What Happened to Head East?

[@kevinhuber8723]

Western Indiana is where I grew up. Head East was hugely popular among the small towns on the westside of the State. What a great band!

[@jrb6610]

I grew up in Iowa, Head East was huge back in the day.

[@karenmandeville7116]

I saw them at a bar called Gaffer's in Macomb, Ill. in late 74. there was a snowstorm, and only about 6 of us trudged through the snow to see them. they played the whole album, and were so professional even with the sparse crowd. later i met his brother's band in the same bar. good bunch of guys.

[@edljnehan2811]

I remember actually Emerson Lake and Palmer we're playing in Carbondale so naturally we chose Emerson Lake and Palmer however that storm you're talking about was completely off the chain and I didn't think we were going to make it.😢

[@edljnehan2811]

Save my life I'm going down for the last time.

[@JohnShields-xx1yk]

Never been any reason was a great song. I was 15 in 1975 huge rock fan. Thanks for memory.

[@nco_gets_it]

I grew up near where Schlitt is from and enjoyed Head East from it's beginning. But we all knew from the start that Head East was not going to make it. Schlitt's work with Petra is beyond great. In fact, Petra was just a great rock band in its own right

[@Wopcop100]

As a teen coming of age in the mid-70's I really loved this band. I even had the luck of running into them during the middle of the night at a convenience store/gas station in the Midwest during the 1980's when their tour bus was stopped to fuel up. They were all friendly and talkative. Good guys.

[@steveclary2106]

Loved this band. Steve huston was so kind to me. Got to play party in carlye il. Where steve and his wife were there. I grew up with his music. Kindest man . Rest in peace steve.

[@2024Shoesmith]

Head East was a fantastic band. A great live act and the deep cuts on their studio albums are great as well. I finally was able to catch them in concert in 1980 on the US 1 tour. Even with the lineup changes, they were still a smokin live band. I've been a fan since the 70s.

[@bobhorn8121]

What happened to them? I saw them October 5, 2024 at Wildwood Springs Lodge. Its the last full show for Roger Boyd and John Schlitt. It was one of the best shows I have ever seen.

[@hgholson6495]

Great show at Wildwood !

[@jimdonahue5187]

They were my first rock concert in the Spring of '77 in Sioux Falls, So Dakota

[@kellykilts6297]

Living 60mi. from KC I can tell you that KY-102 was a great radio station. I loved it when bands out of the Midwest were starting to get due notice including Head East , REO and Nugent with the Amboy Dukes and my favorite home town band Kansas. What a great time to be alive. It inspired me to be a drummer. Wonderful days .

[@tanker335]

Then I'm sure you noticed they used the most obscure KY logo they could find. It was always yellow and sometimes had the hippo in the center. I wonder what Max Floyd is up to these days?

[@deplorableneanderthal1265]

I saw them 3 times in concert. The first time was at a roller skating rink in Idaho, believe it or not. About 300 people in attendance. The next two times they opened for Styx. Pretty good live band.

[@thecrossroadcafe7291]

John Schlitt is currently on tour with "Petra" on their 50th anniversary tour. I saw them Saturday night. They were fantastic.

[@docheine]

Jealous!

[@classrockin]

Jon Schlitt performed Never Been Any Reason fairly recently on the Mike Huckabee show. I'm telling you, the man still kills it, even on the high notes. Definitely worth a look if you haven't seen it

[@jimf710]

We seen Head East a couple of years ago at the Wildey in Edwardsville, IL. They did a couple of shows which sold well. Enjoyed the show.

[@joemachunda]

Schlitt became the vpice of Petra. A great christian band. listen to their song Love.

[@terryf5131]

Thanks for making these.😀

[@djgerman5705]

Head East‘s If You Knew Me Better is a massive hit on Classic Rock Radio and in the rock clubs of Bavaria/Germany. They had listener charts on Rock Antenne, which was won by Stairway to Heaven with Bohemian Rhapsody as the runner-up, and Head East made the top ten.

[@georges2474]

I don't hear "Never Been Any Reason" a lot, but when I do, it puts me back in the Sigma Phi Epsilon Chapter Room at Colorado State Univ. 79-81 where that song was a staple of many killer parties.

[@garyserdoz6915]

I saw Head East on the Rock Legends Cruise a few years back. Maybe only one original member, but they sounded great. Highlight was a cover of Doucette's "Mama Let Him Play". I'd see them again!

[@kingtrance307]

Saw them last year with Kansas. Put on a great show. 👍

[@robinhelmbrecht1867]

Love Head East!!!

[@specialfotog]

Saw them at the first Texxas Jam. Have a couple of their LPs.

[@charlesallison6932]

The Head East Live album was pretty popular when I was in high school. I imagine it was overdubbed pretty heavily now that I am older and listen to it today. Still has some good jammin' tunes. I always liked Somerville's guitar playing.

[@SharonFunderburk-c8b]

I hated them the first time I heard them. But then I went to their show. I have loved them ever since! Happy to see all this!

[@HistoricallyMarked]

"Never Been Any Reason" is one of the best songs to never hit the Top 40. Keyboardist Roger Boyd went back to school in 1995 and earned his bachelors, masters and PhD. He taught social work at SIUE from 2003-2011, and is now retired but active in music as well as the SIUE community. That was during the time I attended SIUE; if I had known better I would have gotten to know him!

It's a shame that they never could repeat the masterpiece of the first album, I saw them live when it came out and they were fantastic.

[@mikeb.7183]

My old band opened for Head East several times around 87. Only original member was the keyboard player who usually so drunk he would just about fall over while on stage. I remember them warming up back stage occapella and they were pretty impressive. I also remember the bass player stuffing a sock in his pants before going onstage.

[@MegaTechnoteacher]

I opened for John Sclitt when he sang with Petra, A Christian band that won several Grammy awards. He told me "you guys were rockin' "before he went on stage how nice a guy!

[@mjrybread]

Ya I saw him in concert with Petra man loud and awesome it was ,,probly around 1992?

[@jeffclark6988]

Found the first album at a record show last year..dam thing rocks!! I was surprised to find it😂

[@charlesroberts8803]

Back in 85 my friends older brother found a tape that he was playing on at 14 years old. It was the song Never been any reason, but it was recorded before Headeast had formed.

[@stephenriker5746]

Got a copy of that tape?

[@charlesroberts8803]

No, I heard it once around 1986. The band was called Cedar Creek in Southern Illinois and the 14 year old kid playing guitar was Victor Bloodworth. I don't know what year the recording was from. I just remember someone found it in their attic. I'd say the tape was made around 1972 or 73.

[@csnide6702]

Liked that album that looked like a traffic sign....... Fun times.

[@ryanpockat8846]

I seen john schlitt sing in a small church in Waupaca Wisconsin a year and a half ago really nice guy he ealk right past me as i was video recording him lol

[@randygoins6132]

Though this upload poo poos it, for me “Gettin’ Lucky” was Head East’s best album. It’s the only one that I ever owned (on vinyl, cassette and CD).

[@Blues.Fusion]

Schlitt now sits in with the Jay Sekulow band. Yeah the ACLJ Lawyer.

[@savedin87ify]

Saw Petra several times at 6 Flags in St. Louis. But I do love Head East

[@edljnehan2811]

I Saw Head East at Six Flags back in the mid-70s. I also saw Foghat at the 66 Park Inn Drive-In Theater😮 great times when we could see groups like this. Foghat also played at my alma mater Southwest High School.

[@edwardcowardin4014]

Saw Head East in 1978 at Arrowhead Stadium. Great show!!!

[@alanstrong55]

I did see Head East at Iowa Jam on the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Weather was right.

[@TheREALJosephTurner]

If you want to hear an awesome cover of "Never Been Any Reason," done by students of the School of Rock music school, search for it on Peggy Stevenson's KZbin page. It's probably the best cover of the song you'll ever hear, done by students whose parents may or may not have even been alive when the song was released.

[@meauxjeaux431]

I'M PRETTY SURE I SAW THE SAME VIDEO YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT JUST 2 WEEKS AGO. THOSE KIDS ROCKED !

[@imwiththeband8290]

Mike Sommeville always said John was nuts. Interesting that most of this vid focuses on him. Mike wrote most of the famous HE songs BTW.

[@michaelleighton3582]

Seen them in milwauke probobly 1979.

[@BDUBZ49]

@7:04 I was very pleased to hear you say "coincidentally" rather than the expected "ironically". That word gets used inaccurately all the time.

[@tobyh1999]

Did anyone see them at 6 flags in '79, when they shut highway 44, going bothways down? That was a great show!

[@dellcoats4648]

Sadly underated

[@xxcelr8rs]

I believe one of the drummers drove The Black Crowss tour bus when Black Crowes were huge live act.

[@TYB439]

I loved their performances at U of I's Chances R. Saw them numerous. times. I was so sorry to hear that the girl pictured. 0.12 died in a car crash with her BF at the time just shortly after this picture was taken. RIP.

[@TYB439]

Jean Mullin

[@kellyheine5751]

Thanks for the video!

[@whathappenedtothem_]

You bet!

[@edljnehan2811]

Head East were actually a St Louis band and the only reason they really made it as big as they were was because of KSHE in St Louis Missouri. I saw them open up for Slade and Black Oak Arkansas in St Louis back in the mid-70s. KSHE in St Louis really put them on the map like they did a ton of other bands. They were the second progressive rock radio station right behind the one in San Francisco and KSHE is still going today making them the longest running rock radio station in the world. It's a fact look it up😊

[@mofost1]

Absolutely

[@edljnehan2811]

@@mofost1 you're a smart man you must be a Saint Louis because we were the king of early seventies rock...

[@mofost1]

@@edljnehan2811 you know that’s right, remember don the legend. But yes I am a proud stl rocker. In fact mofo stone is not my real name,it’s my band. I got sick of the sh!t music & mustered up my rock skills to keep real rocK & motherFuggin roll ALIVE!! lol (but fo realz)

[@edljnehan2811]

@@mofost1 there's a whole list that take me back to my childhood. Ted habeck Don the legend Prince night joy in the morning Mark close John Hewlett radio Rich Dalton the mighty f a v e z e etc etc etc how about Carl The Intern? I knew all of those guys as a matter of fact we used to hang out behind the 66 Park and Drive-In back in the early seventies and trade joints for request also had plenty of beer and wine. Plus we got to meet some of the greatest rock stars at the time such as ELP Spooky Tooth Grand Funk Black Sabbath triumvirate Gary Wright Alice Cooper Joe Walsh budgie bloodrock dust etc etc etc just way too many dimension in this short paragraph.. even saw Foghat play at the 66 Park in drive-in theater.. all of this was happening from 69 to 76. St Louis had to be the greatest concert town in the country. Oh I also used to hang out at Mama Pride's Tavern on Tamm Avenue in Dogtown the same night we heard Lynyrd Skynyrd's playing was going down.. All Souls All Star Castle Kansas gypsy and UFO write in the KSHE Studios. Also don't forget Rush opening up for Charlie Daniels fpkg kite flying contest in Forest park. Mine along with my brother's picture we're actually in the old KSHE Studios the photo was taken at the kite fly contest we were right up in front of the stage for Rush 1974:-)

[@mofost1]

@@edljnehan2811 I missed this part but yes maybe San Fran, Detroit or NY we’re more rocking but per capita, dead center in the time airfare was for the gups it was even in the 90s in my comin of age. Foghat, grand funk, my rock teachers fave/s, my education in rock was heavily those…I digress. LL/RR

[@ChainsGoldMask]

They got into a fight with my cousins in Spring Valley back in the 70's

[@don66hotrod94]

Were to be the opening act but suddenly became the headliners when Black Oak Arkansas failed to show up in Green Bay, WI. Put on a good show.

[@akulinamackenzie4492]

off topic: area code or barefoot jerry ….barefoot’s 1.st 👍👍👍 and mac gayden my fave guitarist 💥💥💥

[@stephaniejacobson4874]

I liked Head East in the 70's

[@wecandobetter9821]

When I listen to some of their songs they kinda remind me of Grand Funk. Love both bands

[@pdd60absorbed12]

I think Jay Sekulow of ACLJ jams with Schlitt.

[@Steven-nt8mf]

You have the wrong logo for KY102. It never looked like that.

[@tanker335]

I caught that too. It was yellow with some versions having a hippo between the Y and the 2.

[@Steven-nt8mf]

Whoa!!! Major mistake on KY102 logo. It never looked like that

[@S.JerseyJim]

The life of a mid level rock band member seems like a hard way to make a living.

[@edljnehan2811]

My girlfriend at the time was doing Head East when I told her to move over a little bit to the other side of my groin which made her doing head West😅

[@impalaman9707]

They look like a Southern Rock band. But then---Midwest Rock...Southern Rock---what's the difference!

[@jimroadhouse4872]

They came to my hometown of great falls Mt twice nobody ever came to great falls

[@jerfacekilla]

Never heard of them. Probably because I don't live in the US.

[@DonP60]

Dan Birney also passed away.

[@badbeatbilly8997]

They went down for the last time

[@joejohnston2035]

Good to see Jimmy Murphy (guitars/vocals) shown in a photo (1993-94) ish , however No mention of MARK killer KELLER played drums two different tours (1978-79) after Steve Huston was injured ....or in rehab / unable to perform . Pisses me off because he's a excellent musician actually better than Steve from a technique perspective .

[@zenos.5315]

They headed South!!!!!!

[@fredricclack7137]

Great 🪨🎸

[@timmurphy5137]

Looks like Malcolm Young and Michael Anthony joined the band

[@leonakita]

Schlitt quit and got into manufacturing beer under the 'Schlitt's' banner, however the product tasted like piss water and eventually did it in.

[@tproudboomer5965]

😂😂😂

[@TyroneEpps]

Ths happened to head east?😮

[@cjg8604]

Saw them in different bars in NW ohio

[@ssweeps]

They went west and got lost...😮

[@Sternodox]

Do Andy Pratt. "Avengin' Annie."

[@hunternovak7241]

Great Band! Quintessential 70’s party music!

[@trickshottim]

What happened to Head East? They went south.

[@joebarker8081]

West

[@boataxe4605]

Their songwriting went south.

[@agoquintal]

I heard that they went east..

[@mjrybread]

Saw them in a bar in Farmington new mexico in 1983 but john wasnt there😢

[@mofost1]

What about rich callison

[@careful...Icarus]

It all went south.

[@morgunstyles7253]

What are you reading from?

[@SharonFunderburk-c8b]

The story of head East band!

[@SharonFunderburk-c8b]

Watch their story!

[@SharonFunderburk-c8b]

They were great in the seven's

[@SharonFunderburk-c8b]

It was a good time to grown up

[@ssweeps]

One hit wonder...😮

[@grogueQ]

What happened to Head East, that band that had one song?

[@Hansaman58]

The whole album was excellent

[@joebloggs8636]

Thats one more then you had.

[@edljnehan2811]

Can you spell idiot? What about my sister is my mother😅😅

[@edljnehan2811]

Is your mother and sister the same person😅😅

[@docheine]

Ok, Petra fans…. Dis you prefer Schlitt or Greg X Volz as lead singer?

[@gjy5150]

I like both!

[@calbraid3328]

I don't know. Volz had such a great melodious voice. Schlitt was more of a rock singer, and a very good one. I felt that Schlitt was straining more at times on the super high stuff, but aside from the very top end of his register, I think I like JS a bit more.

[@markeggerman8301]

I don't know,, ?? They headed west??? 😂

[@fredricclack7137]

👀 w/Journey & East 🌬️ them Away!

[@WilliamBeaver-tb9nt]

They decided to head west.

[@mjrybread]

One hit thats why

[@kimblehosey7930]

Narrating needs help, check out professor of rock.

[@deansmith6593]

Know that they are not homosexuals but "Never Been Any Reason" is one of the gayest songs ever.

[@kingtrance307]

Well that was stupid… 😂

[@robertcartwright563]

How does a song become Gay Disparaging remark

[@carlweaver3243]

I Bet You're A Big Lee Marvin Fan, Aren't You

[@deansmith6593]

No disparagement, it is gay song. A guy singing his love for another guy in the role of a woman is gay pretty much the definition of gay. It is not a bad song just gay in that aspect but you fine folks took as an insult. Project much?

[@deansmith6593]

@@carlweaver3243 No, not into old war flicks and westerns thanks.

[@randymoran67]

Hated this band

[@HandyMan-p3t]

Umm... I'm guessing they got lost sailing toward the sunset instead?!

[@robertdemeyer8125]

Who cares 🤷‍♂️ they had one hit

[@nextplanb1899]

One hit more than you.

[@psalm2forliberty577]

They were a great example of a Regional band super popular in the Midwest & St Louis their original location. We in San Diego hadn't heard much / anything from Head East - I was totally into Pop Rock / Hard Rock & never heard of them. Shows you how some bands gain full national promotion & some not so much. However I became a Christian in about 1980 & started being a Petra fan in 1982 when Greg X Volz was their lead singer, but was going to depart in 1985 after 10 years. Greg was a superb lead singer & hard to replace but we heard that John Schlitt, formerly of Head East, was going to take over the reins. His first album with Petra "Back to the Streets" was really great - a very different sound vs Greg but a nice change more gritty & full. Their next album "This Means War" was an absolute stunner my favorite of all time. So John went on to do like 23 albums across 30 + years what a career and ministry Jesus touched many lives by John sharing his gift & throughout the music of Petra. I did catch John & Head East doing their "Never Been Any Reason" live on Huckabee's Jukebox - boy howdy they rocked it good....

[@marcdewey1242]

They went down for the last time