Psychotic Waltz’s Vocalist Makes Hay of Group Hiatus

The vocalist who pursues a solo career once his band achieves great success is one of rock ‘n’ roll’s enduring cliches. But independent projects can also result from adversity, or, in some cases, idleness.

Vocalist-lyricist Buddy Lackey has no plans to leave the critically acclaimed local metal band Psychotic Waltz, but he is capitalizing on the current semi-hiatus forced on the group by injuries to guitarist Dan Rock. Lackey has been recording his own material for release on a German label early next year.

Rock was injured a few weeks ago while rappelling off a bridge with two friends. According to Lackey, Rock likes heights and was taking chances. “Whatever they tell you not to do, he did, and what they say will happen if you do, happened,” Lackey said.

Lacking the proper safety equipment, the guitarist fell 40 feet, breaking both ankles and both wrists. His right, guitar-picking wrist was crushed and had to be reconstructed using fragments of Rock’s hip bone.

“But he’s healing fast,” Lackey said. “He should be back by May. In the meantime, we’ve done a couple of shows without him. For one show, we used a single guitarist and covered tunes by Jane’s Addiction, Primus, Bad Brains and Black Sabbath. The other time, we used a stand-in guitarist who knew some of our tunes.”

For the most part, though, Psychotic Waltz has been treading water since Rock’s mishap. Last year, the quintet released an album (“A Social Grace,” on the independent Subsonic label) that received rave reviews for an artily arranged metal barrage cinctured by the twin-guitar attack of Rock and Brian McAlpin. (Bassist Ward Evans and drummer Norm Leggio round out the band). The German label, Dream Circle Records, wanted to issue the band’s next product, but recording plans were shelved after Rock’s accident. Lackey stepped into the breach.

“I called the guy at Dream Circle and told him that I would do an album for him,” Lackey said. “And he agreed. Some of the music I wrote over the last few years and some I’m writing now. I’m playing all the instruments myself--(digitally) sequencing stuff at home and then taking the tapes to a local studio. Because I have a day job, I’m doing this on weekends and in my spare time.”

Lackey, 25, claimed that because his musical tastes are “slightly older” than those of his band mates, his solo effort will be quite a departure from what PW fans have come to expect.

“This album is my concept and not a collective effort,” he said. “Psychotic Waltz is a more modern art form, but in my heart of hearts I’m a Hendrix man. You know--old Bowie, Tull and all that. So the stuff I’m working on reminds me of an old Jethro Tull or Queen album. There’s a lot of piano, flute and acoustic stuff. Because it’s more of a classical sound than heavy metal, it would’ve taken me years to get it onto a Psychotic Waltz album.”

Though the album will be a solo recording, Lackey will not use his own name, but instead will give the project a “band” identity. For now, plans are to release the album in January and only in Europe. However, some copies will be pressed and distributed here as “imports,” probably at stores such as Trip West and Blue Meannie.

PLAYBACK: UC San Diego continued its series of free midday concerts last week when the Gin Blossoms and Chris Whitley, respectively, played Nov. 11 and 12 nooners at the Price Center plaza. The Gin guys, who combine Byrds harmonies with an “alternative” approach to “Dr. Robert”-style country rock, sounded very good. The band lost points on “presentation,” however, for ensemble cigarette smoking. According to the rock ‘n’ roll handbook, a band earns coolness demerits if more than half its members smoke on stage at the same time. Whitley, a country-folk-blues song stylist who opened for Tom Petty on Nov. 12 at the San Diego Sports Arena, gave the student lunch crowd the musical equivalent of a side dish. “I’m falling asleep up here,” he mumbled after playing about 20 minutes, and then split.

“The Stars Come Out for Christmas, Volume III,” one of two local benefit albums being released this year, is going international for the first time in its three-year history. The star-studded 1991 version will be distributed in Canada, and a compilation of songs from the first two “Stars” albums will be available in Japan.

Locally, Volume III of the “Stars” effort will benefit the Casa de Amparo shelter for abused and abandoned children. It will be available beginning Monday at Play Co. and Target stores, Subway sandwich shops and local branches of Security Pacific Bank. It can also be ordered by phone at 752-7500. The Japanese compilation will benefit children’s hospitals in 24 American cities. (San Diego is not among them.)

GRACE NOTES: (Tickets for the following concerts will be sold at all TicketMaster outlets unless otherwise specified.) The Monks of Doom invade the Casbah tonight, with San Francisco’s Bedlam Rovers opening. Dr. Dream recording artists Don’t Mean Maybe play the Kettner Boulevard club Nov. 27. . . .

The date for the Tin Machine concert announced here last week has been changed. The gig has been pushed back a day to Dec. 15 at the Spreckels Theatre. No matter, tickets to see the band that features David Bowie, Reeves Gabrels and Hunt and Tony Sales (Soupy’s sons) sold out in 18 minutes. A second show, scheduled for Dec. 14, has been added. . . .

Rush and special guest Primus play the San Diego Sports Arena on Jan. 20. Tickets go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m., but, due to the keen interest anticipated by promoter Avalon Attractions, measures will be taken to minimize the initial crush. First, no queues will be allowed prior to 6 a.m. Saturday. Second, numbered wristbands will be randomly distributed in the arena lot at 8 a.m., after which the lot will be vacated. When fans return to line up for tickets, wristband numbers will be called, again in random order. . . .

Tickets are on sale for Eddie Money’s Dec. 27 concert at Symphony Hall. . . .

Bill Silva has booked Metallica into the Sports Arena for a Jan. 14 gig (on sale Nov. 29).

CRITIC’S CHOICE: ALL-CAP HED GOES HERE DESCRIBING THE EVENT

Music with a social conscience hasn’t gone away, it’s just harder to hear above today’s reactionary din. Club of Rome is a local band that doesn’t shrink either from conveying sociopolitical messages via pointed lyrics or from real-life activism. (Leader Steve Saint is involved with both the Greens political party and Musicians Who Care, and publishes San Diego Music magazine.) On Friday, the band will be joined by Wild Truth for a gig “Celebrating 28 Years of Rebellion.”

The retro-geared presentation (‘60s attire is recommended) is a benefit for the Greens. Diversions include a Jack and Jackie look-alike contest (Friday is the anniversary of JFK’s assassination), a “Planet in Jeopardy” game, plus food and refreshments. The event will be held at the Intersection House, 5717 Lindo Paseo. Admission is $4 before 9 p.m. and $5 thereafter.