3 Balls of Fire

about

Based in both Austin, Texas and Los Angeles, CA - 3 Balls of Fire, AKA The Men with the Burning Guitars, was formed in 1987 by guitarist/composer/band leader Burnin' Mike Vernon. Vernon and joined his first band, Stoned Catsup, in Arlington, Texas, in 1969. From '73-'75 Mike studied Spanish guitar at the Univ. of Texas-El Paso and then returned to the Dallas-Ft. Worth area where he played in various jazz, blues, rock, and western bands. During this time he had the opportunity to sit in with such greats as Freddie King, Big Joe Turner, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Gary Duncan of the Quicksilver Messenger Service. In '79 he formed the instrumental group Perry Mason & the Defendants and cut two 45's for the Mars label. The group played all over the north Texas area, Louisiana and Oklahoma. By '82 the band's sound turned decidedly surf in nature as the band performed surf guitar songs from the '60's and originals by Vernon. In 1985, Vernon moved to Austin and in 1987 formed 3 Balls of Fire. Joining in on bass and drums was Vic Gerrard and Chris Stix Staples, forming the tightly-wound rhythm section on the Balls' self-titled debut recording on Amazing Records in 1987. In 1989, Gerard and Staples joined Two Hoots and a Holler, and Vernon kept the group alive by adding Jackie Newhouse (Stevie Ray Vaughan's bassist until 1980) Steve Fulton on guitar & drums, and a revolving list of stellar players from the Austin area. In the early '90's, the group released two cassettes, toured from L

top songs

albums

For A Few Guitars More

FirePower

Chrome & Water

Jet Set Guitars

▥

For A Few Guitars More (A Tribute to Morricone's Spaghetti Western Themes)

▥

VA-For A Few Guitars More (A Tribute To Morricone's....)

Somewhere On the Deep Blue Pacific

▥

Friday Night At Ego's Lounge

▥

Heavy Surf

▥

Surfin' Senorita

For A Few Guitars More: A Tribute To Morricone's Spaghetti Western Themes

▥

Exotic Guitars

similar artists