Point Blank (band)

Point Blank is an American rock band hailing from Texas, United States. The band formed in 1974 and recorded six albums between 1976 and 1982. Garnering occasional airplay on AOR radio stations, the band is best known for their 1981 hit single, "Nicole" and their prior hit "The Hard Way" gained much exposure.

History

The band was discovered and managed by Bill Ham's Lone Wolf Productions (ZZ Top, Jay Boy Adams, and Eric Johnson). The original six albums were recorded in Memphis with Engineer/Producer Terry Manning. Point Blank's sound is rooted in southern rock and boogie, but drifted towards hard rock and mainstream AOR by the early 1980s. In 1981 they released their fifth album, American Exce$$ which included the hit single "Nicole". With strong air-play on AOR radio stations the track reached #20 on Billboard Magazine's Rock Tracks chart. Subsequently, "Nicole" was also released as a 45 RPM single and peaked inside the Top 40, at #39 on Billboard's Hot 100. In their heyday they were known for their relentless touring, sometimes playing more than 200 shows per year. In 1984, the band broke up.

The band's core members reunited for a benefit concert in 2005. The benefit concert, held on September 17, 2005 was recorded and became a new live album for the band titled Reloaded. After its initial release they continued touring and in late 2009, Point Blank released their seventh album titled Fight On!, their first studio album in 27 years. Both the Reloaded and Fight On! albums were released on the Dixiefrog label. Bassist Phillip Petty died from cancer on June 7, 2010. Guitarist Kim Davis died on October 18, 2010 (born October 6, 1952).^[1] The studio musician Michael Hamilton, who played keyboards for the group died, also from cancer, on May 13, 2011.

In January 2014, the band completed Volume 9, a Kickstarter-funded project originally titled Locked, Stocked and Two Smoking Barrels.

Replacing bassist Philip Petty after his death is Kirk Powers (born November 24, 1957) and, in 2012, after receiving a phone call from ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons recommending him, the band hired drummer Greg Hokanson.^[2]

James Russell Burns, better known as Rusty Burns (born 1952), died in Denver from cancer on February 19, 2016, aged 63.^[3][4]

Discography

• Point Blank (Arista) 1976 - includes "That's the Law", and "Distance"
• Second Season (Arista) 1977 - includes "Stars and Scars" and cover of Bob Seger's "Beautiful Loser"
• Airplay (MCA) 1979 - includes "Mean to Your Queenie"
• The Hard Way (MCA) 1980, - includes "The Hard Way" and a cover of Deep Purple's "Highway Star"
• American Exce$$ (MCA) 1981 - includes "Nicole", "The Way You Broke My Heart" and "Let Me Stay with You Tonight"
• On a Roll (MCA) 1982 - includes "Let Her Go", "On a Roll", "Great White Line", and "Gone Hollywood"
• Reloaded (Dixiefrog) 2006 - Live album recorded in 2005
• Fight On! (Dixiefrog) 2009 - first studio album in 27 years
• Volume 9 2014 - funded through Kickstarter

Members

• Bold = Original members

References

External links

• Point Blank's official website
• Official Point Blank biography
• Startin' Up POINT BLANK'S Automobile & More on VOLUME 9