* En anglais uniquement
A contemporary vehicle for country-rock pioneer
Chris Hillman (ex-
Byrds and
Flying Burrito Brothers),
the Desert Rose Band formed in 1985 with primary songwriter
Hillman on lead vocals, guitar, and mandolin. Other members, culled mainly from southern California session players, included banjoist/guitarist
Herb Pedersen, guitarist
John Jorgenson, steel guitarist
Jay Dee Maness, bassist
Bill Bryson, and drummer
Steve Duncan. Their first single was a 1986 cover of Johnnie & Jack's "Ashes of Love," which climbed into the country Top 30. Their self-titled debut album followed in 1987 and spawned a number one hit in "He's Back and I'm Blue," plus two more Top Tens in "Love Reunited" and "One Step Forward." 1988's
Running produced the number one smash "I Still Believe in You," the number two "Summer Wind," and the number three "She Don't Love Nobody." 1990's
Pages of Life brought their final Top Ten hits in "Story of Love" and "Start All Over Again." Major personnel turnover followed;
Maness was replaced by steel guitarist
Tom Brumley,
Jorgenson by guitarist
Jeff Ross, and
Duncan by drummer Tim Grogan. This lineup recorded three albums -- 1991's
True Love and two in 1993,
Traditional and Life Goes On -- but failed to duplicate the success of the band's first incarnation. After
the Desert Rose Band broke up,
Hillman and
Herb Pedersen continued to work together on a sporadic basis. ~ Steve Huey