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The Jack - Cheat To Win
1. Cheat To Win 2. Day After Day 3. Mystery 4. Dear Prudence 5. Sha La La 6. Insatiable 7. In Your Place 8. Jock Party 9. The Berlin Wall |
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The Jack - Rock Elite
1. Together 2. It’s Alright 3. Revolution 4. Time 5. Rock On 6. In The City 7. Get Ready 8. Young Again 9. Sadness Is A Sin 10. Teen Anthem 11. She’s Waiting 12. Crime |
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Rick Jackson (WIZARD, SLYDER, MANNEQUIN, MEGATTACK, RAGDOLLZ, ASPHALT JUNGLE) grew up in Tooele, Utah, which is about thirty-five miles southwest of Salt Lake City. Rick always loved music, from classical, to rock, and even Motown. Rick was named the best trumpet player in the western United States as a teenager. As Rick continued with music, he really wanted to focus his talents on rock ‘n roll. In 1976, Rick joined the band WIZARD with drummer Howard Sharp (LOIS LANE, L.A. RAY AND THE SHADES, GARAJMAHAL88, ODDI SPHINCTER AND THE SLUDES) and keyboardist Jon Huntsman Jr. (who went on to become the governor of Utah). Wizard only lasted a few years as Jon went off to start his life in politics. In 1978, Rick joined another band called SLYDER that mostly played cover tunes but they also mixed a few originals into their live sets. This is where Rick teamed up with band manager Richard Rees (who managed such bands as ROUNDABOUT, SOJOURN, MANNEQUIN, THE TOOLS, BAD BOYS, THE ALARM). SLYDER only lasted eight months or so before disbanding.
At the end of 1978, Rick teamed up with drummer Bud Williams (THE TOOLS, THE JACK), bassist Brian Iverson (THE TOOLS), and guitarist Ricky Martinez (BANDA, PLEAZERS) to form the band MANNEQUIN. Bud would exit the band early on and be replaced by Kevin Freebairn (ROADWORK, OILY BOYS, STRYDER, ESSEXX, TERRA). MANNEQUIN had great success in the greater Salt Lake area where they filled clubs and even played stadium shows. The band put out the album “Hot Kids From City Time” in the summer of 1981. The album was a local classic, airing on the radio as well as in clubs. MANNEQUIN recorded a second album called “School of Hard Knocks” in September 1982. However, the band would shelve the album due to a lineup change and the album would not be released for more than forty years. MANNEQUIN saw Kevin depart to join STRYDER and they brought in drummer Brian Sorenson (MEGATTACK, CHAMPAGNE), who gave Rick Jackson the nickname of “THE JACK.”
After MANNEQUIN broke up, Rick reached out to old band mate Bud Williams to form a new band called “THE JACK.” Bud reached out to a young bassist named Mark Morrison (VICE, V.A.M.P., HARLOT) to join them. Rick also asked EJ Bell (CLEAR SKY, THE TAKE) to assume guitar duties and Kim “Blue” Adams (AVALON, GREEK LION) to take over keyboards, though Kim was also a very accomplished guitarist. The band began to practice, but shortly after the lineup was set, Bud Williams exited the band to pursue other endeavors. Rick reached out to his old WIZARD bandmate Howard Sharp to come in on drums. The band began to write songs and play out live, but this rendition of the band was unfortunately short-lived, as Howard was accepted into medical school and chose to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor. In February 1984, the band reached out to Chris Guida (THE SHIELD, MPG, BLUE D’VILLE, GRAVEL, NO PROBLEM, BOTTOMS UP) to take over behind the kit. With this new motivated lineup, the band was ready to get serious and see what they were capable of. Rick brought in his old band manager Richard Rees to take charge of scheduling live shows and advertisements so the band could focus strictly on writing and recording a full-length album. THE JACK began to write several fist pumping anthems with plenty of melody for their fans to sing along to. By April 1984, the band had twelve songs written, and they entered Audio Vision Studios to lay down the tracks. The band was able to work with Dave Mendenhall as their engineer who had a great ear for their style of music. THE JACK was able to lay down all twelve songs within just a few sessions. The album “Rock Elite” was now complete.
THE JACK continued to play live and promote themselves as much as possible. Richard brought in accomplished photographer Chris Jensen to take some promo shots. Mark said his dad knew someone at the National Guard who could get the band on to the military base to do a unique photo shoot. The band took some photos on the base, including a shot with an army tank that featured Mark posing with the main gun barrel (while Richard was inside the tank holding up the gun barrel) as the rest of the band stood on top and around the tank. This was the photo the band used for their promo posters for their 1984 “Rock Elite” tour.
On July 31, 1984, THE JACK got the call to open for JUDAS PREIST on their “Defenders of The Faith” tour, replacing the band KICK AXE who was removed from the tour due to legal issues. THE JACK went out and warmed up the crowd of nearly twenty thousand fans at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City. To this day, the band labels the performance one of their all-time favorites. But the band could not rest on their laurels. Just one month later (August 31, 1984), they opened for NIGHT RANGER at Park West. And later that year, for the New Year’s Rockin’ Eve show, THE JACK played with THE PEDESTRIANS, opening for national act BLACK ‘N BLUE on their self-titled tour. THE JACK went on to open for many other bands including CHEAP TRICK and RARE EARTH. The band shot a promo video for the song “Young Again”, which was on constant rotation on “Salt Lake Music Television” (Utah’s local equivalent of MTV).
Chris started to have creative differences with Rick, which stirred some tension within the band. Richard, shortly after speaking with Rick, called up Chris and fired him from the band. Rick brought Howard back into the band for a little while, but due to his upcoming residency within a medical program, he was not able to stay in the band for very long.
THE JACK went on to release the album “Cheat To Win” in 1985 after going through a few different drummers. Mark departed the band before THE JACK’s sophomore album was complete to form the band VICE. EJ was recruited by the band THE TAKE after THE JACK disbanded. Chris joined the band BLUE D’VILLE which was one of the more successful female-fronted bands in Salt Lake City. Kim continued playing keyboards and guitar in various projects throughout the years. Rick went on to help form the supergroup MEGATTACK where he found much success.
THE JACK was later restarted in Los Angeles in the late '80s with Rick putting together an entirely different lineup. This lineup consisted of Rick on lead vocals, Brian Bonell (CIRKUS, RAGDOLLZ, STICKS & STONES) on guitar, Dominic DeMaggio (NICK DANGER, DAS BLOK, THE VERBS, STICKS & STONES, BARK IN THE DARK) on bass and Jett Redd (STICKS & STONES) on drums. This version of the band recorded an album’s worth of songs before disbanding THE JACK for the last time.
Sadly, both Kim Adams and Rick Jackson have passed away and both are sorely missed. Rick will forever be known as “THE JACK.”
At the end of 1978, Rick teamed up with drummer Bud Williams (THE TOOLS, THE JACK), bassist Brian Iverson (THE TOOLS), and guitarist Ricky Martinez (BANDA, PLEAZERS) to form the band MANNEQUIN. Bud would exit the band early on and be replaced by Kevin Freebairn (ROADWORK, OILY BOYS, STRYDER, ESSEXX, TERRA). MANNEQUIN had great success in the greater Salt Lake area where they filled clubs and even played stadium shows. The band put out the album “Hot Kids From City Time” in the summer of 1981. The album was a local classic, airing on the radio as well as in clubs. MANNEQUIN recorded a second album called “School of Hard Knocks” in September 1982. However, the band would shelve the album due to a lineup change and the album would not be released for more than forty years. MANNEQUIN saw Kevin depart to join STRYDER and they brought in drummer Brian Sorenson (MEGATTACK, CHAMPAGNE), who gave Rick Jackson the nickname of “THE JACK.”
After MANNEQUIN broke up, Rick reached out to old band mate Bud Williams to form a new band called “THE JACK.” Bud reached out to a young bassist named Mark Morrison (VICE, V.A.M.P., HARLOT) to join them. Rick also asked EJ Bell (CLEAR SKY, THE TAKE) to assume guitar duties and Kim “Blue” Adams (AVALON, GREEK LION) to take over keyboards, though Kim was also a very accomplished guitarist. The band began to practice, but shortly after the lineup was set, Bud Williams exited the band to pursue other endeavors. Rick reached out to his old WIZARD bandmate Howard Sharp to come in on drums. The band began to write songs and play out live, but this rendition of the band was unfortunately short-lived, as Howard was accepted into medical school and chose to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor. In February 1984, the band reached out to Chris Guida (THE SHIELD, MPG, BLUE D’VILLE, GRAVEL, NO PROBLEM, BOTTOMS UP) to take over behind the kit. With this new motivated lineup, the band was ready to get serious and see what they were capable of. Rick brought in his old band manager Richard Rees to take charge of scheduling live shows and advertisements so the band could focus strictly on writing and recording a full-length album. THE JACK began to write several fist pumping anthems with plenty of melody for their fans to sing along to. By April 1984, the band had twelve songs written, and they entered Audio Vision Studios to lay down the tracks. The band was able to work with Dave Mendenhall as their engineer who had a great ear for their style of music. THE JACK was able to lay down all twelve songs within just a few sessions. The album “Rock Elite” was now complete.
THE JACK continued to play live and promote themselves as much as possible. Richard brought in accomplished photographer Chris Jensen to take some promo shots. Mark said his dad knew someone at the National Guard who could get the band on to the military base to do a unique photo shoot. The band took some photos on the base, including a shot with an army tank that featured Mark posing with the main gun barrel (while Richard was inside the tank holding up the gun barrel) as the rest of the band stood on top and around the tank. This was the photo the band used for their promo posters for their 1984 “Rock Elite” tour.
On July 31, 1984, THE JACK got the call to open for JUDAS PREIST on their “Defenders of The Faith” tour, replacing the band KICK AXE who was removed from the tour due to legal issues. THE JACK went out and warmed up the crowd of nearly twenty thousand fans at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City. To this day, the band labels the performance one of their all-time favorites. But the band could not rest on their laurels. Just one month later (August 31, 1984), they opened for NIGHT RANGER at Park West. And later that year, for the New Year’s Rockin’ Eve show, THE JACK played with THE PEDESTRIANS, opening for national act BLACK ‘N BLUE on their self-titled tour. THE JACK went on to open for many other bands including CHEAP TRICK and RARE EARTH. The band shot a promo video for the song “Young Again”, which was on constant rotation on “Salt Lake Music Television” (Utah’s local equivalent of MTV).
Chris started to have creative differences with Rick, which stirred some tension within the band. Richard, shortly after speaking with Rick, called up Chris and fired him from the band. Rick brought Howard back into the band for a little while, but due to his upcoming residency within a medical program, he was not able to stay in the band for very long.
THE JACK went on to release the album “Cheat To Win” in 1985 after going through a few different drummers. Mark departed the band before THE JACK’s sophomore album was complete to form the band VICE. EJ was recruited by the band THE TAKE after THE JACK disbanded. Chris joined the band BLUE D’VILLE which was one of the more successful female-fronted bands in Salt Lake City. Kim continued playing keyboards and guitar in various projects throughout the years. Rick went on to help form the supergroup MEGATTACK where he found much success.
THE JACK was later restarted in Los Angeles in the late '80s with Rick putting together an entirely different lineup. This lineup consisted of Rick on lead vocals, Brian Bonell (CIRKUS, RAGDOLLZ, STICKS & STONES) on guitar, Dominic DeMaggio (NICK DANGER, DAS BLOK, THE VERBS, STICKS & STONES, BARK IN THE DARK) on bass and Jett Redd (STICKS & STONES) on drums. This version of the band recorded an album’s worth of songs before disbanding THE JACK for the last time.
Sadly, both Kim Adams and Rick Jackson have passed away and both are sorely missed. Rick will forever be known as “THE JACK.”
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