The Rock City Angels started out in the early 1980s as the punk rock band "The Abusers", the product of singer Bobby Bondage and original bassist Andy Panik's chance meeting at a late night showing of the movie "The Decline of Western Civilization" [1].
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Later evolving into the Angels, their hair got longer, "Bobby Bondage" became "Bobby St. Valentine," and the band began wearing eyeliner, lipstick and nail polish. It was during this time that they developed what would become their signature "glam" sound. The music was an aggressive mixture of punk and glam rock, which spoke of rebellion, failed relationships, and the underground culture that they epitomized. Songs such as "Cinderella in Black", "Hush Child", "Dark Angels" and "Teenage Lipstick Boys" were power chord driven and defiant, yet also hook centered and melodic. However, the band regularly suffered setbacks in their pursuit of becoming a known quantity, as they developed a reputation of having a revolving door when it came to membership. According to Bobby, "The true Rock City Angels that first became popular in South Florida, opening for out of town bands like T.S.O.L., Tex & the Horseheads, and finally headlining our own shows, was me, Andy Panik, Davy Lightning, Brad Shaw and Billy Starr."[2]
Although the band developed a large local following in South Florida, they were ready to call it quits by the mid-80's. At what was to be their farewell show, Ann Boleyn of New Renaissance Records offered the act a recording contract. The band then relocated to Los Angeles where they became fixtures into the 90's. Bobby St. Valentine changed his name to Bobby Durango, and actor Johnny Depp, also from So. Florida, joined the band and played guitar with them before getting a part on 21 Jump Street.
After signing with Worldwide Media, and under former manager Grace Reinbold, Geffen Records took notice and bought their contract from New Renaissance Records in 1986. Geffen offered The Rock City Angels a contract. Eventually Young Man's Blues Produced by Joe Hardy, was released in 1988. The band toured in support of the album with such acts as Joan Jett, and the Georgia Satellites, and recorded some material for a second album. At one point they recorded with Thin Lizzy guitarist Brian Robertson. The band’s second album never materialized and Geffen decided to drop the band. Many theories abound as to why they were dropped including drug use, a desire to keep Johnny Depp in acting, as well as fear of lawsuits concerning wrongly credited songs. According to the band's own web site, the song "Hush Child", which allegedly got them their deal with Geffen, was written by former lead guitarist Davy Lightning (Gregg), but was not so credited on the album.
New Renaissance Records released Rock City Angels (often referred to as “the glam cd”) in 2000. This would have been the Angels’ first release if Geffen had not bought out their contract. In 2001, the band reunited and recorded a third CD titled Use Once & Destroy, which is said to be a return to the band’s more punk-blues roots. The album remained unfinished for several years, but was finally completed in 2007 and released in November 2008. In 2010 FNA Records released a compilation of songs meant for the second record called "Midnight Confessions".
After releasing "Use Once & Destroy," Bobby Durango put a new version of the band together. The 2009 version of Rock City Angels have been playing live since June 2009 in the South East.
Bobby Durango,
Andy Panik,
Dirty Dave Johns,
Taggart Reid,
John Patrick Mahoney,
Matt Cloutier,
Billy Blaze,
Glenn Stock Miller,
Billy Starr,
Brad Shaw,
Davy Lightning,
Steve Knight,
Punky Stevens,
Greg Sparxx,
Jimmy James,
Wade,
Jack Smack,
Jimmy Blitz,
Mike Barnett,
Johnny Depp,
Ringo Jukes,
Greg Larsen,
Taz Rudd,
Len Fagen,
Doug Banx,
Mike Barnes,
Steven Norton,
James Cooper,
Stuart Casson,
Jeff Johnson,
Brian Robertson,
Chris Spencer,
Jason Blenner,
Adam G,
Larry Poccia,
Mark Binko,
Mike Dover
Adam Keller
.
Toured with: Joan Jett Played with: L.A. Guns, Jetboy,Jimmy Page, The Zeroes,Flies on Fire and Junkyard.
www.therockcityangels.com