Point Blank

Point Blank was formed in 1974 in Texas and toured with ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynard, Marshall Tucker and other Southern rock bands for two years before releasing their self-titled debut album in 1976. Following the release of their second album, Second Season, they become one of the most booked, and consistent touring acts in Southern rock history. They would play over two-hundred concerts a year. They played with nearly every known Southern rock band and became close friends with many of them. They shared the same management with ZZ TOP and are still friends with them to this day. Before the release of their third album, Airplay, the bassist Phillip Petty quit and was replaced by Bill Randolph. The keyboardist Steve Hardin was brought in and they recorded his song, "Mean to Your Queenie", which the band plays at every concert. The Hard Way released in 1980 had a new keyboardist, Karl Berkebile and shortly after the vocalist John O'Daniel left the band and was replaced by Bubba Keith. Around 1981 their music took a turn into album oriented rock (AOR), which is an album format with greater commercial appeal, and Mike Hamilton became the new keyboardist. Their next album, American Exce$$, produced the hit song, "Nicole" which charted at #20 on Billboard Magazine's rock tracks chart and at #39 on Billboard's Hot 100. In 1982 their final album, On A Roll was released but internal turmoil would cause the band to break up in 1983.
In 2005 three of the original members, John O'Daniel, Rusty Burns and Phillip Petty reunited for a benefit concert with David Crockett on drums, Mouse Mayes on guitar and Larry Telford on keyboards. The concert was recorded and released as, "Reloaded", and then they started touring and released a new studio album in 2009, "Fight On!". Point Blank is still together and released a studio album in 2014, "Volume 9".
The bands second bass player, Bill Randolph, died in 2001 from a heart attack. In 2010 the bands orignal bassist Phillip Petty died from cancer then the guitarist Kim Davis passed on. Michael Hamilton, who played keyboards, succumbed to cancer in 2011.