New Music: '89

Champagne Alley is a hard rock band formed in Spokane, Washington in 1989 by Karl Bingle (Drums) & Mike Lane (Guitar). Joined by Fred Potts on bass and singer, Brian "Swave" Stevens, the Champagne Alley cats were staples at Spokane landmarks The Big Dipper and Gatsby's.  Basement Heroes was the band's only offering to feature the original lineup. 

Karl kept the band running after Mike departed for Seattle. One iteration of the band featured Karl singing and a young Tony Malson on drums (more on Tony below). The City of Pain album was released during this era.  Mike returned to join Karl for the band's final performance at Riverfront Park in 1993.  

After 30 years, the band's founders reunited to make new music.  The new songs feature Tony Malson (State Line Empire, The Devil in California) on lead vocals.  Rachel Pitts, singer, dancer, and all around badass jumped into the fray on back-up vocals.  Check out Rachel's lead vocal debut on the newest song Gimme A Reason. 

Thanks for stopping by!  This is where we will post new music and long-forgotten gems that even we haven't seen in years.  Videos of the classic lineup can be found here.  Thanks for sharing some memories and laughs with us... 

Here's to shooting for the stars, collecting scars, 

and raising a glass to Rock & Roll.

--Mike & Karl

Karl started taking guitar lessons at age 6 but switched to drums at age 7. From age 10-14 he also took private violin lessons and continued with private drum lessons. This led to a strong musical foundation and early exposure to performing with school groups and city orchestra. Karl studied Music Production at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and also under Alan Parsons, best known for his work at Abbey Road Studios (EMI) with The Beatles and as engineer/producer of Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon".

After playing in a number of bands through the 1970's and '80's, Karl and Mike crossed paths in the late 1980's which became the foundation of Champagne Alley. As the two were rehearsing in a rented storage space in the Spokane Valley, they bounced around ideas for a band name. Sharing wine coolers in the alley between the units, they agreed that "One day, we'll be drinking Champagne in this Alley". And the rest, as they say, is history.

Karl is currently living in Pawleys Island, South Carolina and owns Mission Control Studios.  He has recorded over 50 albums and continues to work as a musician, engineer and producer. He is a voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS aka "The Grammys") and a voting member of the Audio Engineering Society (AES). His work has been featured world wide on networks including HBO, Discovery Channel, History Channel, and independent films. Karl also owns and operates the Indi record label Mission Control Records and the Internet Radio station Mission Control Radio. 

Mike's life changed forever on March 20, 1984. That was the day he attended his first rock concert at the Boone Street Barn.  The headliner was an iconic British heavy metal singer but he was there to see the opening band; four badasses from Los Angeles who called themselves Motley Crue. Suddenly, playing rock and roll became so much more important than playing football and baseball.

The next week he bought a $30 pawnshop guitar and rented a tiny Peavey practice amp from Hoffman Music in the Spokane Valley. Mike's playing is heavily influenced by Angus Young, Jimmy Page, and Stevie Ray Vaughn.  Mike's father filled his childhood home with Hank Williams and Waylon Jennings, so while he loves rock and metal, he also has an ear for country music.

In addition to writing, recording, and performing with Champagne Alley, Mike contributed guitar parts to several Spokane radio commercials in the early 90's. Mike left Champagne Alley to try his hand in the Seattle scene.  He returned to Spokane two years later, joined Karl in the band's final performance, and then largely abandoned his pursuit of a music career. 

Mike continued to play guitar while he married, raised a daughter, and began a successful career. He is now an Executive Director and spends as much time as he possibly can on beautiful Lake Chelan aboard his 25-foot pontoon party barge aptly named "Motley Cruise".