M.A.R.S: Tony MacAlpine (guitar, keyboards); Bob Rock (vocals); Rudy Sarzo (bass); Tommy Aldridge (drums).
Personnel: Tony MacAlpine (guitar, keyboards); Robert Rock (vocals); Tommy Aldridge (drums); Mike Mani (programming, keyboard programming); Dino Alden, Tom Cosgrove, Tommy Cosgrove, Mark Tate, Mike Varney, Brett Douglas (background vocals).
Illustrator: Guy Aitchison.
Photographer: Pat Johnson .
After progressive guitar/keyboard virtuoso Tony MacAlpine debuted on Shrapnel Records with his all-instrumental album Edge of Insanity, he teamed up with drummer Tommy Aldridge, singer Robert Rock, and bassist Rudy Sarzo to form a sort of all-star heavy metal band called M.A.R.S. While it masquerades as a Whitesnake-styled group effort, Project: Driver seems like another MacAlpine album with vocals added. MacAlpine's dizzying neoclassical guitar and keyboard solos are the strongest elements here, as vocalist Robert Rock embodies all the big-hair clich‚s of '80s heavy metal. Casual listeners won't be amused. Still, Project: Driver includes some interesting ideas, which can mostly be credited to MacAlpine, whose fans will love those solos. ~ Andy Hinds
