Leatherwolf | |
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Leatherwolf performing in St. George, Utah on September 23, 2006.
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Background information | |
Origin | Huntington Beach, California, US |
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Years active |
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Labels | |
Website | leatherwolfmetal |
Members | Michael Olivieri Rob Math Joey Tafolla Patrick Guyton Dean Roberts |
Past members | Carey Howe Geoff Gayer Greg Erba Matt Hurich Marco Forcone Jeff Martin Wade Black Eric Halpern Pete Perez Paul Carman |
Leatherwolf is an American heavy metal band that formed in Huntington Beach, California in 1981. They split up in 1990, but reunited in 1999. The group is also nicknamed the "Triple Axe Attack" for pioneering the use of a 3-guitar line-up in heavy metal. Currently comprising vocalist and guitarist Michael Olivieri, guitarists Rob Math and Joey Tafolla, bassist Patrick Guyton, and drummer Dean Roberts, the band has released five studio albums. Leatherwolf has gone through many line-up changes, leaving Roberts as the only constant member. Though the band continues to perform live, they have not released any studio material since their 2007 album New World Asylum.
Formed in the early 1980s, a teenaged Leatherwolf emerged on the Southern California scene sharing bills with fellow OC metal acts such as Metallica, Witch, and Slayer at venues like the Woodstock and Radio City. Leatherwolf quickly caught the attention of Enigma Records affiliated indie label Tropical Records who financed the band's eponymous 1984 5-song EP, produced by Randy Burns. Germany's Steamhammer/SPV label released the EP, upgraded to a full-fledged album, in 1985, titled Leatherwolf, while Heavy Metal America, who had the rights for Great Britain, issued it as Endangered Species, so named after one of the songs on the album.
In 1986, Matt Hurich left to join the band Stryper and was replaced by Paul Carman, formerly of Black Sheep. The band signed a new major label record deal with Island Records, and released the confusingly titled, Kevin Beamish produced Leatherwolf in 1987. A video for the first single, "The Calling," was shown on MTV. It was followed up with another single, "Cry Out", featuring a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Bad Moon Rising" on the B-side.