IAN CRICHTON BAND / H3O+ (Ian Crichton of Saga & Paul MacAusland of Haywire) 1995

As requested, here’s SAGA’s guitarist IAN CRICHTON solo album / project called “H3O+“. Ian is a terrific guitar player, perhaps the first to introduce the ‘80s shred / sound into a progressive band. Just check out Saga’s albums ‘Heads or Tales’ and especially 1989’s ‘The Beginner’s Guide to Throwing Shapes’ with its hard-rock inflected solos.

However, Crichton is totally restrained by the straight-jacket of SAGA’s legacy, and he can’t show up his complete guitar skills within the band style. Then, looking for a more straight-forward hard rock he formed H3O+, also known as IAN CRICHTON BAND.
The 1995 debut album titled “H3O+” (in some countries released with a different title & artwork) features renowned musicians from the Canadian hard rock scene: Haywire lead vocalist Paul MacAusland, Bass player Pat Kilbride (Haywire, Rik Emmett band), drummer Paul DeLong (Kim Mitchell band), and Saga’s Steve Negus co-producing.
“H3O+” is classic hard rock with an early ’90s sound, including some instrumental guitar tracks where Crichton finds room to express himself, but also on the sung, song-format rocking tracks delivering flashy burning solos.

Ian Crichton is an excellent guitarist: he rocks really hard, has got a clear melodic sensibility, and his skill on solos and riffs is pristine – as it is the overall production of “H3O+”
He’d make a good hard rock guitarist if he wanted to, but his life is Saga, and “H3O+” is a vehicle for his rock ‘n roll guilty pleasure.
Highly Recommended

01 – Harmony
02 – Touch´n Go
03 – Toy Town
04 – Change
05 – Tuesday
06 – In Your Hands
07 – This Time
08 – Shades Of Blue
09 – To The Edge
10 – Do It
11 – Mr. Skin
12 – Pumpkin Patch
13 – Trust Your Heart

Guitar – Ian Crichton (Saga)
Vocals – Paul MacAusland (Haywire)
Bass – Pat Kilbride (Haywire, Rik Emmett band)
Drums – Paul DeLong (Kim Mitchell band)
Guitar track 13 – Steve Negus (Saga)
Produced by Ian Crichton & Steve Negus

Link for download IAN CRICHTON BAND / H3O+ (Ian Crichton of Saga : turbo

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More Information

Saga is a Canadian rock band from Oakville, Ontario. Bassist and keyboardist Jim Crichton and Welsh-born vocalist and keyboardist Michael Sadler are the principal songwriters. Saga has had numerous line-up changes over the years. Ian and Jim Crichton were the only two original members who appeared on every album.

saga malmsteen steve vai hard rock rush triumph rik emmet. "Welcome to the boom boom room" is the first solo album from the Canadian guitar hero Ian Crichton (b. August 3rd 1956). Born in the town of Oakville, Ian and his big brother Jim Crichton early learned to handle the strings.

SAGA - the photo sessions for the upcoming album "Sagacity". May 2014. by Alexandra Mrozowska — Senior Columnist — When it comes to Metal, band mascots are somewhat a standard - we're all more than familiar with the lovely countenances of Motörhead's Snaggletooth or Iron Maiden's Eddie.

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