Granicus (band)

Granicus was an American hard rock band formed in 1969 in Cleveland.[1] After performing in clubs in Cleveland, and then playing before label bosses, the band were then later signed by RCA Records on March 15, 1973 and released their eponymous debut album in the same year.[2] The band later opened for such performers as Bob Seger, Cactus and Spirit to promote that first record, which has since been critically acclaimed in some classic rock circles. Soon after, though, the group disbanded, feeling unsupported by their label and being deserted by their manager. Most of the group later reunited, some 25 plus years later, after finding their first record pirated and selling in Europe. In 2009, they released Thieves, Liars and Traitors on an independent label in 2010.[3] from a collection of unreleased material recorded in 1974. A third record, Better Days, has also since been released independently. The group was known for their mix of heavy blues rock, progressive rock, psychedelic rock and heavy metal.[4][5]

Granicus
Granicus in 1973
Granicus in 1973
Background information
OriginCleveland, Ohio, U.S.
GenresHard rock, heavy metal, progressive rock
Years active1969 (1969)–1973 (1973), 2016
LabelsRCA
Past membersWoody Leffel
Wayne Anderson
Allen Pinell
Dale Bedford
Joe Battaglia
Websitegranicusmusic.com

Initially formed by guitarist Al Pinell and drummer Joe Battaglia, the group would practice in his home before moving to a Cleveland warehouse to develop what would be their first record. The group's music was highly influenced by popular bands of the time, including late-60s psychedelic rock artists such as Cream, The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Blue Cheer as well as early-70s hard rock giants, Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin. The band featured two guitars, with bass and drums, and were led by a signature vocal. Lead vocalist Woody Leffel had a high-ranged delivery very similar to Robert Plant, Ian Gillan and Geddy Lee.[2][6]

In 2016, the band made a third recording, and were attempting to regain control of their since-pirated first record. Three members of the original group, Battaglia, Pinell and Bedford, teaming up again with guitarist Artie Cashin and bringing in vocalist Gerry Schultz. Leffel opted not to work on the third record.[7] The band's second and third records are available on CDBaby.com

Members
Principal members
  • Woody Leffel – vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica
  • Wayne Anderson – lead guitar
  • Allen Pinell – rhythm guitar
  • Dale Bedford – bass guitar
  • Joe Battaglia – drums
  • Howard Ross - lead guitar
Guest artists on "Thieves, Liars and Traitors"
  • Artie Cashin – guitar
  • Jesse Rae – vocals

Granicus III, Better Days:

  • Gerry Schultz - vocals

Discography
  • Granicus (1973)
  1. You're In America
  2. Bad Talk
  3. Twilight
  4. Prayer
  5. Cleveland Ohio
  6. Nightmare
  7. When You're Movin'
  8. Paradise
  • Thieves, Liars and Traitors (2010)
  1. Thieves Liars and traitors
  2. Space in Time
  3. Equator
  4. I'm Not Sick
  5. Hollywood Star
  6. Wizard of Was
  7. Taste of Love
  8. Slings and Arrows
  9. When You're Movin'/Back Seat of My Car/Bad Talk (Live Jam)
  • Granicus III, Better Days (2016)
  1. Better Days (title track)
  2. Southbound
  3. Walk Free
  4. Living In Darkness
  5. On The Road Again
  6. Gotta Win Tonight
  7. Take Me Back
  8. Give And Take
  9. Still Wanna Rock It.

References
  1. "Granicus". MTV.
  2. Granicus at AllMusic
  3. "Band history".
  4. Granicus (album) at AllMusic
  5. Thierry Aznar. CAMION BLANC: HARD ROCK & HEAVY METAL 40 années de purgatoire – Tome 1. CAMION BLANC. pp. 105–107. ISBN 978-2-35779-539-6.
  6. Daniel Bukszpan; Ronnie James Dio (2003). The Encyclopedia of Heavy Metal. Barnes & Noble Publishing. pp. 66–. ISBN 978-0-7607-4218-1.
  7. "Local Rockers Granicus to Reunite and Release New Album". C-Notes (Cleveland, Ohio). 12 January 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.

https://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/Granicus

" The 500 best heavy metal albums in the Universe ", pg. 116

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