April: Danny Peyronel

by Mike Debbage
Staff Writer

Aside from the fact that the Heavy Metal Kids, UFO, Sade, Meatloaf and Angel are all great names in the musical industry, they all have one other thing in common. They have been touched by the presence of veteran keyboard player Danny Peyronel either as a player, writer or collaborator and even sometimes all three. With the recent re-release of the UFO album, No Heavy Petting as well as the reemergence of the late ‘70’s cult band Heavy Metal Kids, Peyronel is finally receiving the respect and credit that has long escaped him.

Danny Peyronel’s first big break came back in the mid seventies when he hooked up with the odd but cult favorite Heavy Metal Kids. Not at all what their name would suggest, the Kids somehow managed to bridge the gap between the fading glitter rock era and the swelling punk wave that took England by storm. Propelled by the outlandish vocalist Gary Holton, Peyronel only managed to hang around for two albums when he was asked to join the metal monsters UFO, an offer he could not refuse. Unfortunately, his stay with UFO was even shorter lived with Peyronel’s sole studio album appearance occurring on the often overlooked gem No Heavy Petting. It was the first album to feature a full time keyboard player with Danny contributing to four tracks including the driven classic “Highway Lady”.

Unable to build on the success of its predecessor Force It, No Heavy Petting was considered a commercial flop and the short sighted UFO asked Peyronel to leave. Danny went on to form The Blue Max that also featured Robin Millar who later produced the fabulous Sade, resulting in a brief Peyronel contribution. Peyronel’s penmanship was also extended to Nick Mason of Pink Floyd (with a track sang by David Gilmour) as well as the title track of Meatloaf’s third album Midnight At The Lost And Found. Meanwhile, Danny endeavored to create another band in the form of Tarzen who managed to last five years and create two albums. In 1999, Peyronel also appeared on Angel’s attempted comeback album In The Beginning and was featured on one of the album’s stronger tracks “Long Gone”.

By the turn of the decade Peyronel decided to surpass himself and took on the outlandish task of reforming the Heavy Metal Kids. Needless to say the deceased Gary Holton was not available but drummer Keith Boyce and bassist Ronnie Thomas joined the fold, rounded out by the duel guitars of newcomers Marco Guarnerio and Marco Barusso. Peyronel was not only on the keys but also took on the lead vocals with significant credibility. Musically, the group retained some of the raw power of its origins and yet updated the sound to make it modern, commercially accessible and convincing all at the same time. Hit The Right Button certainly lived up to its name though sadly it was once again another overlooked gem that Peyronel was involved in.

Almost 30 years after Peyronel’s 1974 debut with the Heavy Metal Kids, the keyboard player finally took matters into his own hands and released his first solo effort Make The Monkey Dance. Once more the material was well written material and the production top notch including the revisiting of the UFO classic “Highway Lady” though the focus this time was a more guitar driven rendition. This was followed up a few years later with the remastered edition of No Heavy Petting that also features the bonus track “All The Strings” written by Danny. Though No Heavy Petting was eclipsed by the commercial breakout album Lights Out, it is an album often ignored and it only now is being viewed upon as an exceptional inclusion to the UFO catalog.

Significant commercial success continues to elude Peyronel but his credibility has never been at stake. Currently the Heavy Metal Kids are putting the final touches to their latest effort Uncontrollable. Danny was kind enough to give Hardrock Haven some insight and status of their latest Heavy Metal Kids creation. “Uncontrollable is looking dangerously like the quintessential heavymetalKIDS album, whatever that means. With 16 tracks in the bag, it’s chock-a-block with true hmKIDS-ology, from ‘anthemy’ ballads to breakneck speed-rockers, to hymn-like mid-tempos of doom and gloom for our fellow optimist swinging loser who simply does not want to do better because it’s boring.”

“We’re singing the song of the disenfranchised and the frankly marginal, never forgetting the gloriously trivial … Hey!, I just described US! The heavymetalKIDS are all that, and so much more … If one album is going to be our legacy, then Uncontrollable would be the one … and Hit The Right Button … ok, if two albums are going to be our legacy, etc. Look at some of the titles: “London Sleeps No More,” “Too Much Evil,” “Living The Life Of Charlie,” “Everything,” “Broken”… THIS is the heavymetalKIDS now. THIS is the heavymetalKIDS at their best. THIS is the heavymetalKIDS. Trust me, I’m Danny.”

Whether Uncontrollable will hit all the right buttons like its predecessor is yet to be seen. Frankly, the worldly measurement of significant success to date has evaded this talented musician. This may be immaterial, as there is clear evidence that Danny Peyronel has been creating viable music for close to 35 years, leaving nationwide attention in serious arrears.

http://www.myspace.com/dpeyronel

http://www.heavymetalkids.co.uk/