The Rockets (Detroit band)
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1972 in Detroit, Michigan, United States |
| Founder | Jimmy McCarty, Johnny "Bee" Badanjek |
| Headquarters | Detroit , United States |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
The Rockets were a rock group originating from Detroit, Michigan, established by guitarist Jimmy McCarty and drummer Johnny "Bee" Badanjek, both formerly part of the Detroit Wheels.
The lineup also included slide and rhythm guitarist Dennis Robbins, bassist John Fraga, and lead singer David Gilbert. The band achieved their greatest commercial success in 1979 with a Top 40 hit cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Oh Well", produced by Johnny Sandlin, known for his work with the Allman Brothers, and made a guest appearance on the television program The Midnight Special.
History
Formed in 1972 by former members of the Detroit Wheels, Johnny "Bee" Badanjek and Jim McCarty, the original lineup featured Badanjek handling both vocals and drums, McCarty on lead guitar, John Fraga playing bass, and Marc Marcano on keyboards. Badanjek was the main composer during this period.
Their early performances took place at venues such as Detroit's Rainbow Room, Ann Arbor's People's Ballroom, and Wayne's Rock 'N Roll Farm. In 1976, under new management by Gary Lazar, David Gilbert was brought in as the lead vocalist, replacing Badanjek, while Donnie Backus joined on keyboards. Gilbert, who had previously led several bands including a period with Ted Nugent and the Amboy Dukes, appeared on every official Rockets recording.
Throughout their career, The Rockets released five studio albums that yielded modest chart successes like "Can't Sleep" (reaching No. 51 in 1979) and their cover of "Oh Well" (peaking at No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 on September 1, 1979).
Although their strongest following was in Michigan, The Rockets managed to attract national recognition. Their debut album, Love Transfusion (1977), did not generate charting singles but secured them opening opportunities for acts such as Kiss. The self-titled album released in 1979 featured notable tracks like "Oh Well" and "Turn Up the Radio," with contributions from bassist David Hood of Muscle Shoals Sound Studio.
Their third album, No Ballads (1980), introduced bassist Dan Keylon; its song "Desire" reached No. 70 on the Billboard Hot 100. Later releases included Back Talk (1981), featuring bassist Bobby Haralson, and Rocket Roll (1982), which contained their final charting single "Rollin' by the Record Machine." Their concluding release was Live Rockets, recorded during sold-out performances at Detroit's Royal Oak Music Theatre in December 1982, showcasing saxophone parts and backing vocals by Shaun Murphy and Suzy Jennings.
The Rockets concluded their live appearances with shows at Pine Knob near Detroit on August 28–29, 1983, before members moved on to individual projects. David Gilbert passed away from liver cancer in 2001 at age 49. Dennis Robbins went on to become a successful solo artist and multi-platinum country songwriter with hits like "Two of a Kind (Working on a Full House)" and "Get Me to the Church on Cumberland Road." Bassist John Fraga died in 2010; Bobby Neil Haralson passed away during the 1990s; Donnie Backus died in the 2020s.
Reunion and presumed dissolution
On April 16, 2010, The Rockets were honored with the Distinguished Achievement Award at the Detroit Music Awards. Former members Jim McCarty and Johnny "Bee" Badanjek performed alongside their then-current band, The Hell Drivers. Due to audience enthusiasm for Rockets material during these performances, the group decided to resurrect The Rockets name.
Their first official reunion concert took place on July 2, 2010, at the Stars and Stripes festival in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, where they performed before an audience of approximately 10,000 attendees.
On August 21, 2010, they served as the opening act for the J. Geils Band at the DTE Energy Music Theater, delivering a show that received local acclaim as one of the best concerts of that summer.
On October 1, 2011, an announcement via Facebook revealed that Jim McCarty had departed from The Rockets to dedicate himself full-time to Cactus, effectively halting the band's activities and prospects for new recordings.
Nevertheless, on April 14, 2013, a message posted on their Facebook page declared "We're not done yet." By May 29 of that year, with only original drummer Badanjek remaining from earlier lineups, The Rockets were rehearsing fresh material alongside new members aiming to rejuvenate their sound. This development indicated that the prior breakup was more accurately a temporary pause.
On November 23, 2013, The Rockets released their first studio EP in three decades through iTunes.
They appeared at the Trenton Street Fair in June 2014 and performed their final show in August of that year.
On September 17, 2015, The Rockets confirmed that no concrete plans existed to continue with the current lineup.
Following a period of inactivity, The Rockets announced they would open for Eddie Money on July 28, 2017, maintaining live performances through December of that year.
Discography
Studio Albums
- Love Transfusion (1977)
- Rockets (1977; unofficial release)
- Rockets (Turn Up the Radio) (1979)
- No Ballads (1980)
- Back Talk (1981)
- Rocket Roll (1982)
Live Albums
- Live Rockets (1983)
EPs
- Greetings from Detroit (2013)