Royal Crown Revue

The Royal Crown Revue (RCR) is a band formed in 1989 in Los Angeles, California. They are often credited with starting the Swing Revival movement.^[1][2] The band's musical style, however, transcends the pigeon-hole label that was given to them as a swing band (most noticeable in their rendition of Neil Diamond's "Solitary Man" and originals "The Contender" and "Walking Like Brando".) RCR has had great success on The Van's Warped Tour, touring with the B-52's and Pretenders, and appearances at the major US Jazz Festivals. The band recently filmed a special episode of "Gene Simmons Family Jewels", with Gene taking the reins, to appear in March. The band was founded by Eddie Nichols, Mando Dorame, out of a love of Rockabilly, Punk, Jazz, Blues, Soul, and other styles of roots music . The Stern brothers, Mark and Adam, who hailed from the punk band Youth Brigade rounded out the group early on. After repeatedly leaving RCR to tour with Youth Brigade, the Sterns were told to leave the band in the mid-90s and it is now headed by singer Eddie Nichols, tenor saxophonist/arranger/writer Mando Dorame, trumpeter Scott Steen, and drummer Daniel Glass. Stronger than ever, the band continues to play to capacity crowds in Australia, Europe, and the US.

After filming The Mask RCR began playing regularly at The Derby, a landmark club in LA in 1993, during a period when it gained worldwide recognition.^[3] The hit film Swingers was based on the scene RCR created, but was unable to film the movie as their contract with Warner Brothers interfered.

The RCR Horn section backed Bette Midler on her top-grossing 2003-2004 Kiss My Brass tour. Trumpeter Scott Steen was Bette's featured soloist.

RCR made numerous film, television, radio and print appearances, including The Mask, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Viva Variety, The Today Show and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In 1998 the group appeared at the Playboy Jazz Festival, recorded and performed live with Bette Midler at the Billboard Music Awards and composed the original theme for the WB Network's 1999 television season.

Current band members

• Eddie Nichols - Vocals
• Mando Dorame - Tenor sax
• Jim Jedeikin - Baritone/Alto sax
• Scott Steen - Trumpet
• Mark Cally - Guitar
• Dave Miller - Bass
• Daniel Glass - Drums

• (Jim Honeyman is credited as the Baritone/Alto Sax on the Live at The Corner Hotel Album)

Former band members

• James Achor - Guitar
• Veikko Lepisto - Bass
• Bill Ungerman - Alto/baritone saxophone
• Enrico Crivellaro - Guitar
• Greg Erba - Guitar
• Mark Stern - Drums
• Adam Stern - Bass
• Jamie Stern - Alto Saxophone

Discography

• Kings of Gangster Bop (BYO Records 1991)
• Mugzy's Move (Warner Bros. Records 1996). Re-released in 1998 adding "Barflies At The Beach"
• Caught In The Act (Live) (Surfdog Records 1997)
• The Contender (Warner Bros. Records 1998)
• Walk On Fire (RCR Records 1999)
• Passport To Australia (Live) (RCR Records 2000)
• Greetings From Hollywood (2004)
• El Toro (2007)
• Live at The Corner Hotel, Melbourne Australia (Live) (Liveband.com.au 2007)

Legal controversy

From 1996 through 1998, the Royal Crown Revue was engaged in a lawsuit with the Amazing Royal Crowns after much confusion with promoters. As of July 1998, the Revue won the lawsuit and the Crowns were legally obligated to change their name.^[4]. The band was also sued by Royal Crown Cola, and won that suit. Oddly, RC Cola later offered to sell RCR's CD through a series of marketing promotions. Royal Crown Revue appeared as a question on the Jeopardy game show with the reference answer being the RC Cola lawsuit.

Notes and references

External links

• Official site
• Daniel Glass Official Website
• Interview with Daniel Glass
• Royal Crown Revue at Allmusic
• [1]
• Jim Jedeikin website
• [2]