Tightrope (3:55)
Previously unreleased

History

This song goes way back to 1991 with origins in a transitional period as we searched for what would eventually become the ‘Tiles’ line-up. Initially known as ‘Standing Pavement,’ Mark Evans, Roy Truax, and me – along with friend and guest vocalist Pete Kehoe – released “Crowded Emptiness” on cassette. Gene Simmons (Kiss) heard the tape and signed the band to a production agreement with Simmons Records. However, living about 6-hours away from everyone else, Pete was unable to participate so the search was on for a permanent vocalist.

We ran across Detroit-pedigreed Tommy Ingham, who has a voice reminiscent of Sammy Hagar and had sung with Mugsy, Weapons, and Romeo Rock. We revamped four of the ‘Standing Pavement’ tunes and worked up four new tunes under the short-lived moniker ‘Hanover Fist.’ Since Gene naturally wanted to hear our new vocalist and a few new tunes, we spent a weekend at “The Old Schoolhouse” near Ann Arbor, MI (owned by Henry Weck and Michael Lutz of Brownsville Station fame) with Tommy’s former Weapons bandmate Pete Bankert engineering our eight songs. Over the years, all but “Tightrope” eventually was released. Originally titled “Positive Force,” the lyrics were always a sticking point for me (e.g. not very good) – and although Roy Truax’ main riff rocks, the song just never made it onto our ‘to-do’ list.

Now with Paul hanging up his microphone in 2018, it seems appropriate to clean out our closet for the ‘Tiles’ completist. So…, with some tape salvaging, digitizing, revised lyrics, and Paul’s willingness to belt out another song we can finally release “Tightrope” – nearly 30 years later! Mark’s drums, the guitar solo, and one of the rhythm guitar tracks are from the original 1991 sessions. Jeff revised and re-recorded Roy’s original bass part and I added some new rhythm guitars making “Tightrope” a genuinely new (old) ‘Tiles’ song.

- Chris Herin, June 2019