For those unaware, the current lineup of The Hollywood Stars features musicians who have played with The Motels, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Rick James, The Flamin’ Groovies, and others.

Glam Rock was in full swing by the ’70s, as Rock blended to wilder lifestyles and on-stage/off-stage displays of glitter and dress. The New York Dolls helped to further this arrival with make-up and music to match that decadence.

The period was somewhat short-lived but some of the bands and artists that made that scene (Bowie, T-Rex [Marc Bolan], Sweet, Roxy Music, even Slade) are fondly remembered of this point in time. We still play those records!

Another of the bands from that period were The Hollywood Stars. Plagued by a series of unfortunate occurrences, The Hollywood Stars would be short-lived in their endeavors but would leave behind a single eponymously-titled LP. They had two of their songs recorded by KISS and by Alice Cooper.

The new Millennia would see a reformation with a release of their first album (unreleased by Columbia Records), and a 1976 demo album – Sound City.

The lineup of the band responsible for the new Starstruck album is vocalist Scott Phares and drummer Terry Rae (founding members in 1973), bassist Michael Rummans (joined in 1976), and guitarists Jeff Jourard and George Keller (recruited in 2023).

On June 14th, 2024, The Hollywood Stars will release their new album, entitled Starstruck.

1. Can’t Do It Right
2. Taxi Driver
3. Bad, Bad, Man
4. I Had A Girlfriend
5. This Merry-Go-Round
6. Total Control
7. Save Me
8. Sleeping Giant
9. Haunted
10. Am I Right Or Wrong
11. Walking With An Angel
12. Revenge
13. Shortage Of Love
14. Can’t Do It Right (Extended Version)
15. Revenge (Extended Version)

The thoroughbred rocker opens on the raucous, Stones-esque rocker Can’t Do It Right and the foot-stomper, hand-clapper of the post-Stars band Hero’s Taxi Driver and they are backed by the foot to the floor rock that drives the pre-Stars hard rocker Bad, Bad Man, the ZZ Top-esque feel to I Had A Girlfriend, the languishing mid-tempo rocker This Merry-Go-Round, their rendition of the Motels’ glam pop single Total Control and the free flowing Save Me.

Along next is the guitar-slaying Sleeping Giant and the shimmering garage rocking Sloths tune Haunted and they are in turn backed by the rhythmic Am I Right Or Wrong, the low slung Walking With An Angel, the drum-led Revenge, and then we are brought the Kim Fowley-era power ballad Shortage of Love, the set closing on extended versions of both Can’t Do It Right and Revenge.

Musicians:
Scott Phares - Vocals
Terry Rae - Drums, Percussion, Vocals
Michael Rumens - Bass, Cello, Harmonica, Vocals
Jeff Jourard - Guitar, Vocals
George Keller - Guitar, Vocals

Official Website