Here’s a Chicago band with a huge history that intersects several artists/bands. This band started life off as The Jamestown Massacre way back in 1967. The groups two leading lights were Vic (V.J) Comforte and Dave Bickler. The band played all over Chicago during 1969-1974, and touched hands with the likes of Jim Peterik, Barry Mraz and Bob De Stocki. The band went through numerous lineup changes, and by 1975, they had changed names to Mariah and settled on the above lineup. Of note is the Survivor connection, with Bickler, Sullivan and Peterik all having a hand in the fortunes of the band. By this stage, Mariah decided to move from Chicago to Los Angeles to further their cause, and with a deal in the can with United Artists, their debut album appeared the following year in 1976. If you like acts such as Emperor, Starcastle, Doobie Brothers and Legs Diamond, then this beautiful 70′s flavored album should move your world.
Things didn’t quite work out for the band unfortunately, and eventually the line-up fizzled out, with most of the band returning home to Chicago. Sullivan would hook up with Peterik and Bickler to form the nucleus of Survivor, and success was achieved well into the 80′s. There is a wealth of info out there on The Jamestown Massacre, who I understand actually reformed not long ago, with Comforte and past/early members Jeff Quinn, Glenn Messmer joining forces again with two new additions. Would be interesting to see how this reunion fares. If Mariah was anything to go by, then it would be well worth the inquiry.


Personnel:
V.J Comforte – vocals, percussion
Len Fogerty – guitars, vocals
Frankie Sullivan – guitars
Ed Burek – bass
Mark Ayers – keyboards
Wayne Di Varco – drums
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