Artist: WARRIOR SOUL
Album: SALUTATIONS FROM THE GHETTO NATION REMASTERED (CD)

Year: 1992/ 2006
Media type: CD

A politically fuelled monster of a band. WARRIOR SOUL, titled after a quote from General George S. Patton, debuted in 1990 with the much vaunted 'Last Decade Dead Century' album. Singer KORY CLARKE was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan and had joined a Punk outfit called L-SEVEN, a band that also included individuals who would go on to form the LAUGHING HYENAS. Clarke relocated to Los Angeles fronting an act entitled THE TRIAL before moving to New York to play with RAGING SLAB, as a drummer, and DELIGHT for short terms.

The eclectic WARRIOR SOUL rose from the poetry readings by Clarke in Manhattan bars such as the Pyramid on the Lower East Side after being talked into forming a band in order to get a medium to offer his thoughts on the world and, more importantly, get further gigs. Formed as a quartet in 1988 after a mere five gigs WARRIOR SOUL inked a deal with Geffen Records and a management contract with the Q-Prime organisation (METALLICA / QUEENSRYCHE / DEF LEPPARD). Reportedly the band went through a succession of guitarists as the record company endeavoured to find the right mix for the band.

The 1990 'Last Decade Dead Century' album was recorded with guitarist John Ricco, bassist Pete McClanahan and ex-KILLING JOKE drummer Paul Ferguson. The latter was replaced after the album was released by SCHOOL OF VIOLENCE man Mark Evans. Keeping to a tried and tested formula Q Prime's Peter Mensch put his new proteges on show across Europe and the UK in front of large audiences courtesy of headliners METALLICA. A solo gig at London's Marquee club drew ecstatic press response.

WARRIOR SOUL's second album, the Geoff Workman produced 'Drugs, God And The New Republic', followed in May of 1991. The second song on the album was of note for being a rendition of JOY DIVISION's 'Interzone'. Interestingly, a single of 'Hero' released to promote the album featured a further B side cover version of JOY DIVISION's 'Twenty Four Hours'. The band headed out on the road in North America as opening act for a SOUNDGARDEN and DANZIG package billing. Further dates had WARRIOR SOUL guesting for another Q Prime act QUEENSRYCHE. It would prove a mis-match, the headline acts fans often abusing WARRIOR SOUL's 'Art Rock', which often included poetry readings delivered by Clarke, by throwing missiles onstage.

'Salutations From The Ghetto Nation' arrived in 1992 but suffered from mute promotion. The fourth record 'Chill Pill', which saw saxaphone contributions from a sessioning MICHAEL MONROE of HANOI ROCKS fame, would be graced by a photograph not of the band but Clarke alone leading many to believe the flight into a solo venture from the outspoken singer was inevitable.

The band certainly received heady praise for its early albums and acres of media coverage, particularly in Europe, but mainstream commercial success eluded them. WARRIOR SOUL succumbed to an acknowledged drug problem and split in two, Ricco and Evans going their own way. Losing their Geffen deal the band, fronted by a newly shorn Kory Clarke, switched to independent labels for 'The Space Age Playboys', issued by Music For Nations in Europe in 1994 and by Mayhem in North America the following year. Clarke and McClanahan were now heading up a band also comprising X. Factor on guitar and ex-NUCLEAR ASSAULT man Scott Dubois on the drums. A 1995 single release '(Love Is) The Drug' saw inclusion of two exclusive interpretations of DAVID BOWIE's 'Moonage Daydream' and ELVIS COSTELLO's 'Pump It Up'. WARRIOR SOUL bowed out with 'Fucker', a collection of rare and demo outtakes and given the somewhat tamer title of 'Odds & Ends' for US release.

With the break up of the band Clarke founded a short-lived band venture with THE CULT guitarist Billy Duffy before making a return with the glammed up act THE SPACEAGE PLAYBOYS. Ardent fans found this act's frivolous song titles and imagery hard to stomach. The band would break up but not before a swansong London concert, which included a large chunk of WARRIOR SOUL material as an indicator of what was to come.

WARRIOR SOUL reformed in 2000, re-working earlier material for the 2001 'Classics' record. Clarke would feature as guest vocalist on a string of tribute collections including 'In Trance' originally by the SCORPIONS for the 'Covered Like A Hurricane' homage and also 'Sweet Child O'Mine' and 'Paradise City' on a GUNS N' ROSES collection. The singer started his own record label during 2002, announcing the release of solo spoken word albums with 'Opium Hotel' being issued the following year.

KORY CLARKE returned to live action in 2004, announcing a one off concert at The Continental in New York City on 27th July with a band unit comprising lead guitarist Bruce Edwards, rhythm guitarist Vince James, bassist Fernando and drummer Mark Marone.

WARRIOR SOUL drummer Mark Evans met a gruesome end in January of 2005. His burning body was found in a wheelie bin, by a home owner who discovered his garden fence was on fire, in an east London car park. The 48 year old musician had been strangled. Police soon charged three people with murder. In April of 2005 it would be learned that Kory Clarke had joined Long Island based Rockers DIRTY RIG.

Escapi Records re-issued the WARRIOR SOUL back catalogue in March 2006, remastering 1990 'Last Decade Dead Century', 1991 'Drugs God & The New Republic', 1992's 'Salutations From The Ghetto Nation' following in April with 1993's 'Chill Pill' and 1995's 'Space Age Playboys'.

TRACKLIST:

01. Love Destruction
02. Blown
03. Shine Like It
04. Dimension
05. Punk And Beligerant
06. Ass Kickin’
07. Party
08. Golden Shore
09. Trip Rider
10. I Love You
11. Ghetto Nation
12. Intro - Bonus Live Track
13. Destruction - Bonus Live Track
14. Blown - Bonus Live Track

LINE-UP:

Kory Clarke (vocals)
John Ricco (guitar)
Pete McClanahan (bass)
Mark Evans (drums)