CD UPDATE 6/17/09
ORDER THE COP DEBUT REISSUE NOW !!!! CLICK HERE TO ORDER
Back in the 1980's the Los Angeles rock scene cultivated spandex, glam and big - make that HUGE – hair, whilst in New York a far grittier aesthetic was being honed; one that would promote the hard working, hard living ethos of an inner city blighted by forgotten neighbourhoods and low uemployment. The perfect backdrop, in fact, for the low-down high volume rock ‘n roll of no-frills minimalists such as the Ramones, Raging Slab, Smashed Gladys, Blitzspeer and… Circus Of Power.
COP, as they were commonly known amongst friends and fans, lived life on the edge; a trail blazing sound. Spotted by esteemed NYC-based producer Daniel Rey, they were snapped up, together with Raging Slab, by the giant RCA label, creating one of the greatest debut hard rock albums of the era. Raw, edgy and extremely dangerous, Circus Of Power’s debut album, originally released in 1989, is a seething guitar-fuelled temper tantrum that remains as powerful today as it was when first released.
24-bit remastering from original source tapes, 5 bonus tracks, 4,000 word story of the making of the album, full involvement by the band, rare photos, all spread out over a superb 12 page full colour booklet.
Track listing: 1. Motor 2. White Trash Queen 3. Call Of The Wild 4. Needles 5. In The Wind 6. Heart Attack 7. Crazy 8. Letters Home 9. Backseat Mama 10. Machine. Bonus Tracks: 11. Heart Attack (Bonus track on original CD issue). 12. Backseat Mama (demo) 13. Motor (demo) 14. In The Wind (demo) 15. Dreams Tonight (demo)
Alex Mitchell will appear on the new Rusty Eye release "Possessor". For those of you who do not know, Rusty Eye covered "Mama Tequila" on the Circus of Power tribute cd "Working For The Machine". You can check out more info Here . Check out Rusty Eyes profile Here . A big thanks to Mr. Rust for the update.
Alex Mitchell is currently writing for Far West Almanac. The article in the current issue is about musician Charlie Pickett.
"We are a new, free roots music and culture bi-monthly. We also cover film, visual arts, current events and politics and provide a compendium of old time know-how for the weary city dweller". ~ Far West Alamanac.
Check out their Myspace page Here
CIRCUS OF POWER frontman Alex Mitchell has published a book, entitled "Life Is A Phantom Kmart Horse Starting Up In The Middle Of The Night". The author's official bio reads as follows:
"Alex Mitchell was born in Toronto and moved to Pompano Beach when he was 12. He was student of the year in eighth grade but got kicked out the following semester. Mitchell never finished high school, instead spending the several years working construction, dealing pot, cutting lawns, and hanging around the local punk rock scene. He moved to New York City at age 21 and later formed the rock group CIRCUS OF POWER (RCA Records). In 1991, he moved to Los Angeles and started writing poems in 2004. Alex continues to live in L.A., writing and singing in rock groups."
To order a copy, click here .
Get Plasticgatorized
Alex Mitchell's post C.O.P. project "Plastic Gator Machine" is back in stock at cdbaby.com. This is great record and any fan off Alex will dig it.
Uncle Max's Cosmic Band "Licking The Toad In The Black Church".
The band was put together in 1994 by Alex after his time in the band Circus of Power and is named after Alex's uncle who is supposedly located somewhere in some trailer park in Florida.
Uncle Max's Cosmic Band is the super daddy of some way cool hard rock/punk/blues music that started on a lovely little 4-track machine,to the studio,live , and now roams around in your psychedelic jungle.
Inspired by UFO's,sex,jackpots,magick,trash culture,the twisted,latex,meat,tobacco,tv, and the wide open spaces to name a few, it inspires the raw,dirty and trippy cosmikness indeed. Hope you all enjoy.
~ Billy Tsounis Uncle Max Guitarist.
This is by far my favorite Alex post COP work. I can't explain it, it needs to be audibly consumed. The cd is available Here.
Pure American Muscle ,Baby. Yes indeed. Here we have the grand return of former Circus of Power lead vocalist Alex Mitchell aka Showbiz Al ,coming to you live and loaded with the new band FAT NANCY.
Along with guitarist Billy Tsounis with whom he has written and recorded with over the last couple of years in various line-ups, they have biker rock warrior,Steg Von Heintz on additional guitar,Tony Portillo on drums and Jon Sharkey on bass.
Fat Nancy's "Pure, American Muscle Baby" is available Here .
A few years back Alex appeared in Nashille Pussy's " Go Motherfucker Go" video. Check it out..............