Hollywood Weekly’s Guide to Live Music at the Whisky a Go Go

“LIGHTS OUT — ONE MAN’S LIFELONG COMMITMENT TO THE ROCK BAND THAT ELECTRIFIED HIS YOUTH”

Written by Anthony Ewart

John Adams is the founder of UFO legacy band “LIGHTS OUT,” he’s the lead guitarist for the group, and could quite easily be a character taken from a Cameron Crowe film which has yet to be written. “Say Anything” and “Almost Famous” are two classic Crowe movies with smart teenagers as protagonists whose lives are both fueled by their overwhelming passion for music. This is a literal description of John Adams in 1974.

Musically speaking, being a teenager in the early 70s must have been phenomenal. You were still coasting on the waves of vibrations that started in the late 60’s by musicians like Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Keith Richards, The Doors and The Beatles — not to mention Crosby, Stills, Nash and Mr. Neil Young. Yet there was one guitarist among these Guitar Gods that spoke to a young John Adams. 

John’s brother was listening to a record by UFO, a highly acclaimed British rock band formed in 1968. The guitarist playing was Michael Shenker, and upon hearing this performance John began his lifelong love for UFO. Now he was going to be a lead guitarist and form his own band. The dream was born that day.

John’s first band in High School was called “Euphoria.” He wrote original songs and of course, covered many rock classics. Throughout his life John maintained a love and admiration for UFO. In 2000 he started his band LIGHTS OUT, named after a song by UFO. With Lights Out John created an experience for the music of UFO. He was happy for 24 years performing the music he loves. He was operating a successful legacy band for UFO, and then a miracle happened. The kind of magical wish fulfillment that great novels and movies are made of. 

John had an original rock band called “Love and War” that he performed with when not touring with Lights Out. In 2015 John was actually given the opportunity to open for the very band that inspired him to become a musician: UFO. It was the chance of a lifetime and John was able to speak with UFO drummer and founding member Andy Parker while they toured together. To John’s astonishment, Andy said he had heard about Lights Out through social

Media and personal friends. He was a fan! Andy made a promise that John would never forget: if he ever had a break from UFO he would play drums for Lights Out.

2024 began with bad news for John. His band, Lights Out, was breaking up. The responsibilities of life stepped in and his music mates quietly stepped away. Most importantly was his drummer of 24 years. However, John learned that UFO were also retiring that year. He decided to travel for their final show to see drummer Andy Parker again. John’s plan was simple: he didn’t have a drummer, UFO was disbanding, and Andy made him a promise — albeit a promise made nine years earlier.

It turned out Andy Parker is a man of his word, despite the passage of time. He agreed to join John’s UFO Legacy Band Lights Out. That should have been a microphone drop moment right there, but John still had more work to do. He had other positions in Lights Out to fill. He was creating a new band from scratch, building a group around UFO drummer Andy Parker. 

Wayne Findlay, who plays keyboards and rhythm guitar for Lights Out, was a recommendation from Andy. Wayne played with John’s idol, Michael Shenker, for 20 years. Barry Sparks, who plays Bass, performed with UFO for many years. The only position left to fill for John’s band was the lead singer, but Mark Boals wasn’t a connection from Andy Parker. John remembered hearing Mark sing at various concerts before and was impressed with his powerful vocals. John admitted he “tracked down Mark” and recruited him for Lights Out. 

The passion in which John assembled the new members for Lights Out brings to mind the energy John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd displayed in “The Blues Brothers” as they traversed the entire city of Chicago to “get the band back together.”

John Adams is experiencing the best life possible right now. Every night he performs with Lights Out he is living a dream that began as a teenager, and can be summed up in the name of the first band he ever formed in high school: Euphoria.

LIGHTS OUT is repped by PARAMOUR GROUP TALENT 

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LIGHTS OUT CURRENT TOUR SCHEDULE:

San Antonio Texas Friday August 7th at Fitzgerald’s

Houston Texas Warehouse Live Midtown Sunday August 9th

Detroit Michigan at the Token Lounge Thursday October 22nd

Chicago Illinois at Des Plaines theater Saturday October 24th

Cleveland Ohio Sunday October 25th at the Music Box