Balance of Power

T

he story of Balance Of Power (often abbreviated as BOP) begins in 1995 when keyboardist Ivan Gunn put together a band of London Rockers, but before long line-up changes were in the offering with original members Paul Curtis (guitar) and Tony Ritchie (vocals) departing. Ritchie left at the Japanese record label's request when the act began style changes that didn't fit his style and the label demanded a vocalist with more range, while Curtis had become tired of his lot in life in London and decided to leave town and subsequently quit the music business. Lionel Hicks by this time had joined on drums. So after the completion of their first album,When The World Falls Down (1997), that became popular in Japan, American vocalist Lance King and British guitarist Pete Southem were the replacements. Southem had known Hicks since childhood, while King was plucked from the US after over 50 auditions for UK singers failed to yield the results they wanted, Kinghad previously recorded albums with Gemini and the Kings Machine in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and was selected when Gunn was with him conducting some music licensing business.

The Japanese record company pressured them for a follow-up. Their second effort, Book Of Secrets (1998), was based on Michael Drosnin's The Bible Code and received acclaim for the tracks Seven Days To Nevermore and Miracles And Dreams that received heavy rotation on radio, not to mention Bruce Dickinson (of Iron Maiden) getting involved by playing the entire album on his European Underground network radio show. Although this album was completed in America, the follow-up Ten More Tales Of Grand Illusion (2000) would receive the bulk of its production in Hicks' own "POD" studios with only the final mixing completed in America. Southemand Ritchie again wrote this album despite the fact that at this stage Ritchie was not in the band but he had maintained a friendly relationship. A tour ensued whereby bassist Chris Dale would leave and former vocalist Tony Ritchie would return to assume the bass role, while founding member Gunn left keyboard and indeed, the band altogether as his 'Anthem' record label needed his attention; Leon Lawson was brought in as a guest performer to replace Gunn for a time. The album continued their uprising in popularity and was their first for new label 'Massacre' after leaving their former European label over bad book keeping issues before releasing their Perfect Balance release internationally in 2001 with the membership of Lance King (vocalist), Pete Southern (guitar/vocals), Bill Yates (guitar), the returning Tony Ritchie (now on bass) and Lionel Hicks (drums).