Editing Lone Justice

{{Short description|American country rock band}}
{{for|the song of the same name by Anthrax|Spreading the Disease}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name                = Lone Justice
| background          = group_or_band
| image               = 
| caption             =  
| origin              = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| genre               = {{hlist|[[Country rock]]|[[roots rock]]|[[cowpunk]]|[[rockabilly]]}}
| years_active        = 1982–1987,<ref name="nightflight">{{cite news|url=http://nightflight.com/ways-to-be-wicked-l-a-s-petite-dynamo-maria-mckee-and-her-band-lone-justice/|title="Ways to be Wicked": Petite dynamo Maria McKee and her rockin' L.A. band Lone Justice|work=[[Night Flight (TV series)|Night Flight]]|date=April 20, 2017|accessdate=June 24, 2019|last=Thomas|first=Bryan}}</ref> 2024
| label               = [[Geffen Records|Geffen]]
| associated_acts     = [[Maria McKee]]
| website             = 
| current_members     = [[Maria McKee]]<br /> Ryan Hedgecock<br />[[Marvin Etzioni]]
| past_members        = David Harrington<br />Don Willens<br />[[Don Heffington]]<br />[[Tony Gilkyson]]<br />[[Shane Fontayne]]<br />Bruce Brody<br />[[Gregg Sutton]]<br />Rudy Richman
}}

'''Lone Justice''' was an American [[country rock]] band formed in 1982 by guitarist Ryan Hedgecock and singer [[Maria McKee]] in [[Los Angeles]]. The band released two albums, ''[[Lone Justice (album)|Lone Justice]]'' in 1985 and ''[[Shelter (Lone Justice album)|Shelter]]'' the following year, before disbanding in 1987.

==History==
===Early era===
Lone Justice began as part of the L.A. [[cowpunk]] scene of the 1980s, inspired by Hedgecock and McKee's shared affection for [[rockabilly]] and [[country music]].<ref name="spin">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ImJFcBcCvUoC&q=spin+magazine+1985+recognition+comes+to+l.a.+band+lone+justice&pg=PA48 |title=Justice At Last – Recognition comes to L.A. band Lone Justice |first=Chris|last=Morris|date=July 1985|pages=48|publisher=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|accessdate=August 23, 2010}}</ref> The group started out as a strict [[cover band]],<ref name="MTV">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/artists/lone-justice/biography/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141208052039/http://www.mtv.com/artists/lone-justice/biography/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 8, 2014 |title=mtv.com. About Lone Justice|website=[[MTV]]|accessdate=September 21, 2016}}</ref> but after the additions of bassist David Harrington and drummer Don Willens,<ref name="WTLN">{{cite AV media notes|title=[[The Western Tapes, 1983]]|type=EP liner notes|others=Lone Justice|publisher=[[Omnivore Recordings]] |year=2018}}</ref> they began to compose their own material.<ref name="MTV"/> [[Marvin Etzioni]] was initially brought in as producer, arranger and songwriter for the band, but ended up replacing Harrington as bassist in 1983.<ref name="WTLN"/> By 1984, [[Don Heffington]] had replaced Willens as drummer.<ref name="spin"/> Their early sound was a fusion of country music and [[punk rock]] with rockabilly elements, but by the time of their first album, the band had begun to incorporate elements of [[roots rock]] and singer-songwriter styles. [[Benmont Tench]] of [[Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers]] was a frequent guest musician at their live shows.{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}} The band earned early support from [[Dolly Parton]], who attended one of their club shows and later recalled McKee as "The greatest girl singer any band could ever have."<ref name="vaught">{{cite web |title=Lone Justice's 'New' Album: Fresh Cowpunk, 30 Years Later |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/blogs/our-country/lone-justice-album-fresh-cowpunk-30-years-later-103815697.html |website=yahoo.com |date=January 31, 2014 |accessdate=August 1, 2019}}</ref>

Lone Justice developed their initial following within the Los Angeles music scene. Local rock journalist Stann Findelle reported in ''Performance'' magazine that the band "stole the show" at the [[Whisky a Go Go]] from headliner [[Arthur Lee (musician)|Arthur Lee]], who was attempting a comeback that night, but left after two songs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://santafe.com/podcasts/out-of-the-vault-maria-mckee-lone-justice-august-23-2013 |title=SantaFe.com. Out Of The Vault – Maria McKee & Lone Justice, August 23, 2013|accessdate=September 21, 2016}}</ref> [[Linda Ronstadt]] was introduced to the band by wardrobe stylist Genny Schorr. [[Linda Ronstadt]] made a call to [[David Geffen]] and they were signed to [[Geffen Records]] amid a flurry of publicity.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1986/12/02/lone-justice-groping-for-a-sound-on-shelter/|title=Lone Justice Groping For A Sound On Shelter |last=Brogan |first=Daniel |publisher=Tribune Publishing |date=December 2, 1986 |website=ChicagoTribune.com |access-date=September 21, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1985/10/03/lone-justice-turning-to-rock-n-roll-for-verdict/ |title=Lone Justice Turning to Rock 'n'Roll For Verdict |last=Brogan |first=Daniel |publisher=Tribune Publishing |date=October 3, 1985 |website=ChicagoTribune.com |access-date=September 21, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dallasobserver.com/music/justice-served-6401329 |title=Justice Served |last=Weiss |first=Neil |publisher=Voice Media Group |date=January 7, 1999 |website=DallasObserver.com |access-date=September 21, 2016}}</ref>
[[File:Lone Justice 1985.jpg|thumb|Lone Justice in 1985]]
Their [[Lone Justice (album)|self-titled debut]] appeared in 1985, followed by a tour in support of [[U2]].<ref>{{cite book |title=U2 Live: A Concert Documentary|author=Pimm Jal de la Parra|publisher=Omnibus Press |year=2003|isbn=978-0-7119-9198-9 }}</ref> For touring, the band augmented their line-up with guitarist [[Tony Gilkyson]], who left the band in 1986.<ref name="nightflight"/> Produced by [[Jimmy Iovine]], the album received some significant critical reviews, including that of Jimmy Guterman, then a critic at ''[[Rolling Stone]]'', who placed it in his list of the best albums ever made.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.randysrodeo.com/books/guterman.php |title=Jimmy Guterman biography |publisher=Randysrodeo.com |accessdate=November 12, 2009}}</ref> ''[[The Village Voice]]'''s [[Pazz & Jop]] Critics Poll for 1985 ranked it No.&nbsp;24.<ref name="pazz_85">{{cite web|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pjres85.php|title=The 1985 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll|accessdate=March 14, 2010}}</ref> Nonetheless, the album failed to connect with country or rock audiences,<ref>{{cite book |last=Ankeny|first=Jason|editor-first1=Vladimir|editor-last1=Bogdanov|editor-first2=Chris|editor-last2=Woodstra|editor-first3=Stephen Thomas|editor-last3=Erlewine|title=All Music Guide to Rock: The Definitive Guide to Rock, Pop, and Soul|publisher=Hal Leonard|date=2002 |pages=667|edition=3rd|isbn=978-0-879-30653-3}}</ref> and the whole enterprise suffered from excessive pre-release promotion that "raised expectations... [the album] couldn't possibly satisfy".<ref name="Robbins4">{{Cite book |title=The New Trouser Press Record Guide |edition=4th |editor-last=Robbins |editor-first=Ira A. |year=1991 |publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers (United States)|Collier/Macmillan]] |location=New York |isbn=0-02-036361-3 |page=329 |url=http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=lone_justice }}</ref> Two singles fizzled – "Sweet, Sweet Baby (I'm Falling)" and "Ways To Be Wicked", the latter written by [[Tom Petty]] and [[Mike Campbell (musician)|Mike Campbell]] – and the album did not meet commercial expectations.

===Later era===
In the record's wake, Etzioni and Heffington went their separate ways, and McKee and Hedgecock assembled an all-new band.<ref name="Pareles">{{Cite news |last=Pareles |first=Jon |author-link=Jon Pareles |date=December 15, 1986 |title=Rock: Lone Justice |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/12/15/arts/rock-lone-justice.html |newspaper=The New York Times |accessdate=August 18, 2018 }}</ref> After enlisting guitarist [[Shane Fontayne]], bassist [[Gregg Sutton]], drummer Rudy Richman, and keyboardist Bruce Brody (formerly of the [[Patti Smith Group]]), Lone Justice recorded their second LP, ''[[Shelter (Lone Justice album)|Shelter]]''. [[Steve Van Zandt]] was the producer, along with Jimmy Iovine and the band. This record saw them almost completely abandoning much of their earlier cowpunk, rockabilly, and roots rock influences in favor of what could be considered more typical 1980s pop/rock production, with heavy emphasis on [[drum machines]] and synthesizers.  Commercially, the album charted lower than its predecessor, reaching only No.&nbsp;65 on the album charts. However, the title single did better than the band's previous two singles, reaching No.&nbsp;26 on the Rock Singles chart, and No.&nbsp;47 on [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart.

===Disbandment===
Less than a year after ''Shelter'''s release, McKee broke up the band for good in 1987 and went on to a solo career.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://dbs-repercussion.blogspot.com/2018/01/lone-justice-band-on-verge-demos-live.html |title=Lone Justice – Band On the Verge (demos + live) |date=January 19, 2018 |website=dbs-repercussion.blogspot.com |accessdate=June 24, 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/lone-justice-43d66fcf.html|title=Lone Justice Concert Setlists & Tour Dates|website=setlist.fm|accessdate=June 24, 2019}}</ref> Heffington became a session drummer, while Etzioni recorded under the name "the Mandolin Man". Rudy Richman played drums with UK rock band [[The Quireboys]] between 1992 and 1993, appearing on the album ''Bitter Sweet & Twisted''. Fontayne played guitar in [[Bruce Springsteen]]'s band for the tour backing up the ''[[Lucky Town]]''/''[[Human Touch]]'' albums.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reverendguitars.com/artists/12-questions-with-shane-fontayne/|title=Reverendguitars.com. 12 Questions With Shanye Fontayne|accessdate=September 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923014033/http://www.reverendguitars.com/artists/12-questions-with-shane-fontayne/|archive-date=September 23, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> After a decade removed from the music industry, Hedgecock returned in 1996 as half of the duo [[Parlor James]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/307778/lone-justice/biography|title=Billboard.com. Lone Justice|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|accessdate=September 21, 2016}}</ref>

A Lone Justice retrospective, ''[[This World Is Not My Home (Lone Justice album)|This World Is Not My Home]]'', was released in January 1999, featuring early demo recordings.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/509947/lone-justice-offer-retrospective-cd/ |title=Lone Justice Offers Retrospective CD |author=Staff |date=December 4, 1998 |website=MTV.com |access-date=August 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818021424/http://www.mtv.com/news/509947/lone-justice-offer-retrospective-cd/ |archive-date=August 18, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A budget compilation was issued in 2003 as part of Universal Music's ''20th Century Masters'' series. Their 1985 performance of "Sweet, Sweet Baby (I'm Falling)" was released by BBC Video on ''[[The Old Grey Whistle Test]] Vol. 3'' compilation DVD, 2004.<ref>{{cite AV media|title=The Old Grey Whistle Test Vol. 3|type=DVD|publisher=BBC Video|year=2004}}</ref> Between 2014 and 2019, [[Omnivore Recordings]] issued three retrospective releases consisting of demo and live recordings made in 1983: ''[[This Is Lone Justice: The Vaught Tapes, 1983]]'' (2014), ''[[The Western Tapes, 1983]]'' (2018), and ''[[Live at the Palomino, 1983]]'' (2019).<ref>{{cite web |title=Omnivore Recordings To Release Rare Lone Justice Club Recordings With Live At The Palomino 1983|url=https://musictap.com/2019/03/19/omnivore-recordings-to-release-rare-lone-justice-club-recordings-with-live-at-the-palomino-1983/ |last=MARowe|website=Music Tap|date=March 19, 2019|accessdate=July 20, 2021}}</ref>

In March 2021, Heffington died of leukemia at age 70.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/don-heffington-dead-drummer-roots-rock-1234937646/|title=Don Heffington, Lone Justice Member and L.A.'s Premier Roots-Rock Drummer, Dies at 70 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|last=Willman |first=Chris |date=March 24, 2021|accessdate=July 11, 2021}}</ref>
Sutton died on October 22, 2023, at the age of 74.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Willman |first=Chris |date=2023-10-23 |title=Gregg Sutton, Songwriter-Musician Who Played With Artists From Lone Justice and Bob Dylan to Andy Kaufman, Dies at 74 |url=https://variety.com/2023/music/news/gregg-sutton-dead-songwriter-musician-lone-justice-andy-kaufman-1235765536/ |access-date=2023-10-23 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Viva Lone Justice===
In May 2024 it was announced that a new  7” "[[Teenage Kicks]]" / "Nothing Can Stop My Loving You" will be available digitally from 28th May and physical release 12th July.
It's the first single from the album ''[[Viva Lone Justice]]''.

=== Albums ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Album
! colspan="5"| Chart Positions
! rowspan="2"| Label
|-
! style="width:50px;"| <small>[[Top Country Albums|US Country]]</small><br><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/lone-justice/chart-history/country-albums |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114063642/https://www.billboard.com/music/lone-justice/chart-history/country-albums |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 14, 2019 |title=Lone Justice Chart History: Top Country Albums |magazine=Billboard }}</ref>
! style="width:50px;"| <small>[[Billboard 200|US]]</small><br><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/lone-justice/chart-history/billboard-200 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114051557/https://www.billboard.com/music/lone-justice/chart-history/billboard-200 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 14, 2019 |title=Lone Justice Chart History: Billboard 200 |magazine=Billboard }}</ref>
! style="width:50px;" |<small>[[ARIA Charts|AUS]]</small><ref name=aus/>
! style="width:50px;"| <small>UK<br><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/lone%20justice|title=The Official Charts Company – Lone Justice|date=May 5, 2013|publisher=The Official Charts Company}}</ref></small>
! style="width:50px;" |<small>[[RPM (magazine)|CAN]]</small><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.0863.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Albums - December 6, 1986}}</ref>
|-
| 1985
| ''[[Lone Justice (album)|Lone Justice]]''
| style="text-align:center;"| 62
| style="text-align:center;"| 56
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 49
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| rowspan="2"| [[Geffen Records|Geffen]]
|-
| 1986
| ''[[Shelter (Lone Justice album)|Shelter]]''
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 65
| style="text-align:center;"| 66
| style="text-align:center;"| 84
| style="text-align:center;"| 86
|-
| 2024
| ''[[Viva Lone Justice (Lone Justice album)|Viva Lone Justice ]]''
| style="text-align:center;"| 
| style="text-align:center;"| 
| style="text-align:center;"| 
| style="text-align:center;"| 
| style="text-align:center;"| 
|}


=== Live albums ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Album
! colspan="3"| Chart Positions
! rowspan="2"| Label
|-
! style="width:50px;"| <small>[[Top Country Albums|US Country]]</small>
! style="width:50px;"| <small>[[Billboard 200|US]]</small>
! style="width:50px;"| <small>UK</small>
|-
| 1994
| ''BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert''
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| [[Windsong International Records|Windsong]]
|-
| 2019
| ''[[Live at the Palomino, 1983]]''
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| [[Omnivore Recordings|Omnivore]] 
|}

=== Compilation albums ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Album
! colspan="3"| Chart Positions
! rowspan="2"| Label
|-
! style="width:50px;"| <small>[[Top Country Albums|US Country]]</small>
! style="width:50px;"| <small>[[Billboard 200|US]]</small>
! style="width:50px;"| <small>UK</small>
|-
| 1999
| ''[[This World Is Not My Home (Lone Justice album)|This World Is Not My Home]]''
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| Geffen
|-
| 2003
| ''The Best of Lone Justice''
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| Geffen, Chronicles
|-
| 2014
| ''[[This Is Lone Justice: The Vaught Tapes, 1983]]''
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| Omnivore 
|}

=== EPs ===
*''I Found Love'' — 1987 Limited Edition UK double 45RPM EP in gatefold cover on Geffen GEF18F – Includes the songs: "I Found Love" (studio), "If You Don't Like Rain" (studio), "Sweet Jane" (Live [[BBC Transcription Services]] recording) and "Don't Toss Us Away" (Live BBC Transcription Services recording).
* ''[[The Western Tapes, 1983]]'' (2018)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Western-Tapes-1983-Lone-Justice/dp/B07HQ7LGKP|title=The Western Tapes, 1983 |work=Amazon |year=2020 }}</ref>

=== Singles ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Single
! colspan="4" | Chart Positions
! rowspan="2"| Album
|-
! style="width:50px;"| <small>[[Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks|USR]]</small> <ref name="USMSRock">{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/lone-justice/chart-history/hot-mainstream-rock-tracks |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115042531/https://www.billboard.com/music/lone-justice/chart-history/hot-mainstream-rock-tracks |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 15, 2019 |title=Lone Justice Chart History: Mainstream Rock Tracks |date=2019 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |accessdate=January 13, 2019}}</ref>
! style="width:50px;"| <small>[[Billboard Hot 100|US]]</small><ref name="Hot100">{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/lone-justice/chart-history/hot-100 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114102136/https://www.billboard.com/music/lone-justice/chart-history/hot-100 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 14, 2019 |title=Lone Justice Chart History: Hot 100 |date=2019 |magazine=Billboard |accessdate=January 13, 2019}}</ref>
! style="width:50px;" |<small>[[ARIA Charts|AUS]]</small><ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=181}}</ref>
! style="width:50px;" |<small>[[UK Singles Chart|UK]]</small><ref name="UKchart">{{Cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/22583/lone-justice/ |title=UK Official Charts |date=2019 |publisher=Official Charts Company |accessdate=January 13, 2019 }}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1985
| "Sweet, Sweet Baby (I'm Falling)"
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 73
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| rowspan="2"| ''Lone Justice''
|-
| "Ways to Be Wicked"
| style="text-align:center;"| 29
| style="text-align:center;"| 71
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 77
|-
| 1986
| "Shelter"
| style="text-align:center;"| 26
| style="text-align:center;"| 47
| style="text-align:center;"| 38
| style="text-align:center;"| 108<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.ukmix.org/forum/chart-discussion/chart-analysis/11007390-uk-singles-charts-1986-including-chart-panel-sales |title=Gallup Top 200 Singles |magazine=Gallup |date=25 October 1986 |via=ukmix.org |access-date=10 December 2022}}</ref>
| rowspan="2"| ''Shelter''
|-
| 1987
| "I Found Love"
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 45
|}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Discogs artist|Lone Justice}}
* {{IMDb name|id=3163000}}

{{Lone Justice}}
{{Maria McKee}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1982 establishments in California]]
[[Category:1987 disestablishments in California]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Rock music groups from California]]
[[Category:Cowpunk musical groups]]
[[Category:American jangle pop groups]]
[[Category:American country rock groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1982]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1987]]
[[Category:Female-fronted musical groups]]
[[Category:Mixed-gender bands]]