Kings X to perform Texas rock music

NEWTON — Hard Rock band Kings X returns to the Newton Theatre on Saturday, June 13 at 8 p.m.

Kings X is a Texas band that boasts melodic harmonies, hard rock and blues riffs, and a dose of prog ambition. The trio, bassist/vocalist Dug Pinnick, guitarist/vocalist Ty Tabor, and drummer/vocalist Jerry Gaskill, joined forces in 1980 after Pinnick and Gaskill were touring with the Christian rock band Petra.

They played the Missouri bar scene with their Top 40 cover band the Edge. By 1983, the band had changed its name to Sneak Preview and was now completely focusing on original compositions, resulting in an obscure and very hard to find self-titled debut album released around this time.

Sneak Preview were offered a recording contract in 1985 if they relocated to Houston, Texas, which they did, but the deal failed to materialize. Undeterred, the trio continued on and perfected its sound and songwriting further, catching a break when ZZ Top video producer Sam Taylor took the group under his wing, helping it secure a recording contract with New York's Megaforce label in 1987.

He suggested that the band change its name to King’s X (the name of a local group that Taylor was an admirer of back in his high-school days). In 1988, King’s X released their debut album, "Out of the Silent Planet."

Other albums, like "Gretchen Goes To Nebraska," "Faith Hope Love" and "Dogman," charted in the US and the UK in the ‘80s and ‘90s.

Tickets for Kings X range from $24 to $49 and may be purchased by visiting www.thenewtontheatre.com or contact the box office at 973-383-3700.

The historic Newton Theatre, located at 234 Spring Street in Newton.