Jackson Free Press

The 1980s were a golden time for hard-rock bands. If you turned on your radio or watched MTV, you probably saw bands such as Motley Crue, White Lion or Bon Jovi. Members of these groups had long hair, jean jackets and tight pants. Of course, the music packed a melodic punch complete with great guitar solos. It was a unique time.

When Nirvana, grunge music, and the '90s came along, many of the top hard-rock bands went straight to the unemployment line. New Orleans-based band Lillian Axe was an exception. It had built a loyal fan base since releasing its debut self-titled album in 1988. The band has always been active thanks to dedication of its founding member, guitarist Steve Blaze.

In 2010, Lillian Axe became the first hard-rock band inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame alongside legends such as Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis and Louis Armstrong.

This year, Lillian Axe released a deluxe box set called "Convergence," which contains each of its albums. The limited set sold out immediately online as a testament to the band's enduring popularity. Lillian Axe also released a live CD/Blu-ray combo this year called "One Night in the Temple" on Sony Records.

"I was a fan before I joined. I had known Steve (Blaze) for almost 30 years, so it was a great honor to join this band," says Jackson native Brian Jones, 38, who joined Lillian Axe as its singer five years ago. "The one thing about Lillian Axe is their longevity. I've had the unique position of seeing it from both sides. We have an intimate relationship to our fans, which is special."

Jackson had its own outlet for hard-rock music, a club called Town Creek Saloon. Town Creek hosted local and regional hard rock acts on Friday and Saturday nights. If a group wasn't playing at the Mississippi Coliseum, it was likely playing at Town Creek. Lillian Axe became a regular performer at the venue.

"I experienced Town Creek as a teen," Jones says. "Lillian Axe was a big name back then, before they got signed to MCA records."

Tonight, Lillian Axe will celebrate a reunion for the old Town Creek Saloon.

"Town Creek was a main staple of live music in Jackson for people with those musical preferences," says concert promoter Arden Barnett of Ardenland. "When Lillian Axe comes around, it's like a homecoming for those folks."

"Five years and two albums later, I still love playing with my brothers on stage," Jones says. "Rock (music) is in a good place right now. Grunge is gone, and here we are. With the (Town Creek) reunion, it should be a great night."

Lillian Axe performs at 9 p.m., May 9 at Duling Hall (622 Duling Ave.). Dellacoma Rio also performs. Doors open at 8 p.m. Admission is $20. Attendees must be at least 18 years old, and those under 21 must pay a $3 surcharge at the door. Visit lillianaxe.com.