Tales of the Metal 80's : Episode 3 Featuring MARIAH
Not every band makes it out of the club scene. In our series "Tales From the metal 80's" we spotlight some of the bands who with just that one right break, just maybe could've had it all. This episode spotlights MARIAH. A band that started off as PRETTY BOY ( not to be confused with Pretty Boy Floyd ) Mariah featured musicians from Tyketto, Britny Fox, Waysted and Pretty Boy. The band had some serious connections with Bon Jovi , Jani Lane and Snake Sabo taken an interest in the band.
AOR/Melodic Rock outfit originally called Pretty Boy , MARIAH featured keyboardist/guitarist Jimmy DiLella , who had previously recorded and toured with WAYSTED , BRITNY FOX and later with DORO. He subsequently founded the band TYKETTO and co-wrote their international career-defining smash "Forever Young". MARIAH also featured ex-LYNN ALLEN guitarist Tim Compton (who is one of the tastiest guitarists you'll ever hear). Under the wing of TRIXTER's Steve Brown , who signed them to his management company , MARIAH was simultaeously courted by Jani Lane of WARRANT and Bill Leverty of FIREHOUSE. MARIAH was slated to be the next band to follow SKID ROW on Jon Bon Jovi / Richie Sambora's record/production company called 'The Underground'. Mariah's second album also features BRITNY FOX drummer Johnny Dee.
Gettin' Away With Murder
Radio Days
Knocked Down
A Retro Interview from: Gary James with Mariah's Jimmy Dilella
"Mariah" was formed just two years ago, in 1989. To say their future looks promising would be an understatement. "Mariah" counts Jon Bon Jovi as a friend as well as a fan of the group. Word has it that "Mariah" will soon ink a recording contract, possibly with Atlantic Records. And if not Atlantic, there are other labels that are more than interested. We wanted to find out what's so special about "Mariah," so we spoke with Marian's keyboard player - Jimmy Dilella.
Q. Jim, are you going to sign, or are you already signed to Atlantic Records?
A. Well, what's actually happening right now & we're right in the middle of everything. We have our producer and his name is George Tutko, and he's doing "XYZ" right now. And he did the London Quire-boys, And we have our studio time at Cherokee Studios in L.A. We're in the process right now of sorting out the money thing. We're kind of stalled with Atlantic, but at the same time we're playing with other people to see who is gonna kick the field goal. Do you know what I mean? All our other things are in place like our publishing. So that's what's happening, as we speak.
Q. Where did Atlantic Records catch your act?
A. I'm from Philadelphia. Awhile back, I couldn't give you an exact date, I don't remember, but E.M.I. was very interested in the band. And, we came out here and showcased in New York, at SIR. Actually it was for one person from E.M.I. But, our manager worked it out, so we could stay the whole day, and play for as many labels as we wanted to. So, we wound up playing for six or seven record companies, and Atlantic was one of them. It took all this time for them to come around. It's been many months man, since we did that showcase, and to make a decision, about the band.
Q. How does an unsigned band tour the U.S. and Canada like "Mariah" has done, and make money? You don't have a product, and the traveling expenses must eat into the profit.
A. We played mostly showcase rooms. We've played the whole midwest. The furthest that we have ventured is down through Florida, and up through Alabama, and Atlanta. There's a booking agency out there that booked the band. A couple of years ago when the band was originally formed, before I was in it, they were a cover band. And they were just working, and built up a name as 'Pretty Boy' doing the cover material. And, things changed, and there we were. (Laughs.) Yeah, it costs a lot of money believe me and we had problems with trucks breaking down. We worked an average of 4-6 nights a week.
Q. With the success that Mariah Carey has had, is there any confusion surrounding your gigs?
A. I don't know about that. I know it means the wind. We hear that all the time. In parts of Winnipeg, Canada, where we play, they tell us there's a fish called "Mariah." And we're like 'thanks.' But, the band was called 'Pretty Boy' and that's a little pretentious. It would've been a good name five or six years ago, when 'Poison' was first starting. We didn't want people to think we were another make-up band. And there was obviously the confusion with 'Pretty Boy Floyd.' So, we decided to -change-it-. And 4'm not really sure who came up with the name "Mariah." It kind of sounds majestic, and it doesn't label us. One of the bands I was in before is on Geffen and they're called Tyketto.' We actually saw that name spray painted on a wall in a subway in Brooklyn. It sounds like such a story, but it really is true. It probably was some little kids last name. But, the idea again was, it didn't label us.
Q. What do you do onstage that has given you this reputation for a high energy live performance?
A. We just have fun. Me, being the keyboard player in this band, I'm pretty much riveted. In other bands I've been in, I've been fortunate enough to play guitar and keys. But in this band, we have two really good guitarists, and one of 'em being our lead singer. He's amazing. He's great. He's a really good showman.
Q. How does Jon Bon Jovi fit into the whole "Mariah" story?
A. O.K. Someone, I think it was a friend of the band's, this was before I was in it, 'cause Jon was actually the one that got me in this band, dropped a tape of 'Pretty Boy' into one of his bags, or she handed it to him. I don't know which. It was before the Moscow Peace Festival. He didn't get around to listening to it for months. He went away. He was busy. Actually, the New Jersey tour was winding down and they were in Canada, when I got the call. He heard the tape of the band, and he really thought the singer had a unique voice. He called'em up. Just like that. He called Dennis. It was a very weird coincidence. He was" gonna be playing in Winnipeg and 'Pretty Boy" was going up there to play. They were gonna be there at the same time. So, they got together. I don't know how it worked, if Jon had a night off, but he went and saw 'Pretty Boy.' And, Jon really liked the band, and thought the singer was a star. So, I got a call at home, 'cause I'm very good friends with Snake of 'Skid Row.' He's one of my best friends. My name had come up when they were together, because, Jon felt that two of the members of 'Pretty Boy,' maybe weren't right. He's like notorious for doing that. I guess he wanted to make the band the best that it could be, and somehow I got brought up. So, he called me and said, "What are you doing?" And, I was just home. I was trying to get a keyboard position in Dio. I don't come from that kind of a musical background. But I just wanted to keep working. Jon put me in touch with Dennis, who is our lead singer. We exchanged packages. I learned a bunch of songs, and went out a week later and auditioned. I came home, got my life together, and the next week I moved there. I've been there for a year and a half. ("There" is Minneapolis, Minnesota.) The first week I was in the band, Jon flew Dennis and the guitar player, Timmy, down to Alabama or some place like that where they were playing. They got together in a room with Richie (Samborra — Bon Jovi guitarist) and they spent about eight hours, writing, working on material. I imagine Jon was just trying to feel them out, to see who was creative and who was not, and that kind of stuff. Subsequently from that, he's been a friend. So, that's pretty much that story.
Q. Do you know what's next in your life?
A. The next step is, we're gonna do a record.
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER , ON ANY FORMAT , COMES MARIAH'S PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED SECOND ALBUM. AN AOR-LOVERS DREAM , HERE IS THE STORY OF MARIAH... AOR / Melodic Rock outfit originally called Pretty Boy , MARIAH boasts an amazing line-up... The one-of-a-kind soulful vocal pipes of of Dennis Lind. Killer rhythm section - Bassist David Livingston and Drummer Curt Bearden. Keyboardist/guitarist Jimmy DiLella , who had previously recorded and toured with WAYSTED , BRITNY FOX and later with DORO. He subsequently founded the band TYKETTO and co-wrote their international career-defining smash "Forever Young". Ex-LYNN ALLEN guitarist Tim Compton (who is one of the tastiest guitarists you'll ever hear).
ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL FOR ALL FANS OF 80s AOR / MELODIC ROCK. WHY THESE GUYS NEVER MADE THE BIG-TIME IS CRIMINAL.
