Action

The Zoo Crew is spinning "Action" by Steve Stevens from his 1989 album Atomic Playboys, and the Zoo Freaks are loving this high-energy cover of the classic Sweet song. In a 2014 interview with Ear of Newt, Stevens shared that he initially mistook "Action" for a Queen track. He went to a record store searching for it on a Queen album, only to learn from a clerk that it was by Sweet. Stevens loved the song’s power-pop vibe and decided to give it his own spin, adding his signature blistering guitar work while keeping the original’s spirit intact. The track was released as a single, and for promotional purposes, a 7:41-minute remix was created, as noted in a German Wikipedia entry. This remix, along with the B-side "Warm Female" co-written with Iggy Pop, added extra flair to the song’s release, making it a standout in Stevens’ catalog.

Another tidbit about "Action" comes from the album’s production and reception. According to a Rocktopia review, the cover was praised for its “behender bravour,” with Stevens’ virtuosic guitar elevating the Sweet evergreen into a modern rock anthem. The album, produced by Beau Hill, featured a stellar lineup, including former Warrior singer Perry McCarty, whose powerful vocals shone on "Action." However, Stevens wasn’t entirely pleased with McCarty, as he revealed in a Rock Candy sleeve essay, even taking lead vocals himself on another track, "Woman of 1,000 Years." The song’s legacy endures, with fans on Amazon reviews calling it a highlight of the remastered 2013 reissue, which included the "Action" remix as a bonus track.

Steve Stevens, born Steven Bruce Schneider on May 5, 1959, in Brooklyn, New York, started his musical journey at age seven when he picked up the guitar, as detailed in a Guitar Interactive Magazine interview. A self-professed prog rock fan, he was drawn to bands like Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Yes, which shaped his technical style. By his teens, he was gigging in Manhattan, honing his craft with his band Fine Maribus, which recorded an unreleased album. His big break came in the early 1980s when he joined forces with ex-Generation X singer Billy Idol in New York. Their collaboration, backed by manager Bill Aucoin, blended punk, hard rock, and dance music, propelling albums like Billy Idol (1982) and Rebel Yell (1983) to MTV stardom, with Stevens’ flamboyant guitar licks and glam rock persona stealing the spotlight. His work on the Grammy-winning "Top Gun Anthem" in 1986 further cemented his reputation as a versatile guitarist.

After parting ways with Idol in the late 1980s, Stevens launched Atomic Playboys as a one-off solo project, showcasing his range from hard rock to jazzy and acoustic elements, as seen in tracks like "Action" and "Run Across Desert Sands." His career continued to diversify, with stints alongside Vince Neil, Michael Jackson (notably the solo on "Dirty Diana"), and the prog supergroup Bozzio Levin Stevens. Fans can connect with Stevens on his official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X. For deeper fan engagement, check out the Steve Stevens Fan Club on Facebook or explore fan discussions on forums like Rig-Talk, where enthusiasts praise his work on Atomic Playboys and beyond.