German label AOR Heaven will release the solo album by WHITE SISTER singer DENNIS CHURCHILL DRIES on May 29.
During the 1980s and ’90s, in those halcyon pre-Autotune days when the song was king and talent mattered, Dennis Churchill Dries was the singer and bass player of the bands White Sister and Tattoo Rodeo. Both of these groups earned prestigious major label record deals, but in the long run would learn how tough the music business can be.
Issued to rave reviews in 1984, White Sister’s self-titled debut was produced by Gregg Giuffria of Angel fame. While having tasted life on an independent label with its follow-up ‘Fashion By Passion’, Churchill Dries was also a part of the outfit Tattoo Rodeo. Picked up by Atlantic for ‘Rode Hard, Put Away Wet’ in ’91, they hit the road and opened for Bad Company and Damn Yankees. The band followed up with ‘Skin’ some four years later, and called it quits in 1998. There was a reunion show in 2006, and talks of new material, but all was scrapped after the death of drummer Rich Wright.
In October 2008, to the astonishment of just about everybody, original White Sister mebmers DCD, Rick Chadock, and Garri Brandon reunited to appear at the legendary indoor rock festival the Firefest. To say that they blew the doors off would be an understatement. They went over so well that the Firefest team invited the boys back again the following year, and they did not dissapoint! There was hushed yet optimistic talk of new music.
And then in October 2012, the unthinkable happened. Chadock lost his battle with cancer. Dennis was crushed by the loss of his music partner and closest friend of 35 years. New music from White Sister was not to be, and DCD retreated into solitude.
Dennis began writing on his own as a form of therapy, and in 2014 was reunited with Paul Sabu, who produced, engineered, and mixed “I”, and supplied the guitar work. DCD drew priceless encouragement from the multi-talented Sabu, whose bands have included Only Child, Silent Rage and Sabu.
“I” is heavily influenced by the music of the late-1970s and ’80s, mixing chunky grooves with radio-friendly melodies and drawing influence from DCD’s favourite acts, including The Beatles, Bad Company, Journey, Steve Perry, John Waite, Styx and Toto. The voice remains in great nick, too. “I took several years off, and only performed 3 shows from 2006 through the recording process in 2014 - I still have a lot left in the tank!”.
Line-up: Dennis Churchill Dries - vocals, bass, keyboards, acoustic guitar; Paul Sabu - guitars, keyboards, backing vocals
Tracklist: 1. Heard It On The Radio 2. “I” 3. Home 4. Unbroken 5. Song For The Living 6. Pictures 7. Can You Feel It 8. Pieces 9. She Loves You 10. So Good To See You 11. Home (acoustic version)
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