About Me
This is a webpage dedicated to the memory WORLDS, one of the greatest almost forgotten progressive rock bands to come out of the midwest. Green Bay, Wisconsin's WORLDS was centered around the songwriting and guitars of David Wallace, and the bass playing and overall arranging skills of his brother Michael Wallace. Added to that were the incredible vocals of Paul Lent and the tight precision drumming of Mark Kasperek. WORLDS released one album called Out of the Cold in 1986. Steeped in the influences of American bands such as Rush, Triumph, Kansas, and Styx as well as the British elements of Yes, Jethro Tull, the Police, and the Fixx, WORLDS was known not only for their stunning originals, but their incredible renditions of the music of Rush (including such classics as Xanadu and Free Will) and other progressive hard rock bands .
Unfortunately following the release of Out of the Cold the original band began to splinter with the leaving of Mark Kasperek. At this time it was decided to not only search for another drummer, but also add a keyboard player as well. Keyboardist and composer Grant Colburn got the call (known previously to Michael Wallace from accompanying his college bass recital) as well as signing up Courtney Howard on drums. This five piece version of the band spent the following summer performing in and around Wisconsin.
But the potentially greener pastures of Los Angeles beckoned and it was decided to relocate in order to pursue the rock 'n roll dream. For singer and new father Paul Lent, this became a difficult situation so in the fall of 1986 WORLDS moved to Los Angeles without Paul as a four piece. Well..... "almost" as a four piece, for as the Wallace brothers and Grant Colburn (and long dedicated crew mates, Gardo and Mac) arrived in California, word was sent that Courtney Howard had also decided to stay home.
The now three piece group began a desparate search for a new drummer. David Wallace, always a co-lead vocalist for the original group at this time also decided to take over as the lead vocalist. Los Angeles was a tough place to break a more progressively inclined band like WORLDS, especially when they found themselves surrounded by the likes of Poison, Warrant and Skid Row. But the group persevered. The first drummer was Brett Krull who after moving on was followed by Edward Baptista. This line up played numerous shows in and around the Los Angeles area including FM Station, Gazzaris, The Whisky and local universities, one of which is the source for the live recording heard on this site.
However, as desparate attempts at ever more commercial songs brought with it no clear goal in sight, it was decided to take the band on the road to promote the original music framed around the commercial hits of a touring cover band. This brought about the leaving of Ed Baptista (also known as Eddie Bap), and the acquiring of new drummer, Danny Bam (don't even remember if he HAD a real last name!)
But the constant dreariness of the road and the apparent futility of being a cover band became too much for keyboardist Grant Colburn and after 4 months he decided to return to Wisconsin in 1989. The Wallace brothers returned to L.A. to regroup without him.
Since that time the torch of original progressive music was carried on by the Wallace brothers as the band Karma Farm and by Grant Colburn in the band Graphic Nature. Both bands continued until the late 1990's. Sadly, last heard, Karma Farm and the Wallace brothers have gone their separate musical ways, (Michael continues to have a successful career as a studio engineer, while David has pursued solo efforts) but the original "progressive light" in the "cover band darkness" of Wisconsin is still carried by Graphic Nature's successor, WAKE now renamed Cold Street Gothic whose myspace page is at: http://www.myspace.com/coldstreetgothic. As of 2008 Cold Street Gothic continues to proudly continue the musical tradition established by WORLDS 20 years ago.
But wait! stop the presses!
And I am pleased to announce that Michael Wallace has also recently joined a new heavy progressive band called Off the Deep End who have a myspace at: http://www.myspace.com/otdeband
Grant Colburn, May 9th 2008