Shotgun Messiah | |
---|---|
Also known as | Kingpin 1985-1988, Shotgun Messiah 1988-1993 |
Origin |
Skövde, Sweden Hollywood, Los Angeles, California |
Genres |
Hard rock Glam metal Industrial rock (later) Industrial metal Punk rock |
Years active | 1985–1993 |
Labels | Relativity Records |
Past members |
Zinny J. Zan Stixx Tim Skold Harry K. Cody Bobby Lycon |
Shotgun Messiah were a glam metal band originally from Sweden; they crossed over to industrial rock music during the early 1990s. In 2012, Zinny J. Zan and Stixx reunited as Shotgun to celebrate Shotgun Messiah's legacy and released a live album from that tour in May 2016.
Sweden Rock Magazine has named Shotgun Messiah #38 on their "The Best Rock Bands Of Sweden Ever" list.
The band originally went under the name "Kingpin" while in Sweden, recording the album Welcome To Bop City; the line-up featured Zinny J. Zan (vocals), Tim Skold (going by "Tim Tim") (bass), Harry K. Cody (guitar) and Pekka "Stixx Galore" (later simply "Stixx") Ollinen (drums). This would become the original line-up of Shotgun Messiah as the band changed their name and relocated to Hollywood, California. The album they released under the "Kingpin" name was re-recorded and released as Shotgun Messiah's self-titled debut album, Shotgun Messiah. The style of this album was glam metal typical of early 1980s American bands such as Mötley Crüe and Ratt.
Frontman Zinny J. Zan departed the band in 1990 leaving Tim Skold to take over vocal duties; Shotgun Messiah drafted an American bassist, Bobby Lycon, to fill Skold's former position. In 1991, the band's follow up album Second Coming was released, spawning their most famous hit "Heartbreak Blvd". Stylistically, due to Skold's less conventional singing style, this era saw the band playing sleaze glam-styled hard rock, closer to Guns N' Roses and Faster Pussycat than their previous effort.