Cargo Records

• FOCUS ON: Cosmo

• Official Website >>
• Label: Frontiers Records >>
• Genre: Melodic Rock

Fran Cosmo is a singer that has a huge pedigree behind him. His debut was in a band called Orion The Hunter, together with former Boston guitar player Barry Goudreau and former Heart man Mike Derosier.

In 1983, a young rock vocalist named Fran Cosmo joined forces with Barry Goudreau, guitarist for a group that was to become one of the cornerstones of American "classic rock" - Boston. Not only was this a major evolutionary step in the rock-n-roll career of Fran, but also the formation of a musical wormhole, extending toward the future. Orion the Hunter, as the new group would name themselves, was rounded out by Bruce Smith and ex-Heart drummer Michael DeRosier. Their self-titled album produced a hit single in “So You Ran”, and a popular video on the fledgling MTV.

Following the successful Orion the Hunter outing, guitarist Michael Schenker contacted Fran Cosmo to write material with the intentions of forming a new group. They were joined by Bruce Smith, bassist from Orion the Hunter, and Roland Jones, a great guitarist in his own right, from England. Songwriting sessions at the famed Mayflower Hotel and rehearsals at S.I.R. Studios in New York City produced a demo that was recorded in Mott the Hoople vocalist Ian Hunter's studio. Unfortunately, due to other obligations, this line up disbanded after approximately six months.

However, this lead to Fran assembling the band Cosmo. The initial line-up of Fran and Antonio Cosmo included central New York musicians Mick Brooks on guitar, Bill Carman on bass, and Tom Moonan on drums. However, Cosmo would soon take a back seat to a virtual leap in the evolution of rock-n-roll.

Another strengthening of the musical continuum occurred in 1997 when Tom Scholz heard some demo recordings of the Cosmo band, written by the emerging song writer Antonio Cosmo. This lead to Antonio's contributing three songs to the fifth Boston studio album, “Corporate America”, and joining Fran on stage with Boston for tours in 2003 and 2004.

Following the Boston tour of 2004, the prolific Antonio Cosmo had amassed an extensive library of modern rock songs. With the resurgence of rock-n-roll that was occurring, Fran and Antonio couldn't pass up the opportunity to attempt the biggest evolutionary leap yet. Cosmo, once sidelined by a major power in music, was now in the forefront with full force! The current line-up was Fran Cosmo, Antonio Cosmo, Mick Brooks, new drummer Pat Orlowski, and Bill Carman, who contributed 3 bass tracks to Boston's “Corporate America” album. They were ready to show the world the new face of rock-n-roll!

By this point, you are wondering, "Rock-n-roll - check. Evolution - gotcha. But what does any of it have to do with aliens?". To which the reply is… "Listen to Cosmo music.