Road Vultures

ACTIVE: January 1990, New York, NY || DISBANDED: Early 1996

Road Vultures were New York City’s premiere underground street trash rock ‘n’ rollers during the early 90s. The band evolved after the two K brothers played their last show under the name Lone Cowboys in Buffalo, NY on New Year’s Eve 1989. They had been in Buffalo for an extended period writing new material and playing with long time friends Charlie Petit and Joe DiPasquali. Deciding it was time to return to NYC with a wealth of new material, they dedided that Lone Cowboys had gone as far as it could. Re-uniting with former Lone Cowboy bassist Pete Cain, it wasn’t long after the Vultures formed that former New York Doll Sylvain Sylvain and ex-Heartbreaker Jerry Nolan and asked them to open a show at the Continental Divide (NYC). This was the first public performance by the Road Vultures. One show turned into 15 straight weekends. More shows followed with friends like Dee Dee Ramone, The Waldos, and Cheetah Chrome. Road Vultures quickly attained a large underground Rock ‘n’ Roll following not only in New York City, but up and down the mid-atlantic coast and the LA/Hollywood scene.original line-up consisted of Alan K (guitar/vocals), Kevin K (drums/vocals) and Killer Peter Cain (bass/b. vocals), but due to their popularity in the Hollywood music scene, the two K brothers packed up and relocated to the LA area in July of 1990. Adding two new members to the California based line-up (Swig McDaniels on bass and Danny X on drums), Kevin would switched to guitar and joined his brother in fronting the band.

A second six month stay in Hollywood would come again in late 1992 through early 1993. Returning to the line-up was Danny X, but as bassist this time. Added was drummer Karl Durden, who would later go onto be part of Virgin recording artists The Customers.

Returning from their second stint in LA and finally deciding there’s no place like the Big Apple, the two brothers searched for a new drummer and bass player (former bassist Pete Cain had moved on). Joining the line-up was Richie Molesso (bass) and Max Gallo (drums). The four-piece would go on to record two albums for Circumstantial Records. A third album, Just Say Yes, was mostly recorded but never released when the band broke up officially in early 1996. At that time Kevin was also pursuing a solo career and Alan, struggling with a recurring drug problem, went to Florida to get clean. In November of 1996 there was hopes of a Road Vultures reunion when Alan made plans to return to New York City, but unfortunately Alan’s sudden death put an end to the Road Vultures forever.

After successfully cleaning up Alan K returned to New York City on November 10th. He checked into the St. Marks Hotel that afternoon, spent time walking around the East Village and sitting in Tompkins Square Park. That evening he returned to his hotel, fell asleep and never woke up. Though rumours circulatedthat he died of an overdose, this is incorrect. After years of living life on the edge, Alan’s body just stopped working. ~ Ted Sterns, 13th Street Records

[ Discography | Alan K Page ]