Warrior (band)
| Warrior | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Genres | Heavy metal, Power metal |
| Years active | 1983 – present |
| Labels | MCA, Metal Blade, Nuclear Blast, Reality Entertainment |
| Associated acts | Assassin, Rhino Bucket, Rough Cutt, Foreigner, Cold Fire, Steve Stevens, I Napoleon, Driver, Tribe of Gypsies, Mustard Seeds, Keel, Shadow King, Black Sheep, World War III, Jones Street, Life After Death, Ratt, Secret Service, Rewind, National Dust, Impellitteri, Godhead, Krokus, Wrathborne, Snew |
| Website | http://www.myspace.com/warriorusa |
| Members | Sean Peck Joe Floyd AC Alexander Rob Farr Dave DuCey |
| Past members | Rick Bennett Liam Jason Bruce Turgon Jimmy Volpe Tommy Asakawa Shawn Carvin Kelly Magee Roy Z Kelly Pattrik Dave Imondi Jorge Miguel Palacios Kenny Chaisson Ray Burke Mick Perez Sam Simon Oliver Rob Rock Marc Storace |
Warrior is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California, United States, formed in 1982.
As was the case with contemporaries Ratt and Rough Cutt, the group's core - guitarists Joe Floyd and Tommy Asakawa, bassist Rick Bennett and vocalist Parramore McCarty - was made up of San Diego, CA transplants in search of fame and fortune up the coast in L.A. Adding drummer Liam Jason to the band and initially going under the name Fury, the band soon started to make a name for themselves in the local clubs with their futuristic brand of European influenced heavy metal.
In 1984, the band recorded a 3-song demo, including the anthemic 'Fighting For The Earth', which went into heavy rotation on KMET radio and became a huge hit locally helping turn Warrior into one of the most buzzed about acts around town. Subsequently, the band signed a record deal with MCA Records and Richard Branson's Virgin/10 Records label in Europe, and began to record their debut album with producer Doug Rider at Cherokee Studios and Sunset Sound in L.A.. The rhythm section of Jason and Bennett would be replaced after the sessions were completed with Black Sheep bassist Bruce Turgon and drummer Jimmy Volpe stepping in. Although Bennett's replacement Turgon was pictured and credited on FFTE, he actually joined the band after the album was recorded. Before leaving, Bennett contacted Robert Preston who had done the costumes for "Star Trek Wrath of Khan" and he agreed to make the band's outfits for the album and video. Fighting For The Earth was released in 1985 and though not a huge commercial success, the album became an instant favorite among underground metal heads. A short trip to the UK that same year saw Warrior perform at the legendary Marquee Club in London and make an exclusive TV appearance on Channel 4's popular ECT program where the band performed 'Fighting For The Earth' (the band's single and video) and 'Defenders of Creation.' A "Fighting For the Earth" holographic laser disc version of the album was on display at the Los Angeles Museum of Science and Industry from the mid to late 1980s.
Fueled by internal turmoil, Michael Browning's mismanagement and record company problems, Warrior lost their record contract with Virgin and split up in early 1987, with vocalist Parramore McCarty briefly fronting Rough Cutt in place of the Quiet Riot bound Paul Shortino and Jimmy Volpe joining Foreplay. Bassist Bruce Turgon would later turn up in Shadow King, featuring Lou Gramm (ex-Foreigner, Black Sheep) and Vivian Campbell (ex-Whitesnake, Dio). Guitarist Joe Floyd initially teamed up with former Warlord drummer Mark Zonder. Floyd and Zonder's partnership was to be short-lived, with Zonder joining Fates Warning. Warrior then continued on with Floyd acquiring the services of bassist Kelly Magee and vocalist Shawn Carvin from the band Wrathborne, along with former Warrior drummer Liam Jason. This marked the only time in Warrior's History that the band was a four-piece as opposed to their traditional five-piece lineup with two guitarists. A heavier, more physical style of play was evolving from the band...and with Magee and Carvin also contributing to the songwriting it became obvious that a name change to the band was in order. "Cold Fire" became Warrior's new name. The band went through several drummers, including Jason, and David Eagle (Oingo Boingo) before finally settling with future Megadeth drummer Nick Menza (ex-Rhoads, The Green). Cold Fire would contribute the song 'Of The Flesh' (with Floyd, Magee, Carvin and Jason) to the Rock Climbers-The Hottest of Hollywood compilation LP before folding in 1990. Meanwhile, McCarty had been brought in by Warner Bros. to complete the Atomic Playboys album, a new project put together by former Billy Idol axeman, Steve Stevens. Released in 1989, the album proved a commercial disappointment and the group disbanded after undertaking a US club tour (which featured McCarty's former Warrior bandmate Bruce Turgon on bass). McCarty next formed the short-lived PTM with Hellion guitarist Alan Barlam, bassist Mike Davis (ex-Terriff, Lizzy Borden), and drummer Reynold 'Butch' Carlson (ex-Terriff, Driver, Jag Panzer). Barlam was let go in favor of Carlson's Driver bandmate, Roy Z, who collaborated with McCarty on several new songs which soon sparked the idea of a Warrior reunion.
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