RICK BLACK (SHARK ISLAND): “We Put [Bloodline] Out And Sold Out… [We] Realized We Were Over Our Heads With This One”

Rick Black of Shark Island

Someday is Today

Back in the early ’80s you could find Shark Island on the famous Sunset Strip in Los Angeles. They were the house band at Gazzaris before they were signed by Epic Records in 1989. That same year saw the release of their debut album The Law of the Order. An underground Heavy Metal classic. Two songs from the album, “Dangerous” and “Father Time” appeared in the movie Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. Another track, “My City” was featured in Point Break. Perhaps Keanu was a big fan?

That was it for Shark Island. Rick Black went on to front the supergroup Contraband in 1991. Black’s bandmates were Michael Schenker (MSG), Tracii Guns (L.A. Guns), Share Pedersen (Vixen), and Bobby Blotzer (Ratt). They also had music featured in a movie. “Loud Guitars, Fast Cars & Wild, Wild Livin” appeared in the Richard Grieco film If Looks Could Kill. And that was it for Contraband. After that Rick disappeared from the scene for a while. He reemerged with Shark Island in 2006 with the album Gathering of the Faithful. In 2019 Shark Island released Bloodline, on their own, and with a limited amount. They sold out!

2020 sees the release of Bloodline 2.020 [review] through Deko Entertainement. The updated version features two bonus tracks. One is an extended version of “Rocks on the Rocks.” The other is a brand new, tear-jerking ballad “Someday.” This song hit me hard and I think it’s going to hit a lot of other guys hard. I reached out to Rick to analyze the new song, to find out how Bloodline got new life, what put the brakes on Shark Island, and if Guns N’ Roses’ front man Axl Rose ‘borrowed’ Rick’s stage mannerisms.

Shark Island is:

Rick Black – Vocals
Alex Kane – Guitar
Christian Heilmann – Bass
Allen Frljak – Drums

Band Links:

Official Website
Facebook
Instagram
Buy The Album

SHARK ISLAND - Bloodline cover

Author

  • George Dionne

    George was a contributor here at Metal Express Radio, reviewing albums and conducting interviews, out of Massachusetts, USA. George has contributed to numerous music related websites and blogs, and even managed his own from 2004-2009. George's first assignment was covering a live show by the mighty GWAR. By contrast his later assignments featured Judas Priest, Van Halen, and Bon Jovi. George was also the front man for the South Eastern Massachusetts cover band Sound Tower from 2009-2015.  Sound Tower played 300+ shows across MA and had two original songs on the Cape Cod radio station PIXY 103. George enjoys a good whiskey, scotch, and/or bourbon and fights crime in his spare time.

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