For Sale: Wheelz of Steel LP

swirlgirl · Post by **swirlgirl** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 4:39 pm

I told my husband about this and here's what he had to say:

Ah, Wheelz of Steel...
I found my copy at a used record store in Milwaukee. A friend had told me that Rich & Ray had recorded an album, but I'd always dismissed it with a "Yeah, sure." But there it was.

The Markowskis were classmates of mine in Milwaukee. We were not friends, but were in one class together...for a few weeks.

Rich & Ray were identical twin brothers. I never really knew which was which, as both had the same hair and the same wardrobe: jeans & army jacket (decorated with band logos in black marker). Oh...and both were in wheelchairs....hence the band name?

The recording:
I visited the studio once. Not a bad place, but a friend of mine recorded there and was talked into recording the guitar direct through a distortion pedal. Sounded awful...and awfully similar to the W.O.S. tone. The drummer ("T.R.") was either a Roland TR606 or TR808. The wife and have joked that the drum machine was added later.

As far as selling it, I don't know. We do have a cleaned-up version on CD. Maybe I'll make some of it available. We'll see.

I am curious as to how you guys found it/heard of it. I know we've shared it with many people around here.

swirlgirl · Post by **swirlgirl** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 5:09 pm

You guys may already be aware, but some bits of it are up on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDIDO9PTvXw

swirlgirl · Post by **swirlgirl** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 5:17 pm

Hmm...I was just looking around. In my previous post my husband had said that Rich & Ray were twins...but I'm seeing info that Rich is 46 and Ray is 48.

Post by **DaN** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 5:17 pm

swirlgirl wrote: Oh...and both were in wheelchairs....hence the band name?

Sorry, that was rude again ...but I always found the band name corny and thought it was a nod towards SAXON's classic album with the same name. Now it's all so OBVIOUS! Gotta check those youtube clips. More comments soon...

swirlgirl · Post by **swirlgirl** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 5:22 pm

DaN wrote:Sorry, that was rude again

Not sure why they were in chairs. He has mentioned that they were not pleasant guys...

The Knell · Post by **The Knell** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 5:48 pm

Awesome...thanks for the infos. Heh, that bandname seems a lot cooler now

Wouldnt mind to get the full record

Stormspell · Post by **Stormspell** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 2:44 am

Alright, I can understand that two retarded kids with too much time on their hands can sit in their bedroom and record such "album".

What I completely fail to understand is why people keep talking about it and even want to buy it... it is so pointlessly stupid and crappy it is not even funny...

The Knell · Post by **The Knell** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:48 am

why bother mr. stormspell, it's not your money

I have a thing for such shite

Satan is Our Pal · Post by **Satan is Our Pal** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 12:35 pm

stormspell wrote:Alright, I can understand that two retarded kids with too much time on their hands can sit in their bedroom and record such "album".

What I completely fail to understand is why people keep talking about it and even want to buy it... it is so pointlessly stupid and crappy it is not even funny...

Hmmmmm, not a nice attitude towards the handicap. The fact that this LP has been released puts a smile on my face. Although it's not a patch on NWOBHM hopefuls Storm Cry, Black Metal from the bedroom.

ION BRITTON · Post by **ION BRITTON** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 12:45 pm

What's interesting for me is the fact that people who are not interested in crap/weird/incredibly strange metal usually make the same kind of comments on such albums. One thing i have to say is that something can be entertaining or interesting in many different ways, you don't always have to bang your head and raise your fist when you listen to metal...

swirlgirl · Post by **swirlgirl** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 4:30 pm

stormspell wrote:Alright, I can understand that two retarded kids with too much time on their hands can sit in their bedroom and record such "album".

What I completely fail to understand is why people keep talking about it and even want to buy it... it is so pointlessly stupid and crappy it is not even funny...

What I completely fail to understand is how "in wheelchairs" equals "retarded"....

Also, it was recorded in a "real studio". They, or their family, obviously bought studio time and had records made.

The Knell · Post by **The Knell** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 4:51 pm

Do you still have some sort of contact to this band available? I'd like to know if they sit on a pile of unsold LP copies or the like , ha

Post by **DaN** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 5:01 pm

swirlgirl wrote:
stormspell wrote:Alright, I can understand that two retarded kids with too much time on their hands can sit in their bedroom and record such "album".

What I completely fail to understand is why people keep talking about it and even want to buy it... it is so pointlessly stupid and crappy it is not even funny...
What I completely fail to understand is how "in wheelchairs" equals "retarded"....

I don't think anyone is saying that. The "retarded" speculations has more to do with how the record sounds and why.

Also, it was recorded in a "real studio". They, or their family, obviously bought studio time and had records made.

..which is really kinda sweet when you think about it. Unlike most "professional" album releases this was a snapshot out of the everyday life of this family, something you very seldom see preserved on an LP. I guess this is why records like this are often referred to as "Real People-music".

Btw, wasn't it mentioned in this thread that one of the brothers has passed away? If it's true it leaves a somber note on this whole story

swirlgirl · Post by **swirlgirl** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 5:01 pm

The Knell wrote:Do you still have some sort of contact to this band available? I'd like to know if they sit on a pile of unsold LP copies or the like , ha

We don't. Like I posted, they were in a class with my husband, but only briefly, and he wasn't friends with them. Just knew of them.

doomedplanet · Post by **doomedplanet** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 7:08 pm

How did we hear about it? We I started mentioning it on this forum some years ago to the forum owner, because it falls into the category of "incredibly strange music". I first heard this album I think in 1994 or 1995 at a friends house, any time he would get a few beers in him he felt like pulling this record out and playing a song or 2 off of it. I didn't like it but I didn't forget it either. There are a number of guys on this forum that like strange music too and though it isn't metal, the album is rare and obscure and has a kind of "metal" name. As a result of our interest now we are hearing some of the real history behind the album.

cheers,
Rob

swirlgirl wrote: I am curious as to how you guys found it/heard of it. I know we've shared it with many people around here.