1. Airkraft's formation .     Born in the basement of an Eau Claire household, high school buddies Mitch Viegut and Dave Saindon formed Airkraft in 1982. Dave Sainson and Mitch played together in a band called Stilrock in 1973 as 13 and 16 year old kids from a small town called Athens. Mitch and Dave rocked it every weekend in the early 70s touring in remade 1959 bus… Mitch left Stilrock to attend college and played in a band called Heros… After 2 year of college, Mitch had enough and decided music was to be a full time career. Mitch attended college in Eau Claire and had a few music connection to the area. He called his old high school buddy, Dave Saindon and they started Alien probe band , that morphed into AIRKRAFT with the addition of Peter Phippen, Dave Roll and Mike wood.

2. Early members included Drummer Mike Wood and Keyboardist Dave Roll in addition to Bassist Peter Phippen. Current Grammy nominee Pete Phippen moved to Eau Claire WI from upstate New York and join the band. Airkraft was poised to write songs and release records. In 1982 Airiraft entered a song contest and won with the tune Alien Probe. IT was re recored and put out as a the bands first single and ended up a a chart topped in all of Northern WI.

3. In 1982 Airkraft released their 1st Single “Alien Probe". Radio stations and fans embraced the new sounding song. John Price of the Leader Telegram writes in 1982 "Ask any college kid who is their favorite band and you'll hear Journey or Foreigner , but ask any junior high or high school students in this area who is their favorite band and chances are the reply will be Airkraft". Soon after the Air Kraft released their first LP “Let’s Take Off”. Two other 45 rpm single releases " Can't run away from love" and "It’s not so Easy" followed from Lets Take Off with strong Wisconsin airplay.

4. 1986 Airkraft release " Proximity" with the 45 single "Make Believe" which soon became the number 1 song on many Wisconsin radio stations. Other singles released from the Proximity LP were "Radio Rock" . In 1985 45 rpm" Never to Late" was released on single only.. In 1989 Airkraft started touring heavily across the Midwest, logging over 310 performances per year! Places like Wichita KS , St. Louis Mo and seemingly every other town between became everyday travels.

5. Soon the self entitled "Airkraft" LP and CD were released.. The first single from Airkraft Air kraft "Footsteps" received strong critic’s picks in national magazines and started the group with a new allegiance of fans. Airkraft continued performing in every major market in the Midwest from Denver to Indianapolis , St Louis to Minneapolis promoting the record. Constant touring built legions of fans and many great friends in radio and at performances many who still keep in touch today.

6. In 1991 Airkraft signed with CURB records and added to their original songs a version of the Judith Randall penned 'Someday (You'll Come Runnin'), previously covered by British outfit FM on their 'Tough It Out' album and another track on the 'In The Red' album, namely 'Love Has No Mercy', whilst the team of SURGIN's Jack Ponti, Vic Pepe and STAN BUSH contributed 'Heaven'. "Someday You’ll Come Running" was the CD's first single and received great reviews nationally in the Album network. The second single released was written by Mitch Viegut called" Somewhere" was added on over 130 US stations topping out in Gavins Radio reports top 40. Billboard magazine gave "Somewhere" the critics pick and "In The Red" began selling well in Europe and well as America. Gavin Report, Radio and Records followed Britain’s Boulevard, Germany's Kerrang, Japans BURN magazines with five star reviews and sales boomed overseas. Soon after "Feed me to the Fire" was picked up to be FOX Televisions FIRE RESCUES theme song. Critics who saw Airkraft live always gave rave reviews. Bruce Vance of Madison news said it well "I was expecting a band to sound anemic like Journey and Foreigner, but I soon realized these guys don’t need to ride the coat tails of anybody, Airkraft is an exceptionally talented band that has a sound, style and appeal all their own" . 

2) What was your motivation behind forming a band?

We got together to make  records.

3) Which were the band’s biggest influences? What was the record that left you the greatest impression and inspiration?

I loved Zepplin 2,   “who do you think  we are“  Deep Purple.  We also loved as a band Yess and other progressive rock bands from the 70s.   

4) How was the scene in the place where you lived? How the locals treated you?

When Alien Probe came out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZgq-gWBovA  in 1982 It shot to the top of the Charts in a few of the 100000 watt stations in  Wisconsin. We  were kids on the street that

Went to local Rockstar status in  a few weeks. This was our own label release so we stayed local . We were in heaven hearing our song Alien probe on the radio 10 times a day, We went from  a few people at a our gigs to

Usually sold out shows with a crowd outside in a matter of 12 weeks. Quite a surprise for a local group. We really never realized that we hit #1 is sales and charts in a our northern wi area… and we were happy being stars in our own back yard.

5) How and why you decided to put out a record on a private press? What was the procedure behind its production and release?

 

I always liked studio production so in 1983 we started our own studio… 16 track and then a 24 track mci 2 inch tape. So I started engineering record for many local and regional groups. We started Premeire records and studios. The studio was mainly for Airkraft but we released many Vinal…. We ended up with international distribution with Relativity Records.

6) Which is the most memorable/ favorite show that you played?

My favorite and crazy was playing with Damn Yankees with tommy shaw.  I’ll never forget because they had this massive light show and our light guy received no instruction…. So when we played the light man found 1 button.. and they  turned every light on at once! After 2 songs I was soaking wet and close to heat stroke with 300 par cans pointing at me! Anyway the  show was sold out ( maybe 6000) and we melted the crowd and ourselves.

7) Do you recall any other independent bands from your area with a private release?

Howard Luedtke is one I engineered with the great Clyde Stubblefield on drums. https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/bluemax  Doing  The blues…  We have a great country guy with his own releases  Jerry Schmidt.

My new cd  ( rock blues) was just # 58 in the world for 2018. Highway 51 Johnny and the Motones featuring Mitch Viegut https://open.spotify.com/artist/3yTsQlad47H16viGfP5YFh

 

8) What do you think of the resurgence of interest towards private metal records (and bands)? How do you feel that your output has become a highly paid collector’s item?

Its amazing the resurgence of classic rock. I feel many groups had material that could have been number1 in the country that had top regional hits. Reflecting on the times, our first CD Airkraft Lets take off was written without any major label or producer influence . At the time you wish you had it  but in retrospect the originality of a song like Alien Probe would have never happened if you were thinking commercially.

I also think that Airkraft toured 330 days a year for years and years. You build a certain( all be it aging) allegiance of fans who was you that keep the memories for a lifetime.

AIRKAFT is currently booking time at Warner Brothers in Nashville to complete a long lost record stated in 1992 and a few new tunes. So I am looking forward to that.

 

9) Do you believe that a real underground scene exists today? What is your opinion about music becoming today so easy to get hold of via downloading?

Yes I do. But with the sheer volume of music released internationally its had to get a foothold. Also , new artists cant afford to incestuously  tour like we did in the old days. Clubs have changed. There is a lot of fake

Promotion on part of certain records… It’s a changing world.

 

 

In 1981 Airkraft was born in the basement of an Eau Claire household by High school buddies Mitch Viegut and Dave Saindon .

Dave Sainson and Mitch played together in a high school band called Stilrock in 1973  as 13 and 16 year old kids from a small town called Athens. Mitch and Dave rocked it every weekend in the early 70s touring in remade 1959 bus… Mitch left Stilrock to attend  Eau Claire UWEC college and played in a band called Heroz. After 2 year of college, Mitch had enough and decided music was to be a full time career. Dropping out of college Mitch called his old high school buddy, Dave Saindon and they started Alien Probe band. WIthin 6 months and old Eau Claire friend keyboardist Dave Roll joined the group long with his former Open Fire Band-mate Peter Phippen and AIRKRAFT was ready for flight. Pete added his old friend  Mike Wood on drums. After playing a few gigs in area Eau Claire Airkraft recorded thier first single 'Alien Probe and " Its not so Easy"

Soon after Mike Wood was replaced on drums with "Gyro" TIm Jyring.

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When current Grammy nominee Pete Phippen moved to Eau Claire WI from upstate New York and join the band Airkraft was poised to write songs and release records.

In 1982 Airkraft entered local radio song contest and won with the tune Alien Probe. Alien Probe was soon  rerecorded and released on the bands own label. To everyone's surprise , Airkraft bands first single  topped all the charts in Northern WI. This formed a new allegiance of fans and many shows that were sold to over capacity.

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John Price of the Leader Telegram writes in 1982 "Ask any college kid who is their favorite band and you'll hear Journey or Foreigner , but ask any junior high or high school students in this area who is their favorite band and chances are the reply will be Airkraft".

 

Soon after the release of the 45 RPM Alien Probe, Air Kraft released their first LP “Let’s Take Off”. Two other 45 rpm single releases " Can't run away from love" and "It’s not so Easy" followed from Lets Take Off with strong Wisconsin airplay. The Lets Take Off Album was nominated by the Wisconsin Music awards as the best album of the year.

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In 1985 Airkraft recorded their next LP release " Proximity" with the 45 single "Make Believe" .  This LP was recorded at the famous Chicken Coup Recording studio in Chillicothe IA with a couple seasoned producers on an amazing MCI setup. Soon after release,Make Believe   became the number 1 song on many Wisconsin radio stations.

With that release a new frenzy of fans were created, in fact, at Pines Ballroom  north of Eau Claire in 1985 the capacity was so over crowded,  the band let fans on stage to release the smashing push of the thousand plus kids. This resulted in Airkraft first law suite as some light equipment came fall over landing on some patrons.

Also, with the release of " Make Believe " came the production of Airkraft first video. Filmed at the Athens Community hall, thousands of fans cheered along with the live performance  forever having their place in time.

 

Other singles released with minimal radio success from the Proximity LP were "Radio Rock" and "Riot". 

In 1985 45 rpm" Never to Late" was released on single only, a song that was not on any Airkraft long playing album of CD.

 

.. In 1986 Airkraft started touring heavily across the Midwest, logging over 310 performances per year! Places like Indianapolis, Wichita KS , St. Louis Mo  Denver Minneapolis and seemingly every other town between became everyday travels. Mitch Viegut is quoted as saying" We can travel Kansas Nebraska Missouri Illinois WI... and very other state in the Midwest without a map" . Airkraft became known as one of the hardest touring bands in the 80s.

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In 1987, Mitch Viegut and Dave Saindon recorded  the self entitled "Airkraft" LP and CD at their own Wausau Recoding studion Premeire  24 Recording. Airkraft enlisted one of the  long time most accomplished engineers to assist in Glen Kolotkin. The first single from Airkraft Air kraft "Footsteps" received strong critic’s picks in national magazines and started the group wider area  of fans.  The second single realease a remake of the grass roots " Midnight Confessions" also conjured up some strong midwest airplay. Airkraft continued performing in every major market in the Midwest from Denver to Indianapolis , St Louis to Minneapolis promoting the record. Constant touring built legions of fans and many great friends in radio and at performances many who still keep in touch today.

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In 1991 Airkraft  enlisted the Atlantic Records producer Roger Probert for the " In The Red " CD. Roger brought a new dimension to the group as the band added some outside writers to the mix. The band added to their original songs a version of the Judith Randall penned 'Someday (You'll Come Rurnnin'), previously covered by British FM and  'Love Has No Mercy', A team of Jack Ponti  (ie BonJovi living on a prayer,), Vic Pepe and STAN BUSH contributed 'Heaven'. "Someday You’ll Come Running" was the CD's first single and received great reviews nationally in the Album network After the Release of the CD and subsequent single "Somewhere" Airkraft signed with CURB records with a lucrative seven figure deal.

The Premeire Release of 'In the Red" was re released by Curb. . The second single released was written by Mitch Viegut called" Somewhere" was added on over 130 US stations in Gavin Radio reports top 40. Billboard magazine gave "Somewhere" the  the music business top song critics pick and "In The Red" began selling especially well in Europe, Japan and  America., Strong critic reviews in Radio and Records followed Britain’s Boulevard, Germany's Kerrang, Japans BURN magazines with five star reviews and sales boomed overseas. Soon after "Feed me to the Fire" was picked up to be FOX Televisions FIRE RESCUES theme song. Any Critics who saw Airkraft live seemed to always gave rave reviews. Bruce Vance of Madison news said it well "I was expecting a band to sound anemic like Journey and Foreigner, but I soon realized these guys don’t need to ride the coat tails of anybody, Airkraft is an exceptionally talented band that has a sound, style and appeal all their own" . 

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After 1992 and the changes to the music business and 80s sounds, Airkraft slowed the pace of touring and recording. In 1994 at one of the bands last shows at tornado hit the field at Rock fest in Cadott WI, and as Cheap Trick, Pat Benatar Starship and Airkraft were scheduled to play, the crowds and speakers were blown away, literally. As of 2018 Airkraft has still many legions of fans and new plans are in the works to finish some older material and release another CD. Peter Phippen has continued his career in music and is now recognized as a world renowned expert on Indian Flutes and has been nominated in that category for a Grammy award. Doug Dixon continues playing and recording with his new band  Standing Hampton and his own recording studio Mitch Viegut has continued recording with the Blues band "Johnny and the Motones" having chart success of 5 CDs and 3 songs in the top 10 blues charts.

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