European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 29, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse On stage battling the big one 994 visa eur Battle of the bands playing for love for Money by Effie Bathen staff writer he Battlefield was ready loud and ready. And the lieutenant captured the attention of the military crowd saturday at the army in Europe s annual Battle of the bands. 1st it. David Harris and the band abstract from 3rd inf div territory in Schweinfurt Germany i n faded the Century club i n bad Kreuz Nach Germany and came out the victors for the third year in a Rovy. Quot a lot of people Don t follow their dream Quot Harris told the capacity crowd before singing one Chance one of their original tunes. The Competition was open to groups of Active duty soldiers. Groups with family members could also participate if they had been part of the group for More than a year. Abstract won the $300 first prize and will go on to an army wide Competition in the states. Quot just wanted a trip to Taco Bell Quot band members joked. Dressed in Skull patterned biker shorts leather jacket and purple Scarf Harris along with the rest of abstract topped the Competition with Points on technical excellence showmanship and interpretation still second place was no place for the Darmstadt rhythm and blues band nation and the audience let them know it. In the midst of the heavy Metal Black boots and gym socks set nation created an Oasis of sensuality and soul. With their own prerecorded digital Back up they gave the audience twice the music when they performed. Quot we be still got to have that Energy Quot said staff sgt. Cregg Johnson. Quot we try All the time we re playing for paying customers even if it s for one person Quot when they Sang Here we co it was As close to the popular group portrait s recording studio sound As you can get from speakers piled to the ceiling in a military Community club. _ a a a a a a a a the real show stopper was spec. Mike Sterling of the Hometown bad Kreuz Nach band withered that got together James Trotter above and Gregg Johnson right share guitar work for runner up nation. For a amps Kevin Coss a month ago. Sterling kind of a mix Between Ace Ventura and Mick Jagger was a natural entertainer and the audience loved every minute. Bad Kreuz Nach fans took to the floor. The 1 St army div soldiers did a slam dance and the Earth moved. When the 6-footer with a go haircut crooned "1 did t get to say what 1 wanted Quot the audience told Sterling with their cheers and he has that they would always have time to listen. On saturday locals said Sterling steered a Fong Way from his Elvis Persona that makes appearances at Community. Karaoke nights. A a countermeasure from Wiessen and Hanau touted itself As Quot officially the loudest band in Usa eur Quot and warned the crowd Quot this might be a Little too much for you so try to keep hellion from Bamberg did. Only six bands competed. But what they packed in numbers they made up in volume. Also compel Turg in Hep vol was Pyramid from Glessy Nyhanpu. Above Luis Mejia of withered pensively strums his accous tic guitar. At right charismatic Michael Sterling of the band withered was a real crowd teaser. A biker shorted 1st u. Dave Harris of abstract shows a the crowd what it Saf labout while spec Francisco Ruiz also of abstract punks his Bass with focused authority. Abstract wins for third year in a Row by Effie Bathen staff writer. Somebody stole his keyboard so Michael Sterling joined the army so he could earn enough to buy another one. He was one of the stars of the army in Europe s Battle of the bands Competition last saturday in bad Kreuz Nach Germany. The logistics specialist said that he was one of Many there who loved music too much to live without it. Mixing guitars Drums and soldiers work,.though, is a Tough task staff sgt. G regg Job non with nation rhythm and blues band from Darmstadt Germany said he and the other three gis in the group spend about 10 hours a week rehearsing. On top of that they also have to find a place to practice and contend with the Cerman quiet hour regulations. So they set up in recreation centers and Darmstadt s Rainbow club when they can get the. Space., the band makes about $700 to $1,500 dollars per performance depending upon How far they have to travel. Shows Are usually on weekends at Community military dubs. Meanwhile the members of his band say that they have invested about $10,000 in their instruments and equipment the Money so far goes Back into the band they said Alt four Are married and have children. They say that they could not do the music scene without their wives support. _ ,. With its annual Competition the army cheers such. Bands on saying that it s Good for morale. But for the most part they Are on their own. Members of the band abstract from Schweinfurt Germany estimated that they had spent about $25,000 on their equipment. The band the top band for the last three years have seven members and a popular hard Rock sound. Quot we Don t care if anybody records us. We just want to be paid right now Quot said staff sgt. James Trotter of nation laughing. Soldiering demands like Field problems and Long hours also make it Tough for band members to get together. Identity crisis a Rock band from Vicenza did not get to compete saturday. After driving up from Italy the Rock group was called Back to duty because of the rwandan Relief Effort in Africa and they had to turn around and drive Back to their units. A bands like abstract Are trying to make their Mark in european clubs. They Are booked in hot spots like Fulda s Irish pub and Kitzinger s Romer Hof. Quot the goal is to hear yourself on the radio Quot said Lead vocalist 1st it. David Harris the Only officer in saturday s Competition. But after going on to the stateside finals Harris said the soldiers Are leaving the service. It s Clear he said. Quot gotta make your move and be a of the charts pop singles 1.1 swear ah-4-one 2. Stay i missed you Lisa Loeb amp nine stories 3. Fantastic voyage coolie 4. Any Tim any place and on and on Janet Jackson 5. Can you feel the love tonight Elton John 6. Regulate Warren g. Amp Nate Dogg 7. Done to turn around Ace of base 8. Fund fled a brat 9. Back and Forth Aaliyah 10, wild night John Wellencamp amp Mon Shell Ndege Ocello top albums 1. The lion King soundtrack 2. Voodoo lounge the rolling stones 3. The sign Ace of base 4. Purple Stone Temple pilots 5. August amp everything after counting crows. 6. ,.,g Funk Era Warren g 7. Forrest Gump soundtrack 8. Super unknown Sun Garden 9. Not a moment too soon Tim Mcgraw 10. Who i am Allan Jackson country singles 1. Sum m Erti a blues Alan Jack son 2. Think Jno problem David Baij 3. Every once in a while Black Hawk 4. Lifestyles of the not so Rich a famous Tracy Byrd 5. National working woman a Holiday. Sammy Kershaw a 6.1 wish 1 could have been there John Anderson 7. Be my baby tonight John Michael Montgomery 8. Foolish Pride Travis to pal 9. Dreaming with my eyes open Clay a. Walker. 10. One night a Day Garth Brooks jazz albums 1. Mtg unplugged Tony Sennett 2. All my tomorrows Grover Washington or. 3. Well be together again Lena Horne 4. Heart to heart Diane Schuur . King. A. 5. Stepping out Tony Bennett 8. Blue Light til Dawn Cassandra Wilson. 7. 2 5, h Arry co in ick or. 8. Dream Jimmy Scott 9. With the tenors of our time Roy Hargrove quintet 10. Swing kids soundtrack latin tracks 1. Amor pro Leldo Selena 2. Site Vas Jon Secada 3. The Cono co Ricardo Arjona 4. Jul sclera Ricardo Montaner 5. Pero qua be Ceslad Juan Gabriel 6. Una Noche do Amor the Barrio Boazz 7. Vida la mafia 8. Ella is Tony Vega 91 Diablo los fugitives 10. Mas y Mas los fantasias Del Caribe ramp a singles. T. Any time any place and on and on Janet Jackson 2, Funk Rafeld a brat 3.1 miss you Aaron Hall 4. Back a Forth Aaliyah 5. Sending my love Zhane. 6. Willing to forgive aretha Franklin 7. Always in my heart Levin Campbell 8. Your body a calling a Kelly ,9. The right Kinda Lover Patti Labelle 10. In a not Over you Cece pension modern Rock tracks classical albums 1. Com out and play offs p run g 2. Fall Down Toad the wet sprocket a. Vasol lne Stone Temple pilots 4. Prayer for the dying Seal 5. Black hols Sun Sun Garden a. Girls a boys blur. 7. Stay Lisa Loeb amp Nina stories 8. Basket Case Green Day 9. Labour of love Frentel 10. Einstein on the Beach Coaming crows a 1. Chant Benedictine monks 2. In concert Carreras Domingo Pavarotti 3. Gershwin plays Gershwin George Gershwin a a 4. In m Moscow Van cd i b urn 5. My hearts Delight Luciano Pavarotti 6. 32 Short films Glenn Gould 7. Go Reck i symphony no. 3, Upshaw London sinfonietta Zinman 6. Arvo part the deum Tallinn chamber orchestra a Kal Juste 9, Orff Carmona Purana Cleveland orchestra 10. Gregorian chant Konrad Rutland a compiled by billboard focus a entertainment editor a a Deedee Arrington Doke. Editorial Jones listing contributors staff writers Marian a Hamilton Cindee Morrison sue Palumbo. Nancy a Torner also Ferenc Pajtas Joe Olano. Send entertainment news tips Story ideas and listings to the stars and stripes entertainment unit 29480, Apo a 09211 or civilian Postrach 11 14 37, 64278 Darmstadt Germany. A Telephone Dan 348-8350, Civ. 06155-601350, Tel fax 06155-601416 outside Germany the country code is 49 drop the 0 Irons the prefix 20 the stars and stripes Friday july 29, 1994 the stars and stripes 21
