Keith Adamiak Rob Math Luke Man Brice Snyder Wayne Findlay Dean Roberts
Past members
Michael Olivieri Carey Howe Paul Carman Patrick Guyton Geoff Gayer Joey Tafolla Greg Erba Wade Black Eric Halpern Pete Perez Jeff Martin Marco Forcone Matt Hurich
Leatherwolf is an American heavy metal band that formed in Huntington Beach, California in 1981. They split up in 1992, but reunited in 1999. The group is also nicknamed the "Triple Axe Attack" for pioneering the use of a 3-guitar line-up in heavy metal.
Currently comprising lead vocalist Keith Adamiak, guitarists Rob Math and Geoff Gayer, bassist Paul Carman, and drummer Dean Roberts, the band has released five studio albums. Leatherwolf has undergone many line-up changes during its existence. No member has been constant throughout its entire timeline but several former members have returned at differing times. The band continues to perform live but has not released any studio material since their 2007 album New World Asylum.
Formed in the early 1980s, a teenaged Leatherwolf emerged on the Southern California scene sharing bills with fellow OC metal acts such as Metallica, Witch, and Slayer at venues like the Woodstock and Radio City. Leatherwolf quickly caught the attention of Enigma Records affiliated indie label, Tropical Records, who financed the band's eponymous 1984 five-song EP, produced by Randy Burns.[1] Germany's Steamhammer/SPV label released the EP, upgraded to a full-fledged album, in 1985, titled Leatherwolf,[1] while Heavy Metal America, who had the rights for Great Britain, issued it as Endangered Species, so named after one of the songs on the album.
In 1986, Matt Hurich left to join the band Stryper and was replaced by Paul Carman, formerly of Black Sheep.[1] The band signed a new major label record deal with Island Records,[1] and released the confusingly titled, Kevin Beamish produced Leatherwolf in 1987.[2] A video for the first single, "The Calling," was shown on MTV. It was followed up with another single, "Cry Out", featuring a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Bad Moon Rising" on the B-side.
Street Ready and split (1989–1992)
For 1989's Street Ready album,[3] recorded in the Bahamas, the band kept on Beamish as producer,[1] but asked the German expatriate Michael Wagener for the mix. Although the first single/video was the radio-friendly semi-power ballad "Hideaway",[4]Street Ready saw the band take a step back toward their more metallic roots with songs such as opener "Wicked Ways", "Too Much", and especially the all-instrumental tour-de-force, "Black Knight". Leatherwolf finally made their European live debut in the spring of 1989 with an appearance at the Aardschokdag in the Netherlands and opening slots for Japan's Vow Wow and German metallers Zed Yago. The overall lack of label support began to take its toll on the band's inner workings and drummer Dean Roberts was eventually ousted in favor of Marco Forcone (ex-Enticier). Roberts joined The Rod Squad, led by former Knightmare II vocalist Dennis "The Rod" Carlock, with whom he recorded the "Body Heater" 7" in 1990. Even bigger changes lay ahead as Leatherwolf dropped their trademark style in favor of a grunger hybrid approach and euro-style visuals. With Patrick Guyton (ex-Enticier, Aaronsrod) replacing Paul Carman on bass, the band had morphed into Hail Mary by 1992. However, success under the new moniker proved as elusive as ever as grunge rock was quickly becoming the new flavor of the month, causing Leatherwolf/Hail Mary and many of their contemporaries to lose popularity. Due to these circumstances, midway through recording their first album release as Hail Mary, the band called it quits in late 1993. Leatherwolf was one of those few bands that historically many feel never got enough credit, and has been ranked as one of the most underrated heavy rock bands of the 1980s by fans.[citation needed] Grand Slamm Records re-issued the self-titled Leatherwolf debut on CD in 1991.
Reunion and World Asylum (1999–2006)
It was not until 1999 when the classic Leatherwolf line-up re-emerged with a celebrated reunion show at the Galaxy Theater in Santa Ana, CA, documented on the Wide Open live album that featured 14 of the band's best songs as well as a cover of the Doors' "Break On Through". Leatherwolf also made their return to Europe with an exclusive show at the Wacken Open Air festival in Germany that same year. Further activities remained few and far between, and Michael Olivieri announced his departure in the spring of 2003 after supporting Halford at the Grove in Anaheim, CA. Auditioning various singers, the band recorded a 3-song demo consisting of "Disconnect", "Behind the Gun", and "Burned" (later renamed "The Grail") with Jeff Martin from Racer X. Martin eventually declined to join on a full-time basis and lone survivors, Geoff Gayer and Dean Roberts, started the search anew and were finally introduced to Florida-based screamer Wade Black (Crimson Glory, Leash Law, Seven Witches).[5] With both Carey Howe and Paul Carman out of the picture, bass was handled by San Antonio, TX native Pete Perez (Riot, Spastic Ink) while OC local Mark Smith and Houstonian Eric Halpern (Destiny's End, Z-Lot-Z) contributed additional lead guitars to the new album. Co-produced by Roberts and Gayer and mixed by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios in Ribe, Denmark, World Asylum was released in the spring of 2006 to great reviews and Leatherwolf played the Bang Your Head!!! festival in Germany in June, with Paul Carman back in the fold on bass for the occasion.[6] The band also shot a promotional video for the song "Behind The Gun" with director Karpis Maksudian. Former Leatherwolf (Hail Mary and Shotgun Messiah ) member Patrick Guyton took over on bass for the band's ProgPower USA festival appearance in Atlanta, Georgia, in late 2006.[7] Guyton has remained as full time bassist to date.
Reunion with Michael Olivieri, New World Asylum and Unchained Live
Original members Carey Howe and Michael Olivieri returned in 2007 and Leatherwolf re-issued World Asylum with Olivieri's vocals in place of Wade Black as New World Asylum,[8] again mixed by Hansen. In the fall of 2007, Leatherwolf embarked on a short European tour, highlighted by a headline appearance at the 9th edition of Germany's Keep It True festival.[9] Guitarist Geoff Gayer was let go at the end of the trip[10] and replaced by Greg Erba with whom the band lensed a video clip for "Dr. Wicked (Rx O.D.)",[11] with Karpis Maksudian at the helm once again. It would be included on the Monsters of Metal Vol. 6 video compilation by Nuclear Blast.
By mid-2009, Leatherwolf were said to be writing for a new studio album and shared a bill with Anthrax, Saxon, Overkill, Anvil, and Metal Church at the third annual Rocklahoma festival on July 9, 2009.[12] Michael Olivieri's solo album, Goodbye Rain, was released in December 2009.[13]
In early December 2013, the band announced the release of their Unchained Live album, the first to feature the new guitar duo of Rob Math and Greg Erba.[14]
In late May 2015, former members Carey Howe, Geoff Gayer and Wade Black announced that they were working on a new Leatherwolf studio album for a late fall release. Drummer Dean Roberts and vocalist/guitarist Michael Olivieri, original members of the band's current line-up, countered by issuing a statement laying claim to sole legal ownership of the name Leatherwolf.[15] Howe and Gayer eventually settled on the name Haunt of Jackals[16] and released their debut album, The Chosen, in January 2017 which also included Patrick Guyton handling the bass tracks.[17]
In early January 2017, it was announced that guitarist Joey Tafolla had joined Leatherwolf in place of Greg Erba.[18] The band parted ways with Tafolla six months later due to scheduling conflicts, with 21-year old Luke Man stepping in and taking part in the 2017 UK tour, Leatherwolf's first British live dates in some 28 years.[19]
The band would play their first Southern California show with Man now a full band member on November 18 at the Slidebar in Fullerton, CA sharing a bill with Odin.[20]
New Line-up and Kill the Hunted (2019–present)
On February 11, 2019, Leatherwolf announced on their Facebook page that they had parted ways with lead vocalist and original member Michael Olivieri for reasons unknown. On August 1, 2019, the band officially introduced Keith Adamiak as their new lead vocalist, and announced the return of guitarist Geoff Gayer and bassist Paul Carman, in place of Luke Man and Patrick Guyton, respectively. A brand new song, "The Henchman", off their forthcoming studio album, tentatively set for a spring 2020 release, was posted on the band's YouTube channel.[21]
On May 8, 2022, a line-up comprising Keith Adamiak, Rob Math, Luke Man, Dean Roberts, former Michael Schenker Group guitarist/keyboardist Wayne Findlay, and fill-in bassist Brice Snyder, a one-time band mate of Man in Railgun, appeared at the M3 Festival in Columbia, MD, unveiling the band's latest incarnation.[22][23]
On July 14, 2022, the group released a lyric video for a new song, "Hit the Dirt", and also announced that their new album, Kill the Hunted, would be released later in the year.[24] A second lyric video for "The Henchman", with a lead guitar special guest appearance by Whitesnake's Joel Hoekstra, went online on September 13, 2022 and November album release dates were announced for North and South America, Europe, and Japan.[25] The new album, recorded with the aid of session bassist, Barry Sparks, was supported with a promotional video for the title track, "Kill The Hunted".[26]
On July 18, 2023, the band announced an August 18 release date for the "Kill The Hunted" vinyl edition and premiered a performance video for the vinyl bonus track, "Thunder (MMXXII)", a remake of the 1989 Street Ready album cut, also made available as a digital single. The release was celebrated with an August 23 headline show at the Whisky A Go-Go in Hollywood, CA.[27][28]
Band members
Current members
Dean "Drum Machine" Roberts – drums (1981–1989, 1999–present)
Rob Math – guitars (2011–present)
Luke Man – guitars (2017–2018, 2022–present)
Keith Adamiak – vocals (2019–present)
Wayne Findlay – guitars (2022–present)
Brice Snyder – bass (2022-present)
Former members
Michael Olivieri – vocals, guitar, keyboards (1981–1992, 1999–2004, 2007–2018)
Kittie is a Canadian heavy metal band from London, Ontario, founded in 1996. They were formed when guitarist Fallon Bowman and drummer Mercedes Lander met in gym class. Mercedes' sister, Morgan Lander, became the lead vocalist and one of Kittie's guitarists and Tanya Candler completed the band's lineup on bass. "Kittie" was chosen as the band name because the name "seemed contradictory." The Lander sisters have remained Kittie's sole constant members through the release of six studio albums, one video album, four extended plays, thirteen singles, and thirteen music videos. Collectively, their material released via independent record labels has sold over two million copies worldwide.
Nonpoint is an American rock band from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The band currently consists of vocalist Elias Soriano, drummer Robb Rivera, rhythm guitarist Rasheed Thomas, bassist Adam Woloszyn and lead guitarist Jaysin Zeilstra.
Sirenia is a Norwegian gothic metal band from Stavanger, founded in 2001 by Morten Veland.
Destruction is a German thrash metal band formed in 1982. They have been credited as one of the "Big Four" of the German thrash metal scene, the others being Kreator, Sodom and Tankard. In addition to helping pioneer black metal, Destruction was part of the second wave of thrash metal in the mid-to-late 1980s, along with American bands like Testament, Sacred Reich, Death Angel and Dark Angel. For most of the 1990s, the band was not signed to a record label and was forced to self-produce their albums until they signed a contract with Nuclear Blast in the early 2000s.
U.D.O. is a German heavy metal band founded by lead vocalist Udo Dirkschneider in 1987.
Jag Panzer is an American power metal band from Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Into Eternity is a Canadian progressive metal band from Regina, Saskatchewan, formed in 1997 by Tim Roth, Scott Krall and Jim Austin.
Grave Digger is a German heavy metal band that was first formed in 1980 by Chris Boltendahl and Peter Masson. Emerging from the early-to-mid 1980s heavy metal scene of their native country, Grave Digger has been referred to as one of the so-called "big four" of German power metal, along with Helloween, Rage and Running Wild.
Septicflesh are a Greek death metal band from Athens, founded in 1990.
Vicious Rumors are an American power metal band, originally formed in 1979 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was conceived by founder and guitarist/vocalist Geoff Thorpe, and has been actively recording and touring worldwide since their full-length recording debut in 1985. The band is signed to the Germany-based label SPV/Steamhammer.
Armored Saint is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1982. Since 1990, the band has consisted of John Bush on lead vocals, Joey Vera on bass, Jeff Duncan on guitar and the Sandoval brothers on drums and guitar, respectively. Of the current lineup, Bush and Vera are the two constant members. To date, the band has released eight studio albums, one EP, two live albums and one compilation album.
Threat Signal is a Canadian heavy metal band from Hamilton, Ontario. The band has had numerous lineup changes, with only Jon Howard remaining from the original incarnation. Their music is often classified as metalcore, melodic death metal, or groove metal.
Katagory V was an American heavy metal band from Salt Lake City, Utah that formed in 1999. Signed to Nightmare Records, Katagory V has released five studio albums. Their first album Present Day was released in 2001, and the band's most recent work Resurrect the Insurgence was released in May 2015.
Savage Messiah are an English heavy metal band formed in May 2007 in London. The band was formed by guitarist and lead vocalist Dave Silver and also consists of guitarist Joff Bailey, bassist Míra Sláma, keyboardist Carlos Alcalde De Lema and drummer Charly Carretón.
Texas Hippie Coalition is an American heavy metal band from Denison, Texas.
Operation: Mindcrime was a progressive metal band that was fronted by the former lead singer of Queensrÿche, Geoff Tate. It is named after Queensrÿche's 1988 album of the same name. Various musicians have contributed to the band, both live and in studio and it features members such as John Moyer and Simon Wright. The group signed a worldwide deal in December 2014 with Frontiers Music Srl for its coming releases. Their debut album, The Key, which is part one of a trilogy, was released in 2015. The second, Resurrection, was released in 2016, and the third and final album of the trilogy, The New Reality, was released in 2017.
Single Bullet Theory (SBT) is an American heavy metal band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The band was founded in 2000 by guitarist Matt DiFabio after the disbanding of Cipher. The band's current lineup consists of vocalist/guitarist Matt DiFabio, bassist Bill Mez, and guitarist Rich Gulczynski ; drummer Rob Gladden having died in March 2022. The band has released two EP's, five full-length studio albums, and one compilation album to date. The band released its fifth full-length studio album Divine Ways of Chaos on October 19, 2018.
Product of Hate is an American thrash metal/groove metal band from Kenosha, Wisconsin. The band is currently signed to Napalm Records, and they have released two studio albums to date.
Cyhra is a Swedish heavy metal supergroup formed in 2017. The band is made up of lead vocalist Joacim "Jake E" Lundberg (ex-Amaranthe), rhythm guitarist Jesper Strömblad, the German drummer Alex Landenburg, Finnish lead guitarist Euge Valovirta (ex-Shining) and currently also guitarist Marcus Sunesson (Engel).
Hatchet is an American thrash metal band from San Francisco, California, formed in January 2005 by guitarist and vocalist Julz Ramos, the band's only remaining original member. To date, they have released four studio albums, two demos and one EP, and are now notable for being part of the thrash metal revival movement in the late 2000s. Influenced by the new wave of British heavy metal and Bay Area thrash metal scenes of the 1980s, Hatchet's music has been variously described by critics as thrash metal, crossover thrash and punk rock.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
