SUMMARY: More than a story about musical passion, the tale of Ivory Tower Project is one of heartbreak and achievement. Following the deaths of two of the four founding members and the severe injury of a third, the band has continued to cultivate their own unique classic rock influenced sound, while also bringing a modern edge to it. “How Much More?” is the latest album in their catalog of inspired music that delves into the unique challenges that the band has faced.

Ivory Tower Project was originally formed by Mark Regula, Johnny Jace, Tony Novorro and Sal DiAngelo with the idea of capturing the essence of classic rock and presenting it in a truly modern fashion. Soon after the band’s formation, in 1983, original member Sal DiAngelo died, which was the first taste of tragedy that the band experienced. The second was the death of songwriter Johnny Jace, who passed away in 2003. If things were not bad enough for the band, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Mark Regula was in a serious car accident that left him barely able to walk or perform live.

If you think that is a lot for a band and four individuals to endure emotionally, it is. In an interview with a New York music publication, Regula shared his experiences with the loss of his band members and in that, found the strength to carry on and continue recording. “How Much More?”, an album that is as deep and introspective as the name would suggest, features some of the the last lyrics written by Johnny Jace. Regula was then tasked with putting the lyrics of his dearly departed friend and band member to melodies, without having him to bounce ideas off of; a task that he says was one of the most difficult parts about recording the album. [Read more…]