Detroit was a spinoff of rock group The Detroit Wheels. This revised version of that band was formed by Mitch Ryder as a successor to The Wheels in 1970. The only original Wheel in the group was the drummer Johnny "Bee" Badanjek; other members were guitarists Steve Hunter and Brett Tuggle, organist Harry Phillips and bassists W.R. Cooke and John Sauter. A single album was released by this grouping, a 1971 self-titled LP issued on Paramount Records. They had a hit with their version of the Lou Reed - penned song "Rock & Roll", which Reed liked enough to ask Steve Hunter to join his backing band. Ryder quit the group because of voice problems in 1972, and Detroit vocalist Rusty Day took over his spot; without Ryder, the group floundered, and eventually broke up in 1974. While not as commercially successful, Rusty Day's era of Detroit was a powerhouse to be reckoned with. He used to sing for Ted Nugent & The Amboy Dukes, and was soon to form Cactus. Rusty, having been the original singer, picked prior to Mitch's return from Memphis and being asked to sing with them due to Rusty's having other commitments. Rusty's time at the helm waited. When he returned the band was Re-energized, and managed by John Sinclair, and Pete Andrews. The band toured all over spreading the gospel of Detroit Rock n Roll. Day, backed with soon to be legendary guitar hero, Steve Gaines ; took the band in a different, but in a still solid rocking direction This lineup also featured Bill Hodgson on guitar, Ted "T-Mel" Smith, Nathaniel Peterson, and Terry Emery. Some recordings exist out there of this era. In 2005, Detroit re-emerged once again. original members W. Ron Cooke and Johnny 'Bee' Badanjek, got together to record a new album for Detroit Artist Workshop Group & Woodshed Productions. The duo brought in Steve Dansby, a noted guitar sideman in the Motor City scene, having also played with Ron Cooke & Rusty Day in Day's 2nd incarnation of 'Cactus', as well as other side projects. As well as Micheal Katon, a noted Blues-Rock Pioneer, who had played with Dansby, Ron Cooke and Harry Philips in another band w Scott Morgan in the 1980s. This union began pounding out material in some of Detroit area's best Studios; Big Sky w Geoff Micheals, Rock City Studios w Pete Bankert, and Harmonie Park Studios w Brian & Mark Pastoria. In an effort to bridge the gap between the eras of Mitch Ryder & Rusty Day, as well as stay in tune with the later sounds of Detroit Rock & Roll; they enlisted the Vocals of Tom Ingham. Tom's take on the Detroit sound filled out well with the rest of the band. The album, called Dead Man's Hand was released in 2006, and is still available. This independent release included special appearances by Scott Morgan, Johnny Spark, Johnny Arizona, J.B. Sweet and Chris Codish.
Albums
Detroit (1972)
;Track Listing Side One
"Long Neck Goose" -
"Is It You " -
"It Ain't Easy" -
"Rock & Roll" -
Side Two
"Let It Rock" -
"Drink" -
"Box Of Old Roses" -
"I Found A Love" -
;Personnel
Mitch Ryder - lead vocals
Steve Hunter - lead guitar
Brett Tuggle - guitar
Harry Phillips - keyboards
W. R. Cooke - bass, backing vocals; lead vocals on "Box of Old Roses"
Johnny Badanjek - drums, backing vocals; co-lead vocals on "Is It You "
"Dirty Ed" Okalski - congas, tambourine
;Additional Musicians
Boot Hill - keyboards, harmonica
John Sauter - bass
Mark Manko - second guitar on "Long Neck Goose", "It Ain't Easy", "Let It Rock" and "I Found A Love"
