Shotgun Messiah

Shotgun Messiah
Also known as Kingpin 1985-1988, Shotgun Messiah 1988-1993
Origin Skövde, Sweden
Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Genres Hard rock[1]
Glam metal[1]
Industrial rock (later)
Industrial metal
Punk rock
Years active 1985–1993
Labels Relativity Records
Past members Zinny J. Zan
Stixx
Tim Skold
Harry K. Cody
Bobby Lycon

Shotgun Messiah was the name of a glam metal band originally from Sweden; they crossed over to industrial rock music during the early 1990s. In 2012, Zinny J. Zan and Stixx reunited as Shotgun to celebrate Shotgun Messiah's legacy and released a live album from that tour in May 2016.

Sweden Rock Magazine has named Shotgun Messiah #38 on their "The Best Rock Bands Of Sweden Ever" list.

Biography

First Era, 1985-1991

The band originally went under the name "Kingpin" while in Sweden, recording the album Welcome To Bop City; the line-up featured Zinny J. Zan (vocals), Tim Skold (going by "Tim Tim") (bass), Harry K. Cody (guitar) and Pekka "Stixx Galore" (later simply "Stixx") Ollinen (drums). This would become the original line-up of Shotgun Messiah as the band changed their name and relocated to Hollywood, California. The album they released under the "Kingpin" name was re-recorded and released as Shotgun Messiah's self-titled debut album, Shotgun Messiah. The style of this album was glam metal typical of early 1980s American bands such as Mötley Crüe and Ratt.

Second Era, 1991-1993

Frontman Zinny J. Zan departed the band in 1990 leaving Tim Skold to take over vocal duties; Shotgun Messiah drafted an American bassist, Bobby Lycon, to fill Skold's former position. In 1991, the band's follow up album Second Coming was released, spawning their most famous hit "Heartbreak Blvd". Stylistically, due to Skold's less conventional singing style, this era saw the band playing sleaze glam-styled hard rock, closer to Guns N' Roses and Faster Pussycat than their previous effort.

A punk rock influence is also notable during this period. The band released I Want More, an EP featuring cover versions of songs by the Ramones, The Stooges and the New York Dolls; they were also known to cover the Sex Pistols live.

Third Era, 1993

1993 was the final year for the band; Harry K. Cody and Tim Skold were left as the only members of Shotgun Messiah and created what would be the last Shotgun Messiah album Violent New Breed. This album is significantly different from the previous efforts as it focused heavily on industrial rock stylings, bringing in live players for the "Violent New Breed" tour. Soon after the tour, the band split permanently citing artistic differences as the reason.

Post-Messiah

After Shotgun Messiah, Tim Skold's acitivies have been the most notable. Building on the industrial rock of the band's last album, Violent New Breed, he released a solo album entitled Skold; this was followed by joining bands such as KMFDM, MDFMK and The Newlydeads. From 2002 to 2008, Skold joined the band Marilyn Manson creating two albums; he also replaced Twiggy Ramirez as the tour bassist and later became the tour guitarist. His latest release is a collaboration with KMFDM entitled Skold vs. KMFDM. Tim Skold stated in an interview that a Shotgun Messiah reunion is "very, very unlikely to happen."

Harry Cody went on to form the band Coma with Saigon Kick singer Matt Kramer but the project was short-lived. In 1996, he teamed up with Rhino Bucket singer Georg Dolvio to make Das Cabal but the band only made it as far as to record a 3-track demo only to split up later because, according to Dolvio in an interview, Cody didn't want to play live. Cody later put together a 6-track demo called Stark and tried submitting it to various record labels but to little results. Recently, Cody has been collaborating with Tom Waits and appearing on his most recent albums Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards and Real Gone performing guitar and banjo.

Zinny J. Zan has released a solo album and two albums with his new band "Zan Clan".

Zinny and Stixx reunite

Zinny J. Zan and Stixx reunited in 2012 referring to themselves as Shotgun to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Welcome to Bop City, the original debut album from the band's first incarnation as Kingpin before changing their name to Shotgun Messiah. They have also assembled Rob Marcello and Chris Laney to the line-up. Shotgun Line-up Zinny J. Zan - Vocals Rob Marcello - Guitar backing vocals Chris Laney - Bass backing vocals Stixx - Drums backing vocals Jonas Beijer - keyboards

Lineups

Original

Second Coming

Violent New Breed

Discography

Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
US
[2]
Shotgun Messiah
  • Released: 1989
  • Label: Relativity Records
  • Formats: CD, CD, LP
99 - US: 490,000
Second Coming
  • Released: October 22, 1991
  • Label: Relativity Records
  • Formats: CD, CD, LP
199
  • US: 145,264+[3]
I Want More (EP)
  • Released: November 17, 1992
  • Label: Relativity Records
  • Formats: CD, CS
—
  • US: 13,016+[3]
Violent New Breed
  • Released: September 28, 1993
  • Label: Relativity Records
  • Formats: CD, CS
—
  • US: 33,370+[3]
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles

Year Single
1989 Shout It Out
"Don't Care About Nothin'"
1991 "Heartbreak Blvd."
1992 "Living Without You"
1993 "Violent New Breed"

Notes

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