Manilla Road, USA

News: I have been remiss in updating this page. Unfortunately band leader Mark Shelton passed away unexpectedly - after playing a concert in Germany - on July 27th. His presence on the world stage will be greatly missed. Thanks to the artist of the wonderful photo above.


Location: Wichita, Kansas

Overview: Manilla Road's legacy is now long cemented. Basically they are credited with popularizing, if not inventing, what we now call Epic Metal. My own history with them goes back to while I was still in high school in 1983... so I've got nearly 35 years invested in the band. Not sure there's anyone else with that kind of longevity that has really mattered to me in modern times - well I guess Iron Maiden goes back even further with me - but that's a rare breed. Long ago, a buddy and I even visited Mark Shelton at his house in Wichita in 1991, after he had folded the first phase of the band. He reformed The Road in 2001 with Atlantis Rising and hasn't looked back since. Their second go round has a longer tenure than the first! And they continue to get more progressive as time goes on. Manilla Road are the shining example of how a band should age. If you are only to listen to one Manilla Road album, I highly suggest you seek out The Deluge (1986). All one can say is WOW.

UMR notes

As I first build out this page, I only have a couple of albums covered. But there's more already written, and plenty to come. I own them all!

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