Phantom Blue

Phantom Blue
Phantom Blue - L-R: Michelle Meldrum, Kim Nielsen, Gigi Hangach, Linda McDonald, and Karen Kreutzer.
Background information
Origin	Los Angeles, California, United States
Genres	Heavy metal, hard rock
Years active	1987–2001, 2009
Labels	Shrapnel, Geffen, Roadrunner, Marlin, DRZ
Associated acts	The Iron Maidens, Meldrum, The Little Dolls, Warbride, ThundHerStruck, Vixen, Sinboy, Post Mortem
Website	www.phantomblue.com
Past members	Former members

Phantom Blue was an all-female American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1987. Phantom Blue were the first and only female artists to be signed to Mike Varney's Shrapnel Records, only three months after forming.

Phantom Blue was formed in 1987 in Hollywood, California by Michelle Meldrum and Nicole Couch. Couch and Meldrum were students of Paul Gilbert and Bruce Bouillet of Racer X. Michelle Meldrum had played with drummer Linda McDonald in previous projects and together with vocalist Gigi Hangach and original bassist, Debra Armstrong, the band signed a contract with Shrapnel Records. Armstrong left the band prior to recording and was replaced by Kim Nielsen-Parsons, a student of John Alderete, bassist for Racer X and The Mars Volta. Phantom Blue recorded their first album with the help of producer Steve Fontano and fellow Shrapnel label mate, Marty Friedman. Couch and Meldrum also co wrote a track on the album with Marty Freidman. Roadrunner Records, who owned the bands European distribution rights, were responsible for the band shooting a video for the single "Why Call it Love" and a successful European tour followed.

Upon returning to the States, Phantom Blue caught the attention of singer Don Dokken who introduced them to Tom Zutaut of Geffen Records. Other major labels were interested in signing the band, most notably Disney's Hollywood Records, but the band signed with Geffen. Couch and Meldrum began writing the material for the Gefffen release. Couch left the band prior to recording and Meldrum successfully recorded all the guitar parts for Built to Perform. Guitarist Karen Kreutzer replaced Couch and the band embarked on another successful European tour and shot a video for the single Time to Run.