Disturbing Music / GEOFF WESTEN / The Balls Project

INFO ABOUT THE BALLS IS HARD TO FIND

WHERE HAS EVERYTHING DISAPPEARED TO?

This is Geoff here - I know there is a box of "Balls Stuff" with lots of good memories. But I don't know where it is and I'm still searching for it. I DID find some verbiage about the band along with a CD Cover and some photos. Also found some tracks from the album. Not all of the tracks are there. The notes show that RM nicked them from the reel of the album that I currently have. But, what's still around will give you an idea of what the band was all about. Hope you enjoy what is here.

PROFILE: THE BIRTH OF THE BALLS

Late last summer while the rest of L.A. was preparing to greet the fall, a group of young musicians were dedicating themselves to engineering something much more spring-like - The Birth of THE BALLS. Working every available hour in a converted rehearsal studio in Hollywood, the band gradually began to take shape. THE BALLS were comprised of Count Blair (vocals, guitar), Geoff Westen (vocals, guitar), Ron "Rosy" Magness (vocals, guitar), Steve "Saint" Molle (bass) and Oak O'Connor (drums).

Ron and Steve had previously played in various bands together (Felix, Dust) and met Geoff (ex-Mac Davis) the year before last. Together they formed The Future group and put on a science-fiction production. When the group split, Geoff, Ron and Steve decided to keep playing together and upon meeting Count (ex-Rocky Horror Show), the chemistry immediately crystalized and the nucleus of a new band was formed. After a couple of false starts with various drummers the final missing link was filled by Oak O'Connor (ex-Black Pearl) who joined up in November. Within two weeks of first rehearsing together the band went into the studio in December and proceeded to cut seven tracks in five hours. This live session confirmed the feeling that something special was happening, and word began to spread.

With this complete line-up the band finally found its identity in the beginning of February of this year - after kicking the name around for several hours it stuck - THE BALLS were born.

Established: October 1, 1978

The Members:

Count Blair - Age: 29 - Born London, England - Instruments: Guitar, vocals - Credits: Rocky Horror Picture Show; Original London cast, original cast album, soundtrack album for 20th Century Fox Film Productions. Performances include Sam Shepherd's Tooth of Crime, Roy Court Productions and Mother Earth/M.A.M. Productions, Roundhouse Theatre. Previous bands included members of The Bonzo Dog Band, Rod Stewart, Supertramp, Van Morrison, Jeff Beck, Jack Bruce and others. Has aided in countless LP and singles recording sessions in London and elsewhere.

Geoff Westen - Age: 28 - Born Los Angeles - Instruments: Guitar, vocals, keyboards & synths - Credits: Recording experience with The Other Half, CK Strong, Mac Davis, Andy Kim, Roy Clark, Petula Clark, Aretha Franklin, Donna Fargo, Andy Kim, Gladys Knight, Roger Miller, The Staple Singers and Ray Stevens among others. Scored and performed Pilot showing of "The Mod Squad." Has worked in television with Lohman & Barkley, The Tonight Show, Midnight Special, Merv Griffin, The Mac Davis Show and others. Has also had production experience with projects of Neil Diamond, David Bowie, Dr. John & The Future. Has done art direction for album covers of "Aja" Steely Dan, and "M.U. The Best Of" Jethro Tull. Designed logo for the Pointer Sisters. Has done merchandising for The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and other such bands.

James John O'Connor, "Oak" - Age: 30 - Born Denver, CO - Instruments: Drums - Credits: Member of the band Black Pearl for six years during such time the group recorded for Atlantic Records & Ampex Tapes and did several cross country tours. Since Black Pearl, Oak has played with Hog Wild in Aspen and has participated in numerous studio projects and performed on many soundtracks for independently produced ski movies.

Ron Magness - Age: 28 - Born Los Angeles - Instruments: Guitar, vocals. Steve Molle - Age: 29 - Born Los Angeles - Instruments: Guitar, bass & vocals. Ron and Steve have played together since 1967. Album credits include "Dust to Dust" on MGM, "Felix" on Renaissance and "Young Life Singers" (Steve) on D.C.P. Records. The two have worked on MGM's short subject film soundtrack "No Time" and "Together," a semi-documentary. Ron co-wrote a musical comedy "Glimpse of the Future." They have worked with members of The Who, Spirit, Eagles, Burrito Brothers, Poco, Johnny & Edgar Winter, Elvin Bishop, Freddy King and others including The Coasters, Drifters, Fleetwoods, Ventures and Jan & Dean.

A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE BALLS
As told by a Ball himself.

So another songwriter and myself decided to put a band together to perform our songs. We called this band The Balls. Very conceptual and not at all what you'd think it would be. Things went quite well for a couple of years as the project developed, but wouldn't you know it, when it was time to record our album, the production company we were going to sign with decided that they only wanted me and my writing partner--NOT the rest of the band. Well, there I was, faced with the ultimate decision--turn down the opportunity in defense of the other band members OR sign the deal and leave the band behind. I hated this. I'm a team player and the idea of turning traitor to my band mates was devastating to me. But what could I do? I am grateful that I remain friends with one of those guys to this day. He might still be mad at me, but I don't think he hates me for doing what I had to do.

So off we went to London (did I mention the production company was in England?). We cut an album, got home sick and, I guess you know what's coming next - that project too petered out and left me as a solo artist once again. And the journey continued for many years - many projects. Yawn.

WHO ARE THE BALLS?

RON MAGNESS - Vocals and Guitar

Steve Molle - Bass and vocals

OAK O'CONNOR - Drums and Percussion

COUNT BLAIR - Vocals and Guitar

GEOFF WESTEN - Vocals and Guitar

A FEW REVIEWS OF THE BALLS
Some good - some not so good.

HOLLYWOOD REPORTER - Nightclub Review - June 5, 1979
By Becky Sue Epstein

Starwood, May 31, June 1-2
The BALLS will probably get the next big push - a la Knack or Motels: unsigned local club band gets high-budget deal to record for major label.

Geoff Westen, Count Blair, Ron Magness, Steve Molle and Oak O'Connor have a good chance at making it into the industry on their own terms, if they keep up energized, tight performances like this one.

With Cheap Trick-like appearance (they have everything but the long blond-haired teen idol), the BALLS have written some very persuasive songs and are performing them increasingly well as the months go by.

LOS ANGELES TIMES - Pop Music Reviews - June 18, 1979
By Richard Cromelin

PENETRATION IN L.A. DEBUT AT WHISKY
Penetration, one of the English bands set into motion by the example of the Sex Pistols, made its L.A. debut over the weekend at the Whisky.

The second-billed BALLS appears to be attracting a following with a catchy-comic Cheap Trick style. The music is as clever and commercial as it is superficial, and if the band can replace its forced wackiness with Cheap Trick's genuine joy and spontaneity, it could become an enjoyable, if derivative, unit.

HERALD EXAMINER
By Ken Tucker, Herald Examiner Rock Critic

PENETRATION PUSHES ITSELF AGAINST YOUR EARS
Penetration is a smart quintet from England that makes a music that is the opposite of their name's implications. On their first American tour, Penetration played the Whisky Friday and Saturday nights.

Opening act The BALLS have the appallingly novel idea of reviving glitter rock; a couple of their number wear sequins and most of them sport lots of theatrical make-up. Their hard rock is facilely petulant, and they surround themselves with plastic balls on which their group name is printed. These they toss into the audience for a finale. Rock and roll bounces on.

RECORD WORLD - The Coast - June 27, 1981 By Samuel Graham and Eliot Sekuler LOCALS: L.A. band The BALLS have run into a bit of trouble with the BBC, who have taken some exception to their debut release on the UK's Tower Bell Records. The title of the tune is "I Love the Balls, an immodest tribute, to themselves, but one that might be easily misconstrued, the BBC apparently feels.