Artist

The group signed to MCA records and released Leather Boyz with Electric Toyz, an album whose very name was a tongue-in-cheek tip of the hat to their glamorous heroes – Sweet, Kiss, the NY Dolls – all the bands who believed that rock music wasn’t just music – it was a show, a spectacle, a lifestyle – “a prostitute to be trumped up and tarted around like a band aid or cheap whore” – to borrow a quote from David Bowie. The Howard Benson-produced album made a significant impact, being named one of the hottest albums of its genre by Metal Edge and Spin magazines.

Pretty Boy Floyd landed on the cover of metal bible Kerrang! and their two Top 20 videos “I Wanna Be With You” and “Rock and Roll is Gonna Set the Night on Fire” hit MTV, back when MTV ran videos instead of reality shows. The band toured the world and was recognized as the kings of the Sunset Strip, breaking attendance records held by Van Halen and Warrant. Their album would go on to sell 750,000 copies worldwide.

As the new millennium rolled in, new music fans began to wonder what they had missed. While most Pretty Boy Floyd fans were at an age that you wouldn’t commonly associate with concert goers, a whole new breed of young fans who weren’t even out of school when the band first emerged began to rediscover their music. The original fans and the new fans meshed on their common ground – a love of Pretty Boy Floyd’s music, sleazy shows, and fun times. Never mind what the critics think, or what trends may have come and gone.

Having outlasted many of the critics who cried “they’ll never make it,” Pretty Boy Floyd continues to record and tour the world.

1981 saw the release of their sophomore effort, “Killers”, as well as a live EP, “Maiden Japan”. Despite world-wide success lurking just around the corner, Di’Anno departed from the band by the fall of 1981 (he’s since admitted that he was partying a bit too hard around the time of his departure from Maiden). However DiAnno’s unique and extremely powerful voice had made a huge impression on rock music fans the world over, and also gained him an army of fans due to the sales of more than 20 million copies of the first two Iron Maiden albums featuring Paul’s unique vocal talent. In his post-Maiden career, Di’Anno has issued numerous albums, as both a solo artist and as a member of such bands as Gogmagog, Battlezone and Killers and he has been featured (either as the artist or as a guest) on more than 60 albums released world-wide.

As a confirmed icon of the metal genre Di’anno is constantly gigging (from 2000 till 2003 with his former band Killers, now with his new band Screaming Monkey) throughout all of Europe Canada, South America and just recently in India where he has just landed his first film role in a Bollywood movie. Di’Anno has even had time to have his first book/autobiography released entitled “The Beast” which is a no holds barred journey through his turbulent and often disturbing lifestyle throughout the last two decades. Although he only appeared on the first two Maiden albums, Maiden’s work with Paul Di’Anno remains among metal’s all-time finest, and to this day those two albums are idolised and thought of as “The All Time Classics” by most Metal fans and musicians alike throughout the World.

Cafiero taped into his diverse pool of friends and collaborators to assemble a line-up that would include an impressive pedigree of punk rock musicians for Osaka’s debut-backing band. Future releases will continue the theme as new guests and revolving line-ups join the fold and contribute to the project lead by Cafiero.

In 2006 Osaka Popstar released the critically acclaimed debut LP, appropriately titled Osaka Popstar And The American Legends Of Punk. For the album Cafiero picked an eclectic mix of cover songs to complement his originals, resulting in 13 tracks of addictive, high-energy punk pop plus a bonus DVD featuring animated videos.
The opening track and first single, “Wicked World,” was written by world-renowned indie music icon Daniel Johnston, who also contributes backing vocals on a terrific, revved-up cow-punk version of the traditional bluegrass lament “Man of Constant Sorrow.” During the release of Osaka Popstar And The American Legends Of Punk, “Wicked World” made its way to #3 on alternative specialty radio. In 2008, Osaka Popstar returned with the high-energy mini LP Rock ‘Em O-Sock ‘Em Live! The live record showcases the band ripping through a roller coaster of old school punk pop with high-speed hooks and catchy choruses. The nine-track CD features live recordings of favorites from the debut LP, as well as three Ramones classics plus the title track of Richard Hell and the Voidoids’ 1977 album, Blank Generation. The band’s visual aesthetic is heavily inspired by Japanese animation, and appropriately Osaka Popstar delivers hi-octane punk-pop cover versions of the cult classic anime theme songs “Astro Boy” and “Sailor Moon.”

“This is a combination of everything that has inspired me, of everything that I am: Japanese anime and toys, my love of punk rock and pop culture, and especially the defining 1970s bands of New York City,” says Cafiero.

In a recent interview with Alternative Press Magazine, Marky Ramone was quoted on Osaka Popstar’s debut CD saying “it’s one of the best albums that I ever played on”, while his predecessor, Ramones founding member, original drummer, producer and co-author of classics like “Blitzkrieg Bop”, Tommy Ramone, was quoted commenting on the Live CD: “This is a great sounding live show, which includes excellent performances ?of several classic Ramones songs.” Other high profile endorsements include guitar icon Kim Thayil (Soundgarden). Thayil’s highly influential guitar work pioneered the Seattle Sound and grunge movement earning him a slot on Rolling Stone’s “100 greatest guitarists of all time. When asked what he’d been listening to lately, during Sub Pop’s Grunge summit, Thayil cited “Osaka Popstar”.

Osaka Popstar has since the beginning been almost as much about visual art as it has music, and both releases feature work by a team of colossal visual artists hand-picked by Cafiero and assembled to create an over-the-top, high-energy-bursting-with-color world for the band. The debut LP packaging included work by original Topps bubble-gum card guru John Pound (Wacky Packs artist and creator of the Garbage Pail Kids); Space Monkeys designer and urban legend Dalek; Batman and Justice League wizard Butch Lukic; and Tragnark, who worked closely with Cafiero in developing the “Shaolin Monkeys” character designs, based on the original Osaka Popstar tune of the same name, (planned for a forthcoming animated series). A die-cut, 10-inch shaped picture disc maxi-single for “Shaolin Monkeys” from the debut CD was released in limited edition, available at Hot Topic stores and other retail outlets worldwide.

The Osaka Popstar Devil Dog art show debuted on Halloween 2008 at The Showroom Gallery in NYC benefiting animal rescue. Nearly 100 artists from all over the world (including Obey Giant’s Shepard Fairey, Nickelodeon’s “Invader Zim” creator Jhonen Vasquez and Japan’s Rockin’ Jelly Bean) along a few celebrity participants (including actor/comedian Seth Rogen, actress Rose McGowan and writer/director Robert Rodriguez), customized white vinyl Devil Dog toys into one of a kind toy works of art, with net proceeds raising over $5,000.00 for the Picasso Veterinary Fund, (administered by the Mayor’s Alliance for NY’s Animals).

In other recent collaborations, Osaka Popstar teamed up with The Hard Rock Cafe to offer a limited edition set of cloisonne pins and key chains available exclusively at all Hard Rock Cafe locations throughout Japan. Collectors seeking the entire set visited all eight Cafes (Tokyo, Osaka, Narita, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Universal Citywalk, Uyeno & Yokohama) for the piece exclusive to each. Animated music videos directed by cult animators Mari-chan (Japan) & the UK’s Joel (Rather Good) Veitch can be seen on a regular basis on the in-house programming at Hard Rock Cafe locations worldwide. The quirky, aforementioned animated music video for the band’s first single “Wicked World” was voted #1 on Fuse TV’s Oven Fresh in competition against Jack White’s Raconteurs, Buckcherry and other top 40 artists. The “Wicked World” video has since been sought after and licensed to make the leap onto (or off-of) both the big and small screen for release in high definition 3-D by Lucid Dreams 3D and Passmore Labs.

After some early personnel changes (Tez Mcdonald joined The Fits and it was decided that there was no need for two guitarists so Halliday left, resurfacing years later in Sick 56), the line-up settled down as Gav Whyte on vocals, Dave “Crabby” Ross on guitar, Gary Buckley on bass and Tommy Couch on drums.

The Give Us A Future 7″ was the first release (ANA1) on Cherry Red’s Anagram Records in 1982. In the same year, Anagram also rereleased No Entry as the Stab The Judge EP (OWS2) and the single version of Jerusalem. One Way System became the first signing to Anagram with the release of their All Systems Go LP following the success of Give Us A Future in the indie charts and the band being featured on the front cover of UK national music paper Sounds (magazine).

Between 1982 and 1984 the band had five Indie Chart hit singles and two Top Ten albums. A U.S. West Coast tour alongside Circle Jerks in 1984 was abandoned when Keith Morris broke his neck, although the band managed to salvage one date with Suicidal Tendencies. In 1985 Gav Whyte was replaced on vocals by Andy Gibson of Preston punk band The Genocides and the band remained signed to Anagram until they split in early 1986 with enough songs written for an unreleased third album.

Tom Couch then spent 2 years with the UK Subs and has since been voted one of the best punk drummers of all time. One Way System was resurrected in 1995 with Gavin Whyte returning after Captain Oi! re-releasedAll Systems Go and Writing On The Wall in CD format. Gaz Buckley left the band to be replaced by Dave Brown for a ten date European Tour.

Brown was replaced in turn by Andy Wilkinson and, in 1996, Cleopatraissued a Best Of collection. In 1996, whilst working on a new album, Gavin Whyte left the band and was replaced by longtime fan Lee Havok (real name Lee Pinkney) and it was with this line-up that undertook a tour of Japan.

A new CD, Waiting For Zero was released through GMM in 1998 and Cherry Red released a Singles Collection in 2003. The 2005 various artists compilation CD Give Us A Future (The History Of Anagram Records 1982-1987) took its name from the One Way System single of that name.

More recently, Lee Havok was replaced by ukNige (ex of Pink Torpedoes and, with OWS founder member Craig Halliday, Sick 56) on vocals and ukNige was then replaced by Jay Susel. In 2011, Couch and Wilkinson, while remaining in One Way System, joined singer Dunk Rock (UFX) and guitarist Tony Mitchell (Kiss of The Gypsy) in gothic psychobilly band Boneyard Zombies, releasing the Death Rattle and Roll album in 2012. Both bands appeared at the 2012 Rebellion Festival in Blackpool. Recording for a new One Way System album is already underway and the band toured the U.S. West Coast in 2013. Gaz Buckley is currently in Aussie punk band The Terraces.

The singles “Mental Hopscotch”, “Surrender Your Heart” (1984), “Destination Unknown,” “Words,” “Walking in L.A.,” and “Windows” met with varying success, especially in the local markets of Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. The visual effects used in the music video for “Words” were unusual for the time, making it popular on the fledgling cable TV channel MTV.[/tab]
Missing Persons appeared at a three-day Southern California concert known as the US Festival in May 1983.

Although the band gained new attention by heavy play on MTV and FM rock-radio with the striking music video for “Surrender Your Heart” that was designed by Peter Max, the experimental album Rhyme & Reason (1984) . The band followed up with the more conventional Color In Your Life in June 1986.

Some of her musicians have been Wes Wehmiller, Ron Poster, Mike Mangini, Anthony Resta, Ben Sesar, Tony Savarino, Brad Miller, Jeff Calder, Michael T. Ross, Van Spragins, Michael Maysonet, James Sperry and Eric Welsh.

In June 2005, Missing Persons featuring Dale Bozzio appeared on week five of the NBC show Hit Me Baby One More Time. They performed “Words” and a cover of the Kylie Minogue dance track, “Can’t Get You Out of My Head”.

MISSING PERSONS has toured throughout the United States. During the past few years, the band has made several appearances on the Regeneration Tour, played club dates on the west coast during the Summer of 2009, and played with the 1980s Club Tour at venues across the country in the Spring of 2010. THE BAND HAS ALSO PERFORMED AT THE 2010 AND 2012 JACK FM RADIO FESTIVAL SHOWS IN IRVINE, CA

The band’s last full length release, 2003’s “Misfits Project 1950,” showcased punk covers of 50’s era classics with special guest appearances by Ronnie Spector, Blondie’s Jimmy Destri and many more. Only, who had the project in mind for many years, says, “The backbone of punk has always been the 3-chord progression which was ultimately inspired by classic rock and roll of the 1950’s. I had always wanted to record some of the music that inspired the Misfits, to show fiends where it all began.” Released independently on the newly formed Misfits Records label imprint, the CD debuted on Billboard’s Heatseekers Chart at #2, and Billboard’s Top Independent album chart at #5. Notably the highest charting release in the entire 30-plus year legacy of the Misfits, “Project 1950” also marked the first full-length release to feature Jerry Only on both lead vocals and Bass, with former Black Flag alum Dez Cadena on guitar.

Today, The Misfits remain more aggressive, more topical and more sought after than ever before, fronted by Jerry Only (Bass/Vocals) with Dez Cadena on guitar, (celebrating his 10th anniversary in the band this year), the latest addition to the fiendish fold is drummer Eric “Chupacabra” Arce behind the kit. Arce, or “Chupacabra” as he’s now known, has been a fixture in the ‘Fits touring lineup for over a decade, and recently inducted a permanent member upon the retirement of original Misfits drummer Robo, who’d passed the torch in 2010. Now, the ‘Fits return with their first full-length release of all-new, original material in nearly a decade! Rooted in the horror and sci-fi themes their audience craves, “The Devil’s Rain” showcases 16 fiendish, soon-to-be Misfits classics including “Twilight of the Dead”, “Dark Shadows”, “Curse of the Mummy’s Hand” and the title track “The Devil’s Rain”. Produced by Ed Stasium, (who’s credits include the Ramones’ “Road to Ruin” and “Too Tough to Die”, as well as the Misfits’ 1999 release “Famous Monsters”), the album showcases a jaw-dropping, twopanel front/back cover painting featuring the rebirth of the band’s iconic “Fiend” mascot in an epic setting rendered by Arthur Suydam (known for his immensely popular work on the Marvel Zombies series, among others). The packaging, designed to emulate a CD sized gatefold LP, also features some incredible new Misfits portraits shot by the legendary Mick Rock. Rock’s imagery has become part of the very fabric of rock ‘n’ roll. Having also served as an on-set photographer for cult-movie classic “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”, Rock lends a perfectly suited eye to view the band’s surrealistic and highly theatrical persona. “The Devil’s Rain” is not just a continuation of a historic legacy, it’s a total reboot ushering in a new era of terror. In a sense, it’s the debut album from the legendary Misfits of this decade. From fans of their classics, to newcomers discovering the band for the very first time, “The Devil’s Rain” sets the bar, and redefines the ferocity and melody that has made the Misfits omnipresent and immortal.

The Misfits have been preserved on determination bound by unequaled loyalty to their fiends and the sheer will to survive. “It’s been over 30 years and 30 years from now, people will still be playing our albums because we will never water down what we do,” Only says. “Our goal is to keep perspective on who we are and always stay true to ourselves. The new album will only reinforce how potent the band has become with time. We plan to continue as always, to eclipse the past, block the sun and drag humanity by the throat into a world of darkness filled with ghouls, goblins and creatures of the night, where we are king.”

One thing is certain, The Misfits are here to stay and every day is Halloween

They have now made no less than 30 official albums, and countless singles, not to mention dozens of compilations and re-issues. Many were made in their own recording studio, “In Heaven” a fully working pro studio used by 100’s of bands including some very famous household names and lead-man Paul Fenech has also released five successful solo albums. (They have also featured in many films and numerous TV shows) Worldwide sales have increased steadily over the years, and they have toured almost continuously to support these releases.

Their live show is wild and addictive, (they have done it over thousands of times in fact this year passing their four thousand five hundredth) and has been seen in just about every country in the world, including Japan, several tours of America, and every major city in Europe and Scandinavia even spending a sell out week in Israel, Everybody is welcome at a Meteors show, and the band make a point that The Meteors Live is a political or religious free zone. People should come to enjoy the music, and to wreck if they are brave enough! It’s wild and sweaty, but nobody gets seriously hurt.

They are supported by a flourishing fan base, with thousands of supporters worldwide, who are kept in touch by the website www.kingsofpsychobilly.com which is updated daily with tours, band news and new merchandise, and there are several internet web sites devoted to them. And they receive daily e-mail from fans from the 4 corners of the earth. Although there have been line-up changes over the years, (Paul Fenech being the only original member) the search for the perfect combination is now over. The Meteors are a known name, experienced, professional working band, with an established audience. Their most recent release is “These Evil Things” which has been very well received by press & audience around the world.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Band and they will be out there doing what they do best Blasting around the world playing their World famous live show and taking on all comers.

Whatever you do don’t forget… Only The Meteors Are Pure Psychobilly

Lizzy Borden starring: Lizzy Borden, Joey Scott, Marten Andersson & Dario Lorina

Over the last few years the International recording group Lizzy Borden “Appointment with Death Show” has produced spectacular performances in 20+ countries (from North America, Japan and all throughout Europe) as well as on the main stages of some of the biggest festivals like, “Sweden Rock” (Sweden), “Wacken” (Germany), “The Reading Festival” (UK), “Bang Your Head” (Germany), “Kobetasonic” (Spain), “Rocklahoma”, “Rock in America” (USA) all to rave reviews unanimously declaring Lizzy Borden the hit of the festivals, ‘comparing their show to a Kiss concert’.

Lizzy Borden’s “30 years of American Metal” tour is a brand new show, created from the ground up just for this monumental 30 year anniversary. The new show will encompass songs from each and every Lizzy Borden record to date, including classic songs like “Me Against the World” “American Metal” “Master of Disguise” as well as the new singles “Tomorrow Never Comes” and “Under Your Skin” from the latest Lizzy Borden full length album “Appointment with Death”, both songs feature dramatic videos and are in rotation on MTV2. The video “Tomorrow Never Comes” was nominated for video of the year as well as the top 25 metal video on MTV2’s “Headbangers Ball”.

In a career spanning 30 years, Lizzy Borden was created in 1983 in Hollywood California. Spitting venom, stage blood and dripping grease paint while breathing life into bizarre characters bred precisely for the stage. Theme oriented creations such as; Love You to Pieces (1985) Menace to Society (1986) Visual Lies (1987) Master of Disguise (1989) Best Of (1994) Deal with the Devil (2000) and Appointment with Death (2008) forever cemented icon status to the master showman from the dawn of heavy metal.

Although I am sure you are familiar with the bands history, please check out the bands websites at: www.lizzyborden.com www.facebook.com/lizzybordenband www.myspace.com/lizzybordenband which has reviews, full details and sound bites from the band’s latest CD ‘Appointment with Death’ out now on Metal Blade Records.

Discography:

Give ’em the axe-1984
Love you to pieces-1985 Murderess metal roadshow-1985 Menace to society-1986 Terrorrising-1986
Visual Lies-1987
Master of disguise-1989
Best of Lizzy Borden-1994
Deal with the devil-2000 Appointment with Death-2008


• • 8 albums and sellout tours across the U.S. Canada, Europe the U.K.

and Japan. (Latest release “Appointment with Death” in stores now)

• 2008 – 2013 tours of North America, Europe and Japan (20+ countries)
• Tomorrow Never Comes, nominated video of the year and top 25 metal video on MTV’s Headbangers Ball.
• 2 songs and videos from the new CD, “Tomorrow Never Comes” and “Under Your Skin in rotation on MTV2, Music Choice as well as radio stations around the country
• Hitting the top 100 4 times in the U.S
• Hitting 1 on CMJ (radio) (me against the world)
• Consistently top 5 on metal radio
• Performing in video’s in rotation on MTV and the playboy channel among many others
• Hosting the Headbangers ball, (MTV-U.S.)
• Appearing on MTV-Canada-England-Germany-and Japan
• Performing (live) in the movie (the decline of the western civilization part 2)
• Appearing on the (the Decline of the Western Civilization) sound

track

• Appearing on the movie (Black Roses) sound track
• Released a double live CD and a ‘best of’ CD
• 2 on the P.M.R.C hit list as the most dangerous band in the world.
• Revered in (billboard magazine)
• Full length live video (Lizzy Borden Live)
• Guest on the Jesse Jackson show
• Guest on CNN
• Appearing in and on the cover of magazine’s such as (Burrn, Sweden rock, Metal Hammer, classic rock, Circus, Hit Parader, Metal Edge, the Star, Creem, and countless others)
• Performed at festivals such as Sweden Rock, Wacken, Bang Your Head, Keep It True, Kobetasonic, Rocklahoma, Rock gone wild, Reading festival UK (50,000 people) and many, many more.

The band recorded their first album in August 1981, and upon release, it quickly made it up to the top of the Japanese charts. It was clear that Japan was looking for hard rock, and Loudness was the answer! The band toured Japan constantly, while pumping out ever more albums for their fans, until in 1984, they went overseas to record their fourth album- Disillusion. After recording, they toured Europe, thus gaining popularity on the international Metal scene.

The band continued to tour throughout the United States and Europe until 1988, when Minoru decided to call it quits and pursue his own musical career. Determined to push on, Loudness continued searching for a replacement, which they found in American vocalist Mike Vescera (formerly of Obsession). With Mike’s supersonic vocals, the band released two more albums, with some of the most amazing guitar solos that Akira had ever played. After a few years, Mike quit the band, and was quickly replaced with former EZO vocalist Masaki YAMADA’s raw style.

It was during this time that the band started exploring some new sounds, evolving their sound into a more basic, rhythmic expression combined with edgy, almost surreal vocals. While these albums didn’t sound like much when stacked up against the operatic Loudness of old, the sheer power of their music had a tendency to grow on the listener.

In 1999, Akira decided that it was time to have a reunion, and by 2001, the band had started recording together once again, twenty years from when they were born. Even though the original members are all back, Loudness retained much of the same raw sound borne of the Yamada years, and with this sound, they will continue their sonic assault well into the new millennium.