International Heroes

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The New Wave of British Heavy Metal band International Heroes was formed in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, in 1981 by lead singer and songwriter Sean Terrington Wright aka Rikki Wright and drummer Dave Maile. They recruited Gary Wallace on lead guitar, Paul Douglas, bass guitar, and Roger Periman, keyboards. The band were featured in Kerrang! magazine and Sounds music paper.

International Heroes toured the UK on their "Blood and Thunder" tour during 1982/83, promoting their 45 rpm single, Strange Situation/Silent Dreams, written by Sean Wright, and produced by Wright and Mike Kemp (Spaceward Studios). The record has since become a rare collectible with metal fans, since the New Wave of British Heavy Metal Encyclopedia cited the band as one of the fore-runners of the genre. The band were supported by Marillion on several gigs in 1982, who later went on to achieve commercial mainstream success.

Single copies of the International Heroes' "Strange Situation" 45 rpm vinyl have sold on ebay for up to $300, marking the collectibility of semi-successful bands from that era.

Maile and Wright signed a publishing deal in 1986 with Peer-Southern Music Tin Pan Alley, Denmark Street, London, and still as International Heroes, were managed by Hollywood icon, Kim Fowley.

In 1989, Maile and Wright managed the hugely popular all-girl Swedish thrash metal band Ice Age, co-directing the band's video " Instant Justice", which was played many times on early MTV.

Wright later went on to worked with Najam Sheraz, Mark Tinley and others, pioneering the album-a-month project in April 2007.

[edit] Discography

Strange Situation/Silent Dreams - released as International Heroes - 45rpm vinyl single (March 1982 Heavy Leather Records)