Industry

by Michael SuttonThe bouncy, toe-tapping keyboards of Industry's "State of the Nation" seemed to be tailor-made for American Bandstand in the early '80s; however, the song's stinging anti-war lyrics made the track thought-provoking as well as catchy. "State of the Nation" wasn't Industry's only contribution to the pop world, but they aren't remembered for anything else. Comprised of Jon Carin (synthesizer/keyboards/vocals), Mercury Caronia (synthesizer/percussion/drums), Rudy Perrone (guitar/bass/vocals), and Brian Unger (guitar/vocals), Industry formed in New York. In 1983, the group released an EP; it was followed by a full-length album, Stranger to Stranger, on Capitol Records in 1984. "State of the Nation" was a hit in dance clubs, especially in Asia. Stranger to Stranger was Industry's only LP.
During the band's Fab Four-esque popularity in the Philippines, rumors flew that most of the group perished in a plane crash, but it was never confirmed. On July 13, 1985, Carin played keyboards for Bryan Ferry at Live Aid. Carin has also worked with Pink Floyd, David Gilmour, Roger Daltrey, Pete Townsend, the Psychedelic Furs, and Corey Hart. In 1998, Carin recorded Meat the Honky with Honky Tonk, a band formed by former Love Spit Love guitarist Richard Fortus. Carin was also Roger Waters' keyboardist for his 1999 tour.