RED HALO: Dead Man's Vitamin (EP)

Red Halo

Dead Man's Vitamin (EP)

© 2003 Red Halo Music (664980016521)

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Fresh, pure rock and roll music; a unique blend of influences...Queens of the Stone Age meets Iggy Pop at Joe Perry's house, all listening to "Appetite for Destruction".

notes

Dead Man's Vitamin by Red Halo is the initial release by the Birmingham, AL based band and was recorded and released in 2003. The band was fronted at the time by Damon Johnson, original frontman/guitarist for Brother Cane (and currently for Slave To The System). Since then, Damon has moved into a "producer only" role for the band and lead vocals have now been assumed by guitarist Jason Marchant. Red Halo will release it's newest album in the summer of 2005, all tracks which were produced and recorded by Damon Johnson at his Double Dragon Studio, and mixed by Kelly Gray. Keep watching CDBaby for more info on the upcoming release and read the following, which is the original album info for Dead Man's Vitamin:

Red Halo is true, relentless rock and roll. Officially formed in September of 2002 in Birmingham, Alabama, the band consists of Jason Marchant and Deacon Ledbetter on guitars (both formerly of Virgos Merlot), Billy Wilkes on drums, and Damon Johnson on lead vocals and bass.

The summer of 2003 finds the release of Red Halo's EP, Dead Man's Vitamin. Co-produced by the band and Kelly Gray (Candlebox, Brother Cane), the disc contains eight songs that immediately display a fresh and unique blend of rock influences. "Amphetamine", the first single from the EP, is a raucous take on the depravity of the proverbial "stoner", almost making it sound like a good time to be a burnout. "Let's Spend the Night Together" could be the missing track from Aerosmith's Rocks album, while "Why Fight It" hails the excitement of having Iggy Pop himself show up at your house party and details the ensuing chaos. Red Halo flexes it's melodic muscle with "Die Young" and "Ballad of the Lost", the former guaranteed to get those cigarette lighters high in the air. The EP closes with the 1-2-3 punch of "Gun to My Head", the dark and sinister "Sex, Love, and Confusion", and "Sinners and Saints", capping an outstanding rock record for the new millennium.

In a time filled with copycats, clones, and MTV chasing poseurs, Red Halo gives rock fans hope for the future.

reviews

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  • author: Darren Sarapu

    Like somebody already mentioned, Damon Johnson is definitely one of the better lyricists of the 90's and 00's and coming out of his pipes make those lyrics even more amazing. This outing, while seeming a little more straight ahead than the Brother Cane catalogue, is just grab-you-by-the-throat and make you take notice music. Everything's catchy and intelligent. I was a big fan of Virgos Merlot and wanted to hear what Deacon and Jason were up to. It's so sad that in this day and age a band like this can't be more prominent on the touring cycle than what's out there that they can't stand on their own and not have Damon leave to go play for Alice Cooper or something like that!! :-( Pick up this disc for sure, maybe Damon will come back to the fold and give this band another go!!!

  • Awesome Band..
    author: Chasity

    I seen them Spring 2007 in Montgomery, at Jubilee City Fest, Opening for the Goo Goo Dolls, and bought their CD that night. They were great. It also gave me a great band to show my friends who have never heard of them.

  • buy it NOW!
    author: Rachel

    I saw these guys live (minus Damon) in Montgomery. They opened for the Goo Goo Dolls, but Johnny & Co. ain't got nothin' on these guys. They rock hard. Think Guns'n'Roses meets Ozzy with a dash of Allman Bros. Or think whatever you want, but buy this CD immediately. I can't wait for the new one with Marchant on vocals.

  • Exceeded my expectations, have listened to nothin but for a week
    author: David

    The trail led from Kelly Gray(his stint with Queensryche produced some great guitar work) to Slave to the System and finally to Damon and Dead Man's Vitamin and the self titled album. I have a play list of all three titles and I have not listened to anything else for a week. Take the headphones off and play it loud. ps great service from CD Baby.

  • author: Swiss mate

    Rock kick ass with the amphetamine Song ! I like this version keep rocking guys

  • Great cd!! Damon Rocks as usual!
    author: Maureen Gallagher

    This cd is great!! If you are a Damon Johnson fan you need to buy this cd!! He Rocks as usual!!

  • Damon kicks it out again!
    author: Tonia

    This CD kicks some serious butt! Highly recommended for any true rock music fan. Right now it's burnin' up my CD player!!!

  • This is an AWESOME CD! Highly Recommend
    author: Ben O

    Hey, This is an amazing cd and i highly recommend it to anyone who likes Damon's music or any of the unfluences listed on this page. Damon sounds great as always. Rockin' CD!

  • Awesome CD, great songs!
    author: Curt Granger

    Damon Johnson is awesome on this record. More great songs from one of rock's best songwriters and vocalists. The rest of the band does a fantastic job as well. Solid, heavy-as-stone drumming from Billy Wilkes, and very cool guitars from Jason and Ted. If you like straight-ahead, no bullshit rock and roll, then buy this CD for your collection while you still can!

  • Hed Halo rocks...you need to buy this CD!!
    author: Chris Kaiser

    Damon sounds excellent, as always, and this is one of the best CDs I have purchased in a while. This makes up for no Brother Cane CDs lately.

  • Thank You Red Halo!
    author: Shelly

    I was first exposed to the band by drummer Billy Wilkes a few years ago while he lived in the same building as a friend of mine. He gave us a CD to check out. Since then, I have wanted to thank Billy and Red Halo for staying true to making genuine music. I thought rock was becoming too commercial; it was losing it's art & it's edge, but Red Halo brings back hope with their album. Thank You Red Halo!

  • author: Amy

    Awesome cd! I saw the band for the first time at the concet in June in Headliners of Columbia. Dead Man's Vitamin is as good as the self-titled album. BUY IT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!

  • awesome band!
    author: Alexandra

    I first saw this band in concert last spring, making me want to buy their cd. I'm so glad I did! The cd is completely awesome. GO BUY IT PEOPLE!

  • YES!@
    author: Daniel

    red halos got a new CD out, its self titled, music so good.. makes you wanna slap yo momma!

  • THIS C.D ROCKS!!
    author: Bob Racette

    Do you want a C.d that rocks? If so buy RED HALO. Damon Johnson & the boys rock from the first song Amphetamine To the last song Sinners & Saints. We need more good music like this & no more of this Boy Band Pop CRAP. Best of luck to Red Halo. ROCK ON.

  • Damon continues to impress
    author: Charlie Dudley

    Dead Man's Vitamin really impressed me with only 8 songs as well. Damon's vocals are great as well and I wish they would do a follow up to this album. Amphetamine and Damon were the reasons I bought the CD, but I was really surprised for Die Young to be my favorite track off the album.

  • Quality Rock
    author: Ian

    Songs full of attitude, great musicians and has quickly became a fave in my collection.

  • Just what rock needed.........
    author: chet

    Once again, Damon Johnson has shown his singing/songwriting abilities above reproach. This CD has all the guitar rifs and down to the marrow base and drums to satisfy any real rocker who misses the hard stuff... The same intensity that Wishpool brought to the table for the lover of thinking man's hard-rock.

  • wow ' bama is rockn. well done gentlemen.
    author: todd stuart stubbs phx az.

    the music industry needs this band.lots of integrity & moxy.this cd rocks like a big bad dump truck.all i can say is wow. bama is rockn. well done gentlemen.

  • Damon is King!
    author: Peo Wahlgren

    This one´s a killer! Love it. Pure, honest rock n roll don´t get much better than this, that´s for sure. Please be back soon!! Peo Wahlgren/Sweden

  • Thank you Damon
    author: jmcgaugh

    This is a rare complete CD most CD's only have a couple of good songs but i enjoyed the whole thing. Great job guys.

  • Another great project with Damon Johnson
    author: MadMeavy

    The hole thing reminds a little to Slave To The System, Great Music. Love to hear Damon's voice again.

  • Way Cool Cd from Red Halo
    author: Ricky R

    JimDandy of a cd from REDHALO//We Die Young is one of the best songs of the year//dang fine effort from the boys in B-ham...

  • Exactly what I would expect from a Damon Johnson effort: Excellent
    author: Thumper

    This album is fresh and hard edged with the underlying sensitivity that has highlighted Damon Johnson's career. Good, high energy, quality rock and roll.

  • Awesome!!!!!!!
    author: Randy Giroux

    Awesome as anything expected by Damon Johnson. If you like Brother Cane get this cd you will like it!!! It would probably be what the next Brother cane cd would have been like. BUY IT BUY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • One of the best cd's I've bought in a long time!Damon kicks ass!
    author: Trey

    This is just a great cd for people who like good rock.Which we need more of!

  • Strait forward no frills rock and roll
    author: DJ

    I am a long standing fan of Damon and Brother Cane, so no suprise that Red Halo posesses the quality of good old down home rock and roll but with yet another fresh twist. Amphetamine gets major kudos for originality and Die Young is a great melodic groove!! No favorites though because it's all good!! I highly recommend this CD.

  • Great CD!
    author: Brandon Johnson

    The CD was Awesome! It had the song Amphetamine, which I loved, and the other songs were great too! They were not just some filler songs to take up space. It's great to see a great band and CD come from B'ham!

  • Love it-- it has songs for every listener
    author: Stacy S.

    I was listening to the very CD I am writing about when I got the e-mail asking for my review. Ever since I got the CD it hasn't left the CD player...so rockin' yet it has the softer songs too which are incredible. The best buy I have made in a long time!

  • Damon Leaves Red Halo
    author: Patty B.

    I was pretty bummed when I came here to order 'Dead Man's Vitiman' and saw they were out of stock, but fortunately it didn't take CD Baby very long to get some in. (CD Baby RAWKS!!) 'Die Young" is by far my fave track, showing solid talent and musicianship. Too bad Damon is no longer with Red Halo, but I"ll keep checking their site to see which direction they take their sound.

  • great cd
    author: p thomason

    would recomend to any rock fan

  • One of the best albums I ever heard!
    author: Tremble

    This is Awsome! By far a pick-me-upper for any Rock fan. Damon is Rockin as is all of Red Halo. Hoping to hear more in the future!

  • Rock Lives!
    author: Ted Shaprow

    Thank goodness for Red Halo! Damon Johnson and company keep alive the tradition of good ol' Rock and Roll, with a touch a something new! This is a album that will not disappoint, pick it up!

  • Simple excellence
    author: John Nolan

    You don't need a hyphen and a descriptive word to explain what kind of music it is. You just say, "my friend, this is Rock." Just good, straight-forward Rock as it should be. The experience, talent, and the very heart of each member of this band reverberates through every track. Red Halo, please make a tour stop in South Texas.

  • God this album rocks!!!
    author: Kristian

    Having been a Brother Cane fan for years and recently Slave to the System, i just had to purchase this album, living in the UK did'nt stop this purchase, one cd thats going to be in my top ten for the year.

  • great music
    author: Liz

    I found Red Halo's music searching for what Brother Cane was doing these days. I played the first Brother Cane to death, a favorite to work out with.. What a pleasant surprise to listen to the samples on the website, thanks. I didn't hesitate ordering when the cd was available to the non locals, lol. I really enjoy this cd, it is the complete package. Great melody's, vocals and lyrics. Thank's for the music guys. Hopefully I will get a chance to see a live show too.

  • Damon does it again!
    author: Brian Curran

    I've been a huge fan of Brother Cane for a long time (Wishpool is one of the best albums I own), so when they seemed to fade I was upset. So, I was eagerly anticipating this release. Not once did I even think it wouldn't be good. But I was wrong. It's great! Every song is original, rocking, smart and clean. And it's gets better with each listen. "Sex, Love and Confusion" is simply awesome! This is one talented band. I just wish it was a full length album - I want MORE songs. Great job guys. You've made my summer.

  • SOMETHING FRESH
    author: Bruce Lomet (CHINASKI)

    Red Halo's "Dead Man's Vitamin" EP brings something fresh to ROCK today. Combining Jason Marchant and Deacon Ledbetter's rhythmic ROCK GTR grooves that will turn your head around, Billy Wilkes HEAVY and propulsive pounding, and Damon Johnson's edgy and frantic delivery -- this EP will make you feel ALIVE.

  • Not soul music, but definitely redemption music for rock-n-roll.
    author: Shawn

    The situation you have here is a group of four accomplished musicians who don't need the initial trials and errors of being a rock band. The resulting supergroup can draw upon numerous sources of inspiration and experience to create an unbelievable sound on a flawless first record. I won't bore you with the overused praises of how fresh their music is, because it is beyond that. The band states that writing the music came naturally, and it shows on the EP. Listen to the sample, and you won't need any more convincing. Red Halo - maybe not soul music, but definitely redemption music for rock-n-roll.

  • A deftly crafted contempo classic with substance and heart.
    author: Craig S.

    Damon and Co. get straight to the point with this deftly crafted contempo classic. Laced with great energy and memorable hooks, these tunes are as good (if not better) than most anything you can find on Modern Rock radio today, but most importantly is that they have substance and heart. The combination of Johnson's unique sound with the writing talents of Jason Marchant & Ted Ledbetter (of Virgos Merlot fame) and driven by the solid hammering of Billy Wilkes is a winner no matter how you cut it. Basically put... if the last incarnation of BROTHER CANE (and arguably it's best) were still around and kicking today, then I imagine that their sound would be pretty damn close to what you will find on DEAD MAN'S VITAMIN (and that's definitely a good thing)!

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