Nitro (band)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Nitro | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Hollywood, California |
| Genre(s) | Heavy metal,Power metal, glam metal, shred, hard rock |
| Years active | 1987–1992 |
| Label(s) | Rhino, M.A.C.E. |
| Former members | |
| Jim Gillette Michael Angelo Batio Ralph Carter Johnny Thunder Vinne Saint James Kevin Jachetta T.J. Racer Bobby Rock K.C. Comet |
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Nitro was an American glam metal band formed by singer Jim Gillette and guitarist Michael Angelo Batio in Hollywood, California in 1987.
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[edit] History
Nitro was formed in 1987 by singer Jim Gillette and guitarist Michael Angelo Batio in Hollywood, California. They recruited bassist T.J. Racer, drummer Vinne Saint James, and keyboard player Kevin Jachetta, and under Gillette's name released their first album, Proud to Be Loud. After it was released, James and Jachetta left the band, which was now known as Nitro. The band recruited a new drummer in ex-Vinnie Vincent Invasion Bobby Rock. They also landed a recording contract with Rampage (Rhino) after their first show, where Gillette reportedly shattered 3 wine glasses with his voice. The band recorded O.F.R. and released it in 1989, after which Rock left to join Nelson, and was replaced by K.C. Comet, who appeared in the band's first two music videos, for the songs "Freight Train" and "Long Way From Home". Comet stayed with the band until the end of the O.F.R. tour.
Racer and Comet then left and were replaced by Ralph Carter and Johnny Thunder. In 1991, Nitro released what turned out to be their only other studio album, Nitro II: H.W.D.W.S., and shot a video for their cover of Ted Nugent's "Cat Scratch Fever". The band broke up in 1992, after which Gillette married Lita Ford and Batio started a solo career.
In 1999, Batio and Gillette released a collection of old Nitro demos on a compilation album entitled Gunnin' for Glory, which featured drummer Paul Cammarata, as well as three songs recorded after the break-up of Nitro by the Michael Angelo Band.
[edit] Style
Nitro fit into both the power metal and glam metal genres, and bear similarity to fellow 80's shred band Racer X. The bands also shared a slightly 'tongue-in-cheek' approach to music and image, though Racer X had a little bit more of the neo-classical elements added on.
Nitro's first album O.F.R. features the longest 'scream' in metal history from Gillette, in the song "Machine Gunn Eddie", that lasts for 32 seconds and reaches a B6 note at its highest. The band themselves have stated repeatedly that no effects were used to enhance the scream. Nitro were also notable for being the first non-extreme metal band (i.e death, thrash, or black metal) to incorporate 'blast beats' into their music, (in moments on "Machine Gunn Eddie" and "Fighting Mad" respectively), on their album O.F.R..
[edit] Members
[edit] Proud to Be Loud lineup
- Jim Gillette – vocals
- Michael Angelo Batio – guitars
- T.J. Racer – bass
- Vinne Saint James – drums
- Kevin Jachetta – keyboards
[edit] O.F.R. lineup
- Jim Gillette – vocals
- Michael Angelo Batio – guitars
- T.J. Racer – bass
- Bobby Rock – drums
[edit] O.F.R. tour lineup
- Jim Gillette – vocals
- Michael Angelo Batio – guitars
- T.J. Racer – bass
- K.C. Comet – drums
[edit] H.W.D.W.S. lineup
- Jim Gillette – vocals
- Michael Angelo Batio – guitars, keyboards
- Ralph Carter – bass
- Johnny Thunder – drums
[edit] Gunnin' for Glory lineup
- Jim Gillette – vocals
- Michael Angelo Batio – guitars
- T.J. Racer – bass
- Paul Cammarata – drums
[edit] Discography
[edit] as Jim Gillette
- 1987: Proud to Be Loud
[edit] as Nitro
- 1989: O.F.R.
- 1991: Nitro II: H.W.D.W.S.
- 1999: Gunnin' for Glory
[edit] Videography
- "Freight Train"
- "Long Way From Home"
- "Cat Scratch Fever"
[edit] External links
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