Starcastle

Biography

Starcastle was an American progressive rock band from Champaign, Illinois, United States. Formed in 1969, the group played many shows under the names Pegasus and Mad John Fever before eventually settling on Starcastle. They signed their first record deal with Epic Records in 1974, and received extensive airplay and frequently played in the St. Louis area. The original lineup included former REO Speedwagon vocalist Terry Luttrell and computing author/programmer Herb Schildt. They released four albums on both the Epic and CBS labels. The band's debut album Starcastle sold well, garnering worldwide airplay.
Their later albums Fountains of Light×Fountains of LightJanuary 1977 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracksA1Fountains10:25A2Dawning of the Day3:46A3Silver Winds4:57B1True to the Light6:27B2Portraits5:03B3Diamond Song (Deep Is the Light)5:36, Citadel×Citadel1977 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracksA1Shine on Brightly5:18A2Shadows of Song5:09A3Can't Think Twice3:51A4Wings of White4:55B1Evening Wind5:26B2Change in Time4:32B3Could This Be Love3:25B4Why Have They Gone6:57, and Real to Reel×Real to Reel1978 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Half a Mind to Leave Ya4:482Whatcha Gonna Do (When It All Comes Down on You)3:333We Did It3:544Nobody's Fool4:005Song for Alaya3:066So Here We Are3:577She3:438The Stars Are Out Tonight3:539When the Sun Shines at Midnight6:16 did not sell as well as the first and they were often criticized for sounding too musically similar to Yes. They were opening acts for such bands as Jethro Tull, Gentle Giant, Fleetwood Mac, Kansas, Boston, Rush, Journey, and others. After several line-up changes, the band went on a ten-year hiatus from 1987.
In 2002, Gary Strater, Steve Tassler and Steve Hagler all released solo albums on the band's own Sunsinger label. This led to work on the band's final album Song of Times×Song of Times2007 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Red Season5:292Babylon9:363Song of Times6:054Islands5:005Faces of Change4:586Love Is the Only Place4:177Master Machine4:268All for the Thunder6:149Children Believe6:3410Babylon (edited)4:38, before Gary Strater's death on September 19, 2004, from pancreatic cancer. Song of Times was released in 2007.
In November 2018, the band's official website announced the release of Alchemy, an archive release of studio and live material from the band's 1980s line-up. Additionally, their website announced a new line-up of the band consisting of George Harp (vocals) and Bruce Botts (guitar), both of whom were in the 1980s line-up.

Players

Past

Gary Strater – bass, bass pedals, backing vocals (1969–1987, 1997–2004; died 2004)
Matt Stewart – guitar, backing vocals (1969–1981, 1997–2006)
Steve Hagler – guitar, backing vocals (1969–1980, 2006)
Steve Tassler – drums, backing vocals (1969–1980, 2006)
Herb Schildt – keyboards (1969–1978, 1997–2006)
Terry Luttrell – lead vocals (1973–1978, 2006)
Ralph Goldheim ("Caribou Ralph") – lead vocals, keyboards (1979–1981)
Bruce Botts – guitar, keyboards, vocals (1982–2019)
Scott McKenzie – drums, backing vocals (1982–1987)
Mark McGee – guitar (1985–1986)
George Harp - lead vocals (1982–1986, 2015–2019)