Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Damn Yankees - Sadly Not Bigger Than Life

Its not the best quality, but believe it or not its from a first gen demo tape I've had since the 80's. Maybe that's why they never got a record deal, because their demos sounded like shit and no one could hear how good the songs actually were. The original Damn Yankees featured Sten on vocals, who later left to form the Love Razors. This demo comes from the second lineup, with the bass player (Michael? Anyone?) moving over to lead vocals. Unfortunately there's next to no information on Damn Yankees on the web (except the Nuge's version), and time and medication has blurred my memory too much to remember the other member's names. I think Josh was the drummer. Maybe Jason Nesmith on guitar or bass. How about a little help out there? I know there were other people at those shows at Madame Wong's and the Troubadour, I saw you there. So here it is, without further useless information, the 4 song Damn Yankees demo tape.

Track Listing:
Bigger Than Life
Caroline
Die Laughing
Racing with the Moon

https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/5cnywqk3FI8hbyoRucic4yKHIVV33hO9QPawsYKZ6R

18 comments:

  1. I remember that demo! I think the band featured Todd Muscat, later of Junkyard, on bass. Also, brother of Brent from Faster Pussycat. The drummer was in Kill for Thrills later as well. The guitar player was named Josh, I think.

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  2. Damn Yankees was a good band. Todd Muskat was the bassist, Josh Fields (later of Black Cherry and many other bands) was the guitarist. Michael was the vocalist. He was really good. Good band. They went nowhere, of course. Only the shitty bands made it back then.

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  3. Drums was Dave Rosoff who changed his name later to Dave Scott (Kill for Thrills). He left my band "Maids of Honour" to join them, and I think our bass player Andy Rogers (rip) was with them also for a while after Michael moved from bass to lead vocals replacing Sten.

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  4. Oh man! I used to have this demo back in the day and lost it. I can't believe how amazing those melodies were. Thanks so much for posting this! You have got the COOLEST blog Sleaze Rock Man!

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  5. Thank You for This.
    I moved to Hollywood at 17.
    Damn Yankees were fantastic.
    Great Vocal Melodies, Smart Guitar Parts, Cool Bassist..
    2nd show I caught them the rhythm guitarist was gone.
    I asked Todd if they needed someone and he said I'd do.
    I waited Mgr Theresa never called til I had crash n burned.
    Dave & Todd were putting together Kills for Thrills by then but I was in Chicago getting straightened out. Gilby Clarke was signed on and they went with Jason Nesmith on guitar.
    Haven't heard these songs since and still love em just as much.

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    1. What was Theresa's last name? I was supposed to interview the band, but they broke up shortly after I got in contact with her.

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  6. I loved Damn Yankees. I saw them at the Hollywood Hills Rock Fest in '87. I have a demo by them with more songs and a couple of instrumentals. I'll see if I can dig that out. I have a couple of pictures from that show as well.
    I loved Kill For Thrills, too. A great band. Saw them a bunch. I met Michael once. He was working as a painter in the 80's and came into the deli I worked at and I made him a sandwich. He was cool. Sad that there's no good bands like these anymore.

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    1. Hi, would you be able to post a link to the other Damn Yankees demo? I just have the 4 track demo

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  7. I found the tape. Here is the list of songs:
    Sorrow In Your Eyes
    Welcome To My World
    Calling You
    Racing With The Moon
    Bigger Than Life
    Die Laughing
    Let Go
    Shoot You Down
    Caroline
    Racing With The Moon (Instrumental only)
    Racing With The Moon
    Caroline
    Die Laughing (Instrumental only)

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    1. I knew the singer, MIchael Lea of Sierra Madre. Could I please get a copy of this somehow?
      Very sincerely,
      Jeanie

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    2. I'd also love to get a hold of that full demo. Any way to post it? One thing that really set the band apart was its focus on songwriting. It was very polished.

      Please let me know if anyone can post that full demo

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  8. I had that demo! His name was Michael Lea. He lived in Sierra Madre and I met him when he valeted cars at Talk of the Town- never knowing he was the same boy that was on the flyers plastering my room. I met up with him again in the early 90s and we hung out for a while. He was doing some music in Pasadena at Q's. Could anyone make me a copy that has it?!?

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  9. Ok, signed up for an account because of this. The above anonymous (June 15, 2012) comments were from me. I got the dropbox link to work, yay!

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  10. The place where I worked where he came in for a sandwich was actually in Sierra Madre. That's where I grew up. Let me see if I can rip the demo to CD. If you send your email address I can write to you guys off line.

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  11. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  12. anybody know where michael lea is today, of what he is doing

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  13. Hey There! Just wanted to see of anyone was able to get that demo posted or burned? Thanks much!

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  14. Hey God Zoo, do you still have the Full Demo Cassette of Damn Yankees with Todd Muscat if so can you send me the Songs from the Cassette convert them to Digital MP3S via email that would be great would love to hear them my email address is bum_metalhead@bellsouth.net let me know as soon as you can

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