The Farr Side: Tesla makes resurgence on rock scene

Are you ready to rock? I can’t hear you! I said … Are you ready to rock? Well then, you’re in luck. There’s still “Time to Rock!"

Of course, I’m talking about the famed band Tesla and their highly anticipated 2024 tour appropriately titled “Time to Rock Tour.” The tour, which features Kurt Deimer, is selling out dates across the country. This Saturday evening, the band will be taking the stage in Shipshewana, Ind., at the award-winning Blue Gate Performing Arts Center.

There are a few remaining tickets with limited availability. Inquiries may call 260-768-4725 for availability.

Tesla was one of those bands growing up that didn’t monopolize the scene, but yet everyone knew and loved. Their bluesy, soulful blend of rock 'n' roll may have come from the '80s, but that true organic sound was fueled by other roots-rock bands from the '70s like Aerosmith, AC/DC, The Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Grand Funk Railroad. The aforementioned greats heavily influenced the band’s formation and early sound.

I always love to research a band’s history and learn of their origins. My familiarity with their beginning was limited so a jaunt back in time was necessary. I’m always fascinated by what I find.

Tesla formed in the early '80s in southern California; they were originally called City Kidd. Thank goodness it was suggested they change their name. They became Tesla, which was a way to honor the eccentric inventor Nikola Tesla who pioneered all things electrical. And, for a band, that meant power. What rock band doesn’t want to feel powerful?

Their debut album, “Mechanical Resonance,” was released in 1986. Soon after, they placed a couple of hits on the Top 40 including “Modern Day Cowboy” and “Little Suzi.”

The album quickly went platinum and other bands and artists began tapping Tesla to be their opening act — Def Leppard, Poison, Alice Cooper and David Lee Roth were probably the more notable artists to do so at that time.

Their 1989 album, “The Great Radio Controversy,” put the bad on the map. The singles “Heaven’s Trail (No Way Out)” and “Love Song” were huge hits for the band, while the accompanying videos made them mainstays on MTV.

I’ve always loved the track “Love Song.” It was the band’s first attempt at having a major power ballad, something all glam, hair bands had in their repertoires. The instrumentation and interlude was perfect, but Jeff Keith’s vocals were on fire. This guy could sing and be cause for notice.

So what followed seemed to be a huge change from the path they were under.

However, it was the perfect timing for doing so. Music was about to make some changes of its own when the fun, pop side of the mainstream was giving way to the raw, grunge age.

Here we have a band who had finally found their niche and even renamed themselves to reflect their electric rock sound turn off the amplifiers and simplify everything.

It was a bold move, but one that would open the door for a much bigger audience and be cause for people to listen, again. The guys covered the song, “Signs,” which was a staple for the band Five Man Electrical Band. They stripped the classic track down and recorded an entire live acoustical album and titled it “Five Man Acoustical Jam.”

“Five Man Acoustical Jam” was an instant hit and peaked at No. 12 on the album chart. The single “Signs,” became the band’s biggest hit reaching No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Like most bands, these guys saw their fair share of lineup changes. They even survived a breakup. The current lineup comprises Jeff Keith (lead vocals), Brian Wheat (bass, backing vocals, keyboards, piano), Frank Hannon (guitar, backing vocals, mandolin, harmonica), Dave Rude (guitar, bass, backing vocals) and Steve Brown (drums, percussion, backing vocals).

“Time To Rock” is the band’s most recent single and the perfect way to celebrate the band’s spirit of rock 'n' roll.

— David T. Farr is a Journal correspondent. Email him at farrboy@hotmail.com.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: The Farr Side: Tesla makes resurgence on rock scene