Powerful and intensely
melodic at the same time, with bruising guitar lines
and echoing vocal harmonies that recall the best
of Nirvana or Smashing Pumpkins, compared to a range
of heavy rockin' acts from Jane's Addiction to The
Doors, Quicksand to Fugazi.
That was For Love Not Lisa in their mid-'90s day
in the sun, when they shared stages with everyone
from Fugazi to Stone Temple Pilots. Now they're
re-emerging for yet another season in the spotlight,
in which they may finally transcend to the level
of stardom they always deserved.
Formed in Oklahoma City in the early '90s, For
Love Not Lisa began as a series of jam sessions
between guitarists Mike and Miles. The pair quickly
picked up bassist Clint and drummer Aaron, packed
their bags, and moved to Los Angeles to find fame
and fortune. Inspired equally by punk and metal,
their 1992 debut EP was acclaimed by critics and
fans, and the band hit the big time, signing with
Elektra/East West. Their debut album, Merge, was
released in 1993, and the group began touring with
superstars from Green Day to Candlebox , Stone Temple
Pilots to Rage Against the Machine (not to mention
shows with The Bay City Rollers and The Tubes!).
A peculiar flash of serendipity came when the band
was contriving a cover version of KISS's "Rocket
Ride" and managed to finagle a studio visit
from Ace Frehley himself, author of the original.
With his manager, bodyguard, and girlfriend in tow,
Frehley showed up at the recording studio and proceeded
to sing the chorus and rock out on the guitar solo.
[Download the mp3 now!]
After touring behind the Merge record F.L.N.L.
was asked to contribute the song "Slip Slide
Melting" to the motion picture THE CROW (staring
Brandon Lee). With the soundtrack going on to sell
over two million records, interest in the band increased,
so with Slip Slide Melting in heavy rotation at
hard rock radio and a few spins at MTV the band
went into the studio to record the songs which would
become their second full length record - "Information
Superdriveway.
Unfortunately, the pressure, as well as, the letdown
of not being able to capitialize on the attention
The Crow brought upon the band helped fuel the fire
of frustration that was slowly breaking the band
apart.
But the good folks at Tooth & Nail have convinced
them all that the time has come again For Love and
for Lisa, and they're back again with Lost Elephant,
a medley of new, old, and rare from a band that
has the true energy of rock'n'roll emblazoned in
its music in a way that few bands still do. Unreleased
b-sides are supplemented by an assortment of rarities
from their previous incarnation, including the group's
first demo recorded in a basement in OKC City (1991)
along with tracks from the long-unavailable 1992
Elephant EP.
FOR LOVE NOT LISA Mike Lewis - vocals, guitar Miles
- guitar Clint McBay - bass Aaron Preston - drums
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