Formed in Hartford, Connecticut, USA, in 1982, initially as Misfit, the original line-up of Fates Warning consisted of John Arch (vocals), Jim Matheos (guitar), Victor Arduini (guitar), Joe DiBiase (bass) and Steve Zimmerman (drums). After a couple of early demos the band was invited to contribute a track (‘Soldier Boy’) to the Metal Massacre V compilation, released
Read more
This Los Angeles, USA heavy metal band was put together by vocalist Don Dokken (29 June 1953). His first break came when producer Dieter Dierks recruited him to supply (eventually unused) back-up vocals on the Scorpions’Blackout in 1982. Dierks then allowed Dokken the remaining studio time to produce demos. These rough recordings impressed Carrere Records enough to sec
Read more
Formed in the north of England in 1976, Saxon were originally known as Son Of A Bitch and spent their early days paying dues in clubs and small venues up and down the UK, with Peter ‘Biff’ Byford (5 January 1951, Barnsley, England; vocals), Graham Oliver (b. 6 July 1952, Mexborough, England; guitar), Paul Quinn (guitar), Steve Dawson (b. Steven Dawson, 1951, Englan
Read more
Paul Bruce Dickinson, 7 August 1958, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England. Dickinson left the heavy metal band Samson to join pioneering contemporaries Iron Maiden, replacing Paul Di’Anno in 1981. By the following year Dickinson had fully established himself within the line-up through his performances on the road and on 1982’s UK number 1 album, The Number Of The Beas
Read more
This rock band was formed in 1985 by Berklee College Of Music students John Petrucci (12 July 1967, Kings Park, Long Island, New York, USA; guitar), John Myung (b. 24 January 1967, Chicago, Illinois, USA; bass) and Mike Portnoy (b. Michael Stephen Portnoy, 20 April 1967, Long Island, New York, USA; drums; ex-Inner Sanctum). The trio subsequently enlisted old schoolfriend Kev
Read more
Ronald Padavona, 10 July 1940, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA. Dio was raised in New York, USA, and served his musical apprenticeship in the late 50s with school-based bands such as the Vegas Kings, Ronnie And The Rumblers and Ronnie And the Redcaps (one single, ‘Lover’/’Conquest’, in 1958). From 1961-67 he led Ronnie Dio And the Prophets, not solely as a
Read more
Originally known as City Kid, this blues-based, hard rock quintet were formed in Sacramento, California, USA. Named after the scientist Nikola Tesla, Jeff Keith (12 October 1958, Texarkana, Arkansas, USA; vocals), Tommy Skeoch (guitar/vocals), Frank Hannon (b. 1965, Los Angeles, California, USA; guitar/keyboards), Brian Wheat (bass/vocals) and Troy Luccketta (drums) came tog
Read more
This enduring heavy metal outfit was formed in Birmingham, England, in 1969, by K.K. Downing (Kenneth Downing, 27 October 1951, West Bromwich, Warwickshire, England; guitar) and close friend, Ian Hill (b. 20 January 1951, England; bass). As another hopeful, struggling young rock band, they played their first gig in Essington in 1971 with a line-up completed by Alan Atkins (b
Read more
This US thrash act was one of the first to emerge from San Francisco’s Bay Area in Metallica’s wake in the 80s. Originally formed as Legacy in 1983, becoming Testament two years later, the line-up included vocalist Steve Souza alongside Alex Skolnick (29 September 1968, Berkeley, California, USA, replacing original guitarist Derrick Ramirez), Eric Peterson (b. 14 M
Read more
This Los Angeles, California, USA-based heavy metal quintet was formed in 1981. The band originally comprised John Bush (24 August 1963, Los Angeles, California, USA; vocals), Dave Prichard (guitar), Phil E. Sandoval (guitar), Joey Vera (bass), and Gonzo Sandoval (drums). Their incessant gigging around the Los Angeles bar and club circuit led to them contributing a track to
Read more
Formed in London, England, in 1975, Iron Maiden was from the start the brainchild of Steve Harris (Stephen Percy Harris, 12 March 1957, Leytonstone, London, England; bass), formerly a member of pub rockers Smiler. Named after a medieval torture device, the music was suitably heavy and hard on the senses. The heavy metal scene of the late 70s was widely regarded as stagnant,
Read more
Lars Johann Yngwie Lannerback, 30 June 1963, Stockholm, Sweden. This Swedish guitar virtuoso was the originator of the high-speed, technically precise, neo-classical style that developed during the 80s. Influenced by Jimi Hendrix, Ritchie Blackmore and Eddie Van Halen, Malmsteen first picked up a guitar at the age of five and had formed his first band, Powerhouse, by the tim
Read more
