Rocky Shades
| Rocky Shades | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Robert K. Barklay |
| Also known as | Rocky Shades |
| Born |
January 22, 1960 Aldershot, England |
| Genres | Hard rock, heavy metal, glam metal, blues rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Labels | Heavy Metal Records |
| Associated acts | Wildside Riot, Rocky Shades Wrathchild, Sin, Yankee Rose, Wrathchild, Discharge |
| Website | www |
Robert K. Barklay (born January 22, 1960), professionally known as Rocky Shades, is an English singer.
Robert K. Barklay was born on 22 January 1960 in Aldershot, England. He created his stage name in 1976, when he began to sing informally. His career started very early: at the age of 5 he was already singing at the Greenland Social Club Birmingham, where his mother used to work, also as a singer.
Before Wrathchild, Shades fronted many minor bands, including Sweet Acid (in 1976) and Hoi Polloi (from 1977 to 1980, later changed the name to Titan). With this one, he also recorded a single called East wind west wind/Losing the fight. In 1980 he auditioned for Wrathchild, with whom he worked until 1991. Between 1980 and 1982, the band recorded two demos: Classical Mayhem (1981) and Mascara Massacre (1982). In the same year they released the single Do You Want My Love?. For the first official release, we'll have to wait until 1983, when they recorded the EP Stuckheel Struck.
The band gained significant popularity in 1984, when they recorded their first studio album, called Stakk Attakk. From the album were taken two singles: Alrite With The Boyz (cover of the Gary Glitter classic Doing Alright With The Boys) and Trash Queen. In the same year a live show was recorded, at the Camden Palace Theatre in London. The concert featured some songs from Stakk Attakk, Cock, Rock, Shock (later in the album Trash Queens, which was released the next year) and two other songs: Blood On The Blade and Give It All You Got.
Unfortunately, just when Shades and the band started getting successful, they had problems first with their label, and then with an American band that was using the same name. The contractual problem with their label, Heavy Metal Records, didn't want to let them sign with a major label, RCA Records, because they thought RCA didn't offer enough money to rescind their contract. The second lawsuit, another band, called Wrathchild, claimed they were using the name "Wrathchild" before the British band. Shades and the band won the first lawsuit, however it lasted six years. Enough time for RCA Records to change their mind on the band. Wrathchild also won the second lawsuit as well. Both battles heavy influenced the course of the band, with onerous lawyer bills leaving them without money, unable to even give a new thrust at their career. Later, due to tension with the other members, Shades was forced to leave the band.
...
Wikipedia