Allen: Allen has had an ongoing love affair with
guitars and guitar music for many years. He started
playing local clubs while still in High School and has
been a performer and instructor (Hyland Music) in the
Tri-City and Park City, Utah area for over 10 years.
While he has enjoyed a diversity of musical styles, he
admits that straight-ahead heavy guitar rock is where
it all started for him. "I saw a KISS concert when I
was about 11 years old. Ace Frehley and his guitar
seemed larger than life. They were magical, and
afterwards, I couldn't think of anything else but what it
must be like to be up there playing." Since that time,
Allen has played in several successful bands, and
met Michael Britton while playing a club gig in April
98. "I was doing a gig with Mark (drummer). The local
radio station KRAR (K-Rock) was doing a promo at
the club, and Mike was in town doing promo for his
tour and had some friends at the station, so he came
to the club and checked us out. After the show, Mike
introduced himself and said that we all needed each
other. I said, "right on!" The chemistry has been great
ever since. Ken (bass) hooked up with us a few
weeks later, and added the final link." The proof of
that chemistry is the live show, and Allen believes
that some show-goers might be surprised by the high
energy of the four players. "Nobody gets to stand
around and daydream in this setup. We all play, we
all sing. Everyone has an important part, and we give
it all we got! ... It's what I've always wanted." The rest
is history now, so be prepared for the Britton sound!
Michael Britton was born in Paducah, KY and moved
to Pasadena, CA at age six. He started playing the
guitar when he was nine years old. He had his first
band and gigs at age 12. Alex and Eddie Van Halen
also lived near him in Pasadena. In the 70's Michael
Britton joined with Mark Poynter's band "Headwinds".
Van Halen and Headwinds appeared in concert many
times together at the Pasadena Exhibition Hall.
After a record deal with Screen Gems/EMI went bad
for Headwinds, Britton and Poynter, they put together
a band named DEALER with bassist Glen Basset
and drummer Tommy Lee. From 1979-1981 Dealer
toured the western states in small and medium
venues. The song "Drinkin and Drivin (No More)"
featured on the BRITTON/ROCK HARDER CD is a
Michael Britton/Tommy Lee co-write from the Dealer
days. The song was written while driving back from a
gig at the Rock Palace in Parder, AZ.
Dealer terminated when Lee left for the Hollywood
Glam band "London" which renamed Motley Crue,
Poynter joined Tommy Girvin (Now with Eddie
Money) to be in Girvin's then Pasadena favorite band
"Smile", and Britton started "ROMEO" featured on an
Iron Works picture disk which was released in the
U.S. and Japan. In 1984 drummer Gary Holland and
dust left Great White. He and Britton began putting
together the original L.A. based BRITTON line up
with Phoenix guitar shredder Jim McMellen that
released the vinyl and cassette version of Rock Hard
in 1988.
BRITTON songs can be heard on radio stations
coast to coast and worldwide. They are featured in
major motion picture and television sound tracks, and
now BRITTON/UNLEASHED is available for hard
rock fans worldwide.
Mark Gallegos: I began playing clubs at the age of
16. After I graduated from high school I went right on
the road. The first few years were a harsh learning
experience. In 1986 a band was formed called
"Hi-Risk", an album was released with an
independent label and we hit the road. This time
management came along for the ride, we toured
(87'-89') the Midwest and Canada with some
success. Then one day we were approached by a
small label but things turned sour and the band broke
up. I then toured with various bands in Canada until
92' and opened up my own sound company in Salt
Lake City UT. A trio band was formed which included
Al Stewart. We played various clubs on the
weekends and one night we were playing at a club
and Mike Britton happen to be in town doing an in
store appearance. K-ROCK was doing a "K-ROCK
Presents at a Club" which Gary Michaels from the
radio station attended to present our trio at the club.
When Gary arrived there was Mike Britton in
attendance as well, and now everyone can probably
hear the rest of the story through the sound
of.................BRITTON! KEEP YOUR EARS OPEN
AND BE PREPARED FOR THE NEXT ALBUM
RELEASE FROM ...............BRITTON!
Ken Bliskis: Ken's humble beginnings take us to
Vancouver BC, Canada where he studied both guitar
and bass, eh! Cold weather and 'hard time' lead to
lots of practice for aspiring musicians, and it wasn't
long before Ken's bass savvy reputation had spread
far to the east, north, and south, but not really the
west....cause that's the middle of the ocean duh! The
panic and obsession of local fans caused the
necessity for Ken to leave one foggy night in 1994.
Since that pivotal day, Ken has managed to remain
fairly incognito, playing in several successful bands,
but always hiding his true identity and his appetite for
grinding out lethal grooves....4,5,or 6-string species!
In the summer of 1998, the Britton boys in need of a
subsonic axeman, heard that Ken was available on
the black market, and they quickly acquired his
services. Now history can be made! Britton fans will
have the rare opportunity of experiencing the 'real'
Ken, uncensored, uncut, fully leaded and caffeinated,
and out of the closet....'music studio' that is..!! Ken
was recently quoted saying, " I will never go home
hungry again." Therefore, fans with weak
constitutions may want to stay several rows back
during the show. Ken thanks those special fans for all
the tokens of appreciation....so keep 'em
coming,....but no more chia-pets please! "Write to
me, baby!!!"
