The History of the Sixes...
Hailing from Indianapolis, Indiana, Healing Sixes are undoubtedly one of today's top US-based blues-rock bands. Consisting of band members Doug Henthorn (vocals, guitar), Eric Saylors (guitar), Wade Parish (drums), and Jeff Stone (bass), the group is preparing to release their fourth full-length release, 'Blue Jay' - one of the group's more organic yet still rocking releases to date. Healing Sixes have been busy in the past few years, with the release of the deluxe maxi-single "Fine Time" featuring blues virtuoso Joe Bonamassa on guitar [which is also featured on the aforementioned 'Blue Jay']. The band has also been touring steadily - playing headlining shows of their own, as well as shows with such renowned acts as Ted Nugent, Bret Michaels, Eddie Money, The Steepwater Band, Todd Rundgren, Night Ranger, Blue Oyster Cult, Hoobastank, and many more.
Healing Sixes' history includes three powerhouse albums [1998's 'Maple;' 2002's 'Enormosound;' and 2007's 'One Less Friend to Ignore']. The group has also released an absolutely must-see DVD [2008's 'Live at Harby's'], which captures the band in an intimate, acoustic setting shining light on a side of the band not heard - or seen - too often. Originally formed in 1998, past Healing Sixes members include Jason Bonham (drums, former Foreigner and most-recent incarnation of Led Zeppelin; is also the son of John Bonham), Jon E. Gee (current bassist for John Mellencamp, former Ted Nugent), Tony Medeiros (drums), and Chaz Winzenread (bass). Also, the band has also recorded with the likes of Anton Fig, Tony Levin, and Pat Thrall, among others. Not a bad roster, eh?
In 1998, Healing Sixes released its aforementioned first album, 'Maple,' and toured with the likes of the Jason Bonham Band. As fate would have it, drummer Parish was injured in a motorcycle accident, and soon thereafter, Bonham hinted his interest in joining the band...and did! Bonham toured and appears on the Kevin "Caveman" Shirley (Aerosmith, Black Crowes, Journey) produced album, 'Enormosound.' "Doug's voice is fantastic," says Jason. "They're hungry to play and that's how it's supposed to be."
After four years in the line-up, Bonham and Healing Sixes went their separate ways, however, all remains harmonious between Bonham and the band, explains Henthorn. "Jason is still a dear friend. It was a real pleasure working with him. He stays in touch and continues to be a supporter of our band." Fast forward to 2006, Henthorn made a guest appearance on Bonamassa's album, 'You & Me' - an album that spent three weeks at #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart. Henthorn sang on a cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Tea For One” (which also featured Bonham on drums), and the tune was voted the #14 "Greatest Cover Tune of All Time" by the UK’s Planet Rock Station. Soon after, Healing Sixes regrouped and put together yet another stellar album, 'One Less Friend to Ignore,' released independently in 2007. 'One Less Friend to Ignore' features a smattering of stomp rock blues, that bleeds with emotion - especially on such standouts as "Port-O-Let Monkey," "Tonight Nothing's Wrong," and "What I Want". In 2009, Henthorn joined Bonham is a tribute resurrection of his namesake band ‘Bonham’ for two special shows in L.A. where Henthorn sang a cover of the Robert Plant song “Like I’ve Never Been Gone”.