| Andrew MacDonald | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth Name | Andrew MacDonald |
| Alias | Duck |
| Born | 17 September 1953, Auburn, New York |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Genres | Heavy Metal, Hard Rock, Blues Rock |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, Vocals |
| Years active | 1970s - Present? |
| Labels | Captain Trip Records, Nibelung, Rainman, Roadrunner |
| Associated acts | Blue Cheer, Shakin' Street, The Rods, Apollo Ra, Thrasher, Slider, Savoy Brown |
Andrew MacDonald (Nicknamed Duck) is a guitarist and vocalist, while known early on as a touring and session guitarist, would be best known for his tenure in Blue Cheer. Initially playing with the band from 1988 - 1990 and then from 1999 - 2009 he would prove to be the band's longest tenured guitarist.
Biography[]
MacDonald began his career playing in various bands around New York City though little of his early career is known. In 1980 he was asked to join the French hard rock band Shakin' Street, replacing guitarist Ross the Boss (Manowar). Shakin Street toured the U.S., supporting Black Sabbath and Blue Öyster Cult on the Black and Blue tour. Following this and a tour of France, Shakin Street would disband in 1981.
MacDonald met with ex-Elf/Rainbow members Gary Driscoll and Craig Gruber, and started the band Bible Black. Along with MacDonald as a founding member the band would be founded by Gary Driscoll and Craig Gruber, both of whom played in Elf and Rainbow. Joey Belladonna was originally slated to be the singer but would leave the group to join Anthrax. Thus for their debut album the band would recruit Jeff Fenholt, famous for his lead role in "Jesus Christ Superstar" (and at one time considered to sing for Black Sabbath.). The band released the self-titled album Bible Black in 1981. It was followed by Ground Zero in 1983 but with little success would disband by 1985.
MacDonald, along with drummer Carl Canedy (The Rods), formed Thrasher in 1983, an all-star project consisting mainly of musicians based out of New York such as Gary Driscoll (Rainbow, Elf), Gary Bordonaro (The Rods), Jack Starr (Virgin Steele), Dan Spitz (Anthrax), Kim Simmonds (Savoy Brown), Brad Sinsel (TKO), Dan Beehler (Exciter), Rhett Forrester (Riot) and many more. Combat Records, along with Music For Nations and Roadrunner, would release Burning at the Speed of Light in 1985. Thrasher would disband sometime after.
MacDonald would keep busy lending guitar to various groups such as Savoy Brown, The Rods and The Kim Simmonds Band. In 1988 he was contacted by Blue Cheer bassist Dickie Peterson, and he joined them for the 1989 European tour. The first Blue Cheer release featuring MacDonald would be Blitzkrieg over Nüremberg, followed by tours of Europe and The United States. In 1990 he would appear on Highlights & Lowlives, produced by Jack Endino. However he would leave the band that year with Dieter Saller taking his place.
He built a recording studio and started the band Playground though little is known of the band other than releasing a few albums and attaining little success. MacDonald would re-join Blue Cheer in 1999 for tours of Europe and Japan, the latter spawning a live album. From this point with exception to one show in 2005 MacDonald would remain the guitarist for Blue Cheer as they frequently toured Europe and on occasion, the United States. MacDonald would play on a second Blue Cheer album in 2007's What Doesn't Kill You..., released on 21 August 2007 to generally positive reviews. A live DVD entitled Rocks Europe would follow in 2009. However on 12 October 2009 Dickie Peterson would pass away following a battle with two forms of cancer. Blue Cheer would disband.
Bands[]
- Bible Black - Guitar (1980 - 1985)
- Shakin' Street - Guitar (1980 - 1981)
- Thrasher - Guitar (1983 - 1985)
- Savoy Brown - Guitar (1985 - ?)
- The Rods - Guitar (Unknown Time Period)
- Kim Simmonds Band - Guitar (Unknown Time Period)
- Blue Cheer - Guitar, Backing Vocals (1988 - 1990, 1999 - 2009)
- Apollo Ra - Guitar (1989)
- KSB - Guitar (Unknown Time Period)
- Playground - Guitar (Unknown Time Period)
Selected Discography[]
- Bible Black - Demo 1981 (Demo) (1981, Self-Released)
- Bible Black - Bible Black (Studio Album) (1981)
- Bible Black - Ground Zero (Studio Album) (1983)
- Thrasher - Burning at The Speed of Light (Studio Album) (1985, Music For Nations; Roadrunner Records)
- Slider - The Slider Project (Studio Album; Guitar on 3) (1989, Feedback)
- Apollo Ra - Ra Pariah (Studio Album) (1989, Neon City Productions)
- Blue Cheer - Blitzkrieg Over Nüremberg (Live Album) (1989, Nibelung)
- Blue Cheer - Highlights & Lowlives (Studio Album) (1990, Nibelung)
- Blue Cheer - Hello Tokyo, Bye Bye Osaka – Live in Japan 1999 (Live Album) (1999, Captain Trip Records)
- Mr.Rogers Neighborhood – Radical Music For Docile Minds (Studio Album) (2001, Captain Trip Records)
- Blue Cheer - Live Bootleg: London – Hamburg (Live Album) (official bootleg, 2005; Rockview)
- Blue Cheer - What Doesn't Kill You... (Studio Album) (2007, Rainman)
- Blue Cheer - (Rollin' Dem Bones) (EP), (2008, Rainman)
- Blue Cheer - Rocks Europe (Live Album) (2009, Rainman)
- Blue Cheer - Live at Anti WAA Festival 1989 (Live Album) (2014, Nibelung)