Hellion (band)
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| Hellion | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Los Angeles, United States |
| Genre(s) | Heavy Metal Glam metal Speed metal |
| Years active | 1982 - present |
| Label(s) | New Renaissance Records |
| Members | |
| Ann Boleyn. Chet Thompson Ray Schenck Glenn Cannon Seann Scott |
|
Hellion is a heavy metal band, which was formed during 1982 in Los Angeles, California. The first line-up included Ann Boleyn (vocals), Ray Schenck (guitar), Sean Kelley (drums) and Peyton Tuthill (bass). With a different line-up they continue on today.
Contents |
[edit] History
The band started as a cover group, covering songs by the likes of Ozzy Osbourne, Scorpions and AC/DC.[1] The group's first performances (or "Mega-Parties") were held at a locally famous haunted mansion in Tujunga, California which was occupied by Ann Boleyn. In late 1982 Hellion was approached by Mystic Records, a Hollywood-based punk label, who wanted to include "Nightmares in Daylight" on a compilation album. Several weeks prior to the recording session, Peyton Tuthill left the band, citing Ann Boleyn's involvement in the occult arts as his reason. Tuthill has since become a minister. Bassist Rik Foxx (who was a founding member of W.A.S.P.) replaced Tuthill, however, quit several days before the band's first recording session after being offered a gig with Steeler (which then included Yngwie Malmsteen). At the last minute Brian West, who had played in Power Program with Ann Boleyn, was brought in for the recording session which took place on New Year's Eve.
[edit] Ronnie James Dio takes band under his wing
Several months later, after both Hellion and another female fronted metal band, Bitch, refused to sign full recording contracts with Mystic Records, the label decided to retaliate by including both bands on one single. Both the "Sound of Hollywood Girls" compilation album and the single are now considered valuable collector's items.
By 1983 Hellion had solidified their line-up with the addition of bassist Bill Sweet and a second lead-guitarist, Alan Barlam. In an attempt to gain a major label record contract the group entered Fiddler's Studio in Hollywood, California to record a demo. The band recorded the basic tracks in one evening between the hours of midnight and 07:00am and recorded the guitar solos, vocals, and mixed on the following night. The demo did not gain Hellion a major recording contract, but, fans' demands for the demo surprised everyone. After destroying two separate cassette recorders while making copies of the demo, Hellion decided to press the recording onto vinyl and formed Bongus Lodus Records.
The self-titled 12" soon made its way onto the import charts in Kerrang!, Sounds and Aardschok magazines. As a result London-based record company, Music for Nations, offered the band a recording contract and gave the band money to record two more songs which were added to the earlier recording to make the Hellion Mini-LP. Tracks #2 through #5 are from that release. The Hellion Mini-LP was released in January 1984 and climbed to #6 on the UK rock charts in Kerrang! and Sounds magazine. The record was voted #2 EP of the Year by the journalists at Kerrang! magazine.
Despite Hellion's success abroad, and later the assistance of Ronnie James Dio and managers Wendy Dio and Curt Lorraine, the band remained unsigned in America. In early 1985 Hellion's male members decided to split from vocalist Ann Boleyn and formed a new group under the moniker "Burn." Ann, however, retaliated by gathering a new line-up including some of Southern California's most respected musicians, reformed Hellion and also began her own record company, New Renaissance Records.
[edit] Debut release
In 1986 the new Hellion released their first full length album, "Screams in the Night." The album gained substantial national and international radio airplay and the video, "Bad Attitude", was shown on MTV (both in the daytime and on Headbanger's Ball), Sky Channel, and other music programs. In a similar sense to Mötley Crüe's Shout at the Devil-era and early W.A.S.P. the band played with elements of glam metal; taking influence from the likes of Black Sabbath and Alice Cooper.
However, by the end of the year, the new line-up began fighting about the band's musical direction. Members blamed Ann Boleyn's insistence on a European-style heavy metal direction that including occult and anti-social themes in her lyrics as the reason for their failure to secure a major-label recording deal. About this same time Burn disbanded, leaving Ray Schenck, Alan Barlam and Sean Kelley without a band. Anxious to get back to work, Hellion entered The Record Plant in Los Angeles with their long-time friend Angelo Arcuri and recorded the "Postcards from the Asylum" Mini-LP "just for fun". At one point Hellion's remake of the Judas Priest classic "Exciter" was listed on the play-lists of over 124 radio stations. Two months later, despite being over seven minutes long, "The Evil One" surpassed the earlier single, boasting listings on 128 U.S.stations.
[edit] The Black Book
In 1988 Hellion embarked on a European tour in support of "Postcards from the Asylum." While on the road the band decided they wanted to do a concept album. However, once Ann Boleyn began writing the lyrics, she decided that a full length novel should accompany the album. A lucrative publishing book deal followed as well as a new recording contract with Enigma Records, which had distibution through Capital. Guitarist Tim Kelley, later of Slaughter, stood in for Ray Schenck.
Unfortunately for Hellion, Enigma Records went out of business, resulting in Hellion's contract being transferred to Medusa Records, a division of Restless Records for the US release. Because Hellion was also signed to [Music For Nations] in England and [Pony Canyon] in Japan, the delay by the Restless Records caused the other labels release to also be delayed. Around this time guitarists Chet Thompson and Ray Shenck returned in time for Hellion's appearance at the Monster's of Rock in the then-U.S.S.R. The trip marked the first time a U.S. rock band had actually toured in the Soviet Union and bided time for the U.S. release.
With the release of "The Black Book" delayed for over a year by Restless, the band grew restless themselves. And, it soon became evident that the new label was also in financial trouble. In late 1991, with the cancellation of MTV's Headbanger's Ball, and the emergence of the Seattle Sound and New Metal, Restless cancelled the editing of two videos as well as Ann Boleyn's appearance hosting Headbanger's Ball which was to coincide with a contest in which a viewer would win a free trip to Hell in the Grand Caymen Islands. Restless did eventually release "The Black Book," but the packaging was of substantially lower quality than the gate-fold version that was sold in England and Japan. And, due to the delay in the albums release, the book deal was also shelved.
[edit] Will Not Go Quietly
In 2001 Ann Boleyn entered Talon Studio to record "Will Not Go Quietly." Due to legal problems facing the producer, Mikey Davis, after the recording was begun, "Will Not Go Quietly" was not completed for nearly a year and a half. The record was finally released in Germany in 2003, on Massacre Records, largely due to the assistance of Ole Bang, the manager of King Diamond.
[edit] Current Activities
Ann Boleyn is currently filling-in for Dawn Crosby (RIP) in the reunited Detente. Guitarist Chet Thompson now owns a recording studio in Los Angeles, California. Bassist Alex Campbell went on to be instrumental in designing a pace-maker capable of restarting one's heart.
[edit] Members
- Ann Boleyn. - vocals (1982-present)(Also currently fronting Detente. in the place of Dawn Crosby who died in 1996.)
- Chet Thompson - guitar (1986-1988, 1990, 2002-present)
- Ray Schenck - guitar (1982-1986, 1988-present)
- Glenn Cannon - bass (2002-present)
- Seann Scott - drums (2002-present)
[edit] Former members
- Alan Barlam - guitar (1983-1986, 1988-1991)
- Peyton Tuthill - bass (1982)
- Rik Foxx - bass (1982)
- Bill Sweet - bass (1982-1986)
- Alex Campbell - bass (1986-1988)
- Dave Dutton - bass (1988-1989)
- Rex Tennyson - bass (1989-91)
- Sean Kelley - drums (1982-1986, 1988-1991)
- Greg Pecka - drums (1986-1988)
- Chris Kessler - guitar (2001-2003)
[edit] Discography
A complete discography of the band Hellion, spanning several different record companies.
[edit] Albums
- Screams in the Night - (1987)
- The Black Book - (1990
- Will Not Go Quietly - (2003)
[edit] EPs
- Hellion - (1983)
- Postcards from the Asylum - (1988)
- The Witching Hour - (1999)
- Into Cold Darkness - (1999)
[edit] Live
- Live and Well in Hell - (1999)
- The Live "Uh Oh!" Album - (1999)
- Cold Night in Hell - (1999
[edit] Singles
- Driving Hard - (1983)
- Nightmares - (1983)
- Also known as "Sound of Hollywood Girls"
- Screams in the Night - (1987)
[edit] Others
- Queen of Hell - sampler - (2000)
- Fan Club Special Release - (2001)
- Up From The Depths -- CD compilation featuring first 2 EPs plus additional tracks.
