Q5

Homebase: Seattle
Stats: 1983...
Misc Notes: Q5 is an American hard rock/heavy metal band, formed in 1983 by guitarist Floyd Rose and singer Scott Palmerton (AKA Jonathan K.) who were bandmates in Seattle legend The Core. The Core disbanded, Rose and Palmerton having a number of new songs written needed to fill out a new roster. They acquired Rick Pierce (guitar), Evan Sheeley (bass) and Gary Thompson (drums) from local Seattle band TKO. They were signed to management by Ken Kinnear, who also managed Heart. Their first album Steel The Light was mostly recorded in Los Angeles at Cherokee Studios, with finishing touches at The Music Source in Seattle. The album was produced by Grammy award-winning producer Mike Flicker and by Floyd Rose. Steel The Light was released in late 1983 on the London based Music For Nations label and became an instant hit in Europe. Lesser known in the U.S. and because of the success of that album in Europe, Q5 was seen as a European style band and was sometime lumped in with the NWOBHM groups.

In the March 30, 1985, issue of Sounds magazine a British writer wrote about his earlier visit with the band to interview them -- and noted the oddity of a Seattle band being, well, notable: "British Heavy Metal, hang your heads in shame! From the high hills of Seattle roar Q5, brandishing a new energy of metal mayhem ... Their hard edged, energetic and youthful metal is currently kicking up a fuss. Rightly so, too, when one considered the lack of original and fresh talent parading the record racks. And fancy having to go to bloody Seattle's mountains to find out more about the Q5 thing! UK metal hangs its head in shame..."

Steel The light enjoyed great success and is still viewed as an iconic album worldwide. Q5 released its second album in 1986 titled When The Mirror Cracks. It was a slight departure from the sound of the first album but was strong enough to get the band signed to Polygram Records and a production deal with Q Prime in New York. Recordings for a third album commenced in 1988, but musical differences and pressure from the record company (who sought a slightly watered-down sound) led to a fracture in 1989 with Jonathan K. and Pierce forming a new group: Nightshade. That band carried on playing new material, as well as some Q5 material, and in 2009 a new version of Q5 reformed, playing a show in Germany. It took several more years but the Q5 name was finally dusted off and the band presented itself at a one-off at the Sweden Rock Festival in 2014. Q5 was back. In 2016 they were signed to Frontiers Records SRL and released the long-awaited third album New World Order. Q5 still plays and records today and consists of Jonathan K. and additional musicians.
ALSO SEE:
1.) TKO

search by ARTIST