Belle Vernon natives reunite band for Tarentum concert
Courtesy of Jonathan Baker
Axtion鈥檚 2019 lineup features, from left, drummer Dave Snyder, bassist Kevin Bell, vocalist Randy Amos, and guitarist Darren Lazzari.
Courtesy of California University of Pennsylvania
Axtion guitarist Darren Lazzari plays for fans during a show in the 1980s.
For Belle Vernon native and Axtion guitarist Darren Lazzari, the phrase 鈥渆verything old is new again鈥� is ringing true.
Lazzari, a 1982 Belle Vernon Area High School graduate, will reunite with his Axtion bandmates, vocalist Randy Amos and fellow Belle Vernon native bassist Kevin Bell for a return to the stage at 7 p.m. Saturday at JB鈥檚 Roadside Pavilion in Tarentum. The event marks the first time members of Axtion will hit the stage together since the band鈥檚 breakup in 1986. The band鈥檚 lineup is completed by drummer Dave Snyder, who agreed to perform with Axtion earlier this year.
鈥淓verything comes back around and the younger generations are digging back into history,鈥� said Lazzari said about the response he鈥檚 received about reuniting Axtion after a 33-year hiatus. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 think we had this many fans. I鈥檝e always said Axtion fans were the greatest back in the day. They鈥檙e the greatest even now.鈥�
Axtion was formed in 1983, when Lazzari relocated to Columbus, Ohio, to form the band with Bell and Amos to showcase their brand of hard rock inspired by bands like Kiss and AC/DC.
鈥淲e had a bunch of gigs happening and we were doing really well,鈥� Lazzari recalled. 鈥淢y aspirations were always to be a rock star.鈥�
That version of Axtion disbanded before Lazzari and Amos returned to the Pittsburgh area. The duo formed a new Axtion lineup, and the band immediately became hometown heroes. The band performed to sold-out audiences and shared the stage with popular national acts like Stryper, Helix, and Autograph. In 1985, Axtion recorded their debut album 鈥淟ook Out For The Night.鈥�
鈥淲e were so young when we recorded that album,鈥� Lazzari said. 鈥淚 turned 21 while we were in the studio. We had a chance to become rock stars and we totally went for it. We were in the studio from eight at night to eight in the morning every day for two months. The record company led us to believe things were going to be great, but they were just blowing smoke at us. We were just a tax write-off to them.鈥�
In 1986, Lazzari relocated to Los Angeles with hopes of continuing Axtion, but he became frustrated with California鈥檚 over-saturated music scene.
鈥淲e tried to do it out there, but it was very frustrating trying to start all over again,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e never did continue as planned.鈥�
Lazzari鈥檚 time in Los Angeles wasn鈥檛 a total waste. In 1987, he answered a radio station ad announcing Ozzy Osbourne was searching for a new guitarist. To Lazzari鈥檚 surprise, he received a response from Osbourne鈥檚 team, and he was given one week to learn five Osbourne songs for his audition. Lazzari was called back four times, and during his final call back, Lazzari auditioned with Osbourne singing at his side.
鈥淚 was doing a guitar solo with Ozzy standing five feet away and watching me with his arms crossed,鈥� Lazzari recalled. 鈥淢y heart was racing. For two months, I would run home and check my answering machine to see if I got the gig. They didn鈥檛 even call me to let me know they chose somebody else. I went into a state of depression. I didn鈥檛 want to play or practice my guitar after that.鈥�
Lazzari eventually returned to Belle Vernon and kept a low profile from performing.
Lazzari said the idea to resurrect Axtion began in 2015, when he and Bell reunited on stage for a benefit concert for Lazzari鈥檚 late cousin, Rick Parente. Bell pulled Amos into the fold, and in December 2018, Axtion held it鈥檚 first rehearsal in more than 30 years.
鈥淚t felt really good to be playing those songs again,鈥� Lazzari said. 鈥淲e thought we would throw it together in a month or two. We were humbled very quickly when we realized how challenging those songs are to play now at our age.鈥�
But Lazzari said father time won鈥檛 stop the band from reliving their glory days when they take the stage at JB鈥檚 Roadside Pavilion.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not 21-year-olds anymore, but we鈥檙e going to give the crowd a pumped-up show,鈥� Lazzari said. 鈥淲e want to bring back the good old days. Hopefully, none of us will keel over in the process.鈥�
Axtion will perform at JB鈥檚 Roadside Pavilion with special guests Misaligned Mind and Doug Carnahan. For more information, contact 724-265-2382.