Hair Like Fire was recorded over the course of 2003 and 2004 by Henry Rich and Eric Royal Lybeck in their home studio at the Chocolate Factory. Having written songs together for ten years Henry and Eric had nearly 30 songs to choose from for initial recording to be appended by one their first recordings with the Crazy Diamonds (C.J.Swenson on bass, Munish Bakshi on drums) Eric put a few songs together, June, Officer Barry, The Great Awakening, etc. and thought of a story to frame the album. H&E decided to only include those songs that would fit into the story of Alistair and June (see synopsis below). Listening to such varied artists as Love, Donovan, Spirit, Radiohead, and Fairport Convention, the pallette of instruments was decidedly focused. Acoustic instruments (guitar, grand piano, vocals, sleigh bells, etc.) would be primarily used in the recording sessions and the two recorded night after night, take over take, until the full work was completed. When all was said and done, Henry had sung as a full choir, solo vox, backup vox, grand piano, analog synthesizer, keyboards, and grand piano. Eric filled in the acoustic, electric, and classical guitars, drums, percussion (tamborine, sleigh bells, huge drum, claps, congas, etc) analog synthesizer, bass, and backup vocals. The song order is more than just choice. Each translates into the Legend of June. Some say it is based on a 16th century text found in Henry's library that was heavily damaged by fire. The inspiration comes from the first few chapters. THE LEGEND OF JUNE: Synopsis 12th Century England A young peasant, Alistair, is called to war by his master. His wife, June, begs him not go. Required by provincial law, he travels toward the Battle of Stafford Bridge where he is conscripted by the villainous Officer Barry. In the midst of a bloody march of Death, Alistair awakens to a chance to escape with another deserter, Alexander. The two run from soldiers' arrows. Officer B. sends after them Father Furious and the Holy Terror Monks, a gang of clergy who prey upon the weakness of the English country folk. Little do the culprits know that Alexander has a gang of brothers who have come to rescue the two, enabling them to escape the bounty hunters' grips. Alistair and Alexander encounter one of F.F. & H.T.M's victims along the way, a woman, who has been raped and left for dead. Though they offer to help she assures them, she can find her way home. Refusing to let her continue alone in her condition, they bring her to the nearest refuge, a bordello offering the finest cabaret entertainment. Hosted by the volumptuous Madame Mary, the two deserters find themselves involved in a love triangle. Alexander falls desperately in love with the Madame declaring that no one will ever love her more than he. Meanwhile, Mary, who becomes infatuated with the handsome Alistair, is determined that She is The Love. Frustrated by the romantic complexities of the whorehouse, which serve only to remind him of his fair bride, June, Alistair departs in the dead of night traveling along the River to his home. At sunset he discovers his homestead, which is under the siege of evil Holy Terror Monks. Desperate and Enraged, Alistair takes on the monks one at a time until ultimately defeating the leader, Furious, after a taught battle. Having finally reunited with his wife, Alistair brings her to the top of her heath and sings his ode to her scarlet locks - Hair Like Fire. Rich & Royal :|: A Supergroup Henry Rich and Eric Lybeck started playing music as The Crazy Diamonds while still in high school. Eric - an infant on electric guitar; and Henry - immune to keyboard squawks that otherwise deafened private school audiences, pooled their creative resources. Though they were only fifteen at the time, Henry and Eric constructed the masterpiece, "Hair Like Fire," which developed a life and cult of its own to this day. Though the Crazy Diamonds disbanded after high school, Henry and Eric stayed in touch and recently rejoined forces to create the Supergroup RICH & ROYAL. Borrowing the emotion and studio master of their first hit, "Hair Like Fire," R&R developed and recorded an epic concept album. Though Medieval in historical context, the story is anything but archaic. Often compared to Queens of the Stone Age's "art rock" sound, Rich & Royal music mixes classic rock influences with traditional contrapuntal melodies, modern electronics, and intelligently crafted lyrics. "You shouldn't get the feeling that you're getting beaten over the head with a forced premise," suggests Lybeck. "But you also don't feel scatterbrained and alienated the way you do listening to a lot of modern music." The recording of "Hair Like Fire" proved a grand, but delayed success. Final mixing was finished more than a year after recording began. This was due to the fact that Henry and Eric were starting up their designer breathmint company, Oral Fixation Mints. Rich started Oral Fixation with the hopes of making everyday objects, like mints, exceptionally beautiful. Check out www.oralfix.com for more information. But Rich & Royal has lied dormant for too long. Lybeck and Rich contacted their old friend, Owen Susman who was in Highland Park's rival band "Fresh and Tasty" during the Diamonds' years. Bringing back memories of "Fresh and Crazy," the kinetic cross-bred project Owen, Henry, and Eric created in the late 90's, Rich & Royal realize that they now have the perfect bassist. Adding innovation, soul, and respect where the album chooses calm, frenetics, and architecture, Owen has re-laid the foundations of "Hair Like Fire" so you hear the songs for the first time every time. Into the picture comes Andy Sapko, a local New Brunswick musician who met Owen on a folk music project. An unparalleled drummer, particularly suited to the visceral sound of R&R, Andy brings an outstanding musicality, technique, and taste to the art of drumming. The energy derived from Andy alone is enough to drive any wimpy whining audiences into turbo Rich & Royal fanatics - what they like to call "Greedies." Quickly being recognized as one the greatest bands to break into the New Jersey and New York music scene, having played at such notable venues as The Knitting Factory, The Stone Pony, CBGBs, Court Tavern, Alphabet Lounge, Ace of Clubs, Rich & Royal are currently preparing to take on the nation.