Although they broke huge internationally during the mid-1980s amid a sea of contemporaries who were sporting make-up, ratted hair, spangles and sparkles, Telsa was never part of the era's "glam band" scene. But they were lumped into that category by the media at large.
Tesla's bluesy undertones and overall approach to music owed more to the 1970s' old guard than to trendy and visually-driven MTV-pushed bands like Twisted Sister, Bulletboys, Ratt, or Hanoi Rocks.
Perhaps that is why Tesla remains one of the most enduring and popular bands of that era. They're still making records and performing with four of the five members heard on its 1986 platinum-selling debut album, "Mechanical Resonance," which took the Sacramento, California group from obscurity to international fame.
Still present and accounted for are lead vocalist Jeff Keith, guitarist Frank Hannon, bassist Brian Wheat and drummer Troy Luccketta, who together have sold more than 25 million albums and performed to sold out crowds across the world.
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The "new guy," who has been with the group for 11 years now, is guitarist Dave Rude, who replaced Tommy Skeoch in 2006. "We looked and looked and looked until we found just the guy for the job," said Hannon of why Rude instantly gelled so well.
"You can expect a little bit of everything in this show," said Hannon of Tesla's performance set this weekend at Star Plaza. "We've got all the hits of course, a couple of deep cuts we haven't played in years, and we've got our new song 'Saved By Goodness' that was written and recorded with Phil Collen of Def Leppard. We've added new things for our 30th anniversary tour. We've got some new production stuff that we've never done before, which involve some really big video screens on stage that shows some really old photos of the band and some great special effects. We're having a lot of fun on this tour and we're really excited about bringing it to the Star Plaza."
Asked about his favorite part of the live show and songs he most looks forward to performing, Hannon is fast to reply -- "I have to be honest, I'm a sucker for the opening song of the set, whatever it may be. The excitement just before we go on stage is so intense and so cool, as the intro music is starting and the anticipation is building in the crowd, and then comes that moment we go out on stage. I still get a thrill out of performing each and every show. I'm kinda like a race horse in a gate, just ready to run."
So what song will hit the audience first on Saturday in Merrillville? "On this tour we come out blazing with a new song called 'MP3' off our latest album, that's about how technology has evolved from the phonograph record to the MP3. There's a heavy groove and it's got a really cool guitar intro. It's different and it's a song we're really having fun with," Hannon said. Another highlight of the performance for both the band and fans is the staple acoustic set. "We still do 'Comin' At'cha Live' and segue into the Grateful Dead's 'Truckin', just like we did on the 'Five Man Acoustic Jam' album, because I'm a closet Deadhead."
Although most bands from years past cite fickle audiences who are always looking for 'the next trend' and the new 'flavor of the day' for their declining popularity, Hannon happily reported Tesla's relationship with their fans has never really waivered. "I guess we're what you might call a 'cult band' in a sense," he said. "The fans that come to Tesla shows are very loyal. They have stayed with us through the ups and downs, and they support our new music as well as our old music, which allows us to keep making new music. It's funny, because even when it comes to the old music, it's not just the hits they want, they ask for some of the more obscure songs, so we always throw a few of those in the mix."
Tesla will hit the outdoor shed circuit again this spring with their old pals in Def Leppard, starting on April 8 in Manchester, New Hampshire. The package tour runs through June 25, with Poison also on that line-up for most dates, including the June 24 local stop at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Tinley Park.
"We have such a good time with the Leppard guys when we tour," said Hannon, noting how Leppard guitarist Phil Collen is even producing Tesla's next album. Hannon confirmed that Collen even steps out of the control booth to contribute a bit of guitar and vocals here and there on the forthcoming album, not yet titled.
It was actually Collen who suggested Tesla record last year's live version of "Mechanical Resonance - Live!" The band pulled sound board recordings from various stops on their tour last summer with Leppard and created the album as a gift to their fans. The band was sold on the idea after Collen told Tesla how much Leppard's fans loved it when they released a live version of their own landmark album, "Hysteria," called "Viva Hysteria" album in 2013.
The new Tesla album will be released in 2017 and Hannon expects it will be a pretty amazing collection of songs with equally amazing production. "Collen paid attention and learned a LOT about producing with Mutt Lange while working with Def Leppard and we are getting the benefit of that," he said.
"We are very, very fortunate and we all realize that," Hannon said. "We had our issues and our problems when we were young, but we've all grown up and we've gotten past all the negative things that make bands fall apart. We are grateful that we are still doing this and that we have so many loyal fans who make that possible. We don't take that for granted."
Keep up with Tesla online: teslatheband.com.
FYI: Tesla will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday at Star Plaza Theater, Interstate 65 and U.S. 30, Merrillville. Tickets are $50-$75 / All Ages. Call 800-745-3000 or visit starplazatheatre.com.