The Hollywood Stars, who have one of the most intriguing stories of ’70s rock bands, have announced that Ruben de Fuentes, a founding member of the group in 1972, has left the band and will be replaced by George Keller. Also departing is rhythm guitarist Chezzare Monroe.
The Hollywood Stars made their debut, headlining the Whisky A Go Go over two nights, 17/18 December 1973. Over the next year, they would become one of the top-drawing acts at the Whisky.
The Hollywood Stars had been assembled by producer and songwriter Kim Fowley and were designed to be rivals to the New York Dolls. This was just before Fowley built The Runaways, who later opened for the Hollywood Stars, and the plan was to push both bands into the big time.
The defining lineup of The Hollywood Stars joined together to play a one-off benefit concert at The Bootleg Theatre in Los Angeles on 11 November 2018. One of the tracks they played that night was King Of The Night Time World, which you might remember from the Kiss albums Destroyer (’76) and Alive II (’77).
The new lineup of the Hollywood Stars includes singer Scott Phares and drummer Terry Rae, both founding members of the group in 1973. Bassist Michael Rummans joined in 1976 and appeared on the group’s second and third albums, Sound City and The Hollywood Stars. Keller has been on the Los Angeles music scene since the 1980s and has played with Tina Turner, George Cromarty, Colin Carter, and the Stingrays, as well as alongside Rummans in the garage rock band the Sloths.
The band released their Still Around EP last month through Golden Robot Records featuring the songs The Bottom, Will The Lights Go On Again?, If It Wasn’t For The Night, and Still Around. New concert dates will be announced soon.
The song “Still Around” is written by me Chezz Monroe. I own the publishing & the copyright to the song. I have not given them the right to use my song in any format. I demand you take this article & this video down now!!!!!