The Accelerators: The Accelerators

This is Where I'm From

And these are friends of mine. Not close friends, but acquaintances at the very least.

The Accelerators came out of Raleigh, North Carolina, in the mid 80s. The Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill "Research Triangle" was already showing a great deal of promise as the next great Capital of Rock 'n' Roll. It was unfortunate then, I suppose, that those who's job it was to choose the next great Capital were the people who had set out to destroy Rock 'n' Roll completely.

The Capital had already been located, by the Experts (Music Journalists, Critics and Disc Jockeys), in several different spots. The Research Triangle was chosen following a string of successes by the dBs, Mitch Easter, Don Dixon and a few others. As a matter of fact, it seems almost as if The Accelerators recorded their album in The Capital but, by the time it was released, found themselves supporting it from the Boondocks.

Perhaps not too much more should have been expected of Profile Records. They had built their name on Rap, for Pete's sake (Run-DMC, for that matter). This record was their big attempt to step into the world of Rock!!! And it would have been a decent attempt, perhaps, with any promotion or advertising or support put behind it. As it turns out, though, the Record Label expected to be Showered with Moolah just for Signing the Hot New Group from the Hot New Spot. Amazingly, Profile Records wasn't around for long after this record came out.

The Accelerators: The Accelerators

1. Stayin' Up in the City
2. Why You Hang Up on Me
3. Two Girls in Love
4. Black Slacks
5. Under Your Wing
6. Radio
7. Ooh Whee
8. You're a Fool
9. What Is Real
10. Tears
11. The Letter
    

The band's front man and primary songwriter, Gerald Duncan, played and recorded a new CD with a new group of Accelerators a few years ago. They were quite good but didn't stick around for too long.

Bass Player Mike Johns remains active in his hometown of Spartanburg, SC, which is not to be taken lightly. Spartanburg has been home to a great deal of great music. The song "Black Slacks" was originally recorded by Joe Bennett and the Sparkletones, from Spartanburg, and is covered (slowly) on this record.

I don't know a thing about what ever happened to drummer Doug Whelchel other than the fact that he ran into a VW Beetle with his car and dragged it all the way home one night. I hope he's alive, well, and bragging about that particular exploit to this very day.

Guitar Slinger Brad Rice has gone on to play with such great bands as The Backsliders and Whiskeytown and is now doing quite well by his own self. He'd appreciate it, I'm sure, if you'd visit him at http://www.bradrice.net/ .

I agree with him that "If We Don't Buy Records... The Terrorists Win."

Buy his record, Karma Bed. I'd suggest, too, that you get it from Miles of Music 'cause they kick ass.

Not yours, though. Somebody elses.