Kick Axe

In 1976 brothers Victor Langen on bass and Gary Langen on drums formed the Canadian mainstream metal band Kick Axe in Regina, Saskatchewan, together with guitarist Larry Gillstrom. The group first performed at biker festivals across their home province before adding Raymond Arthur Harvey as second guitarist in January 1978. Seeking larger audiences, they relocated to Vancouver, but the nonstop touring schedule prompted Gary Langen to leave before the close of 1978 so he could focus on his new family; Brian, Gillstrom’s brother, stepped in on drums. Recording sessions for an album began in 1979, yet dissatisfaction with the results caused the band to scrap the project and search instead for a dedicated frontman. Charles McNary was brought in during 1981, but his satisfaction with the band’s local club success and the independent single “Reality Is the Nightmare” exceeded the ambitions of the remaining members. Nationwide advertisements for a new vocalist attracted Milwaukee native George Criston, who moved to Vancouver in 1982 to join Kick Axe. This lineup secured a contract with Pasha Records, home of Quiet Riot, and recorded the debut album Vices with producer Spencer Proffer. Released in 1984, Vices spawned the minor hit “Heavy Metal Shuffle” and earned the band an opening slot on Judas Priest’s summer tour. The follow-up Welcome to the Club arrived in 1985 and featured a charity-benefit cover of “With a Little Help From My Friends” recorded with assorted Canadian hard rock all-stars. The album reached gold status in Canada, yet Harvey, weary of the road, departed soon afterward. Continuing as a quartet, Kick Axe supplied two tracks to the Transformers: The Movie soundtrack, though executives credited the performances to Spectre General out of concern that the band’s name would be unsuitable for the film’s young audience. Reverting to their original name, they released the third album Rock the World in 1986, but it failed to extend their earlier commercial gains and the group disbanded shortly thereafter.