McQueen Street

McQueen Street
Background information
Also known as Klass
Origin Montgomery, Alabama
Genres Hard rock, glam metal, heavy metal
Years active 1987–1993
Labels SBK, EMI
Associated acts The Rat Race
Flying 75
The High Horse Band
Icon Rising
Chronic Illusion
Past members Derek Welsh
Chris Welsh
Richard Hatcher
Michael Powers

McQueen Street was a hard rock band from Montgomery, Alabama, consisting of Derek Welsh on lead vocals, Richard Hatcher on bass, Michael Powers on guitar, and Derek's brother Chris Welsh on drums.

Background

The band was originally known as "Klass", which formed in 1987 and played mostly covers and was well-known on the southeast rock music club circuit in the late 80's. The band changed its name to McQueen Street and signed a record deal with SBK Records, a division of EMI in 1990. They got their name from the street where the recording studio was located in their hometown.[1] The band's debut album, titled "McQueen Street" was produced by Tom Werman with additional production on one track from Steve Stevens of Billy Idol's band, who also played guitar on the album. Jeff Scott Soto, formerly of Journey also contributed to vocals. Two songs, Money and My Religion had music videos that were played on MTV's Headbangers Ball.

With the grunge movement of the early 1990s most bands whose music was based on 1980s-style rock were no longer popular. The radio stations and MTV stopped playing their style of music, causing the second album produced by Tony Platt to not be released. The band was dropped from SBK and disbanded.[2] Drummer Chris Welsh was found dead in his home in 1994 due to an accidental self-overdose of prescription medication while suffering a respiratory illness.

Singer Derek Welsh and bassist Richard Hatcher then formed the band Rat Race Choir which, due to trademark issues involving another band in Long Island, NY with the same name, changed its name to simply The Rat Race, which was more of an alternative rock band. The band released 2 studio albums Alice (1993) and Uncle Jim's Secret Garden (1995).The band toured the USA as a support act for numerous headliners including The Dave Matthews Band, Blues Traveller & Widespread Panic for the remainder of the 1990s before breaking up in 2000.[3]

Derek Welsh self-released the second McQueen Street album in 2003 after acquiring the rights from EMI, and his personal web site offered all the albums he's been associated with including merchandising.

In late 2008, bassist Richard Hatcher joined the alt-country band The High Horse Band, formed in 2004 and based in Pensacola, FL, which played the club circuit mostly in the Florida Panhandle and Alabama, he left the band in 2010 and returned to his hometown to form the short-lived cover band Chronic Illusion.

As of 2011 Richard Hatcher is still active in music. He joined the band Flying 75 and band leader Kerby Carr is a seasoned musician born in the same Year as Richard. "Things just clicked with me and Kerby" said Richard. "It's like we were brought up on the same music.". With band members Nora Gutting and Brandon Hamilton they were contracted with Proship, a booking Agency in Canada, to play on the Monarch of the Sea, a Cruise ship from Port Canaveral, for 5 months. Richard and the band wrote original material while at sea.

Richard Hatcher joined a band from Dallas TX, named "Icon Rising". Icon Rising released their 3rd album and signed with Zumba to play 33 cities in 2013.

In 2014, Derek Welsh fell and hit his head while playing tennis, leading him to be placed into a medically induced coma.[4]

Members

  • Derek Welsh - lead vocals, guitar (1986-1993)
  • Michael Powers - guitar, backing vocals (1986-1993)
  • Richard Hatcher - bass guitar, backing vocals (1986-1993)
  • Chris Welsh - drums (1986-1993: died 1994)

Discography

  • McQueen Street - 1991
  • McQueen Street 2 - 2003


  1. ↑ http://www.melodicrock.com/interviews/mcqueenstreet.html
  2. ↑ http://www.melodicrock.com/interviews/mcqueenstreet.html
  3. ↑ http://www.melodicrock.com/interviews/mcqueenstreet.html
  4. ↑ http://sleazeroxx.com/mcqueen-street-singer-derek-welsh-in-a-coma-after-fall/
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