Fort Smith, AR
December 9, 2013
The Babys Back With New Lineup
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BABYS Tony Brock, founding drummer for
The Babys, said his groupʼs new reunion single, “Not Ready to Say
Goodbye,” is a sign of things to come for fans. The song was released on
iTunes, and the band is planning a new CD and U.S. tour.
By Scott Smith
Times Record • [email protected]
Like Big Star, Free and Badfinger, The Babys could have been one of the
biggest rock bands of all time.
The Babys enjoyed success during their 1976-80 stint with hit songs like
“Back on My Feet Again,” “Midnight Rendezvous,” “Head First” and “Isnʼt It
Time,” and opening with show-stealing sets for Journey, Cheap Trick and
Alice Cooper helped build a sizable following.
Initially featuring singer-bassist John Waite, lead guitarist Wally Stocker,
drummer-singer Tony Brock and guitarist-keyboardist Michael Corby, The
Babys later recruited Ricky Philips (Styx) to take over bass duties while
Waite concentrated on singing. Future Journey member Jonathan Cain
would replace the departed Corby, making The Babys a quintet.
Armed with a Bad Company-meets-Humble Pie-meets-Stax sound, The
Babys seemed destined for success, but a “premature” break up in 1980
prevented future projects, said Brock. But that was then, and this is now,
he said.
“I always thought that if we had been able to do just one more album back
then, then we would have really taken things over the top,” said the 59year-old Brock during a recent telephone interview. “Thatʼs why weʼre back
together now — to make it about the songs. The songs are important. The
songs are what matter, rather than just a band showing off.”
The new Babys lineup, which features Brock and Stocker alongside new
singer-bassist John Bisaha and guitarist Joey Sykes, released a new
single, “Not Ready to Say Goodbye,” on iTunes. The quartet also is
working on The Babysʼ first new album in 33 years and launched a new
Facebook page.
Fans also follow the groupʼs recording progress and be eligible for pre-sale
opportunities at www.pledgemusic.com/thebabys.
“Itʼs great to be back, and itʼs great to see so many people who still care
about The Babys,” said Brock, who also has played with Rod Stewart,
Greg Lake, Carl Palmer and Eddie Money, among others. “We played our
third show the other day, and people were crying on the front row — they
never thought they would see Wally and I back together again, playing The
Babysʼ songs the way they should sound.”
The Babysʼ new sound tips a hat back to The Babysʼ “fun past,” while
embracing some modern musical flavors, he said.
“Iʼm partial to the ʻBroken Heartʼ-era of The Babys, yeah,” said Brock. “That
sound was where we came from originally. We were friends with each
other and with our peers, and weʼd hang out at the Marquee Club in
London. It was a great, happy time.”
In a move that some Babys fans might find ironic, Waite has been
“extremely supportive” of the groupʼs new lineup, as well as its plans for a
U.S. tour next year, Brock said. Cain also has voiced support, adding he
would help with songwriting duties if needed, he said.
“Thereʼs been talk about doing a show where John Waite and Jonathan
Cain come out and play with us, and I know Ricky Phillips would be on
board for something like that, too,” said Brock, who produced some of
Keith Urbanʼs early work and is acting as producer for the reunited Babys.
“I mean, wow, can you imagine Jonathan Cain coming out and playing
ʻMidnight Rendezvousʼ with us? That would be amazing.”
Brock and Stocker originally had hoped The Babys would go on tour with
Journey and Styx, so Babys fans could see the new lineup, Cain and
Phillips play at different times but on the same stage.
“Maybe we will be able to do something like that another time, but weʼre
concentrating on having enough material so we can go out on tour,” Brock
said. “Weʼre working on the new album in my studio here in L.A., and itʼs
exciting.”
Brock then paused for a few seconds.
“With The Babys, it feels really, really good to me now,” he said. “The
chemistry is there now. All of this just feels so fantastic.”
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