Craig Balzer, left, with Decembers Children.

  • Craig Balzer, left, with December’s Children.

Guitarist and singer Craig Balzer, a sparkplug of Cleveland’s music scene in the ’70s, died January 7 of cancer at the age of 61. He fronted American Noise, which released a self-titled album in 1980 on Elektra subsidiary Planet Records and became a WMMS favorite and spearhead of its “Pride of Cleveland” promotional campaign. WMMS listeners of that era will recall tracks like “Anyone With a Heart,” “American Noise,” and “Out on the Street.” American Noise broke up in 1982, never catching the wave that propelled similar melodic hard rock bands like Loverboy, Mr. Mister, and Survivor to stardom, despite Balzer’s hard work and relentless promotion. Balzer retired from music and formed a company that sold specialty promotional items.

This article appears in Jan 12-18, 2011.

Vince Grzegorek has been with Scene since 2007 and editor-in-chief since 2012. He previously worked at Discount Drug Mart and Texas Roadhouse.

9 replies on “Craig Balzer, 1970s Cleveland Rock Catalyst, Dies From Cancer at 61”

  1. CLEVELAND AND THE ROCK WORLD HAVE LOST A TRULY GIFTED ARTIST. IT IS SO TROUBLESOME TO ME THAT THE TALENTED AND BLESSED PEOPLE OF THIS WORLD DIE OF CANCER OR HAVE OTHER TROUBLES WHILE THE ROTTEN DREGS OF SOCIETY FIND WAYS OF STAYING ALIVE. I TRULY HOPE THAT THERE IS A ROCK AND ROLL HEAVEN.

  2. Thanks for this article Anastasia. I think this is the first time I have ever read in print what Eric did to Craig. It caused the breakup of Circus. And although it made his life difficult for a long time, American Noise is the result of that situation. If it was not for American Noise, I would not have met him. Our lives and the lives of other were changed for the better.
    Things to happen for a reason.
    Craig truly believed that.

  4. I have never, ever, heard the Eric Carmen story until I just read this memorial article. Wow, that really did happen? If so, thank God! American Noise may have never been.
    Also, American Noise was very much alive and well in 1982, in fact I remember them gigging in early 1986! hopefully this memorial article by Anastasia Pantsios is on the level.

  5. I thought long and hard about dignifying this latest diatribe with a response, but I’d like to set the record straight. First off, let me say that Craig, Bruce and I were good friends. Craig was a truly talented guitarist and singer and his passing is a great loss to the Cleveland music community. I am truly saddened by his death. Having said that, I will tell you that Bruce and Craig were never “tapped” to be part of my solo project. From the very beginning, in 1974-5, my intention was to use Magic because I loved their ability to do complex vocal harmonies. Although, in recent years, I had seen Craig only occasionally, we remained friends. I think it is absolutely despicable (but not unusual, for Anastasia) to use the occasion of Craig’s passing, and his obituary, as an excuse to take another (misinformed) swipe at me. She should be ashamed of herself, and The Scene’s editors should read these things before they’re printed and turned into “folklore.”
    Eric Carmen

  6. Well I was about 12 then so I don’t know the real story so I stand corrected.
    For the record Eric… Craig did consider you to be his friend and cared a lot about you. Sorry you missed the memorial. I should have charged a cover charge and gave the funeral home a piece of the door. lol.

  7. Good for you Eric for setting the record stright, most of the people in local bands around that time were all good friends, and everybody was exsited and happy for those who made it out of Cleveland, God Bless Craigs family.
    COCO member

  8. I lit the band and was Bruce’s guitar tech for the final year or so of shows they did and lent a hand to Craig when he was tracking a demo for what might have been the next American Noise album. I was terribly saddened at his passing and wish that some of those songs that he called his “unfinished work” could have seen the light of day. He had a pop sensibility that ranks with the best rock writers of his generation and live, Noise could part the hair of the first twenty rows. Truly a band that needed to be seen live to fully appreciate. RIP, Craig. You made it all look so easy. – Art

  9. I played in a band called Rendezvous for 10 years … although we did get to play some much larger rooms like the Akron Agora, I know I can speak for the rest of the guys in our band when I say the highlight of our 10 years of playing together was opening for American Noise at a small club called Mr Magoos

    We all looked up to them so much. We loved their music…their live show. We couldnt believe that we somehow got picked to be the opening act for a Saturday night. We were in our early 20s. I think we were expecting them to basically ignore us, but they treated us so well… with such respect, it really made us all feel like we finally made it to the big time…. we were walking on air…

    In advance of this opportunity to open for American noise, I remember rehearsing our best material seven days week, or at least every single day that we werent already playing out at some local clubs. Because of all the extra rehearsal and or excitement level and adrenaline, It was probably the best show we ever put on… our whole set went off flawlessly, except for one little mishap….
    Our drummer, Enzo, broke the head of his snare drum…. something that never happened before…. Tommy Rich, the drummer from American noise grabbed his spare snare drum, crawled back behind the drum set & swapped it out in record time. When Enzo thanked him afterwards he said it was no big deal. He said he always kept a spare snare because thats the one most likely to break. From that moment on Enzo always did the same.

    So to all the guys in American noise, thank you.
    Craig, when we get to heaven, im looking forward to jamming with you again !

    -Joe

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