THE KICK’s 1987 album “Heartland” is one of those hidden melodic‑rock treasures that slipped under the radar, originally released only in Japan before finally appearing in Europe in the early ’90s. The band was one of several projects founded by Leo Lyons of Ten Years After — a musician and producer whose résumé includes work with UFO, Magnum, Waysted, Frankie Miller, and many others.
The origins of THE KICK go back to 1983–84, when melodic hard rock was dominating the scene. Lyons teamed up with former Michael Schenker Group keyboardist Andy Nye and singer/guitarist Tony Crooks to craft a set of catchy, polished songs in the vein of China Sky, Dare, Roko, and similar AOR‑leaning acts — but always with a distinctive twist.
The rhythm section featured seasoned players:
• Dave Dowle (ex‑Magnum)
• Kex Gorin (early Whitesnake)
With this lineup, you can expect tight musicianship, strong songwriting, and a clean, professional production.
That “cool twist” mentioned earlier? THE KICK infused their melodic rock with a subtle ZZ Top “Eliminator”‑style vibe, giving the album a unique flavor. Just listen to tracks like “This Can’t Be Love” or the pumping AOR gem “She’s Got It All” — both absolute standouts.
Other highlights include:
• “Do You Know”
• “Don’t Fool Around”
• “Heartland” (title track)
• “Louise”
All strong, melodic songs from a band that never quite reached mainstream recognition but absolutely deserved more attention.
THE KICK’s first live performance was no small affair — a festival in Hamburg in front of 12,000 people. They continued touring well into the mid‑’90s and even released another album before Lyons eventually returned to producing and later reunited with Ten Years After in the early 2000s, bringing THE KICK to an end.
“Heartland” remains a classy, highly enjoyable slice of late‑’80s British melodic rock — polished, catchy, and full of charm.