Nantucket (band)

Nantucket (band)

Nantucket is a hard rock band that formed in Jacksonville, North Carolina in 1969. Originally known as beach music band Stax of Gold and later Nantucket Sleighride (after the song by Mountain), the six-member group—Tommy Redd, Larry Uzzell, Mike Uzzell, Eddie Blair, Kenny Soule, and Mark Downing—became a huge draw in their home state of North Carolina as a cover band. Nantucket eventually became a powerful and tenacious sensation, amassing numerous fans across the southeastern United States well before its first release.

The band signed with Epic Records in 1977 and released its self-titled album the following year, which featured the hit single "Heartbreaker." An aggressive cross-country tour followed, and Nantucket opened for top acts such as KISS, Styx, Boston, Mother's Finest, Journey, and The Doobie Brothers. Although its debut release was fairly dated, it sold around 200,000 copies and also made the Billboard charts. In 1979, Nantucket followed up with Your Face or Mine? which fared no better in sales despite higher-quality work.

Pee Wee Watson replaced Mike Uzzell on bass for the third album, while Uzzell took full management of the band in hopes of bringing long-awaited success. As a tribute to AC/DC lead singer Bon Scott, who died in 1980, Nantucket's Long Way to the Top included a version of the 1975 classic "It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'N' Roll)". The move landed the band a spot with AC/DC on its Back in Black tour for the entire summer.

Even though Nantucket found some success, Epic Records soon dropped the band. Drummer Kenny Soule and bassist Pee Wee Watson left in 1981, joining guitarist Michael Gardner to form rock trio PKM. They were replaced by Richard Gates and David "Thumbs" Johnson for Nantucket's fourth album. Unfortunately, the band's last two studio albums, produced in 1983 and 1985, were disappointments and the group had disbanded by 1990. A compilation album came out in 1986.

The original members of Nantucket reunited in 1991 to record a live session and released an album called Still Live after All These Years in 1995. It featured earlier songs and new material. The band occasionally plays night clubs throughout the Carolinas while continuing its side projects. A recent show featured both Nantucket and PKM, and a new release called The Unreleased "D.C. Tapes" was released with eight new Nantucket songs.

To satisfy demand by its fans, the first three studio albums were released on compact disc by re-issue label Wounded Bird Records in 2003 and 2004. Nantucket V was made available on CD through re-issue label Retrospect Records in 2007.

Nantucket will be inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame on October 11, 2012.