WHERE THEY ARE NOW: Machine Gun Kelly, Holy Smoke
Although he works an 8-to-5 job, George King just can't tear himself away from playing live music. As one-third of one of the Valley's favorite cover bands, King has spent a majority of his time bringing some much needed entertainment to so many of our weekends.
"It's getting harder as I get older but I still do it," King joked. "If I have the opportunity to play with my friends I will. I love going out and playing and rock ‘n rollin'. Those were good times. I have it in my blood." Both Holy Smoke and Machine Gun Kelly went strong for years but eventually decided to call it quits. These days King is still behind the bass pulling double duty for the heavy metal cover band Spit and classic rock band The Helltones.
At the end of the day, though, it's doubtful any other band could do Deep Purple's "Highway Star" the way these guys did.
Holy Smoke/Machine Gun Kelly
- Members: George King (vocals, bass), David Gomez (guitar, vocals), Daniel Gomez (guitarist)
- Machine Gun Kelly Members: George King (bass), Roy Rodriguez (guitar, vocals), Oliver Hammonds (guitar) Gilbert Balleisteros (drums)
- Started/Ended: 1991-2006 (Holy Smoke)/ 1999 - 2003 (Machine Gun Kelly)
- Hometown: McAllen/Edinburg
- Favorite Venue: (with Holy Smoke) Cadillac Jack's in Edinburg, (with Machine Gun Kelly) Hooligan's
- Memorable moment: Opened up for several concerts one of them being Kansas at the Road House, Night Ranger, and Quiet Riot.
- How has the scene changed? "There's definitely more bands and more bands that are having better opportunity to play. There are names on signs I've never heard of. Back then it was very select few that could get a gig. Pays remain the same but now there's one-nighters everywhere. Places are all different now too. Different faces, but it comes in cycles. I hardly recognize everybody, and I think where'd everybody go?"
