| Tony Rainier | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth Name | Tony Rainier |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Genres | Pop, Hard Rock |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, Vocals |
| Years active | 1970s - Present? |
| Labels | Pop Up Discs, Megaforce, ShroomAngel |
| Associated acts | Blue Cheer, Pushups, Aurora Pushups |
Tony Rainier is a musician based out of California. Mainly active during the 1970s and 1980s, he is best known for his tenures with the obscure pop group Pushups and his two stints with Blue Cheer, in which he recorded two studio albums with the band.
Biography[]
Blue Cheer[]
When Blue Cheer initially broke up in 1972, bandleader Dickie Peterson tried on several occasions to reboot the band on several occasions with different lineups but beyond rehearsals and the occasional tour. Rainier would join the band initially in 1978 to record a seventh album and what was then proposed to be a comeback (This album would not be released until 2012.). However in 1984 Tony Rainier would rejoin along with original drummer Paul Whaley to record a "comeback" album. Leigh Stephens was approached to join for the comeback record but declined.
The Beast Is Back was released on 12 June 1984. It would be issued by Caroline Records with a different cover and then reissued by Megaforce with an entirely different title. All three versions of the record feature the same track listing, a mix of re-recorded Blue Cheer classics and new songs. Rainier would leave the band in 1987, with Andrew MacDonald taking his place.
In 2012, the lost seventh album would be officially released via ShroomAngel Records as 7. There was also a proposal of a Blue Cheer lineup with Tony Rainier leading, but no known shows had happened.[1][2]
Aurora Pushups / Pushups[]
The Aurora Pushups would be founded in 1979 from the ashes of Zolar X, and features core members Ed Dorn and Zory Zenith in their Aurora Pushups early period. The band was reborn and streamlining their sound into Pushups – they released two rare singles in ’79. The band's sound leaned more heavily into pop and new wave rather than hard rock, with a heavy emphasis on space and politics.[3]
A collection of the band's recordings would be released on Bandcamp in early 2021, followed by a LP that February.[4]
Bands[]
- Aurora Pushups - Guitar, Backing Vocals (1979)
- Pushups - Guitar, Backing Vocals (1979 - 1980)
- Blue Cheer - Guitar, Backing Vocals (1978 – 1979, 1984 – 1987)
Selected Discography[]
- Aurora Pushups - Angels On Runway 1 (7" Single) (1979, Pop Up Discs)
- Pushups - Empty Faces (7" Single) (1979, Pop Up Discs)
- Blue Cheer - The Beast Is Back (Studio Album) (1984, Megaforce Records)
- Blue Cheer - 7 (Studio Album) (2012, ShroomAngel Records) (Recorded 1979)
- Pushups - Pushups Is Pop (Compilation Album) (2021, HoZac)