BulletBoys is an American hard rock/glam metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1987. The group's original lineup was composed of singer Marq Torien (formerly of Ratt, King Kobra, and Kagny & the Dirty Rats), guitarist Mick Sweda (formerly of King Kobra), bassist Lonnie Vencent (formerly of King Kobra), and drummer Jimmy D'Anda. The group released two successful albums and had a number of singles featured on MTV between 1988 and 1991. From the 1990s onward, the group went through numerous lineup changes, with Torien as the only consistent member. Their most recent album From Out of the Skies was released in 2018. The original lineup reunited for one-off shows in 2011 and 2019.
The group were strongly influenced by AC/DC and Van Halen, with Torien drawing comparisons to Van Halen singer David Lee Roth.
History
Platinum-selling artists BulletBoys were formed in 1987 in Los Angeles, California,[1] by former King Kobra members Marq Torien (also formerly of Ratt) on vocals, Mick Sweda on guitar, Lonnie Vencent on bass and Jimmy D'Anda on drums.[3] After signing a deal with Warner Bros., the group released their debut album BulletBoys in 1988 with the album peaking at number 34 on the Billboard 200.[4] The group released two singles, a cover of the classic O'Jays tune, "For the Love of Money" (which peaked at number 30 on the Mainstream Rock Chart[5] and number 78 on the Billboard Hot 100[5]), and "Smooth Up in Ya" (which peaked at number 23 on the Mainstream Rock Chart[5] and number 71 on the Billboard Hot 100[5]), with both receiving airplay on MTV.[1] They released their second album, Freakshow, in 1991; however, the album only peaked at number 69 on the Billboard 200.[4] The single "Hang On St. Christopher", a cover of the Tom Waits song, peaked at number 22 on the Mainstream Rock Chart.[5] The group released their final album with Warner Bros., titled Za-Za, a name suggested by D'Anda taken from The Godfather Part III character Joey Zasa,[6] in 1993, but it failed to chart, as well as the album's singles. Both Sweda and D'Anda left the group the same year.[7] The group continued and released Acid Monkey in 1995 through Swordholio/Perris Records however they disbanded soon after.
The BulletBoys cover of The O'Jay's R&B song from 1973 entitled "For the Love of Money" appears briefly in the 2003 TV movie Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of 'Three's Company'.[14]
Remaining members Torien and Vencent, released the group's fifth album (their first in seven years), titled Sophie, in 2003 which featured a guest appearance by former Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach.[15] A tour was to follow, with L.A. Guns, however this was soon canceled after an incident with the group's bus driver.[16] Guitarist Keri Kelli, who was filling for Tracii Guns in L.A. Guns, performed with BulletBoys before leaving at the insistence of L.A. Guns drummer Steve Riley.[16]Jason Hook was briefly a member of BulletBoys during this time.[17] In 2004, Torien was in line to tour with Stephen Pearcy (formerly of Ratt), Joey Belladonna (formerly of Anthrax), Ron Keel (Keel, IronHorse) and Jason McMaster (Dangerous Toys, Watchtower) as part of the "Bastards of Metal" tour. However, this tour never came to pass.[18]
In January 2006, the group was announced as support, along with Bang Tango, to Stephen Pearcy on his tour,[19] however they soon pulled out[20] while they performed at the Raven's Heart benefit concert, which featured members of Guns N' Roses, Queens of the Stone Age and Dio among others performing also.[21] Torien also announced that BulletBoys were to reunite and record a new album stating:
"In 2006 there will be a BulletBoys reunion and I wanted to let you know that on your show. The powers that be are working on it right now, so you will be seeing the BulletBoys out there. But, I wanted to let everyone out there know that we will be coming back out and that we are coming back out for our fans as well as for rock 'n' roll. But I don't really feel that I should be out there touring if I don't have anything new to offer to the musical community like a new fresh record. So that will be happening. A new BulletBoys record will be coming out this year. It's time to go at it and it's time to get it back together again..."[22]
Drummer Jimmy D'Anda stated that none of the original members were involved in the reunion album soon after,[23] while Torien stated that only D'Anda was "resistant to the idea" with the other former members (Sweda and Vincent) willing to return.[24] However, a reunion failed to materialize. BulletBoys went on to tour with the Tracii Guns-led L.A. Guns[25] and announced plans for a live album as well as an album of new material in 2007.[26] The group released the live album, titled Behind the Orange Curtain, on April 3, 2007, through Crash Music[27] while they were one of the confirmed acts for Rocklahoma in July of the same year.[28] Also in 2006, the song "Hard as a Rock" appeared briefly in the movie Beerfest.[29]
The band performing in 2009
In 2009, they released their sixth album, titled 10c Billionaire, on Chavis Records. The material was originally written in 2006[24] with plans, by Torien, for a new project using the same name.[24][30] However, they eventually released it under the BulletBoys moniker. In October, original bassist Lonnie Vincent returned to the group while guitarist Tony Marcus (XYZ, Arcade, Vicious Delite) was also added to the lineup[31] with a tour of the US announced soon after.[32]
In January 2010, the group was confirmed to play the Stockholm Rock Out Festival on April 30 of the same year.[33] In March, the song "Smooth Up In Ya" appeared briefly in the movie Hot Tub Time Machine.[29] In April, they were confirmed to play another Festival, Rock N America, that took place July 23–25.[34]
On August 28, 2011, former drummer Johnny Giosa died in a car accident in Los Angeles at the age of 42.[35]
On December 12, 2019, BulletBoys announced that their original lineup would be reuniting. The reunion kicked off with a hometown gig on December 30, 2019, at the Whisky a Go Go.[36] The reunion lasted until January 2022 when drummer Jimmy D'Anda and guitarist Mick Sweda left the band due to "toxicity" within the band.[37] The newest lineup of the band was announced shortly after, which would consist of guitarist Ira Black, bassist Brad Lang, and drummer Fred Aching, thus alleging original bassist Lonnie Vencent had also left the band.[38]
Musical style and influences
According to AllMusic, BulletBoys' style was heavily influenced by AC/DC and Van Halen, before later taking a bluesier direction.[1] Marq Torien has been compared to David Lee Roth.[1] In his review of the debut album, Oliver Klemm (Metal Hammer) also highlighted the similarity to AC/DC, which he considered striking.[39] An example of Van Halen similarity on the debut album is the track "Crank Me Up". According to Markus Baro (Break Out), passages of the follow-up album Freakshow also sound like Van Halen's Fair Warning.[40] Even on Za-Za, the "Van Halen groove" breaks through.[41] BulletBoys were "unfairly" described as Van Halen clones, said Taylor T. Carlson in his book HAIRcyclopedia Vol. 1 – The Legends.[42] Werner Theurich, on the other hand, considers BulletBoys "quite rightly reviled as Van Halen clones".[43]
The band compared themselves to early Montrose and Van Halen, but more in terms of attitude than music.[44] However, the debut albums of both bands were the sonic model for the production, which is why Ted Templeman was chosen.[45] The blues was added because it increased the chances of being played on the radio.[46]
George Lynch is an American guitarist, best known for his work with the hard rock/heavy metal band Dokken and his post-Dokken solo band Lynch Mob. He is considered one of the most famous and influential 1980s metal guitarists and is known for his unique playing style and sound. He is ranked No. 47 on "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" by Guitar World magazine and No. 10 on "Top 10 Metal Guitarists of All Time" by Gibson.
King Kobra is an American heavy metal band founded by drummer Carmine Appice after his tenure with Ozzy Osbourne from 1983 to 1984.
L.A. Guns are an American glam metal band from Los Angeles, formed in 1983. The lineup currently consists of Tracii Guns, Phil Lewis, Ace Von Johnson, Johnny Martin, Adam Hamilton and Shawn Duncan. The first incarnation of the group was formed by Tracii Guns and Rob Gardner in 1983 and merged with fellow Los Angeles group Hollywood Rose to form Guns N' Roses in March 1985. After only a brief tenure in that band, Guns reformed L.A. Guns with a new lineup, consisting of Paul Black, Mick Cripps, Robert Stoddard, and Nickey Alexander. Black would soon be replaced by former Girl singer Phil Lewis while former Faster Pussycat bassist Kelly Nickels was added to the group. Later, Alexander would be replaced by former W.A.S.P. drummer Steve Riley with this being known as the "classic lineup" of L.A. Guns. They achieved moderate chart success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. However, the group went through numerous lineup changes and failed to regain mainstream attention.
Tracy Irving Richard Ulrich, known professionally as Tracii Guns, is an American guitarist best known as the co-founder of glam metal group L.A. Guns, as well as the supergroups named Brides of Destruction and Contraband. He was also a founding member of Guns N' Roses, but left shortly afterwards and was replaced by guitarist Slash.
Lynch Mob is an American hard rock band, formed in 1989 by former Dokken guitarist George Lynch, who is the band's only permanent member.
Love/Hate is an American hard rock/glam metal band based in Los Angeles.
Marq Torien is an American musician, best known as the lead singer of the hard rock act BulletBoys. He is the only member to have remained with the group since the release of their self-titled debut album in 1988.
Mick Sweda is an American guitarist, best known as a former member of the rock bands King Kobra and BulletBoys.
BulletBoys is the first album by the American rock band BulletBoys, released in 1988. The cover art is a copy of ".30 Bullet Piercing an Apple" by Harold Eugene Edgerton. The album features the hit "Smooth Up in Ya" as well as a cover of The O'Jay's song "For the Love of Money". The album reached No. 34 in the Billboard 200 chart and was certified gold in 1989 selling over 500,000 copies.
Freakshow is the second album by American rock band BulletBoys. It was released in 1991 by Warner Bros. Records. It is the follow-up to their successful self-titled debut.
Za-Za is the third studio album by American rock band BulletBoys, released in 1993. It was their last album released by Warner Bros. Records, and the final one produced by Ted Templeman.
Acid Monkey is the fourth album by the American rock band BulletBoys, released in 1995 on Swordholio Records. The album marks a change in direction and style after the breakup of the band in 1993, featuring more of an alternative rock and pop punk influence, with singer Marq Torien and bassist Lonnie Vencent continuing to release albums under the BulletBoys name. Torien and Vencent were joined by guitarist Tommy Pittam and drummer Robby Karras for this album.
Ratt was an American glam metal band formed in Los Angeles, in the 1970s, that had significant commercial success in the 1980s, with their albums having been certified as gold, platinum, and multi-platinum by the RIAA. The group is best known for their hit singles "Round and Round" and "Lay It Down", both of which charted in the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. Other songs such as "Wanted Man", "You're in Love", "Dance", and "Way Cool Jr." also charted on the Hot 100.
Andrew Freeman is an American rock singer and guitarist who has played for a number of bands, including hard rock guitarist George Lynch's Lynch Mob. Freeman is currently the frontman for the hard rock supergroup Last in Line, composed of former members of Dio.
10¢ Billionaire is the sixth album released by the American rock band BulletBoys. It was released in the summer of 2009 on Chavis Records. The album was produced by Brent Woods and written by Marq Torien. It received limited amount of promotion as the record company ceased trading.
Burning Cats and Amputees is the first greatest hits album by American rock band BulletBoys.
Sophie is the fifth studio album by the American rock band BulletBoys. The album was released October 24, 2003, and was produced by Andy Johns. The album was self-released by the band through their own label, Bulletboys Records.
Elefante is the eighth studio album by the American rock band BulletBoys. The album was released June 9, 2015, on Cleopatra Records. A music video was made for the track "Rollover".
Bradley Allen Lang is an American bassist. He became known for playing with Y&T, replacing long-time group member Phil Kennemore, after the latter was diagnosed with lung cancer. He later played with Bobby Blotzer's Ratt. He currently is playing with the BulletBoys.
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