Louisiana--

Awareness for Thought

and Cause Through Music

By B. Noel Barr, The Music Writer Dude

We mark the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina with drummer Mike Lane and vocalist Tommy Pintaric of Dedfuel, a San Pedro band that produced an outstanding song and video dedicated to the victims of this disaster back in July. Both men spoke with passion about Hurricane Katrina and the effects it had on them. Though Lane’s family is from New Orleans, it was Pintaric’s empathy that seemed to drive the idea of the video.

Pintaric was struck to the core emotionally, connecting him to Mike’s family down in New Orleans. Pintaric recalled at the time, “I was calling Mike and his family and nobody could get through to Louisiana.”

Lane spoke of his relatives, and a list of many family and friends that had lost their homes in the destruction. “I have a cousin who had only been married a year and had a new home. My cousin and her husband lost every thing in Katrina.” You can see the work on YouTube if your search the words, “Dedfuel -Katrina (Dedicated to the Victims of the Hurricane).”

In relating to the next part of the column, Mike Lane had expressed outrage at the contempt of British Petroleum.

“What we are seeing here on television is not what is being seen down there. People are angry and the effects are going to be felt nationwide.” he added, “ It took 10 years to clean up in Alaska after the Exxon Valdez incident. It is going to take at least forty years before we see a possible end to this”

Long Beach recording artist Michelle Mangione recently recorded the song “The Edge of Madness,” with lyrics and backing vocals by Grace Slick of the Jefferson Airplane/Starship.

“Grace Slick was so pissed off by Louisiana being hit from every angle, between Katrina and now BP, that she sent me these lyrics to write the music,” Mangione said.

“The Edge of Madness,” starts out sung acappella and then immediately kicks it into high gear with kick ass zydeco music. I was immediately taken back and found was deeply moved by the lyrics and the empathy displayed in the vocals. The production with all the musicians is brilliant some parts having been sent in by MP3 to contribute to the effort. This song is relentless. It just grabs you and doesn’t let go. It is fired with angst and fueled with love, it is a beautiful a tribute to the music of Louisiana. Grace Slick nailed the outrage, the heartache and the resilience of the people of Louisiana in the lyrics.

“I always thought government was supposed to take care of people,” Slick said of recent events in Louisiana. “What’s going on?”

It is so nice to have her back in the fight again, though she is known for her songs, the iconic “White Rabbit” and “Somebody To Love.” Slick, along with Paul Kantner wrote some of the most politically charged rock music of the 60s. Bill Medley brings this song home as only Bill Medley can do with his big bass voice contrasting against Michelle’s alto.

The call went out for this project and the music community responded. Besides Mangione on lead vocals Bill Medley (Righteous Brothers), Backing vocals were Ms. Slick, Martha Davis (The Motels), Terri Nunn (Berlin) Melissa & Maggie Connel (The Heaters). On guitars was Tom Dumont (No Doubt), Kid Ramos (The Fabulous Thunderbirds), and Tom Kolb. On slide guitar Duncan Cameron (Sawyer Brown) & Billy Zoom on Saxophone (X), the list of contributors is massive.

The song “The Edge of Madness” will be available on an independent compact disc but you get this as a download at www.grammymuseum.com. The money’s raised will go to the fishermen and musicians affected by the BP disaster.