LE MANS was very much an active part of the hard rock scene in and around San Francisco during the early ’80s. An ad in Guitar Player Magazine led to the formation of the band, featuring guitar hero Derek Frigo (who unfortunately died from a drug overdose in 2004) and future The Storm / Hardline Josh Ramos – both sharing lead & rhythm guitar.
No wonder their first album emerged on Shrapnel Records, known for its many guitar-oriented releases, being a record pretty heavy metal oriented.
Titled “On The Streets“, LE MANS’ debut LP was produced by Shrapnel mastermind Mike Varney, and of course, it’s a very guitar-oriented piece of hard rock with metallic overtones. A clear polished production that loses none of Le Mans’ hard hitting rawness; an essential ingredient for any heavy metal / hard rock band at the time.
Oddly, ”On The Streets” never has been officially reissued / remastered – fortunately this bootleg CD manufactured by Lost Gems Records sounds very good.
The fast ’n’ heavy ‘Live To Rock’ opens the proceedings and pretty much sets the pattern for most of the album, with ‘Outside Looking In’, ‘Get Him Out Of Here’, and the Riot sounding ‘Nervous Breakdown’ all being delivered with precision and fire.
The title track is more commercial, midpaced and anthemic, somehow ala Twisted Sister or Quiet Riot 1983.
As said, the guitar work is really good all over the LP and features some excellent twin lead breaks from Derek Frigo and Josh Ramos; most noticeably on ‘Hard As A Rock’ and ‘Computer Defense’.
On ‘Take Me Down’ the band again attempts to a more commercial hard rock, while Ramos again shines on ‘Hell’s Halls’. This track also brings to the fore the aggressive raw vocal style of Peter Marrino.
“On The Streets” is a pretty killer debut album from Le Mans, showcasing a great potential for the future for the 5-piece. Eventually, the band was singed by major label Columbia releasing a fantastic self-titled LP, yet much more commercially oriented according to times (1986).
But this “On The Streets” is punchy, edgy US metal / hard rock from the fist half of the ’80s – you know, think early Keel, Steeler, pre-major label Dokken, the edgy Quiet Riot, etc.
Highly Recommended
1 – Live To Rock
2 – On The Streets
3 – Nervous Breakdown
4 – Outside Looking In
5 – Get Him Out Of Here
6 – Hard As A Rock
7 – Take Me Down
8 – Hells Halls
9 – Computer Defense
Peter Marrino – Lead Vocals
Derek Frigo – Lead & Rhythm Guitar
Josh Ramos – Lead & Rhythm Guitar
Richard Burns – Bass
Kenny Stavropoulos – Drums