Welcome to the Real World (Trapeze, 1992)

Or, when bad albums happen to good bands. I love Trapeze; they are one of the greatest "unknown" bands of the 1970's, contributing to the ranks of Deep Purple, Judas Priest, Whitesnake, Uriah Heep and others. Medusa, released in late 1970's, may actually be in my all-time top ten.

Welcome to the Real World seems like such a great idea on paper. The original trio is back with a couple new songs and a clutch of classics (including the post-Hughes "Midnight Flyer"). They are even joined by keyboard legend Geoff Downes on a few of the tracks. It even seems like they are poised for a real reunion, as none of them at this point were enjoying rewarding solo careers or firmly in the ranks of an established band.

The problems, though... Oh, the problems. Guitarist Mel Galley, back in his Whitesnake days, pulled some kind of stunt that resulted in broken bones and an inability to play guitar. It hastened his exit from that band, which even had the mishap never occurred, probably would have happened anyway as David Coverdale went kept horse trading his guitarists. The result is some of the most hideous guitar playing I have ever heard. He can't even manage the basic riffs of "Touch My Life" or "Your Love Is Alright" and most of the solos just sound like crazy messes.

Moving on to Glenn Hughes. Now, Glenn is a class act (in spite of some touchy relations with other musicians), but in 1992 he was fresh out of his drug years and still finding his feet. He is just WAY too excited to be back on stage with his old bandmates, to the point where he can't even deliver a complete lyric without some kind of interjection or scream, many of which involve the almighty f-bomb.

So who is left? Drummer Dave Holland turns in a great performance (although I've always found his drumkit to be way bigger than the sound he gets out of it). Unfortunately, Dave got himself in a heap of trouble with the law, over things that were probably happening during this time.

In the end, the problems, especially with Galley, sunk any chance at a full reunion and it pains me to admit that's probably for the best. That said, Trapeze has a number of great albums to their name and will remain one of the great bands strangely few people have listened to. Holland and Hughes would go on to record with Tony Iommi in 1996, resulting (ten years later!!!) in the DEP Sessions, though Holland's part was erased and re-recorded in light of his conviction and jail stint that followed soon after. Galley never really reappears in a major capacity after this and he died from esophagus cancer in 2008.