Marching off to WAR

Shane Gammon

Friday, March 20, 1998 | 9:34 a.m.

WAR refers to "the word 'war,' " confirms Lonnie Jordan, discussing his band's name. "Against wars on the streets as well as the wars over in the war-torn countries. We've always had a trademark with the name WAR that we just declared war against wars in the world. Instead of shooting guns and killing people and making people sad forever, how about picking up an instrument and shooting off a beautiful note?"

WAR will bring its music-shooting instruments to Las Vegas to perform at the Sunset Station hotel-casino's Club Madrid at 8 and 10 p.m. on Saturday.

"I have a family," Jordan says. "I have children and it's like all other parents who raise their children, I just hate watching the youth being wasted with guns in their hands and killing one another instead of doing some constructive things in life, keeping the world turning on a positive note."

The members of WAR, Jordan adds, believe that they attract older and younger listeners of all races with their "universal music." "Back in the days when society had to put a label on everything, we were considered an Afro-Jazz-Cuban-Pop band," Jordan says. "That was the only thing that they could label use because we play a variety of everything. We play music for all ears, all walks of life. Each song has a combination of universal rhythms and messages to it.

The group's music has been well-covered by other musicians. The group Korn remade WAR's "Low Rider" and Smash Mouth covered its classic "Why Can't We Be Friends," among others. Jordan also worked with Perry Farrell of Porno for Pyros, as well as with Jane's Addiction. "We're pretty much known throughout all aspects of music, we're not limited to our audience," he says.

WAR is in the midst of recording two albums, one of which Jordan describes as a "retro" project with music dating back to the late '60s and early '70s. "It's from back when we did the first song, 'Spill the Wine,' and some other materials that were not published on the market scene. We are putting out some things that were never heard," Jordan says.

"We are also working on a brand new album, live in the studio, no sampling, no sequencing, all live new music and it has all the same attitude as WAR has always been and a lot of the same messages."

The "retro" album will be released only in Europe this summer, and the album of new music will be released in late '98 or early '99.

As for Las Vegas? "I love the view," Jordan explains."When I drive, I love looking at all the hotels, it's just amazing what man has done to Las Vegas. When I first came to Las Vegas, it was the mid-'60s and there were probably only the Aladdin and the Frontier hotels, only a couple places. Now, here we are in 1998, and look at the place -- it's amazing!

"Anywhere there are beautiful people who love music ... hey, we're there!"

Tickets for the WAR concert are $25.75, $21 and $16.50 and can be purchased at the Sunset Station box office or at any Ticketmaster outlet. For more information, call 547-7777.