By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 07:19 pm:

I talked to my very good friend Joe Peraino today. Ask Millie about Joe Peraino sometime. Anyway...Joe played lead guitar in the band Power Of Zeus, which was the first thing I ever produced at Motown. Joe called to tell me MoJo magazine is doing a story on the album ( it's drawng some very respectable prices on E-Bay these days ) and needed some session information, so naturally between Peraino and me we didn't have a clue. No...just kidding. We determined that the tracks were cut in Studio A in the Fall of 69. We did use Studio B for some of the overdubbing, but that was all a little fuzzy. Of course in those days we were all a little fuzzy if you get my drift. Peraino would go on to produce Luther Allison. In later years he became an extremely successful booking agent which he is still working at today. One personal observation about my good friend: When the original Rocky was first released Starring Stallone, my first though was.." Man..it's a miscast. Peraino should be Rocky ". Anyway gang, say hi to Joe Peraino.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 07:59 pm:

Hi Joe!
Please - you & Ralph tell us more about the Power of Zeus. My memory of the band is limited to the album cover on Motown's now-valuable inner sleeves.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By P.J. (12.227.39.40) on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 08:46 pm:

Not that knowing this fact would clear much up- which of the (negativized, for want of a better word) 4 figures on the album cover is Joe? Is he the one on the left with the pancho or the one nearest the guitar on the right? Will the Mojo feature use the unaltered photo upon which the cover was based? Have Bill Jones (bass),Dennis Weber (organ, harpsichord & piano), and Bob Michalski (drums) continued on in the music business? I noticed that Joe & Bill are tied for songwriting credits (5 apiece, of which each has 3 solo),Bob (1 solo, 1 shared)and Denis- 1 shared.
Who is Evelyn Myles (credited with artwork & very late 60's/early 70's poem)? A personal friend? One of the band members then girlfriend?
Just curious.

By Millie (68.40.209.129) on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 09:18 pm:

Hello Joey!
What's taken you soooo long to come on the Soulful Detroit forum? I've been telling you about it forever...anyway, welcome! What's going on? I remember your playing Power of Zeus for me last year...who would have thought it would be creating such a frenzy?? You still owe me lunch...let's go to that hamburger joint on W. Grand Blvd., which is where we went when you were recording Luther Allison at Studio A!!! Ah...you, me and Ralph...what a dynamic trio we were, huh??

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 09:23 pm:

Kev and PJ,
I'm sure Joe will appear to answer your questions. Meanwhile, I'll try and field a couple. Bob Michalski died a couple of years ago. I believe Bill Jones is doing some sort of DJ gig but Joe might have a better answer on that one. I'm not sure about Denny Webber. On the cover photo, the guy in the serape is Denny Webber. I don't have a pic of the cover handy so I can't tell you which one Peraino is. An interesting footnote on the album: It seems to have become some sort of cult album among certain young Detroit bands. I remember Joe telling me how he was hearing some of these young bands playing tracks from the album and really tearing it up.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 09:25 pm:

God Millie...remember those crazy days?

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 09:32 pm:

P.J.
If I remember correctly Evelyn was the current girlfriend of Power Of Zeus manager Jim Wilson. She was an extremely beautful and talented " Hippy Chick" who drove the Motown Art Department crazy because they claimed she was taking to much time to complete the work. I remember I had to go down and smooth those guys out a little and it all got completed on time.

By Millie (68.40.209.129) on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 09:38 pm:

Geez Ralph...I remember those days better than I remember what happened two weeks ago! I wish we could go back there, don't you? Indian Village, Palmer Park, Motown, Studio "B", Joe, Mike Campbell, Stoney & Meatloaf, you, me, Al DiNoble, Donna Sekilidus, and on and on. How can it be that was over 30 years ago? Aren't I still 18 and aren't we still dancing at the Cliche?? Somebody STOP ME! The Gay Haven, Pete Rivera's basement, your brother constantly hitting on me (didn't he hit on everybody?), Mustang Sally, Pete's old girlfriend, The Old Lamplighter on 8 Mile & Southfield where we used to go after the bar closed! I'm losing my mind...I wanna go back there....help me!!

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 09:56 pm:

Millie my sister,
We can't go back. they were great days though. I'll never forget them. The pic of you and me in the GW control room that is now on the GW webisode...That was the day I was in the studio rehearsing to join Joe's band with Bill Jones on bass and Randy Clements on drums and Roger Robbs on vocals. Remember that band? Peraino was after me for a year to come with him on that one but I was too busy trying to get Dragon off the ground. Hell Millie, remember THAT band. It almost killed me!
I seem to remember you booked a couple of gigs for Dragon.

So Millie...I'm going to tell you something. Peraino already knows. I'll be in Detroit on March 4th. I'm coming in with Darlene. Don't spread this all over town because we are only in for a brief visit and I don't want to get all tied up. Maybe we could meet at the Clawson on Friday night. Peraino wants me to get together with him and the band ( we do this whenever I get to Detroit ) so maybe they can all come out there. We can get Joe to strap on his ax. What a hoot.

By P.J. (12.227.39.40) on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 10:34 pm:

So the manager snapped the photo; it all fits together so well.

By Millie (68.40.209.129) on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 10:49 pm:

Ralph,
I can't wait to see you! Who's Darlene? Do I know her? Of course we'll all get together at the Clawson...who else would you like to see? I'll put this thing together. Do you want to see Gil? Let me know via this thread, or just call me! It's been too damn long my brother!!!! By the way, what's the occasion?? WOW...I'm in shock! Talk to you soon!!!!!

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 11:49 pm:

P.J.,
Jim Wilson was actually a very successful beautican in the Detroit area. A real interesting looking dude with very long hair and the total 60's hippie look. He was a very good photographer. I remember a photo of the band around some sort of camp fire and it had a very strange ritualistic look to it. The picture knocked Harry Balk out and why it wasn't used for the album cover escapes me now. Maybe the Art Department thought it was a little to freaky looking.
At any rate Jim and Evelyn were an interesting couple.

Millie: No, you don't know Darlene. She's relatively new in my life. She is a former Detroiter. She was going back to see her father on his 87th birhday and she wanted me to go with her. It was time to see my Daughter and her family so I agreed. Please don't set up any plans because at this point I'm not sure of ours. We will only be in town a couple of days. We are however, plannng on coming back in May for the Big Event.

By David Meikle (213.122.89.206) on Tuesday, February 11, 2003 - 10:19 am:

Ralph

You've made my day!

Bring Russ too.

Can't wait
David

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Tuesday, February 11, 2003 - 10:25 am:

David,
I kind of thought you would like this news. I'll see what I can do about Russ. Looking forward to getting together with you David.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Tuesday, February 11, 2003 - 10:31 am:

Incidentally, i just learned there is a Power Of Zeus web-site. Simply..Power Of Zeus.com

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, February 11, 2003 - 11:54 am:

Ralph:
Thanks for the background info...I'll check out the website as well.
Have fun visiting the hometown in March...I'll be there in May.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Tuesday, February 11, 2003 - 12:07 pm:

You're welcome Kev. looking forward to seeing you in Detroit.