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Rocket 88 & The Rockettes

Rocket 88 & The Rockettes

Interview

Jim Fontaine

The French Webmagazine Blues Again




Rocket 88 & The Rockettes

The Bluesband that changed shape in 2020 and started writing, recording, arranging, producing and launching original music. Neither Blues, Rock, Soul nor Rhythm & Blues, and instead a mishmash and concoction of all of the above, fused and mixed together, and finally turned into....

The Sound of Rocket 88 & The Rockettes

And the result of this novel challenge? A large amount of original musik! This new era was begun by recording the singel "Stuck In Place" in 2020 and releasing it on all streaming platforms, followed by a music video. Step two was to release the singel "I Feel Good (Never Too Late). The EP "Second Coming of Rocket 88 & The Rockettes: Chapter 1" was released on Jan 12th, 2021. Stage three of the release includes the following the following songs:

Every Day (music J Öman, lyrics B Öman)

I'll Be Gone (music J Öman, lyrics A Arespång, B Öman)

What's It To You (music J Öman, lyrics B Öman)

Still I Sing The Blues (lyrics and music A Arespång)

Stuck In Place (music J Öman, lyrics B Öman)

I Feel Good (Never Too Late) (lyrics and music A Arespång)

In 2021/2022, this release will continue with the recording of two singels, one Ep and finally, chapters one and two collected on a full-length vinyl.


Rocket 88 & The Rockettes

Jim "Grandpa" Fontaine - guitar

Anna - Vocals

Madame - vocals

DjangoTango - guitar, vocals

Lee - Bass

Jonas - Drums


History

The quartet Rocket 88 was formed as a pure Blues band in 1998, and they recorded the CD's "Teaser" in 2002 and "Tulane Avenue" in 2003. In 2005,Rocket 88 expanded to form Rocket 88 & The Rockettestogether with three female vocalists, the band recorded and released the CD "One Footed Cockroach Stomp" in 2010. In 2012, singer, violinist and hammond organist Arve sadly passed away. The void he left behind was filled by the group's three vocalists: Madame, Anna and Helen. In 2015, bassist Håkan stepped down and was replaced by Lee. In 2017, the band was expended with DjangoTango on guitar and vocals. In 2019, Helen left the band. In 2020, drummer Magnus stepped down and was replaced by Jonas. The only remaining original member from 1998 is Jim "Grandpa" Fontaine.

Photo Saarela

                             

Rocket 88 & The Rockettes

"The Family"


Jim

"Grandpa"

Fontaine

Electric Guitar

Photo Johan Saarela

Anna

Vocals

Photo Johan Saarela

Madame

Vocals

Photo Johan Saarela

Lee

Bass Guitar

Photo Johan Saarela

Django Tango

Electric Guitar, Vocals

Photo Johan Saarela

Jonas

Drums

Photo Johan Saarela

Admiral Saarela

Photografer

Photo Johan Saarela

Rocket 88 & The Rockettes

Teaser

Rocket 88 & The Rockettes

Every Day

lyric-Béatrice Öman, music-JIm Öman, producer & recording-Jani Ruuskanen
arr-Rocket 88 & The Rockettes
Rocket 88 & the Rockettes

I'll Be Gone

lyric-Anna Arespång, Béatrice Öman, music-Jim Öman, producer & recording-Jani Ruuskanen
arr-Rocket 88 & The Rockettes
Rocket 88 & the Rockettes

What's It To You

lyric-Béatrice Öman, music-Jim Öman, producer & recording-Jani Ruuskanen
arr-Rocket 88 & the Rockettes
Rocket 88 & the Rockettes

Still I Sing The Blues

lyric & music-Anna Arespång, producer & recording-Jani Ruuskanen
Rocket 88 & The Rockettes

"Stuck in place"

Lyrics Béatrice Öman, Music Jim Öman, Production & Recording Jani Ruuskanen,
Arr. Rocket 88 & The Rockettes
Rocket 88 & The Rockettes

"I feel good (never too late)"

Lyrics & Music Anna Arespång, Production & Recording Jani Ruuskanen,
Arr. Rocket 88 & The Rockettes
Photo Johan Saarela
Rocket 88 & The Rockettes

"Still I Sing the blues"

Lyrics & Music Anna Arespång, Arr., Production & Recording Jani Ruuskanen
Rocket 88 & The Rockettes

disCograPHY

Rocket 88

"Teaser" 2002
  1. "99" (Sonny Boy Williamson)

  2. Baby How Long (Chester Burnett)

  3. Blind Love (Chester Burnett)

  4. Don't Drive Me Baby (Lowell Fulson)



Rocket 88

"Tulane Avenue" 2003
  1. Rocket 88 (J. Branston-I .Turner)

  2. I Love You Honey (J .L. Hooker)

  3. Give My Heart A Break (J. Shines)

  4. I Don't Know Why (W. Dixon)

  5. Left Home When I Was A Kid (T-Bone Walker)

  6. Good Evening Everybody (R. Miller)

  7. Baby Please (C. Chenier)

  8. Trouble, Trouble (L. Fulson)

  9. Just Like I Treat You (C .Burnett)

  10. Rockin' Daddy (C. Burnett)

Rocket 88 & The Rockettes

"One Footed Cockroach Stomp" 2009
  1. Let Me Love You (W. Dixon)

  2. Shake For Me (W. Dixon)

  3. Cockroach Stomp (P. Ömalm)

  4. The Mojo (J. B. Lenoir)

  5. Down In The Bottom (W. Dixon)

  6. Hard But It's Fair (W. Dixon)

  7. I Didn't Know (C. Burnett)

  8. Please Don't (J. Shines)

  9. I Found A True Love (Buddy Guy)

  10. Diggin' My Potatoes (R. Brown)

  11. It's My Life (Robey/Washington)

  12. I Mean Goodbye (S. Hopkins)

  13. Shim, Sham, Shimmy (Robinson/Dupree)

Rocket 88 & The Rockettes

"Stuck In Place" 2020 Béatrice Öman/Jim Öman



Rocket 88 & The Rockettes

"I Feel Good (Never Too Late)" 2020 Anna Arespång

Rocket 88 & The Rockettes

"Second Coming of
chapter 1"
1. Every Day (Béatrice Öman, Jim Öman)
2. I'll Be Gone (Béatrice Öman, Anna Arespång, Jim Öman)
3. What's It To You (Béatrice Öman, Jim Öman)
4. Still I Sing The Blues (Anna Arespång)
5. Stuck In Place (Béatrice Öman, Jim Öman)
6. I Feel Good (Never Too Late) ( Anna Arespång)
Rocket 88 & The Rockettes

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Photo Thomas Hjert