Melodic Rock, guitar orientated act based around cult Alaskan born guitarist Jon Butcher the JON BUTCHER AXIS formed in the early eighties in Boston. Butcher had previously been frontman for JOHANNA WILD. Following a TV appearance the band were requested to support the J. GEILS BAND on their 'Freeze Frame' American arena tour. This break led directly to a major label contract and further supports to DEF LEPPARD and RUSH.

The original line-up of the AXIS featured Butcher, bassist Chris Martin and drummer Derek Blevins. Jimmy Johnson played bass on 1985's 'Along The Axis'. During 1987 JON BUTCHER AXIS dropped the 'Axis' part of their title for the 'Wishes' album. He duly undertook a mammoth headline tour of America to promote the album.

Butcher issued the extremely promising 'Pictures From The Front' in 1989, retaining Thom Gimbel on keyboards but adding Ronnie Lee Sage on drums and Jamie Carter on bass. The album was produced by Glen Ballard and Spencer Proffer. Butcher also found time to produce up and coming Los Angeles based songstress JACKIE EYNON.

Butcher next move would be to complete a new set of demos towards the end of 1991 produced by Keith Olsen and Gordon Parry. By 1993 Butcher was working in collusion with guitarist Ben Schultz and veteran bassist Leland Sklar to record an album under the BAREFOOT SERVANTS handle for Epic. The album was released in early 1994. However, Butcher was back to his solo work a year later and 1995's Ken Ciancimino produced 'Positively Yer Blues', issued through Roadrunner, featured the aforementioned Ben Schultz on guitar / keyboards, Saul McCartney on bass and drummer Buch Smith.