybody I wanted on it were the former members of Crystal Haze Band.
I remember that I even offered Beaman to share the drum work time with Stevens, but Beaman opted out of the whole project.
So in the end, it would just be the final Crystal Haze Band memebers, plus Bryant Minks. During that winter I had been filling
in with a lounge act playing really bogus materiallike Kikki Dee and garbage
that really turned me off. But they had this really great keyboard player Bryant, who wanted to do the album with us. So we
brought him on board too. Everybody in the Band Scene in Decatur knew Bryant and he had a history of jamming with really good
bands.
I took the money that I had for college, and then actually dropped out of college and started the work on the album.
In the daytime I was working with Greg at this really weird Laboratory where we
worked with Rhesus Monkies and Rats and such.It was kind of a chamber of horrors.
I didn’t last there and neither did Greg.
The whole album was done on a TEAC Tascam system on eight individual tracks
(not 8-track, for those of you who are younger.) It was eight tracks, instead of 16 or 32. We couldn’t afford the bigger
studios. I knew that Sabbath had recorded some great tunes like Sweet Leafand
Iron Man on only eight tracks, so I figured we could still make a group record that way. Across town, another band, Bethlehem
Steel, with my former drummer form Legend; Tim Baily, was recording a 45 record in a demo studio that I think only had four
tracks. Still they put out a good little record. It was called Golden Lady. They got a lot of gigsthat way. It made me look forward to our album coming out. I hoped both that it would get gigs, plus I
had the bigger idea of attempting to snare a real recording contract with one of the big record companies.
Interview with Dave Ellis PART TWO
So how did the song FLAME come about?
Dave: I wrote Flame specifically for the first album. I had this
other song that we were going to do, as a big complicated number...really long tune, like Two Times under turned out to be.
I had it all worked out with the band even. It was about an insane girl, probably not real politically correct type material.
I wrote it on a Fender Jaguar 12 string electric that I was borrowing from Bryant so that he could use my Vox organ to
practice on at home. Anyway, before we record the tune called REMSON, Bryant sold the 12 string Jag to some guy in Decatur,
who came to my house and picked it up. So the REMSON tune went out the door even before it was recorded. I still know it,
and may yet do an instrumental recording of the theme part of it. Anyway...then I needed another song for the album. I was
practicing in the basement one day, p[laying things like FINDING MY WAY by Rush and some other tunes, and I thought consciously,
I WOULD REALLY LIKE to write some kind of BIG Sounding ANTHEM-LIKE song that would be a great opening song for an album and
an opener for live shows...something really big, the way Finding My Way is, or the Who's Won't Get Fooled Again. And then
I just started playing the opening signature part of Flame out of thin air, and wrote the entire tune in about an hour. I
then recorded a scratch track of the song on cassette so that I wouldn't forget any part of it. Believe me, FORGETFULNESS
is the worst enemy of songwriters and musicians. Then, when we hit the studio, FLAME was the first song we recorded
on the first day of sessions. It was one of the fastest, easiest to record songs that we did the entire time in the studio,
actually. And, over the years, it has probably been the most enduring song for us, and the one that is usually associated
with us. It seems to have a life of its own, both here in the USA, and in Europe, and Russia, and Japan. I am still amazed
by the fact that there is this audience all over the place. But I guess that's rock n roll! To each and every one of
you who have liked this record, Many, Many thanks!
Interview with Dave Ellis PART THREE
So, tell us about the time after the release of the album?
Dave: Well, when we got the album back from Wakefield Records, we basically
were ecstatic. I ran the album straight over to WJMU radio station at Millikin University. They did an on-air interview and
then began playing the tar out of the album, day and night for many months. It started getting requested constantly, and Flame
got played many times per day. The first time I heard it on the radio at home I ran around turning on every radio, from my
big stereo to the little pocket radios, to see how it sounded on all of them. I then began a barrage of all the record labels,
but I didn't do it right. We had no representation through any high profile agancy or anything...so there was automatically
no open doors. But this one record dealer, Tracey Bublitz; in town was friends with A & M Records's Midwest Rep,
Lynn Evanko, in St. Louis. So, he went to go to a Frampton or somebody's A and M concert backstage with Evanko
and gave him our record. I really thought that would be the end of it. Instead it is the actual link to literally EVERYTHING
that has happened throughout the years with this album. The day after the concert, the phone rings. I start to answer it.
I hear my album blaring really loud in the background. The voice on the phone shouts: This is Lynn Evanko. This is your album!
I said Wow, this is it! I figured we were gonna hit the big time. I thought we would get signed to A & M. Well, to
make a long story short, we really did think that A & M was gonna sign us. They had us ship them a bunch of copies of
the record to test-play it on the air in different metro areas around the country to see how it went over. That went on for
quite a while. In the meantime, Evanko told us to try to secure a good hall or spot to put our show together so that Herb
Alpert or Serqio Mendez could fly out to see us do the whole show. So, we lucked into getting a big closed school building,
Gastmann School,which was opened by the Methodist church across the street from it. They rented us this giant third floor
auditorium with a huge stage for a hundred dollars a month. So, that's where we put tother the live show, from August through
November of 1977. The place was horribly Haunted. The story of that can be found in a book called Haunted Decatur by Troy
Taylor. We have one whole chapter in his Book One, and are also in Haunted Decatur Book Two also. The Book tells about
all the weird stuff that happened to us there, with stuff flying through the air and running around the building. It was a
ge=reat hall, though, for putting together a big rock n roll road show. That's where we started using the Super Trooper Spotlights
and the Pyro-technic stuff, and the big walk-on soundtrack at the beginning of the show. We would come onstage in total darkness
while a tape played the orchestral crescendo King of Kings, from the old Tab Hunter movie, and then everything would explode
and the lights came on, and the Spot, and we launched into our song, Flame. It was actually pretty cool. All our early post-recording
concerts were done that way, for the first several years. The hardest thig on the original bandmembers was the disappointment
of not getting signed to A & M, after all the initial hoopla. I mean, the town went nuts for us. That really amazed us!
We just thought that the whole country would follow. When it eventually didn't, everybody kinda splintered off, but I llearned
to KEEP IT ALL GOING, no matter what. Long before Mick Jones was the only original member of Foreinger left in that band,
I was doing the same thing with The Original Crystal Haze Band, and have ever since! Oh, but Bob was a different matter. Bob
Prust left the band, in August of 1977 to Go to College at Old Miss in Oxford Mississippi. But he always stayed on board emotionally
with us with the whole thing, and still does to this day. He is in South Carolina now, and still playing Bass Guitar. Well,
like I said, the meeting with Evanko DID change the destiny of the album. Because the A and M connection put the album out
all over the country. It finally got into the hands of audiohile type rare record dealers in the late Eighties, and that's
when I started selling it through them. That's when it took off worldwide, in 1989, and the Crystal Haze Band Album took
on a life of its own, that has never ceased. It will surely outlive all of us! That really pleases me, though. So,
Contrary to all the "SHROUDED IN MYSTERY" stuff on the Pirate European websites and the Record Review sites, The Original
Crystal Haze Band has continued non-stop ever since 1975, and is STILL going!
Question: Tell us about the first concert after the release of the album?
Dave: It was wild. The first appearance was originally supposed to be out in the
country near Mt. Zion in Sept ember of 77. W e showed up but couldn't play cuz the generators weren't strong enough to power
our equipment. So, then the first public concert was for November of 77, in the DAV Hall on Lake Decatur. We set up early
in the day when nobody was around and then went back home. That ight when I came back, two hours before the show, there was
cars backed up on the streets for blocks. I didn't really comprehend at the first, that they were there for us. So, I parked
many blocks away and carried my guitar case up the road, and then when I could see the over-flowing D.A.V. Lot in the distance,
I finally realized that all these cars were there to see us. It was freaking bedlam! It was so cool. We weren't used to general
admission concerts (not for ourselves); and it was very overwhelming. We did everything the way we planned it...the Super
Trooper, the Pyro stuff at the beginning, right after the King of Kings Theme, and then at the explosions; we launched into
our song FLAME, which to our amazement, everybody in the crowd recognized and went wild. That night was the culmination
of all our work. I have played way bigger crowds since, way up into the multi-thousands, but never a concert like this
one...so cool!
From Bassist Bob Prust:
said...
Wow, this is cool. I was 17 when this was recorded. I joined the first
generation Crystal Haze when I was 15. Original Line up Dirk Tucker, G, V Greg Bickers, G, V Rick Beaman, D Bob
Prust, B
Dave Ellis joined after Dirk Tucker left, so did Mike Stevens (d). I chose to attend college after the 100
copy run was pressed. I ran into Mike during a sales call in So Illinois in 1995. Neither of us had played in years. Thanks
to good friend and fellow bassist Slim McGarvey, I have picked up his old folk bass and pluck around still at 50 years old........Rock
on Bob Prust, Crystal Haze bassist 1975-78.
Bassist Bob Prust in the studio with the original Crystal Haze Band on the first day of recording
undefined
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Band Leader Dave Ellis and wife Rhonda nowadays
undefined
undefined
Greg now (above)
ABOVE is Wade William, he was my Bass Player from 1978-79, and a great friend. A great lead guitarist
in his own right, Wade went on to open for many national acts for many years. He passed away in July 2017. He will be greatly
missed and always remembered by myself and the band, and by our many friends and followers.
IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED:
There is actually an Imitation Band out there using our name. Let it be known that we have not licensed them
for the use of the name or any trademarks. They are mostly some kind of cover band
since 1975 and Still Rockin'. We put out the legendary crystalhazealbum in 1977 which still fetches
insane selling prices just shy of a $1000 per copy for original pressings. We continue putting out great original Hard Rock
Progressive Rock...flat-out Rock and Roll...All Original!!! Not from Arizona Not from Oklahoma. WE ARE FROM DECATUR ILLINOIS
USA
HEAR WHAT VARIOUS REVIEWERS (and bootleggers) HAVE SAID ABOUT OUR ALBUM.
FROM COLLECTORS FRENZY SITE:
"Crystal Haze"[Band] is certainly one of the most elusive mid-70's recordings in existence, fetching insane prices
in collector's circles. What about the music though? Well, let me just say that the fretwork is fantastic. Excellent guitar
tones & fiery performances abound here. Overall, the musicianship is pretty solid considering how young the players were
at the time. There's some cool dual guitar work here and there as well, which elevates the intensity another notch.
ALBUM:
From "Collectors Frenzy": Another shot of the "BOOTLEG" cover of our first album, as reissued by Acid
Nightmare Records in Europe
BELOW is a review by Dennis
Bergerone President of the ROCKADROME RECORDS LABEL:
Crystal Haze - Crystal
Haze LP. Very rare 1977 original private press hard rock from Illinois with a mix of harder edged rock and melodic
rock with some psychy and folky moments thrown in for good measure. Sounds like they were trying to find themselvs and weren't
afraid to show all their true colors. A good one that was a prime candidate for a Rockadrome reissue, but after meeting one
of the members back in the 90s we've since lost touch. This is a sealed original of this very small pressing of only a few
hundred at most. They all came in plain white jackets with or without typed out stickers detailing the band members and track
listing. What I have here is a sealed white cover original with a replica
of the original sticker I made from my personal copy. (sealed, m/m)
Our Other Recordings
The
unreleased Second Album
Recorded in July 1979 in an all night session,
on the stage of a shopping mall (after-hours in the days before video surveillance). It is still
only "on tape" and needs a lot of re-mastering work, but contains some great songs like "Glastonbury
Stomp", and "Epirus".
The new version of FLAME
Recorded in 2002 for the U.S. troops in Afghanistan, and played at Bagram Air
Base during first summer of the war.
Also in existence is
an alternate mix recording of TRUTH OF THE AGES, which contains some different lead solos and different
keyboard sounds on it. We plan to issue this recording into public in the near future, and make
it available for purchase.
Also, there were alternate version recordings
of IN THE NIGHT, and GOODNIGHT, which were recorded at Pieces of Eight Studios in Decatur IL in
the early Spring of 1977, shortly before the beginning of the Macon Tracks sessions which produced
the original crystalhazealbum. These were engineered by Barry Billmann, and sound remarkably similar
to the finished tunes on the album.
Also in existence are a number
of demo recordings, or "scratch tracks", done at the infamous Tornado House in 1996. These are still
"in the can" and await final mixing and mastering.
Finally, we are
planning the (new) recording of REMSON, the tune which was supposed to be on the 1977 album, but
never got on due to the loss of the 12 string Jaguar guitar. This is a new project for 2014, and
we hope to have the digitally recorded version of this out later this year, as a new issue by the Original Crystal Haze
Band.
LINKS:
OUR OTHER
OFFICIAL WEB SITE WITH MULTIPLE PAGES AND WEBSTORE at
Crystal Haze are mostly shrouded in mystery, however it is known that the band sprang from the
Decatur, Illinois sometime in 1975. Basically comprised of high school friends, Crystal Haze tracked their sole album mostly
live in the studio with vocal duties being split between the two guitarists, Greg Bickers and Dave Ellis. After a rather slipshod
attempt at mixing, the album was pressed as is in extremely limited numbers. It is rumoured that only 100 copies were ever
pressed. Since the rather low-key release of their debut album, very little has ever been heard of Crystal Haze though it
is believed the band continued to gig around the area for another year before disolving. Crystal Haze is certainly one of
the most elusive mid-70's recordings in existence, fetching insane prices in collector's circles. From a rarity perspective,
I can certainly understand the fervor often raised by this album, given how rarely it ever surfaces. What about the music
though? Well, let me just say that the fretwork is fantastic. Excellent guitar tones & fiery performances abound here.
Overall, the musicianship is pretty solid considering how young the players were at the time. There's some cool dual guitar
work here and there as well, which elevates the intensity another notch. Standouts include the opening instrumental, "Flame"
as well as two of the mellower tracks, "In the night" and "Goodnight". 2011 Acid Nightmare vinyl reissue limited to 400 copies,
includes new exclusive artwork to replace the original edition sleeve that came out with no artwork in a plain white sleeve
with a small paper glued with credits and tracklist. This time Acid Nightmare revamps one of the most hard to find records
of the U.S. Psychedelic Hard Rock scene of the 70's!
Crystal Haze are mostly shrouded in mystery, however it is known that the band sprang from the
Decatur, Illinois sometime in 1975. Basically comprised of high school friends, Crystal Haze tracked their sole album mostly
live in the studio with vocal duties being split between the two guitarists, Greg Bickers and Dave Ellis. After a rather slipshod
attempt at mixing, the album was pressed as is in extremely limited numbers. It is rumoured that only 100 copies were ever
pressed. Since the rather low-key release of their debut album, very little has ever been heard of Crystal Haze though it
is believed the band continued to gig around the area for another year before disolving. Crystal Haze is certainly one of
the most elusive mid-70's recordings in existence, fetching insane prices in collector's circles. From a rarity perspective,
I can certainly understand the fervor often raised by this album, given how rarely it ever surfaces. What about the music
though? Well, let me just say that the fretwork is fantastic. Excellent guitar tones & fiery performances abound here.
Overall, the musicianship is pretty solid considering how young the players were at the time. There's some cool dual guitar
work here and there as well, which elevates the intensity another notch. Standouts include the opening instrumental, "Flame"
as well as two of the mellower tracks, "In the night" and "Goodnight". 2011 Acid Nightmare vinyl reissue limited to 400 copies,
includes new exclusive artwork to replace the original edition sleeve that came out with no artwork in a plain white sleeve
with a small paper glued with credits and tracklist. This time Acid Nightmare revamps one of the most hard to find records
of the U.S. Psychedelic Hard Rock scene of the 70's!
We are The Original "Crystal Haze Band" formed in 1975,
in Decatur Illinois USA. We recorded and put out : "The Crystal Haze Album" in 1977, which has become a benchmark in the Indie
Music Scene as one of the most hard to find LPs of all time, and one of the most sought after by record collectors, audiophiles,
and afficiendos of Proto-Heavy Metal and Hard Rock of the 1970s.
Our Other Recordings
The unreleased Second Album
Recorded in July 1979 in an all night session, on the stage of a shopping mall (after-hours
in the days before video surveillance). It is still only "on tape" and needs a lot of re-mastering work, but contains some
great songs like "Glastonbury Stomp", and "Epirus".
The new version of FLAME
Recorded in 2002 for the U.S. troops in Afghanistan, and played at Bagram Air
Base during first summer of the war.
Also in existence is an alternate mix recording of TRUTH OF THE AGES, which contains
some different lead solos and different keyboard sounds on it. We plan to issue this recording into public in the near future,
and make it available for purchase.
Also, there were alternate version recordings of IN THE NIGHT, and GOODNIGHT, which
were recorded at Pieces of Eight Studios in Decatur IL in the early Spring of 1977, shortly before the beginning of the Macon
Tracks sessions which produced the original crystalhazealbum. These were engineered by Barry Billmann, and sound remarkably
similar to the finished tunes on the album.
Also in existence are a number of demo recordings, or "scratch tracks", done at
the infamous Tornado House in 1996. These are still "in the can" and await final mixing and mastering.
Finally, we are planning the (new) recording of REMSON, the tune which was supposed
to be on the 1977 album, but never got on due to the loss of the 12 string Jaguar guitar. This is a new project for 2014,
and we hope to have the digitally recorded version of this out later this year, as a new issue by the Original Crystal Haze
Band.
Dave Ellis in 1976 with Ibanez 1973 Les Paul, Small Stone Phase Shifter
Mike Stevens 1977 at Gastmann Auditorium
Dave Ellis 1976 in Old Original Crystal Haze Band
Dave Ellis 1976 Lead Guitarist Original Crystal Haze Band
LINKS:
OUR OTHER OFFICIAL WEB SITE WITH MULTIPLE PAGES AND WEBSTORE at
The Original Crystal Haze Band, Crystal Haze Band, and crystalhazealbum are all established LEGAL
MARKS of the Original Crystal Haze Band,(since 1977)(in perpetuity and without abandonment); and as such, are protected under
the laws of the United States of America and the E.U..
The whole thing with the Name of our Band is downright CRAZY. (This is not a history of the band ...but includes part of it...it
is actually a history of our NAME...the others who have attempted to use the same name...the others who have for some bizarre
reason...tried to STEAL our name etc.)
I will try to lay out the whole scoop as best as I can narrate it.
Our band was founded in the summer of 1975 in Decatur IL USA, by a Blue Mound IL guitarist, Dirk Tucker (previously leader
of the Band "Solar Fire". He had different musicians in 75 and decided to NOT still call it Solar Fire. They decided
upon the Name CRYSTAL HAZE BAND, and CRYSTAL HAZE. It was advertised both ways.
At that time, I was still playing the last gigs with a band which I was in all the way from Freshman year in high school
until early January of 76, mid-way through Senior year...a band called LEGEND.
In early 1976, DIrk Tucker suddenly quit his own band (Crystal Haze); to go pursue a completely different genre of music.
At that time, a cousin to Greg Bickers sat across from me in Study Hall at school every afternoon. He told me about Dirk
quitting, because he knew that my band had just broken up after four years. So he told Greg and I called Rick Beaman the drummer
and Greg Bickers, the guitarist for Crystal Haze. They invited me over to Rick's house on East Street off of E. Wood street
in Decatur, over by the old Rogers Movie Theater. I showed up with my rig and my repertoire, and I knew almost every one of
their songs and their arrangements. They were still doing all cover stuff then...like early Aerosmith, early KISS,
Slade, T. Rex, Mountain, Grand Funk, and course, a lot of Led Zeppelin. Almost immediately I began injecting my Original
Songs, like Truth And...they had a bunch of gigs. Rick Beaman was good at booking lots of school auditoriums and proms and
stuff like that. This was a big change for me...cuz Legend had always played in bars ever since I was 13 or 14 years old.
Well, at the end of the school year, just as me and Greg were both gonna graduate from High School; Rick Beaman announces
he is leaving Crystal Haze to be at home with his wife Brenda more often. So, they bring in Mike Stevens as a replacement
drummer for Beaman...and Mike was a fantastic drummer...way better than anybody else I had ever worked with (except for maybe
Jeff Klaven, who went on to become the drummer for KROKUS in the 1980's.) Anyway, after Beaman quit, it seemed like things
just fell apart. We practiced for a few weeks over in Mt. Zion Il, and then it just kind of went on pause for a few months.
So, as I have narrated in other articles, we didn't do much of anything for a few months.
During the winter of 1976-77 I came up with the idea of dropping out of college; and investing my college money into
trying to record a record album of all original songs; songs which I had written over a period of time, and tunes which I
was then writing at the time. After talking with various friends about appearing on the album, I finally assembled what was
actually exactly ONLY the Crystal Haze members, with none of the guest performers that I had thought about including. While
planning to record the album, we knew how good a lot of the songs sounded...and we then made plans that we would stay together
permanently...no longer as a "cover band", but as a touring rock band doing all original material. We knew we had
something! I was very clear (or opinionated) that since all the songs were my material, that I would lead and direct this
incarnation of the Crystal Haze Band (which I then did, and have done ever since then). I had a print shop make us up New
Business Cards. I mention this because of the controversy as to OUR NAME, and the HISTORY OF IT. This was in early 1977.
These business cards simply said: CRYSTAL HAZE, and above the name, said: Sirus Records Recording Artists. At the bottom was
my Name (Dave Ellis) and ph. number and our road manager John O'Connor's name and ph. number. Now, the original (blue) business
cards which were printed in 1975 said: Crystal Haze BAND on them. So, it is very true that we wee...at that early date (1975
and 1977)using both terms interchangeably: (Crystal Haze and Crystal Haze Band); and our legal continuous claim goes back
to that period (from August 1975 onward). The lawyers for the later groups which were started YEARS LATER...should note,
that we have NEVER "Abandoned" either of those names; nor have we discontinued their use...nor have we "disbanded".
These later uninformed individuals (in their strange haste to try to acquire OUR Name) have relied solely upon hearsay record
reviews which claim no direct knowledge of our band; even stating in their reviews that they believed we were "mostly
shrouded in mystery"..(hence our tongue-in-cheek use of the phrase "SHROUDED IN MYSTERY" in some of our album
advertising.)
Our Name may not be the coolest band name around...but it is, and always has been...ours. The fact that some uninformed
individuals solicited the trademark office to illicitly obtain a "trademark" upon OUR name, by presenting incorrect
and fictional documentation....does not take away from our protection under United States Federal law, which states that a
MARK is already an established legal mark through the proof of its usage history, and remains such if not "abandoned"
(a legal term). THEY KNOW THIS and WE KNOW THIS...yet, SOMEBODY went around several years ago, and tried to threaten private
individuals who had posted digital copies of our songs and albums on youtube...and threatened them to try to get them to remove
them from circulation on youtube for infringement. WE DID NOT DO THIS...Who did??? I think that the answer is rather OBVIOUS.
WE are not trying to destroy anyone elses musical careers....but why some uninformed people would try to do this to us IS
BEYOND COMPREHENSION,and is the highest form of immorality. BUT...we have NOT let them stop us for one minute.
We continue on still...and continue to write, and perform, and record NEW Music ALL THE TIME. We are not a "Cover
Band" as are our detractors who claim to have seized legal possession of our name. We are the real deal. If you see
videos of somebody trying to do covers of Pink Floyd with a girl singing Waters and Gilmours parts...it is definitely NOT
US. (It is the cover band guys who sought to tradmark our name).Also, a band from Oklahoma surfaced for a short time many
years after we started...they are not us either. I have spoken with them though, and they are very polite, and though not
performing anymore...they completely recognize the validity of our claim to being in fact THE ORIGINAL "Crystal Haze"
Band. We are marketing ourselves in the USA and the EU under this term at the time, both to avoid confusion with the "COVER
BAND" guys, and to avoid legal entanglements...but we do not feel these legal constraints with marketing inside Russia
to our fans in Russia, and so if you visit a Russian website, you may notice marketing differences there. (Ironically, we
have more marketing FREEDOM there than in the good old U.S. of A. ) And the paradox continues...a FOURTH band from eastern
Pennsylvania has been observed using OUR NAME earlier this year. (They also, are not us). Also, there is an ELECTRONIC band
in MEXICO using our name too! Then...strangely...if you go onto Google Plus; you will now find a number of individuals who
are using the name CRYSTAL HAZE as their actual personal name and identity (ie: first name; Crystal, last name: Haze). Very
Strange...Huh?
To prove abandonment of a mark as a defense to a claim of trademark infringement, a defendant must show that there was: “(1)
discontinuance of trademark use and (2) intent not to resume such use.” Electro Source, LLC v. Brandess-Kalt-Aetna
Grp., Inc., 458 F.3d 931, 935 (9th Cir. 2006). Even a “single instance of use is sufficient against a claim of abandonment
of a mark if such use is made in good faith.” Carter-Wallace, Inc. v. Procter & Gamble Co., 434 F.2d 794, 804
(9th Cir. 1970). All bona fide uses in the ordinary course of business must cease before a mark is deemed abandoned.
