Omen is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1984, the group originally consisted of lead vocalist J. D. Kimball, guitarist Kenny Powell, bassist Jody Henry and drummer Steve Wittig. Powell is the only remaining original member of the band, which now features drummer Reece Stanley, vocalist Nikos Migus Antonogiannakis (both since 2017) and bassist Justin Riddler (since 2022).
Following his departure from Savage Grace, guitarist Kenny Powell formed Omen in March 1984 with lead vocalist J. D. Kimball, bassist Jody Henry and drummer Steve Wittig. [1] The band signed with Metal Blade Records and released their debut album Battle Cry that September. [1] After subsequent releases Warning of Danger , The Curse and Nightmares , Kimball was fired in March 1987 due to ongoing problems with alcohol abuse, which had resulted in several instances of "unpredictable and violent" behavior including damaging a locker room at a show and starting fights with other band members. [2] He was replaced by Coburn Pharr. [2] The new lineup recorded Escape to Nowhere in the summer of 1988, but Wittig was replaced by Cam Daigneault before its release, as according to Powell he "was at the point in his life where he was wanting to settle down and have kids and stuff". [3] After touring in promotion of Escape to Nowhere into 1989, Omen broke up and Powell moved away. [4]
Powell reformed Omen in 1996 with his son Greg on vocals and guitar, Andy Haas on bass, and Rick Murray on drums. [5] By 1998, Greg Powell had been replaced by Kevin Goocher. [6] The new lineup released Eternal Black Dawn in September 2003. [7] In 2004, Omen was put on temporary hiatus as Goocher and Powell formed Phantom-X with bassist Glenn Malicki and drummer Danny White. [8] When the band returned in August 2006, both Malicki and White had joined the lineup. [9] By March 2008, the lineup had changed entirely to feature Matt Story on vocals, Scott Clute on bass and original member Steve Wittig back on drums. [10] Due to "passport issues", however, Story's place was quickly taken by ASKA frontman George Call. [11] By March 2009, Danny White had returned to replace the outgoing Wittig. [12] For a short South American tour in the summer, Call and White were replaced by Dantesco members Erico Morales and Wampa Zayas, respectively, before returning for later shows in Europe. [13]
By the end of 2009, Andy Haas had returned to replace Clute. [14] The new lineup released one song, "Blood on the Water", which was featured on the 2010 compilation Blood, Steel, Vengeance. [15] In December 2010, Omen announced the permanent departures of George Call and Danny White, who were replaced by Matt Story and Wampa Zayas, respectively. [16] [17] By early 2012, Wittig had returned for a third tenure, replacing Zayas. [18] Two years later, Kevin Goocher returned to the band, replacing Story. [19] After Story's departure, Kenny Powell recorded the entirety of the next Omen album by himself (he claimed there was "no money to fly [Wittig] out" to play drums and Haas was taking care of his children after the death of his wife), with Goocher adding vocals after his arrival. [13]
In February 2017, Powell and Goocher unveiled a new lineup of Omen including bassist Roger Sisson and drummer Reece Stanley. [20] After releasing the song "Up from the Deep", [21] Goocher left Omen for a second time in June 2017, blaming "internal differences". [22] He was replaced in October by Greek vocalist Nikos Migus Antonogiannakis. [23] The new lineup released the single "Alive" in 2018. [24] In August 2022, the band announced the replacement of Sisson by Justin Riddler. [25] Coburn Pharr stood in for two shows that year when Antonogiannakis was unable to perform due to illness, marking his last appearance with the band before his death in 2025. [26]
| Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenny Powell |
|
| all Omen releases |
| Reece Stanley | 2017–present | drums |
|
| Nikos Migus Antonogiannakis | lead vocals | "Alive" (2018) | |
| Justin Riddler | 2022–present | bass | none to date |
| Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jody Henry | 1984–1989 (died 2025) |
|
|
| Steve Wittig |
| drums | |
| John "J. D." Kimball (1958–2003) | 1984–1987 | lead vocals |
|
| Coburn Pharr (1962–2025) |
| Escape to Nowhere (1988) | |
| Cam Daigneault | 1988–1989 | drums | none |
| Andy Haas |
| bass |
|
| Rick Murray | 1996–2004 | drums |
|
| Greg Powell | 1996–1998 |
| Reopening the Gates (1997) |
| Kevin Goocher |
| lead vocals |
|
| Danny White |
| drums | "Blood on the Water" (2010) |
| Glenn Malicki | 2006–2008 | bass | none |
| Scott Clute | 2008–2009 | ||
| Matt Story |
| lead vocals | |
| George Call | 2008–2010 | "Blood on the Water" (2010) | |
| Wampa Zayas |
| drums | none |
| Roger Sisson | 2017–2022 | bass |
|
| Name | Years active | Instruments | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erico "La Bestia" Morales (1969–2021) | 2009 (touring) | lead vocals | Morales and Wampa Zayas filled in for George Call and Danny White, respectively, for South American shows in summer 2009. [13] |
| Period | Members | Releases |
|---|---|---|
| March 1984 [1] –March 1987 [2] |
|
|
| April 1987 [2] –summer 1988 [3] |
|
|
| Summer 1988 [3] –1989 [4] |
| none |
| Band inactive 1990–1995 | ||
| 1996 [5] –1998 [6] |
|
|
| 1998 [6] –2004 [8] |
|
|
| Band on hiatus 2004–2006 | ||
| August 2006 [9] –March 2008 [10] |
| none |
| March 2008 [10] |
| |
| March 2008 [11] –March 2009 [12] |
| |
| March [12] –December 2009 [14] |
| |
| December 2009 [14] –December 2010 [16] |
|
|
| December 2010 [16] –early 2012 [18] |
| none |
| Early 2012 [18] –October 2014 [19] |
| |
| October 2014 [19] –February 2017 [20] |
|
|
| February [20] –June 2017 [22] |
|
|
| October 2017 [23] –August 2022 [25] |
|
|
| August 2022 [25] –present |
| none to date |
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)