Nuclear Valdez

Last updated
Nuclear Valdez
Origin Miami, Florida
Genres Alternative rock

Nuclear Valdez is an American rock band from Miami, Florida, United States. The band members all are of Latin American descent and were born outside of the United States. [1]

Contents

Background information

Nuclear Valdez was formed in Miami in 1983 by vocalist and guitarist Froilan Sosa and lead guitarist Jorge Barcala, who replaced Angel Forte when he left the band. Bassist and vocalist Juan Diaz joined the following year, and drummer and vocalist Robert Slade LeMont the year after. [2] Sosa was born in the Dominican Republic, while the other three members were born in Cuba. They took their name from a former coworker of Diaz who had an "explosive temper." [3]

After several years as a popular club band and opening act in the South Florida music scene, the band was signed to Epic Records in 1989. Their debut album, I Am I, was released that year, with production from Richard Gottehrer and Thom Panunzio. [2] Featured artists on the album included Bruce Brody (Lone Justice, Patti Smith Group), Benmont Tench (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), and Meredith Brooks. The track "Summer" from the album became a minor radio hit, and was put into active rotation on MTV. [4] Nuclear Valdez performed the track on MTV Unplugged later that year, making them the first all-Latino act to appear on the show. [5]

The band did an MTV promo spot with video director Paula Grief and performed on an early episode of MTV Unplugged with members of The Alarm. They opened for numerous groups that came through their home base in Miami: Living Colour, Jane's Addiction, Dead Milkmen, Ronnie Wood, Hoodoo Gurus, among others. The band did an extensive tour of the US opening up for The Hooters. US tour followed by an intensive European tour as the supporting act for The Church. Song "Dance Where the Bullets Fly" from the second album was used in one of the season finales of Melrose Place .

Members

The members of the band are:

Discography

Albums:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dimmu Borgir</span> Norwegian symphonic black metal band

Dimmu Borgir is a Norwegian symphonic black metal band from Jessheim, formed in 1993. The name is derived from Dimmuborgir, a volcanic formation in Iceland, the name of which means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic, Faroese and Old Norse. The band has been through numerous lineup changes over the years; vocalist Shagrath and rhythm guitarist Silenoz are the only original members who still remain, with lead guitarist Galder being a longstanding member.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">10,000 Maniacs</span> American alternative rock band

10,000 Maniacs is an American alternative rock band that was founded in 1981. They have released nine studio albums, six EPs, and five live albums. They achieved their most significant success between 1987 and 1993, when they released four albums that charted in the top 50 in the US: In My Tribe (1987), Blind Man's Zoo (1989), Our Time in Eden (1992) and the live album MTV Unplugged (1993). After the recording but before the release of MTV Unplugged, original lead singer and songwriter Natalie Merchant left the band to pursue a solo career, while the remaining members continued the band.

Miami Sound Machine was an American band of Latin-influenced music that had featured the vocals of Cuban-born recording artist Gloria Estefan. Established in 1975 by Emilio Estefan Jr., the band was originally known as the Miami Latin Boys before becoming the Miami Sound Machine in 1977.

<i>MTV Unplugged</i> Music program aired by MTV

MTV Unplugged is an American television series on MTV showcasing musical artists usually playing acoustic instruments. The show aired regularly from 1989 to 1999 and less frequently from 2000 to 2009, when it was usually billed as MTV Unplugged No. 2.0. Since 2009, MTV Unplugged specials have aired occasionally, sometimes online only. Episodes and specials have tended to showcase one artist or group, playing a combination of their hit songs and covers.

<i>MTV Unplugged in New York</i> 1994 live album by Nirvana

MTV Unplugged in New York is a live album by American rock band Nirvana, released on November 1, 1994, by DGC Records. It features an acoustic performance recorded at Sony Music Studios in New York City on November 18, 1993, for the television series MTV Unplugged.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KC and the Sunshine Band</span> American disco and funk band

KC and the Sunshine Band is an American disco and funk band that was founded in 1973 in Hialeah, Florida. Their best-known songs include the hits "That's the Way ", "(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty", "I'm Your Boogie Man", "Keep It Comin' Love", "Get Down Tonight", "Boogie Shoes", "Please Don't Go" and "Give It Up". The band took its name from lead vocalist Harry Wayne Casey's last name ('KC') and the 'Sunshine Band' from KC's home state of Florida, the Sunshine State. The group has had six top 10 singles, five number one singles and a number two single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pat Smear</span> American musician and film actor (born 1959)

Georg Albert Ruthenberg, better known by his stage name Pat Smear, is an American musician. He is best known for being the lead guitarist and co-founder of Los Angeles-based punk band The Germs and for being a rhythm guitarist for grunge band Nirvana, which he joined as a touring guitarist in 1993, and Foo Fighters, with whom he has recorded six studio albums. After Nirvana disbanded following the suicide of its frontman Kurt Cobain, drummer Dave Grohl went on to become the frontman of rock band Foo Fighters, with Smear joining on guitar. He left Foo Fighters in 1997, before rejoining as a touring guitarist in 2005, and has been a full-time member since 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruce Kulick</span> American guitarist

Bruce Howard Kulick is an American guitarist and since 2000 a member of the rock band Grand Funk Railroad. Previously, Kulick was a long-time member of the band Kiss (1984–1996). He was also a member of Union with John Corabi from 1997–2002 and Blackjack from 1979–1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nuclear Assault</span> American thrash metal band

Nuclear Assault was an American thrash metal band formed in New York City in 1984. Part of the mid-to-late 1980s thrash metal movement, they were one of the main bands of the genre to emerge from the East Coast along with Overkill, Whiplash, Toxik, Carnivore, and Anthrax, the last of which was co-founded by Nuclear Assault bassist Dan Lilker, who left Anthrax shortly after the release of their first album. Nuclear Assault released five full-length albums and toured relentlessly throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, and broke up in 1995. The band reunited briefly in 1997 and then permanently in 2002 before subsequently breaking up again in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danger Danger</span> American glam metal band

Danger Danger is an American glam metal band formed in Queens, New York, in 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dope (band)</span> American metal band

Dope is an American nu metal/industrial metal band from New York City, formed in 1997. The band has released six full-length studio albums with their most recent studio album, Blood Money Part 1, being released in 2016. The lineup currently consists of founding member and lead singer Edsel Dope, guitarist Virus, bassist Acey Slade and drummer Daniel Fox.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madball</span> New York hardcore band

Madball is an American New York hardcore band formed in New York City, that originated in the late 1980s as a side project of Agnostic Front. The band developed after Agnostic Front's front man Roger Miret would let his younger half-brother Freddy Cricien take the microphone and perform lead vocals during Agnostic Front shows.

Giuffria was an American rock band from Washington, D.C., formed in 1981 by Gregg Giuffria after his departure from the band Angel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acey Slade</span> American musician

Emil John Schmidt IV, known professionally as Acey Slade, is an American musician, perhaps best known as the bassist of the alternative metal band Dope and the former guitarist of the horror punk and glam metal act Murderdolls. He is currently the lead singer and guitarist of the band Acey Slade & the Dark Party, and the live rhythm guitarist of Misfits. Previous to this, he served as the bassist in Joan Jett & the Blackhearts and the lead vocalist and guitarist in the punk rock band Trashlight Vision, which broke up in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Schenker Group</span> English hard rock band

The Michael Schenker Group are a guitar-oriented hard rock band, formed in London in 1979 by former Scorpions and UFO guitarist Michael Schenker. In 1986, Schenker and vocalist Robin McAuley formed the McAuley Schenker Group, which lasted until 1993. Afterwards, in 1996, the Michael Schenker Group was reformed. After the release of their second live album, 1984's Rock Will Never Die, its members began to have serious discussions that caused a two-year hiatus, and Michael ended the band in 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Over Now (Alice in Chains song)</span> 1996 single by Alice in Chains

"Over Now" is a song by the American rock band Alice in Chains. Written by Jerry Cantrell, who also sings lead vocals, the song is the last track on the band's third studio album, Alice in Chains (1995), and it is about the 1995 breakup of the band. The song closed the televised broadcast of Alice in Chains' MTV Unplugged performance, and that version was released as a single in 1996. The B-side is the original studio version. The single peaked at No. 4 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and at No. 24 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart in 1996. The song was included on the live album Unplugged (1996), on the box set Music Bank (1999), and the compilation album The Essential Alice in Chains (2006). The MTV Unplugged concert was the first and only time that Alice in Chains performed the song. It was performed again 23 years later at Jerry Cantrell's solo concert at the Pico Union Project in Los Angeles on December 6, 2019.

Fonzie is a Portuguese rock band from Lisbon. The band was formed in 1996. It consisted of vocalist and guitarist Hugo Maia, guitarist David Marques, bass guitarist Carlos Teixeira, and drummer João Marques. The band was nominated for "Best Portuguese Act" at the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2003 and 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Sheila</span> 1985 song by Slade

"Little Sheila" is a song by the British rock band Slade, released in 1985 as the fourth and final single from the band's twelfth studio album Rogues Gallery. It was released in North America and Germany, and was the only single to be released from the album in America and Canada. The song was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and produced by John Punter.

<i>MTV Unplugged</i> (Julieta Venegas album) 2008 live album by Julieta Venegas

MTV Unplugged is the first live album recorded by Mexican singer-songwriter Julieta Venegas. The album features a selection of her greatest hits, along with new tracks, including the singles "El Presente" and "Algún Día". A handful of guest artists was included: Gustavo Santaolalla, Natalia Lafourcade, Cuarteto Latinoamericano, La Mala Rodríguez.

Atomship is a four-piece American alternative metal band that was most recently composed of Joey Culver, Chad Kent, Roy Williams, and Jared Slade. They are best known for their 2004 single "Pencil Fight". Nathan Slade was the band's original guitarist and songwriter until his tragic death in December 2009. The band was known as Watership Down in 2002, before changing their name due to copyright to Atomship that year. Due to original vocalist Derek Pardoe's anxiety, Joey Culver took over his place as lead singer, and for the recording of their debut album The Crash of '47, released in 2004. Atomship later broke up after the death of Nathan Slade. This led to the band's disbandment later that year. The original band members briefly reunited in 2017 with Jared Slade and performed several local shows In 2006, Atomship reformed as AtomshipDown. In 2010, AtomshipDown reverted their name back to Watership Down. In 2017, the band reformed Atomship with vocalist Joey Culver.

References

  1. Colin Larkin, ed. (1995). The Guinness Who's Who of Heavy Metal (Second ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 256. ISBN   0-85112-656-1.
  2. 1 2 Hochman, Steve (1990-02-18). "The Real Sound Machine". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 2021-03-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. "NUCLEAR VALDEZ THE RENOWNED SOUTH FLORIDA BAND IS ABOUT TO RELEASE A VINYL ALBUM OF UNRELEASED TRACKS! WHAT FANS OF NUCLEAR VALDEZ HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR!!!" (Press release). Sinical Records. AR Entertainment. 2017-03-23. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  4. "Biography". Nuclear Valdez. Archived from the original on 2005-09-07. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
  5. Hassan, Marcos (2018-05-15). "These Are the 10 Most Iconic Latin American 'MTV Unplugged' Performances". Remezcla . Retrieved 2021-03-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)