Rogue Male are a British heavy metal band, formed in 1983.
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Rogue Male was the brainchild of Northern Ireland born singer/guitarist Jim Lyttle, who had previously been in the seminal Northern Irish punk band Pretty Boy Floyd and The Gems. Moving to London in the early 1980s he decided to put together a band that would mix punk styles and aggression with the more metal sounds of the NWOBHM bands of the time. After a series of line-ups a stable touring band was produced, whose live performances gained the attentions of several record companies. Within weeks the band had secured a deal with the UK metal label Music for Nations and subsequently Elektra in the USA. Shortly afterwards, the band were invited to appear on the seminal E.C.T. (Extra Celestial Transmission) Heavy Metal music programme on England's Channel 4 where they performed 2 songs live, straight to air on 19th April 1985.
The first Rogue Male album, First Visit, was recorded by Jim Lyttle Guitar/Vocals, John Fraser-Binnie Lead Guitar, Kevin Collier Bass, and Steve Kingsley Drums, (later replaced by Danny Fury). The album was well received critically, gaining album of the month status worldwide, and Rogue Male toured the UK/Europe and the USA extensively in support of it. Kerrang magazine in the UK gave the band several features, and a front cover article (in issue 101) that helped gain momentum. This led to more touring, and the release of the "All Over You" 12 inch single. A bigger budget was now being allocated for the bands futuristic image, fuelled by Jim Lyttle's love of Science Fiction and motorbikes, and the stage clothes they wore became more extreme over time. The second album Animal Man, was released a year later, and also gained worldwide attention, ultimately receiving an award for Top International New Artist on the French leg of the Animal Man tour and a memorable television appearance on a French pop programme. Unfortunately, the band were becoming increasingly unhappy with the business dealings surrounding them, and Rogue Male subsequently dropped their record companies after they failed to promote the band's career, and started legal proceedings against their manager. The 1980s incarnation of the band played their final show in late 1987.
Both the original albums First Visit and Animal Man were re-released on "Metal Mind" records (an independent Polish label) in 2007. In an interview in the March 2009 edition of Classic Rock Magazine, Jim Lyttle stated that he had recently recorded a new Rogue Male album. This featured Bernie Tormé (ex-Gillan, ex-Ozzy Osbourne) on guitar and was called Nail It. A new track "Cold Blooded Man" appeared on the CD which accompanied the magazine. Bassist Pete D was recruited in April 2009, original lead guitarist John Fraser Binnie rejoined the band in October that year, and current drummer Paul Westwood completed "Rogue Male Mk 2" in March 2010. Jim Lyttle has now relaunched the band as a going concern and plans to tour extensively with the new lineup.