- Lone Justice
Infobox musical artist
Name = Lone Justice
Background = group_or_band
Img_capt = Lone Justice's 1985 self-titled debut. L-R: Maria McKee, Ryan Hedgecock, Marvin Etzioni, and Don Heffington|
Origin =Los Angeles, California ,United States
Genre =Country rock , rock,roots rock ,cowpunk ,rockabilly ,alternative country
Years_active = 1982-1986
Label =Geffen Records
Associated_acts =Maria McKee
URL =
Current_members =
Past_members =Maria McKee
Ryan Hedgecock
Marvin Etzioni
Don HeffingtonTony Gilkyson
Notable_instruments =Lone Justice was an American
country rock band formed in1982 by guitarist Ryan Hedgecock and singerMaria McKee .They began their career as one of the more promising bands of the L.A.
cowpunk scene of the 1980's. Lone Justice was inspired by Hedgecock and McKee's mutual affection forrockabilly andcountry music . The group started out as a strictcover band , but the additions of veteran bassist Marvin Etzioni and Don Heffington, a former drummer inEmmylou Harris 's Hot Band, prompted them to compose their own material. Their early recordings can be described as a fusion of country andpunk rock , with rockabilly elements. But by the time of their first album, the band had begun to incorporate elements ofroots rock andsinger-songwriter styles.Benmont Tench ofTom Petty and the Heartbreakers was a frequent guest musician at their live shows.Lone Justice became a popular attraction and a local LA favorite. With the help of
Linda Ronstadt , they were signed toGeffen Records and were soon hyped as the next big thing.Their self-titled debut appeared in 1985, followed by a tour in support of U2. Still, despite good press and media hype (Jimmy Guterman, then a critic at "
Rolling Stone ," called it one of the best albums ever made), "Lone Justice" failed to sell; produced by the band's manager,Jimmy Iovine , it failed to connect with country or rock audiences. Even with catchy singles like "Sweet, Sweet Baby" and "Ways To Be Wicked" (written byTom Petty and Mike Campbell), the album didn't meet commercial expectations. Regardless, thePazz & Jop Critics Poll for 1985 ranked it #24, right behind "Up On The Sun" by the Meat Puppets and just ahead of "Psychocandy" byThe Jesus and Mary Chain .In the record's wake, Hedgecock, Etzioni, and Heffington all exited the band, leaving McKee to lead Lone Justice alone. After enlisting guitarist Shane Fontayne, bassist Greg Sutton, drummer Rudy Richman, and keyboardist Bruce Brody, Lone Justice recorded their second LP, "Shelter".
Steve Van Zandt was the producer. This record saw them almost completely abandoning much of their earlier cowpunk, rockabilly, and roots rock influences in favor of what could be considered a more traditional pop/rock sound. It did not sell well.Shortly after that record's release, McKee broke up the band for good and went on to a solo career. Heffington became a successful session drummer, while Etzioni recorded under the guise of Marvin the Mandolin Man. Fontayne played guitar in Bruce Springsteen's band for the tour backing up the Lucky Town/Human Touch albums. After a decade removed from the music industry, Hedgecock returned in 1996 as half of the duo Parlor James. A posthumous Lone Justice retrospective, "This World Is Not My Home", followed in early 1999, including early demo recordings.
A brief, budget compilation was issued in 2003 as part of Universal Music's "20th Century Masters" series.
Discography
*"Lone Justice" (1985)
*"Shelter" (1986)
*"BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert" (1993)
*"This World Is Not My Home" (1998)External links
*myspace|marvinetzioni|name=Marvin Etzioni
*myspace|ryanhedgecock|name=Ryan Hedgecock
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.