Power of Zeus

One of the more obscure hard rock acts of the early '70s, Detroit's Power Of Zeus became the first hard rock group to sign and record for Motown subsidiary Rare Earth, but theirs was hardly a successful relationship. The band that would become Power Of Zeus was formed in 1968 by vocalist/guitarist Joe Periano, shortly after his release from the Marine Corps and while working at a Chrysler plant outside Detroit. A newspaper ad brought him together with bassist/vocalist Bill Jones, drummer Bob Michalski, and, through a moneymaking side gig with a local country band, Hammond organist Dennie Webber. Drawing most of their inspiration from British hard rock and heavy metal titans like Cream, Black Sabbath, and Led Zeppelin, as well as the era's pervasive psychedelic stereotypes, the quartet -- then going by the name of Gangrene -- became the unofficial house band at the Wooden Nickel club, where they were eventually spotted by a local manager.

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