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Manowar was formed by ex-Dictators and Shakin' Street guitarist Ross the Boss. The original lineup included vocalist Eric Adams, bassist Joey DeMaio, and drummer Donnie Hamzik. The group's kitschy approach was designed to be the raw, primal, macho antithesis of classic rock. Their music was based on raw, aggressive riffs, and their lyrics were mostly about fighting, violence, and death. The group dressed in animal skins in concert to underline the point. Their first album featured a solo bass arrangement of the "William Tell Overture," and the press branded the group as a joke. The band tried to become even more extreme with each album and usually ended up dropped from their labels. They tried to take a more commercial direction in the late '80s, but this approach failed too, and Ross the Boss quit in disgust in 1988; undeterred, Manowar continued recording into the next decade, issuing records including 1992's Triumph of Steel, 1994's Hell of Steel, and 1996's Louder Than Hell. With each release and subsequent tour, Manowar began to build a devoted fan base, especially in Europe, where the group regularly sold out stadiums. A flurry of live DVDs followed, each boasting hours of music, interviews, and Viking machismo. The band returned to the studio in 2002 for Warriors of the World, followed by the Sons of Odin EP in 2006 and Gods of War in 2007. Manowar is a classic style heavy metal band that prominently features mythology and fantasy in their lyrics as well as songs about Metal and a theme of comradeship with rebellious attitude. Though each member is from USA, the band was founded in England.
Manowar was founded by bassist Joey DeMaio and guitarist Ross the Boss in 1980. Joey DeMaio was a bass/pyro technician for Black Sabbath, who were playing a show in England at the time, and Ross the Boss was the guitarist of a band called Shakin' Street. The whole thing started when the two locked themselves in a locker room to find out which one could play the guitar harder and faster.
After agreeing that they would found a band, the two took in Eric Adams, the "man with lungs of leather", as their vocalist, and Donny Hamzik as their drummer. They released their first album, "Battle Hymns", with this lineup in 1982. On their second release, "Into Glory Ride" (1983), Scott Columbus was introduced as their new drummer, along with his custom made stainless steel drums (regular ones would not endure his aggressive style). The contract for Into Glory Ride was also signed in the band's own blood.
Manowar's third album, Hail to England (1984), started a tour in Great Britain. However, the band were fed up with their current record company's dominant nature, and released yet another record during the same year; "Sign of the Hammer" was published by 10 Records - hence the song "All Men Play on 10" included on this album.
In the beginning of 1987, "Fighting the World" was released, featuring hit songs such as "Fighting the World", "Black Wind, Fire and Steel" and "Defender". Followed by a tour in Europe, "Fighting the World" was a success.
Their next album, "Kings of Metal" (1988), was widely dedicated to the fans of Manowar all around the world, as can be told by looking at the cover (plenty of different flags scattered around). This album also featured recordings with a large male choir, such as "Blood of the Kings" and "The Crown and the Ring (Lament of the Kings)". The title of this album is the reason that their fans (and also themselves) dub them "The Kings of Metal".
Not being pleased by his career with Manowar, Ross the Boss quit the band at this point, and was replaced by David Shankle. Also, the drummer known as "Rhino" took Scott Columbus's place on Manowar's next release, "The Triumph of Steel" published in 1992. After finishing their "Secrets of Steel" tour, they were voted as the band that fans would most like to see in Russia, beating out Beatles and Michael Jackson.
1996 saw the release of "Louder than Hell", with Scott Columbus back in the drums and a new talent, Karl Logan, in lead guitar. This album included hit tracks "Gods Made Heavy Metal", "The Power", "Brothers of Metal (Pt.1)" and "Return of the Warlord".
After some more touring and the change of millennium, "Warriors of the World" was released in 2002, featuring tracks "Warriors of the World (United)" and one dedicated to Italian fans, "Nessun Dorma", which was earlier performed by Eric Adams on their show in Italy.
Manowar has also released five live-DVD's, titled "Hell on Earth I-IV" and the last is titled "The Day the Earth Shook - The Absolute Power", with the unbelivable event of the Earthshake festival. A new EP called "Sons of Odin" also released in October 2006. Their lastest album was released at the end of February - beginning of March 2007, entitled "Gods Of War".
Albums 2007 Gods of War: Live 2007 Gods of War [CD/DVD] 2007 Gods of War 2006 The The Sons of Odin 2005 Into Glory Ride [Silver Edition] 2005 Hail to England [Silver Edition] 2002 Warriors of the World 2002 Warriors of the World [Japan Bonus Track] 2002 Warriors of the World [Ltd Box Set] 2001 Skillz Dat Killz: The First Dimension 2001 Fire and Funk 1999 Hell on Wheels Live 1999 Hell on Stage Live 1998 Secrets of Steel 1998 Hell on Wheels Live [Germany] 1996 Louder Than Hell 1992 The The Triumph of Steel 1988 Kings of Metal 1987 Fighting the World 1985 Sign of the Hammer 1984 Hail to England 1983 Into Glory Ride 1982 Battle Hymns
Compilations & Boxed Sets 1999 Hell on Stage Live [France Bonus CD] 1999 The The Kingdom of Steel: The Very Best of Manowar 1998 The The Very Best 1998 Steel Warriors 1997 Anthology 1994 Hell of Steel: The Best of Manowar
EPs & Singles 2006 The The Sons of Odin [Bonus DVD] 2003 Dawn of Battle 2003 Warriors of the World United [Single #2] 2003 Warriors of the World United [Single #1] 2002 An An American Trilogy 2002 Warriors of the World United, Pt. 1 1999 Live in France
Albums 2007 Land of the Free, Pt. 2 2007 Land of the Free, Pt. 2 [Limited Edition] 2005 Majestic [Japan] 2005 Majestic 2003 Skeleton in the Closet 2003 Skeleton in the Closet [Bonus Track] 2003 Power Plant [Bonus Tracks] 2003 Land of the Free [Bonus Tracks] 2003 Insanity & Genius [Bonus Tracks] 2003 Sigh No More [Bonus Tracks] 2003 Somewhere Out in Space [Bonus Tracks] 2002 Sigh No More [Japan] 2002 Insanity & Genius [Japan] 2002 Heading for Tomorrow [Japan 2002] 2002 Heading for Tomorrow [Japan 2004] 2002 Land of the Free [Japan] 2001 No World Order 2001 No World Order [Japan] 2001 Heaven or Hell 1999 Heaven Can Wait 1999 Power Plant 1999 Power Plant [Japan] 1998 Alive '95 [Bonus Tracks] 1998 Alive '95 1998 Somewhere Out in Space [Bonus Track] 1997 Karaoke Album (Instrumental Versions) 1997 Somewhere Out in Space 1996 Alive '95 [Japan] 1995 Land of the Free 1993 Insanity & Genius 1991 Sigh No More 1990 Heading for Tomorrow
Compilations & Boxed Sets 2002 Ultimate Collection 2000 Blast from the Past
EPs & Singles 2001 Silent Miracles 1998 Valley of the Kings
Biography Gamma Ray
Founded in 1989 by Kai Hansen after leaving Helloween, Gamma Ray borrowed straight from the Helloween classics, and continued to pioneer Hansen's style of power metal.
After four years with Helloween, Kai Hansen decided to leave the band at the height of their career. He then went on to do some studio work with Blind Guardian.
Kai and his friend Ralf Scheepers from Tyran' Pace decided to start a project. They recruited bassist Uwe Wessel and drummer Mathias Burchard. The resulting sound was very close to Helloween's power metal style.
The first album Heading For Tomorrow was released in 1990. Two lineup changes resulted in Uli Kusch (who would later join Helloween) becoming the bands second drummer and Dirk Schlachter becoming a new guitarist. The new lineup released the Heaven Can Wait EP.
In 1991 the band released Sigh No More, which resulted in a 50 date world tour.
In 1993 Uli Kusch left the band and was replaced with Thomas Nack and Jan Rubach who replaced Uwe Wessel as the new bassist. The resulting cd was Insanity and Genius. Later that year, along with Rage, Helicon and Conception the band played on a tour called "Melodic Metal Strikes Back". This resulted in a double cd release and video called Power of Metal. They also released Lust For Live which did not feature the other bands.
The band were ready to start work on a fourth album, things were put on hold after vocalist Ralf Scheepers auditioned to be the new vocalist for the legendary metal band Judas Priest, his chances were considered good and with no hard feelings, Hansen and Scheepers decided it would be best if Ralf left the band. Kai Hansen took up guitar and vocal duties.
In 1995 the album Land of the Free was released, fans and critics were very impressed with the release and it is still considered to be the bands most popular release to date amongst fans. The band toured and released the live album Alive 95 in 1996.
More lineup changes resulted in Jan Rubach and Thomas Nack leaving. Dan Zimmerman (who is also a member of Freedom Call) became drummer and Schlachter decided to change from guitarist to bassist. Henjo Richter was brought in to become the bands new lead guitarist. This lineup is still the current Gamma Ray lineup as of 2007.
1997 saw the release of a concept album named Somewhere Out In Space, this album focused on the band's fascination with the universe. The band then toured and finally released the album Powerplant. This album had a similar approach to lyrics as the previous album but took a new musical approach. The album was highly acclaimed throughout the world.
The "Best of" album named Blast From The Past was released with songs from the Scheepers era being re recorded with the new members and Hansen on vocals.
After the recording of a new album which was yet to be named the band took a year off.
After this break, which saw Hansen focusing on side project Iron Savior, the band released No World Order, an album which sounded like no other the band had released. This album showed the bands main influences, classic metal bands such as Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. The band set off on the No World Order tour which saw them tour Europe and Japan. After a short break the band went on tour again, this tour was called the Skeletons In The Closet Tour. What was special about this tour was that the set list was chosen by fans of Gamma Ray on the offical website. Two shows were recorded and the album called Skeletons In The Closet was released.
The next studio album was released in 2005, the first since the 2001 release, No World Order. This album was called Majestic. This reached respectable chart positions such as number 20 in Sweden, number 28 in Finland and number 39 in the bands home country Germany.
A live DVD is to be recorded on May 6th, 2006 in Montreal, Quebec. Under the title "Hell Yeah! The Awesome Foursome (and the Finnish keyboarder who didn't want to wear his Donald Duck costume) Live in Montreal" and is planned to be released in 2008.
In November the band released Land of the Free II, a follow up to the 1995 album Land Of The Free which follows the same concept
1) Warrant is a hard rock band from Los Angeles, California which enjoyed its greatest success in 1990 with the single and album "Cherry Pie".
It is the music created during the 1980s and early 1990s which remains the band's signature. The band's brand of heavy metal was loud, cheesy, sex-obsessed, and usually delivered with a mischievous sense of humour. The generally lighthearted band became known for raucous party anthems filled with thinly-veiled references to sex ("Down Boys", "Cherry Pie") but also for sentimental, melodic ballads ("Heaven", "Sometimes She Cries", "I Saw Red").
In January 1988 Warrant signed a contract with Columbia Records, and released their debut album "Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich".
The band's second record, Cherry Pie, was released in March 1990, and spawned the hits "Cherry Pie", "Uncle Tom's Cabin" and "I Saw Red". It reached the Top Ten in the United States, and went on to sell 3 million copies.
In 1992, Warrant released "Dog Eat Dog". The record, an attempt by the band to evolve in the face of changing musical trends, received critical acclaim but achieved only moderate commercial success.
After this, the band would begin a long string of member changes, including even singer Jani Lane leaving the band briefly.
He would then return to release "Ultraphobic" in 1995, and "Belly to Belly, Vol. 1" in 1998. These were released on a smaller label, as well as featured a new darker sound. Neither album would remotely come close to the success of the earlier albums. A live album, an album of re-recorded classic tracks, as well as an all-covers disc "Under the Influence" followed these.
Jani Lane would once again leave the band in 2004. Ironically, all the other original members would return to the band the same year. Black 'n Blue singer Jaime St. James would take over as singer.
In 2006, Warrant released "Born Again", the first album to not have Jani Lane on vocals With a pair of double-platinum albums, Warrant was one of the most popular pop-metal bands of the late '80s. Formed in Los Angeles in the mid-'80s, the group featured vocalist Jani Lane, guitarist Erik Turner, guitarist Joey Allen, bassist Jerry Dixon, and drummer Steven Sweet. They released Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich in 1989; by the middle of that year, it had climbed into the Top Ten and launched the hit singles "Down Boys," "Sometimes She Cries," and "Heaven," which reached number two. Released in the summer of 1990, Cherry Pie was an even bigger success, climbing into the Top Ten and featuring the Top Ten hits "I Saw Red" and "Cherry Pie." Warrant had some trouble continuing their multi-platinum success during the alternative explosion of 1992, although their third album, Dog Eat Dog, did go gold; 1995's Ultraphobic, however, failed to chart. Under the Influence, the band's first proper release in more than six years, was issued in spring 2001
Albums 2006 Born Again 2004 Cherry Pie [Japan Bonus Tracks] 2004 Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich [Japan Bonus Tracks] 2004 Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich [Expanded] 2004 Cherry Pie [Expanded] 2001 Under the Influence 1996 Belly to Belly 1995 Ultraphobic 1992 Dog Eat Dog 1990 Cherry Pie 1990 Cherry Pie [Edited] 1989 Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich
Compilations & Boxed Sets 2005 Extended Versions 2004 Most Wanted 2004 Then and Now 2004 Cherry Pie -- All the Hitz 'n' More 1999 Greatest and Latest 1997 Warrant Live 1986-1997 1996 The The Best of Warrant 1996 Rocking Tall
EPs & Singles 2007 Cherry Pie [Ringle] 2007 Heaven 1992 Bitter Pill 1992 Machine Gun 1992 We Will Rock You 1991 Blind Faith 1991 Uncle Tom's Cabin 1990 I Saw Red
The long-lived New York-based heavy metal band Riot was formed in 1976 by guitarist/songwriter Mark Reale, who in time recruited vocalist Guy Speranza, guitarist L.A. Kouvaris, bassist Jimmy Iommi and drummer Peter Bitelli. After debuting in 1977 with Rock City, Kouvaris was replaced by guitarist Rick Ventura, and the group returned in 1979 with Narita; Iommi and Bitelli were the next to exit, and with the recruitment of bassist Kip Leming and drummer Sandy Slavin the classic Riot line-up was in place. Tours in support of AC/DC and Molly Hatchet followed before the release of 1981's Fire Down Under, considered by fans the band's creative peak; with the departure of frontman Speranza, however, Riot suffered a major blow from which they never fully recovered. New vocalist Rhett Forrester made his debut on 1982's Restless Breed, but after issuing Made in America a year later. Reale announced the band's dissolution; after forming a new group, the Mark Reale Project, he reformed Riot in late 1986 with vocalist Tony Moore, bassist Don VanStavern and drummer Bobby Jarzombek. The new line-up's comeback effort, Thundersteel, appeared in 1988, followed two years later by The Privilege of Power; after adding second guitarist Mike Flyntz and replacing VanStavern with bassist Pete Perez, the group toured the Far East, yielding the LP Riot in Japan Live !!! in 1992. After 1994's Nightbreaker, Jarzombek quit Riot, and was replaced by drummer John Macaluso for 1996's The Brethren of the Long House; Jarzombek returned to the fold to release Inishmore two years later, with Sons of Society following in 1999
Albums 2006 Army of One 2002 Through the Storm [Bonus Track] 2002 Through the Storm 2000 Riot Live in Osaka +2 1999 Sons of Society 1999 Fire Down Under [Bonus Track] 1999 Live in Japan 1998 Shine On 1998 Inishmore 1996 The The Brethren of the Long House 1994 Night Breaker 1993 Riot Live 1990 The The Privilege of Power 1988 Thundersteel 1984 Born in America 1982 Restless Breed 1981 Fire Down Under 1979 Narita 1978 Riot City 1977 Rock City Riot Narita
Compilations & Boxed Sets 2004 Inishmore/Sons of Society 1993 Starbox
Widely regarded as the finest vocalist in all of death metal (who possesses a multi-octave range), theatrical rocker King Diamond first rose to prominence as a member of Mercyful Fate, before launching a solo career on his own. Born Kim Bendix Petersen in Denmark on June 14, 1956, the future King Diamond was originally drawn to theatrically based hard rock due to such trailblazers as Alice Cooper, and soon began fronting local bands in the '70s, including a punk metal outfit called the Brats. Shortly thereafter, the group mutated into Mercyful Fate, consisting of members Hank Shermann (guitar), Michael Denner (guitar), Timi Hansen (bass), and Kim Ruzz (drums), in addition to Diamond. Diamond, by this time, had developed an interest in the occult, which reflected in the new group's subject matter, as the frontman began wearing makeup (which resembled a cross between his hero Cooper and Kiss' Gene Simmons). After several demos made their way across Europe (and even reaching America via an underground tape-trading network among metalheads), Mercyful Fate issued a self-titled four-track EP before inking a recording contract with Roadrunner Records. The quintet issued a pair of thrash metal classics, 1983's Melissa and 1984's Don't Break the Oath, as Diamond's satanic lyrics created quite a stir at the time with outsiders. Despite a promising future, Mercyful Fate broke up when a common musical style couldn't be agreed on (Diamond wanted to continue with thrash metal, while a few of the others wanted to explore more mainstream-oriented hard rock).
Undeterred, Diamond launched a solo project, which was almost identical in approach, both musically and visually, as his former band. The group's original lineup included such former Mercyful Fate bandmates as Hansen and Denner, but over time, bandmembers would come and go (the only constant member besides their leader has been guitarist Andy LaRocque). King Diamond's first three solo releases, 1986's Fatal Portrait, 1987's Abigail, and 1988's Them, are widely considered to be Diamond's finest, as the singer continued to issue further releases until the early '90s (1989's Conspiracy, 1990's The Eye). It was also around this time that Diamond found his name embroiled in controversy -- due to a Geraldo Rivera TV special on music with supposed "hidden messages," and when Kiss' Simmons served a lawsuit against the singer, claiming that the makeup design Diamond had been using too closely resembled the one that Simmons used in the '70s and early '80s, which resulted in an out of court settlement and with Diamond being forced to modify his makeup design.
Come the early '90s, Mercyful Fate was constantly being name-checked as a prime influence by just about every new thrash and death metal band, which led to a re-formation of the original group (save for drummer Ruzz), and such further releases as 1993's In the Shadows (which included a remake of their early track, "Return of the Vampire," with Metallica's Lars Ulrich sitting in on drums), 1994's Time, 1996's Into the Unknown, 1998's Dead Again, and 1999's 9. By the middle of the '90s, Diamond began issuing solo albums again (simultaneously with his Fate output), as such titles as 1995's The Spider's Lullabye, 1996's The Graveyard, 1998's Voodoo, 2000's House of God, and 2002's Abigail II: The Revenge were issued.
2007 Give Me Your Soul...Please 2005 Abigail [CD & DVD] 2004 Deadly Lullabyes: Live 2003 The The Puppet Master 2002 "Them" [Japan Bonus Tracks] 2002 Conspiracy [Japan Bonus Tracks] 2002 In Concert 1987: Abigal [Japan CD] 2002 Abigail II: The Revenge 2000 House of God 1998 Voodoo 1996 The The Graveyard 1995 The The Spider's Lullabye 1991 In Concert 1987: Abigail 1990 Family Ghost 1990 The The Eye 1989 Conspiracy 1988 "Them" 1987 Abigail [Bonus Tracks] 1986 Fatal Portrait
Compilations & Boxed Sets 2004 Platinum Box 2004 Conspiracy/Them 2003 The The Best of King Diamond 2003 Abigail/Fatal Portrait 2001 Nightmares of the Nineties 2001 Black Rose: 20 Years Ago-A Night of Rehearsals 1992 Dangerous Meeting
EPs & Singles 1988 The The Dark Sides 1986 The The Lake 1985 No Presents for Christmas
Formed Seattle in 1982, Metal Church consisted of vocalist David Wayne, guitarists Kurdt Vanderhoof and Craig Wells, bassist Duke Erickson, and drummer Kirk Arrington. Their 1985 self-titled debut album, recorded when the thrash/speed metal genre was still evolving, made a huge splash on the scene, as did its similar follow-up, The Dark. However, the band really hit its stride when Wayne left and was replaced by Mike Howe on 1989's Blessing In Disguise; Vanderhoof left after the album due to his dislike of touring and was replaced by Metallica guitar tech John Marshall. Vanderhoof remained the group's designated composer on 1991's The Human Factor, possibly the band's most socially conscious album. However, the advent of alternative rock and problems with their record label contributed to a loss of direction on 1993's Hanging in the Balance, and Metal Church ended up disbanding. In 1999, the group's original lineup -- Wayne, Vanderhoof, Wells, Erickson, and Arrington -- reunited and released the album Masterpeace. Live appeared early the following year. ~
Albums 2006 A A Light in the Dark 2004 The The Weight of the World 2000 Live 1999 Masterpeace 1993 Hanging in the Balance 1991 Human Factor 1989 Blessing in Disguise 1987 The The Dark 1985 Metal Church Live in Dallas, Texas
Compilations & Boxed Sets 2003 Hanging in the Balance/Live
Skid Row was one of the last hair metal bands to hit the mainstream before grunge took over in the early '90s. They were also arguably the last of such bands to have any originality. While their 1989 self-titled release used standard pop-metal riffs and contained a handful of generic lyrics, 1991's Slave to the Grind and 1995's Subhuman Race broke away from the pop-metal mold with uncharacteristically hard, thrashy guitars and more unique songwriting while still relying on varying '80s metal formulas. Though personal differences and changing trends would eventually tear the band apart by 1996, Skid Row showed a tremendous amount of promise during their short run in the mainstream. Skid Row was formed in 1986 by bassist Rachel Bolan and former Bon Jovi guitarist Dave "The Snake" Sabo. The pair added guitarist Scott Hill, drummer Rob Affuso, and vocalist Sebastian Bach to the lineup by early 1987 and the band spent the next year and a half playing a series of local clubs in the eastern U.S. Still in contact with Jon Bon Jovi, Sabo convinced the established rock star to land Skid Row a record deal with Mercury. In 1989, the band released their first album, Skid Row, which went multi-platinum on the strength of the Top 40 singles "18 and Life" and "I Remember You." Success was not without backlash, however -- the band had naïvely signed away much of their royalties and Sebastian Bach's childlike behavior would land the group in additional trouble. During the subsequent tour, Bach received harsh criticism for a T-shirt he publicly sported displaying the message: AIDS KILLS FAGS DEAD. Suits were also filed against Bach after a concert during the supporting tour, where the singer allegedly threw a glass bottle into the crowd, injuring a young female fan.
Nonetheless, Skid Row retained a devoted audience. 1991's Slave to the Grind debuted at number one on the Billboard chart, an unprecedented accomplishment for a metal band. While the album did not chart any real radio hits, Grind received stronger critical praise and would eventually reach platinum status. Like so many of their peers, Skid Row lost much of their fan base during the grunge phase of the '90s. As Nirvana stormed the scene in 1992, Skid Row took a hiatus, waiting out the grunge period and pondering breakups (ironically, Nirvana had once gone under the name Skid Row in the '80s). Skid Row returned in 1995 with Subhuman Race, which surprisingly charted in the Top 40 but otherwise did not attract any real attention.
During the supporting tour, tensions between the group members ran high and Skid Row disbanded shortly afterward. Bach went on to form the Last Hard Men with Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, but the group broke up after recording a cover of Alice Cooper's "School's Out" for the Scream soundtrack in 1996. Plans to record new songs for the Skid Row greatest-hits album, 1998's Forty Seasons, fell through, as Bach went on to form a solo project and portray the title role in the Broadway musical Jeckyll and Hyde. In mid-2000, Skid Row re-formed with new singer Johnny Solinger and toured as the opening band for Kiss' farewell tour. They released Thickskin with Solinger in 2003, followed by Revolutions Per Minute in 2006. ~
Albums 2006 Revolutions Per Minute [Bonus Track] 2006 Revolutions Per Minute 2003 Thickskin 1998 Subhuman Beings on Tour 1995 Subhuman Race 1991 Slave to the Grind 1991 Slave to the Grind [Clean] 1989 Skid Row 1989 Live in Moscow
Compilations & Boxed Sets 2007 Greatest Hits 2005 Rhino Hi-Five: Skid Row 1998 Forty Seasons: The Best of Skid Row
EPs & Singles 1995 Breakin' Down [Cassette Single] 1995 Breakin' Down [CD Single] 1992 B-Sides Ourselves 1991 Wasted Time [Cassette Single] 1991 Wasted Time [UK Vinyl Single] 1991 Wasted Time (Picture Disc) 1991 Monkey Business [Posterbag Vinyl Single] 1991 Monkey Business [Picture Disc Vinyl Single] 1991 Monkey Business [Cassette Single] 1991 18 & Life
Hard rock band Cinderella gained success in the mid-'80s, turning out a series of million-selling albums and hit singles while placing music videos in heavy rotation on MTV. By the mid-'90s, the group's mass popularity had subsided due to professional setbacks and perceived changes in taste. But they continued to tour regularly well into the 21st century. Cinderella was founded in Philadelphia, PA, in 1983 by singer/songwriter/guitarist/keyboardist Tom Keifer (born January 26, 1961) and bassist Eric Brittingham (born May 8, 1960), who quickly added lead guitarist Jeff LaBar (born March 18, 1963). Guitarist Michael Kelly Smith and drummer Tony Destra were also early members of the band, but they left in 1985 to form Britny Fox. Cinderella then added drummer Jody Cortez and continued as a four-piece. Insisting on playing original material, they performed in clubs and bars in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and in 1985 Jon Bon Jovi caught one of their shows. He was sufficiently impressed to alert his record company, Mercury, which signed the band. Their debut album, Night Songs, was released in June 1986. Shortly after its completion, Cortez left the band and was replaced by Fred Coury (born October 20, 1964). The LP was not an immediate success, but it gained momentum gradually while the band toured extensively as an opening act to promote it. It broke into the Billboard chart in July, and the track "Shake Me," although it failed to chart as a single, got enough radio attention to turn up on Billboard's Album Rock Tracks chart in August. On October 1, the album was certified gold. That month, Mercury released a second single, "Nobody's Fool," accompanied by a music video that earned play on MTV; it broke into the charts in November and peaked at number 13 in February 1987. Its success further stimulated sales of the album, which was certified platinum in December 1986 and broke into the Top Ten by the end of the year; it peaked at number 3 in February 1987, and that same month was certified double platinum. In April, Mercury released a third single, "Somebody Save Me," which peaked at number 66 in May. (The album was certified triple platinum in May 1991.)
Having broken through to popular success with Night Songs, Cinderella returned with their second album, Long Cold Winter, in July 1988. Radio initially focused on the track "Gypsy Road," giving it a Top 20 ranking in the Album Rock Tracks chart, but Mercury did not release it as a single at first (although in the U.K., where it was released as a single, it charted). Instead the power ballad "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)" was released as a single in August, and it peaked at number 12 in November. The album reached number ten in September, the same month it was certified gold and platinum simultaneously, with a double-platinum certification following in November. (It was certified triple platinum in January 1997.) As the group continued to tour relentlessly through 1988 and 1989, Mercury broke more singles from the LP. "The Last Mile," released in December, peaked at number 36 in March 1989; "Coming Home," released in March, hit number 20 in June; and "Gypsy Road," finally put on 45 a year after the release of Long Cold Winter in July 1989, and backed by a live version of the Rolling Stones' "Jumpin' Jack Flash," got to number 51 in September.
Again, Cinderella came off the road and spent a year crafting its third album, Heartbreak Station, which appeared in November 1990. Although it was a hit out of the box, going gold in January 1991 and platinum in February, the album encountered more resistance than the band's previous efforts, peaking at number 19, with no multi-platinum certifications forthcoming. Leadoff single "Shelter Me" peaked at number 36 in February, and the title song reached number 44 in April. More disturbing than this mild commercial disappointment, however, were problems within the band. Coury departed, and Cinderella initially replaced him with Kevin Valentine, then hired noted session drummer Kenny Aronoff temporarily before bringing in Kevin Conway. Then, after the U.S. leg of the Heartbreak Station tour had ended and the band was gearing up to go to Japan in 1991, Keifer woke up one morning and found he couldn't sing. Doctors initially were unable to figure out what was wrong, but a specialist finally diagnosed paresis of the laryngeal nerve controlling the left vocal cord. Keifer was forced to undergo two throat operations, followed by extensive therapy. Cinderella managed to put a track, "Hot and Bothered," on the chart-topping Wayne's World soundtrack, released in February 1992, but otherwise the band was out of commission for an extended period of time.
In the meanwhile, fashions changed. Cinderella had been part of a "pop-metal" movement including Bon Jovi, Great White, and Ratt, who preceded them, as well as Poison, the enormously popular Guns N' Roses, and L.A. Guns, who followed them. But when "grunge" rockers Nirvana, boasting a neo-punk style, broke through to success in the fall of 1991 with their album Nevermind and single "Smells Like Teen Spirit," the record labels suddenly became enamored of their stripped-down approach. Suddenly, instead of the teased and blown-dry coiffures and skin-tight stage costumes of the pop-metal bands, it was the dirty-hair-falling-in-the-face, flannel-shirt-and-jeans look of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain that was all the rage. Soon, the pop-metal groups were written off with a new epithet, dismissed as "hair metal" bands. By the time Keifer & Co. finally emerged with the fourth Cinderella album, Still Climbing, in November 1994, it could only manage to spend one week at number 178 before disappearing. Mercury promptly dropped the band.
Cinderella's touring opportunities also dried up, and while the group did not formally disband in 1995, it became inactive for lack of offers. Keifer moved to Nashville in 1997 and worked on his songwriting, eventually getting cuts on albums by Andy Griggs and Lynyrd Skynyrd. By 1998, there was enough interest by promoters for Cinderella to reunite (with Coury rejoining) for a tour. On October 2 and 3, they appeared at the Key Club in Hollywood, CA, and recorded the show for an album, Live at the Key Club, released on Cleopatra's Dead Line label in July 1999. Unfortunately, the disc was also licensed out to other labels over the years and has confused consumers by also appearing under the titles In Concert and Live From the Gypsy Road. Meanwhile, Cinderella had been signed to Sony's Portrait label by famed record executive John David Kalodner, who was also signing other hard rock bands of the '80s. But initial Portrait releases were not successful, and Cinderella's contract was canceled. Nevertheless, a faithful fan base supported continuing road work by the band, which reunited in the summer of 2000 for a tour with Poison, followed by a second outing by the two groups in 2002. In 2005, VH1 sponsored the Rock Never Stops package tour, which Cinderella headlined, supported by Ratt, Quiet Riot, and Firehouse, with dates extending through the summer
Albums 2006 Live at the Key Club [Deadline] 2005 Live 2004 Live from the Gypsy Road 2004 In Concert 1998 Live Train to Heartbreak 1994 Still Climbing 1991 Live [Mini-LP] 1990 Heartbreak Station 1988 Long Cold Winter 1986 Night Songs
Compilations & Boxed Sets 2006 Gypsy Road: Live 2006 Gold 2006 Extended Versions 2005 Rocked, Wired & Bluesed: The Greatest Hits 2002 Winning Combinations 2001 Collection 2000 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Cinderella 1999 Live at the Key Club [Axe Killer] 1999 Live Greatest Hits 1998 Bad Attitude: 1986-1994 1997 Once upon a... [Japan Bonus Tracks] 1997 Looking Back 1997 Once upon a...
EPs & Singles 1992 Hot & Bothered 1991 Heartbreak Station [Cassette Single] 1990 Don't Know What You've Got 'Til It's Gone 1990 Shelter Me Last Mile Once Around the Ride
The brainchild of former Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, Rainbow quickly developed into one of the '70s most successful heavy metal bands behind charismatic front man Ronnie James Dio. Together, the duo would produce a string of acclaimed albums which are still considered classics of the genre. But the group would change their musical approach numerous times following the singer's departure, eventually confusing and alienating much of their audience. Releasing eight albums during it's decade long run, the band finally came to an end when Blackmore departed to rejoin his old Deep Purple comrades in a full-fledged reunion in 1984. And while the impact of Rainbow's influence has faded with the intervening decades, theirs was a crucial chapter in the development of heavy metal and hard rock. Disillusioned and fed up with the chaotic state of Deep Purple in the mid-'70s, guitarist Ritchie Blackmore made the stunning announcement in May of 1975 that he was quitting the group he had founded and led for over seven years in order to start from scratch. Teaming up with up-and-coming American vocalist Ronnie James Dio, Blackmore built Rainbow around the singer's former band Elf, minus their guitarist David Feinstein. Featuring bassist Craig Gruber, keyboard player Mickey Lee Soule, and drummer Gary Driscoll, the group's 1975 debut Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow was quickly embraced by European fans and yielded their first hit single, "Man on the Silver Mountain." Blackmore and Dio were dissatisfied with the album's sound, however, and decided to re-vamp Rainbow (by then sufficiently established to do without Blackmore's name) by drafting bassist Jimmy Bain, keyboard player Tony Carey, and former Jeff Beck Group drummer Cozy Powell. It was with this lineup that they entered Musicland studios in February 1976 to record the landmark Rising opus -- once voted the greatest heavy metal album of all time in a 1981 Kerrang! magazine readers' poll. Capturing Blackmore and Dio at the peak of their creative powers, Rising chronicled both the guitarist's neo-classical metal compositions at their most ambitious, and the singer's growing fixation with fantasy lyrical themes -- a blueprint he would adopt for his entire career thereafter. Following its release, the band embarked upon a successful world tour, culminating in a sold out European jaunt which spawned a best-selling live album entitled On Stage, released in 1977.
By the time they returned with the equally acclaimed Long Live Rock'n'Roll album in 1978 (featuring bassist Bob Daisley and keyboard player David Stone), Rainbow had established themselves as one of Europe's best-selling groups and top concert draws. But the volatile relationship between Blackmore and Dio had already begun to deteriorate, as the American-born singer became increasingly frustrated of standing in the guitarist's shadow -- even in his own country, where the group was now fully committed to breaking big. To make matters worse, Blackmore had been so impressed with "Long Live Rock'n'Roll"'s success as a single, that he began to consider altering the band's sound in order to pursue a more mainstream hard rock approach (a direction which Dio wanted no part of). A chance meeting with Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath (only recently divorced for good from unreliable front man Ozzy Osbourne) helped the singer make up his mind, and Dio officially quit Rainbow in early 1979 to join the Sabs.
Finding a suitable replacement for the charismatic singer proved a serious dilemma, and when Blackmore eventually recruited former Marbles vocalist Graham Bonnett, his decision came with an all-around re-tooling of Rainbow's sound, not to mention, once again, the band's membership, which now included former Deep Purple cohort Roger Glover and keyboard player Don Airey. With the release of 1979's Down to Earth, gone were the mystical themes and epic metal compositions, replaced by a more streamlined commercial hard rock style. But despite containing two of Rainbow's biggest singles, "All Night Long" and "Since You've been Gone" (the second, written by former Argent singer Russ Ballard), the album sputtered in stores, selling far less than the group's previous, Dio-fronted efforts. Bonnett also failed to meet Blackmore's lofty expectations on stage, and after a single, disastrously drunken performance at the inaugural Castle Donington Monsters of Rock Festival in the summer of 1980, the singer was unceremoniously given the boot.
Once again strapped for a vocalist, Blackmore found his man in American singer Joe Lynn Turner, who along with new drummer Bobby Rondinelli signaled a true career rebirth for Rainbow. Wishing to shed the group's overblown, Dio-associated Euro-metal sound of days past once and for all, the new Rainbow lineup was made to order for another bid at widespread acceptance in America. The first product of this new direction, 1981's well received Difficult to Cure helped the group regain some of their momentum and yielded their highest-charting single ever, another Russ Ballard-penned track entitled "I Surrender." In fact, the record's title track -- a sprawling, ten-minute metallic blitzkrieg through Beethoven's ymphony No. 9 -- was the only throwback to Rainbow's highbrow metal origins. Released in 1982, Straight Between the Eyes failed to chart any successful singles, however, and the band's appeal began to nose-dive, along with Blackmore's increasingly uninventive, risk-free song writing. 1983's Bent out of Shape (featuring new members in keyboard player David Rosenthal and drummer Chuck Burgi) fared no better, and after accepting the fact that Rainbow's best days were behind them, Blackmore finally relented to take part in the long-rumored and hoped for re-formation of Deep Purple's classic Mark II lineup. Typically, the guitarist refused to go out quietly, and Rainbow were backed by a full symphony orchestra for their final March 1984 performance in Japan.
A posthumous live release, entitled Finyl Vinyl, was compiled in 1986, and though he would briefly resurrect the Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow moniker after quitting Purple for the second time in 1994 (even recording an album called Stranger in Us All"), this incarnation would be short-lived. Blackmore was last heard from performing with his purported fiancé Candice Night in the medieval folk duo Blackmore's Night.
Albums 2006 Live in Munich 1977 2002 Rainbow Mania 1983 Bent Out of Shape 1982 Straight Between the Eyes 1981 Difficult to Cure 1979 Down to Earth 1978 Long Live Rock 'n' Roll 1977 On Stage 1976 Rising 1975 Rainbow Radio Special 1975 Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
Compilations & Boxed Sets 2007 Live Nuremberg Messezentrum 28/9/76 2007 Audiobiography 2007 Rainbow Box 2006 Live Dusseldorf Phillipshalle 27.9.76 2006 Colour Collection 2006 Rainbow Rising 2006 Live Cologne Sporthalle 2006 Live in Germany '76 [30th Anniversary Edition] 2005 Critical Review, Vol. 2: 1979-1997 [DVD] 2005 Inside Rainbow 1979-1997: The Definitive Critical Review 2004 Critical Review: Inside Rainbow 1975-1979 [DVD] 2004 Critical Review: Inside Rainbow 1975-1979 2003 Catch the Rainbow: The Anthology 2002 All Night Long: An Introduction 2002 Pots of Gold 2001 Universal Masters Collection 2000 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Rainbow 1997 The The Very Best of Rainbow 1996 Live Between the Eyes 1996 Live in Europe 1994 Best of Rainbow [Import] 1994 Live in Germany '76 1994 Family Album 1986 Final Vinyl 1981 The The Best of Rainbow 1980 Rainbow Rising/Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
EPs & Singles 2002 It's a Rainbow 2002 Its a Rainbow 1981 Jealous Lover
After recording two solo albums, former Deep Purple vocalist David Coverdale formed Whitesnake around 1977. In the glut of hard rock and heavy metal bands of the late '70s, their first albums got somewhat lost in the shuffle, although they were fairly popular in Europe and Japan. During 1982, Coverdale took some time off, so he could take care of his sick daughter. When he re-emerged with a new version of Whitesnake in 1984, the band sounded revitalized and energetic. Slide It In may have relied on Led Zeppelin's and Deep Purple's old tricks, but the band had a knack for writing hooks; the record became their first platinum album. Three years later, Whitesnake released an eponymous album (titled 1987 in Europe) that was even better. Portions of the album were blatantly derivative -- "Still of the Night" was a dead ringer for early Zeppelin -- but the group could write powerful, heavy rockers like "Here I Go Again" that were driven as much by melody as riffs, as well as hit power ballads like "Is This Love." Whitesnake was an enormous international success, selling over six million copies in the U.S. alone. Before they recorded their follow-up, 1989's Slip of the Tongue, Coverdale again assembled a completely new version of the band, featuring guitar virtuoso Steve Vai. Although the record went platinum, it was a considerable disappointment after the across-the-board success of Whitesnake. Coverdale put Whitesnake on hiatus after that album. In 1993, he released a collaboration with former Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page that was surprisingly lackluster. The following year, Whitesnake issued a greatest-hits album in the U.S. and Canada -- focusing solely on material from their final three albums (as well as containing a few unreleased tracks).
1997 saw Coverdale resurrect Whitesnake (guitarist Adrian Vandenberg was the only remaining member of the group's latter lineup), issuing Restless Heart the same year. Surprisingly, the album wasn't even issued in the United States. On the ensuing tour, Coverdale and Vandenberg performed an "unplugged" show in Japan that was recorded and issued the following year under the title Starkers in Tokyo. By the late '90s, however, Coverdale once again put Whitesnake on hold, as he concentrated on recording his first solo album in nearly 22 years. Coverdale's Into the Light was issued in September 2000, featuring journeyman guitarist Earl Slick. ~
Albums 2007 Live... In the Shadow of the Blues [Japan Bonus Track] 2007 1987 [20th Anniversary Collectors Edition] 2007 1987 [CD/DVD] 2007 Come an' Get It [Bonus Tracks] 2007 Saints & Sinners [Bonus Tracks] 2007 Live.... In the Heart of the City [Bonus Tracks] 2006 Live... In the Shadow of the Blues [Germany Bonus Track] 2006 Live... In the Shadow of the Blues 2006 Whitesnake [Bonus Tracks] 2006 Lovehunter [Japan Bonus Tracks] 2006 Trouble [Japan Bonus Tracks] 2006 Trouble [Bonus Track] 2006 Ready An' Willing [Bonus Tracks] 1998 Restless Heart 1998 Starkers in Tokyo 1989 Slip of the Tongue 1987 Whitesnake 1987 1987 1984 Slide It In 1982 Saints & Sinners 1981 Come an' Get It 1980 Live... In the Heart of the City 1980 Live at Hammersmith 1980 Ready An' Willing 1979 Lovehunter 1978 Trouble 1978 Snakebite
Compilations & Boxed Sets 2007 1987/Slip of the Tongue [Bonus Tracks] 2006 Gold 2006 The The Definitive Collection 2005 Rock Breakout Years: 1987 2005 Chronicles 2004 1987/Slip of the Tongue [Deluxe Edition] 2004 The The Early Years 2003 1987/Live....in the Heart of the City 2003 The The Silver Anniversary Collection 2003 Best 2003 Best of Whitesnake [EMI] 2002 Best of Sunburst Years 2002 Here I Go Again: The Whitesnake Collection 2002 Winning Combinations: Whitesnake & Scorpions 2000 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Whitesnake 2000 1987/Slip of the Tongue 1994 Whitesnake's Greatest Hits 1992 Box Set 1983 Greatest Whitesnake 1981 The The Best of Whitesnake [Carrere]
EPs & Singles 1997 Too Many Tears [#2] 1997 Too Many Tears [#1] 1990 Now You're Gone [Shaped Picture Disc UK Vinyl Single] 1990 Now You're Gone [UK Cassette Single] 1990 Shaped Picture Disc 1990 Now You're Gone [Cassette Single] 1989 Give Me All Your Love 1987 Is This Love Here I Go Again
ALBUM 2007 A A Matter of Life and Death [Picture Disc] 2006 A A Matter of Life and Death
2006 A A Matter of Life and Death [Bonus DVD] 2005 Death on the Road 2003 Dance of Death 2002 Rock in Rio 2002 No Prayer for the Dying [Limited Edition] 2002 Live After Death [Limited Edition] 2002 Live at Donnington [Limited Edition] 2002 X Factor [Limited Edition] 2002 Somewhere in Time [Limited Edition] 2002 Virtual XI [Limited Edition] 2002 Fear of the Dark [Limited Edition] 2002 Fear of the Dark [Enhanced] 2002 Live After Death [Enhanced] 2002 Powerslave [Limited Edition] 2002 A A Real Live One [Limited Edition] 2002 A A Real Dead One [Limited Edition] 2002 Seventh Son of a Seventh Son [Limited Edition] 2000 Brave New World 1998 Virtual XI [Japan] 1998 Powerslave [Bonus Disc] 1998 Somewhere in Time [Expanded] 1998 Seventh Son of a Seventh Son [Expanded] 1998 Live After Death [Expanded] 1998 Powerslave [Bonus Video Tracks] 1998 Virtual XI 1995 The The X Factor 1995 The The X Factor [Clean] 1994 Live at Donington 1993 A A Real Dead One 1993 A A Real Live One 1992 Fear of the Dark 1990 Stranger in a Strange Land 1990 No Prayer for the Dying 1990 Running Free Run to the Hills 1988 Seventh Son of a Seventh Son 1986 Somewhere in Time 1985 Live After Death 1984 Powerslave 1983 Piece of Mind 1983 Brain Damage Tour of Europe 1983 Piece of Mind [Limited Edition] 1982 The The Number of the Beast 1982 The The Number of the Beast [Limited Edition] 1981 Killers 1981 Killers [Limited Edition] 1980 Iron Maiden 1980 Iron Maiden [Limited Edition]
Compilations & Boxed Sets 2007 World's Greatest Albums 2005 The The Essential Iron Maiden 2005 Maiden Voyage 2002 Greatest Hits 2002 Eddie's Archive 2002 Edward the Great: Greatest Hits 2001 First Ten Years [Video] 1999 Private Talks 1999 Ed Hunter 1998 Eddie's Head 1998 A A Real Live Dead One 1998 In Profile 1998 Maiden Hell! 1996 Best of the Beast [Bonus CD] 1996 The The Best of the Beast 1996 The The Best of Iron Maiden 1994 The The First Ten Years [Box Set] 1992 10 CD Box Set 1990 Wasted Years...Stranger in a Strange Land 1988 Aces High 1987 Maidenmania
EPs & Singles 2006 Different World [DVD/Pal] 2006 Different World [2 Track Single] 2006 A A Different World [Japan CD] 2006 Different World [3 Track Single] 2006 Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg 2005 Trooper [UK CD] 2005 Trooper [UK] 2005 Trooper [Picture Disc] 2005 Number of the Beast [Single] 2005 Number of the Beast [Japan] 2005 Number of the Beast [UK] 2005 Number of the Beast [UK #2] 2004 No More Lies [UK CD] 2004 Rainmaker [Japan EP] 2003 Rainmaker [Canada CD] 2003 Wildest Dreams [2 Tracks] 2003 Wildest Dreams 2002 Run to the Hills, Pt. 2 2002 Run to the Hills, Pt. 1 2000 Out of the Silent Planet 2000 Wicker Man, Pt. 1 2000 Wicker Man, Pt. 2 1999 Wrathchild 1998 Futureal [Germany] 1998 Futureal, Pt. 1 [UK] 1998 Futureal, Pt. 2 [UK] 1998 Angel & Gambler, Pt. 1 1998 Angel & Gambler, Pt. 2 1995 Man on the Edge 1993 Hallowed Be Thy Name 1992 Wasting Love 1992 From There to Eternity [Picture Disc] 1992 From There to Eternity [Single] 1992 Be Quick 1991 Holy Smoke 1991 Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter (Picture Disc) 1990 Run to the Hills EP 1990 Wasted Years EP 1990 Trooper 1990 Sanctuary, Vol. 1 [EP] 1990 2 Minutes to Midnight 1990 Flight of Icarus 1990 Purgatory EP 1990 Women in Uniform [EP], Vol. 2 1990 The The Clairvoyant 1990 Can I Play With Madness 1984 Aces High [Maxi Single] 1981 Maiden Japan 1981 Twilight Zone 1981 Purgatory 1980 Running Free 1980 Sanctuary 1980 Women in Uniform 1980 Live!! + 1 1979 Soundhouse Tapes
Known for such powerful hits as "Two Minutes to Midnight" and "The Trooper," Iron Maiden was and is one of the most influential bands of the heavy metal genre. The often-imitated band existed for over 20 years, pumping out wild rock similar to Judas Priest. Iron Maiden has always been an underground attraction; although failing to ever obtain any real media attention in the U.S. (critics claimed them to be Satanists due to their dark musical themes and their use of grim mascot "Eddie"), they still became well known throughout the world and have remained consistently popular throughout their career. Iron Maiden was one of the first groups to be classified as "British metal," and, along with Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and a host of other bands, set the rock scene for the '80s. Iron Maiden was first formed in 1976 by bassist Steve Harris, who would soon join up with rhythm guitarist Tony Parsons, drummer Doug Sampson, and vocalist Paul Di'Anno. Before finally obtaining a record deal, the group played in local areas throughout the '70s, receiving a fair amount of London airplay. Parsons replaced Dennis Stratton, and the band made its record debut in 1980 with the self-titled Iron Maiden album. Although the release was recorded in a hurry, it was nonetheless a hit in the U.K. due to the single "Running Free." Iron Maiden's 1981 follow-up, Killers, displayed a harder approach to their music than before, and also saw the replacement of Stratton with Adrian Smith. Due to his uncontrollable alcohol addiction, Di'Anno was forced to part company with the group and would soon be replaced with vocalist Bruce Dickinson in 1982 for the band's groundbreaking Number of the Beast. This album, boasting such songs as the title track and "Hallowed Be Thy Name," would come to be known as one of the greatest rock recordings of all time. Since the unexpected worldwide success of Beast made Iron Maiden international rock superstars, they changed very little of their style for their next album, Piece of Mind. They undertook two major tours before recording 1983's Powerslave, which would go on to be another cult hit. The product of Powerslave's 11-month tour was 1985's Live After Death, a double live album that featured all of their biggest hit singles.
By the release of Live After Death, Iron Maiden had already established themselves as a powerful and unique metal band. Their long-awaited 1986 supplement album, Somewhere in Time, showed a bit of departure from their past releases, showcasing the use of synthesizer guitars and songs more relevant to the same themes. 1988's Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, a concept album like its predecessor, featured the singles "The Evil That Men Do" and "The Clairvoyant," and soon became Iron Maiden's most critically acclaimed album since Number of the Beast. After another exhausting tour, Smith departed and the band took a one-year hiatus. With new guitarist Janick Gers, they resurfaced with No Prayer for the Dying in 1990, a record that returned to the classic sound the group used when recording their earlier releases. One of the album's singles, "Bring Your Daughter...to the Slaughter," was granted the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Song of the Year, but it nonetheless gave the band their first number one U.K. hit. By the time the group finished their 1991 tour, Dickinson expressed desire to leave and work to promote another band he had founded, the Skunkworks. Fear of the Dark, the band's last album with Dickinson, debuted at number one on the U.K. charts and became one of their biggest-selling albums to date. After their supporting tour, two live albums were released in 1993: A Real Live One, which contained live versions of their newer hit singles, and A Real Dead One, which featured the more "classic" Maiden songs live.
Dickinson's replacement, Blaze Bayley, marked his debut in 1995 with The X Factor. While the record failed to chart as well as some of its predecessors, it was still a minor success in England. Iron Maiden marked the end of 1996 with Best of the Beast, a double compilation album. In 1998, little interest in the Virtual XI album prompted Bayley's termination; Dickinson and Smith returned to the band for a tour in 1999, and a new album, Brave New World, emerged the following year. The band toured throughout the early 2000s, releasing the live Rock in Rio and the greatest-hits collection Edward the Great in 2002, followed by a new studio album, Dance of Death, in 2003. They followed DOD with the Rainmaker EP, as well as the live DVDs History of Iron Maiden, Pt. 1: The Early Days and Raising Hell in 2004. Sanctuary put out the two-disc The Essential Iron Maiden in 2005 to coincide with the group's co-headlining Ozzfest tour with Black Sabbath, a tour that found Maiden pulling out due to a series of confrontations with Ozzy's wife/manager, Sharon Osbourne. They released the live CD/DVD Death on the Road in September of 2005 and a collection of new material, Matter of Life and Death, in 2006. ~
HELLOWEEN ALBUM 2007 Gambling with the Devil [Japan Bonus Track] 2007 Gambling with the Devil 2007 Gambling with the Devil [Bonus Disc] 2007 Chameleon [Bonus CD] 2007 Master of the Rings [Bonus CD] 2007 Time of the Oath [Bonus CD] 2007 Better Than Raw [Bonus Tracks] 2007 Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy World Tour 2005/2006 2006 If I Could Fly 2006 Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 2 [Deluxe Edition] 2006 Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 1 [Deluxe Edition] 2006 Better Than Raw [Expanded] 2006 Master of the Rings [Expanded] 2006 The The Time of the Oath [Expanded] 2006 High Live [CD/DVD] 2006 Walls of Jericho [Expanded Edition] 2006 Pink Bubbles Go Ape [Bonus Tracks] 2006 Chameleon [Bonus Tracks] 2006 Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 1 [Japan Bonus Tracks] 2006 Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 2 [Japan Bonus CD] 2005 Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy [Bonus Tracks] 2005 Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy 2003 Rabbit Don't Come Easy [Japan Bonus Track] 2003 Rabbit Don't Come Easy 2002 Master of the Rings [China Bonus Tracks] 2001 Master of the Rings [2001 Reissue] 2000 The The Dark Ride 2000 Dark Ride [Bonus Track] 2000 The The Time of the Oath [Import Bonus Tracks] 2000 I Can 1999 Metal Jukebox [Bonus Track] 1999 Metal Jukebox 1998 Better Than Raw 1998 Better Than Raw [Japan Bonus Track] 1996 High Live 1996 The The Time of the Oath 1994 Mr. Ego 1994 Master of the Rings 1994 Chameleon 1991 Pink Bubbles Go Ape 1989 I Want Out: Live 1989 Live in the U.K. 1988 Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 2 1987 Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 1 1987 Helloween/Mini LP 1986 Walls of Jericho 1985 Helloween
HELLOWEEN COMPILATIONS & BOXESD SETS 2006 Singles Box Set 1985-1992 2006 Walls of Jericho/Judas 2005 Dark Ride/Rabbit Don't Come Easy 2002 Karaoke Remix 2002 Treasure Chest [Box] 2002 Treasure Chest [Japan Import] 2002 Treasure Chest 2002 The The Dark Ride/If I Could Fly 1999 Pink Bubbles Go Ape [Japan Bonus Track] 1999 Keeper of the... 1998 Pumpkin Box 1994 Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pts. 1-2 1994 Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pts. 1-2 [Import] 1991 The The Best, the Rest, the Rare
EPS & SINGLES 2006 Light the Universe 2005 Mrs. God [Japan] 2003 Just a Little Sign [Japan EP] 2003 Just a Little [Germany CD] 2000 Mr. Torture 1998 Hey Lord 1996 Power 1995 Dr. Stein 1995 Kids of the Century 1995 Step Out of Hell 1994 Mr. Ego [EP] 1991 Keepers Live 1987 Judas
HELLOWEEN BIOGRAPHY
Alongside Switzerland's Celtic Frost and Sweden's Bathory, Germany's Helloween were possibly the most influential heavy metal band to come out of Europe during the 1980s. By taking the hard riffing and minor key melodies handed down from metal masters like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, then infusing them with the speed and energy introduced by the burgeoning thrash metal movement, Helloween crystallized the sonic ingredients of what is now known as power metal. Sadly, just as they were on the verge of breaking to a wider audience -- even flirting with American success -- the band's meteoric rise was rudely interrupted by internal strife and a string of bad business decisions. These blunders kept them from ever regaining their original momentum, but Helloween took their hard-knock lessons in stride and continued to prosper in the international metal arena on their own terms. More importantly, they remained the benchmark by which most every power metal band is still measured. Helloween were formed in Hamburg, Germany, by guitarists Kai Hansen and Michael Weikath, bassist Markus Grosskopf, and drummer Ingo Schwichtenberg. Originally named Second Hell then Iron Fist before morphing into Helloween in 1982, they signed with Germany's own fledgling Noise International two years later. With Hansen also handling vocals and the bulk of songwriting duties, the quartet recorded its self-titled debut mini-album in early 1985. The full-length Walls of Jericho and the Judas maxi-single followed the year after, and the media was soon buzzing over the band's thrash-fueled interpretation of classic heavy metal. Countless fans across continental Europe were also fast converting to the band's cause, but Hansen remained dissatisfied with his singing ability, and felt Helloween needed a proper frontman in order to achieve their full potential. Enter teenage vocalist Michael Kiske, whose high-pitched delivery followed in the footsteps of previous heavy metal banshees like Rob Halford and Bruce Dickinson.
The new chemistry proved as explosive on-stage as it did in the studio, and with their classic lineup now intact, Helloween were ready for the big time. Returning to the studio in early 1987, the band emerged in May with Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 1, a landmark recording that remains arguably the single most influential power metal album to date. Its volatile combination of power and melody would inspire an entire generation of metal bands, and transformed Helloween into bona fide superstars all over Europe and the U.K., even making tentative inroads into America at the time. The band toured relentlessly for the rest of the year and into 1988 (including a lengthy opening stint with Iron Maiden), but despite this manic work schedule, they still found time to record the aptly titled Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 2. Released in September 1988, the record was another blockbuster that crashed the U.K. Top 30, but its uneven songwriting (especially from longtime leader Kai Hansen) revealed the beginnings of a major band crisis.
Helloween's watershed performance at that year's Donington Monsters of Rock Festival proved to be their crowning glory, but for Hansen, his dream come true also represented the culmination of his ambitions for the group. Shockingly, the guitarist soon announced his departure from the band he had helmed to the top, claiming that Helloween were now too big a beast for him to control. (He would soon make a fresh start with a new outfit called Gamma Ray, which, to no one's surprise, sounded remarkably like Helloween.) But the remaining members of Helloween weren't about to let their shot at stardom slip away, and after drafting former Rampage guitarist Roland Grapow, they got right back to work with a sold-out tour of the U.K. Impressed by the band's momentum, giant EMI stepped in and offered to sign them away from the ever troubled Noise Records, but in doing so, wound up igniting a legal dispute that would sideline Helloween for nearly two years. Several live albums (Live in the U.K. for Europe, Keepers Live for Japan, and I Want Out: Live for the U.S.) were released to distract the fans during this hiatus, and the band obtained added support from the mighty Sanctuary management team (Iron Maiden, W.A.S.P., etc.) to boot.
Confident that they'd accumulated little, if any rust from their extended layoff, Helloween finally returned to action with the oddly titled Pink Bubbles Go Ape in 1991. But no amount of EMI or Sanctuary muscle could compensate for the scattered, unfocused songwriting that dominated the album. Furthermore, the band's quirky attempts at humor had grown so forced that fans weren't sure what to make of furious metal anthems with names like the title track and "Heavy Metal Hamsters." The record bombed in no uncertain terms, as did its even more schizophrenic follow-up, Chameleon. Recorded in 1993 by an obviously shell-shocked band, its poor showing only exacerbated growing internal dissension, which culminated with the ousting of both Kiske (off to launch a solo career) and Schwichtenberg due to drug-related physical and mental health issues. Fair-weather friends EMI and Sanctuary also decided to cut their losses at this time, leaving the shattered remnants of Helloween to fend for themselves. Attempting to regroup as fast as possible, Helloween brought in new singer Andi Deris and drummer Uli Kusch to record 1994's Master of the Rings, a small but determined step in the right direction. Then tragedy struck, when former drummer Ingo Schwichtenberg -- a diagnosed manic depressive whose worsening condition had been partly to blame for his dismissal -- took his own life, throwing himself in front of a train near his native Hamburg.
Shaken to the core, but as driven as ever, Helloween dedicated 1996's The Time of the Oath to their fallen friend, and, coincidentally, the album turned out to be the strongest since their glory years, doing much to resurrect their career. The ensuing tour spawned the double-disc set High Live and confirmed the band's return to form as major players in the international metal arena (in Europe and Japan, they were arguably bigger than ever). Helloween continued to prosper with 1998's Better Than Raw, 1999's celebratory Metal Jukebox covers album, and 2000's The Dark Ride, and not even the departure of longtime members Grapow and Kusch could slow them for long. Now regarded as elder statesmen of Euro-metal, Helloween celebrated their achievements with 2002's Treasure Chest greatest-hits set. This was followed by 2003's Rabbit Don't Come Easy, which introduced new guitarist Sascha Gerstner and featured Motörhead's Mikkey Dee guesting on drums until a permanent replacement could be found in Stefan Schwarzmann
