Dangerous Toys

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Dangerous Toys

Background information
Origin	Austin, Texas, USA
Genre(s)	Hard Rock, Sleaze Metal
Years active	1987-1996 (Reunions: 2003, 2005, 2006)
Website	Official Website
Members
Jason McMaster - Vocals Paul Lidel - Guitar Scott Dalhover - Guitar Mike Watson - Bass Mark Geary - Drums
Former members
Tim Trembley - guitar Danny Aaron - guitar Kim Fowler - guitar

Dangerous Toys are an Austin, Texas-based hard rock band with a rough sound and oftentimes humorous lyrics. Their music can be categorized as sleaze metal, along side bands like L.A. Guns, Roxx Gang, and Guns N' Roses. Founded in 1987, Dangerous Toys put out four full-length albums and one live album before unofficially disbanding at the turn of the millennium.

Their major label debut, the Gold-certified Dangerous Toys featured the singles "Teas N' Pleas N' " and "Scared", both of which are still staples on specialty and satellite radio and VH1. In 2006 "Teas N' Pleas N' " was covered by Shadows Fall (Atlantic Records) on their B-Sides LP Fallout From The War, featuring guest vocals from Toys' vocalist Jason McMaster.

1 Early Days
2 Changing With The Times
3 Semi-Disbanded
4 Albums
5 External links

[edit] Early Days

Dangerous Toys was formed in October of 1987. Jason McMaster, singer of Watchtower, was invited by Tim Trembley to join his band Onyx as singer. Onyx included Scott Dalhover (guitar), Mike Geary (drums) and Mike Watson (bass). In 1988, now calling themselves Dangerous Toys, the abnd ws signed to Columbia Records. Soon afterwards Tim Trembley left the band, and they were without a second guitarist. On their eponymous debut album, produced by Max Norman (Megadeth, Ozzy Osbourne) Scott Dalhover plays all guitar. Shortly before its release, Danny Aaron joined. Though he does not play on the album, he appears on the back cover.

In 1991, the second album, Hellacious Acres, was released, featuring the hits "Sticks And Stones" and "Line 'Em Up." The album was produced by Roy Thomas Baker, who had worked with several other rock artists (The Cars, Journey). Despite including some of their finest work, it is the weakest DT album in singer Jason McMasters' opinion.

[edit] Changing With The Times

In 1992, Danny Aaron left the band. Kevin Fowler replaced him. Fowler never played on a Dangerous Toys album, but played some 200 gigs with them in 1993. In January of 1994, Paul Lidel replaced Fowler.

The sound of the first two Dangerous Toys albums were in the vein of the pop-hair metal of the late eighties, albeit slightly heavier. They were also oneof the few mainstream 80s hair bands with a guitarist that could shred. By 1991, the grunge movement was fast making the hair metal sound out of date, and Hellacious Acres sold less than their debut.

The third Dangerous Toys album, [[Pissed]], reflected this change. In attitude, the band reflected tougher metal values and a bigger attitude. Songs on this record reflect a slight turn for the times.

In the next year the band went through another change in style. Their popularity was waning and Mike Watson left. Jason McMaster now played bass as well as sang lead vocals. The band considered changing their name, but eventually stuck with Dangerous Toys, and even poked fun at it on the title of their next album. The R-tist 4-merly Known as Dangerous Toys. In fan opinion, it was their least popular record.

[edit] Semi-Disbanded

A live album followed, Vitamins and Crashhelmets Tour-Live Greatest Hits, but afterwards band activity slowed. In 2001, they played a few shows in their hometown of Austin, Texas, and Tokoyo, Japan, with Mike Watson back in the band. Afterwards the band was off and on together, promising to play at least one gig every year.

Most of the original members of Dangerous Toys re-united for Austin, Texas shows in February, 2003, May, 2005 and at Bat Fest with Rhino Bucket in September, 2006, portions of which were recorded and will be released as as XX, a 20 year career retrospective CD/DVD recorded mostly at the band's 18 Year Anniversary show in 2005. XX is to be released Spring 2007 on Corporate Punishment Records, and is set to feature extensive packaging featuring artwork from longtime Toys' artist Tommy Pons.

Singer Jason McMaster also performs in various other Austin-based projects including Gahdzilla Motor Company and Broken Teeth (his current project), both of which are also slated to issue upcoming LP's on Corporate Punishment.