Armored Saint
Encyclopedia
Early career
Armored Saint was formed in 1982 by brothers Phil Sandoval (guitar) and Gonzo Sandoval (drums), and guitarist David Prichard, while attending South Pasadena High SchoolSouth Pasadena High School
South Pasadena High School is a public high school serving grades 9-12 located in the city of South Pasadena, California.The school is one of five schools in the South Pasadena Unified School District....
. Next to join were singer John Bush
John Bush (singer)
John Bush is an American vocalist, currently a member of Armored Saint, a traditional metal band from Los Angeles, California and formerly of thrash metal band Anthrax.-Armored Saint:...
also a South Pasadena High School Alumni and bassist Joey Vera
Joey Vera
Joey Vera is an American heavy metal bassist for heavy metal band Armored Saint. He is also a member of the progressive metal band Fates Warning. In 2004-05 he replaced Frank Bello in Anthrax as the band's bassist. He appears as part of the project Engine, as well as on the OSI album Free. His...
. Gonzo Sandoval came up with the name after getting stoned with the other band members and seeing the film Excalibur
Excalibur (film)
Excalibur is a 1981 dramatic fantasy film directed, produced and co-written by John Boorman that retells the legend of King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table. Adapted from the 15th century Arthurian romance, Le Morte d'Arthur by Thomas Malory, Excalibur features the music of Richard Wagner...
at a theater in Monterey Park. Armored Saint recorded a five song demo that landed the song "Lesson Well Learned" on the compilation album Metal Massacre II. Three of these demo songs were then used for the band's self-titled EP on Metal Blade Records in 1983. The group then signed with Chrysalis Records
Chrysalis Records
Chrysalis Records was a British record label that was created in 1969. The name was both a reference to the pupal stage of a butterfly and a combination of its founders names, Chris Wright and Terry Ellis...
in 1984.
Armored Saint released their debut album March of the Saint
March of the Saint
March of the Saint is the first album by American heavy metal band Armored Saint. It was released in 1984 on Chrysalis Records and recorded with producer Michael James Jackson who previously worked for Kiss...
in 1984 followed by 1985's Delirious Nomad
Delirious Nomad
-Band members:*John Bush - vocals*Dave Prichard - guitars*Phil Sandoval - guitars*Joey Vera - bass, backing vocals*Gonzo Sandoval - drums-Production:*Max Norman - producer, mixing*Bill Freesh - engineer, mixing*Matt Brady - engineer...
. The debut album yielded a minor MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
hit with "Can U Deliver?". After the release of Delirious Nomad
Delirious Nomad
-Band members:*John Bush - vocals*Dave Prichard - guitars*Phil Sandoval - guitars*Joey Vera - bass, backing vocals*Gonzo Sandoval - drums-Production:*Max Norman - producer, mixing*Bill Freesh - engineer, mixing*Matt Brady - engineer...
, guitarist Phil Sandoval left the group. Their third album, Raising Fear
Raising Fear
-Credits:*John Bush - vocals*Dave Prichard - guitars*Joey Vera - bass*Gonzo Sandoval - drums-External links:**[ Armored Saint on Allmusic Guide]*...
, was recorded by the remaining four members. Unhappy with their lack of success on the Chrysalis
Chrysalis Records
Chrysalis Records was a British record label that was created in 1969. The name was both a reference to the pupal stage of a butterfly and a combination of its founders names, Chris Wright and Terry Ellis...
label, Armored Saint returned to Metal Blade
Metal Blade Records
Metal Blade Records is a record label which was founded by Brian Slagel in 1982. The U.S. corporate office for Metal Blade is located in Agoura Hills, California. It also has offices in Arizona, Germany, Japan, Canada, and the UK. The label is distributed in the U.S. by Sony BMG Music...
in 1989. Soon after the release of their first live album Saints Will Conquer
Saints Will Conquer
- Credits :*John Bush - vocals*Dave Prichard - guitars*Joey Vera - bass*Gonzo Sandoval - drums- External links :**[ Armored Saint on Allmusic Guide]*...
the band added Jeff Duncan formerly of the L.A. club band Odin as second guitarist who is still in the band to this day.
While writing and recording rough four-track demos for their next studio album, guitarist Dave Prichard was diagnosed with leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
. Prichard succumbed to the disease before recording sessions for Symbol of Salvation
Symbol of Salvation
-2003 reissue on Metal Blade Records:In 2003, Metal Blade Records remastered and re-released the album as a 3-disc Special Edition, which in addition to the full 13 song tracklist, the first disc contains the music videos to "Reign Of Fire," and "Last Train Home." The second disc contains the...
began. After a brief hiatus, Phil Sandoval returned to the band to replace Prichard. The following year, Symbol of Salvation
Symbol of Salvation
-2003 reissue on Metal Blade Records:In 2003, Metal Blade Records remastered and re-released the album as a 3-disc Special Edition, which in addition to the full 13 song tracklist, the first disc contains the music videos to "Reign Of Fire," and "Last Train Home." The second disc contains the...
was released to widespread critical success. It was dedicated to the spirit and memory of Dave Prichard, whose solo on the demo recording of the song "Tainted Past" was used on the album.
Following the successful Symbol of Salvation
Symbol of Salvation
-2003 reissue on Metal Blade Records:In 2003, Metal Blade Records remastered and re-released the album as a 3-disc Special Edition, which in addition to the full 13 song tracklist, the first disc contains the music videos to "Reign Of Fire," and "Last Train Home." The second disc contains the...
tour, The band recorded and had hits with "Reign of Fire" and "Last Train Home" in 1991. The following year the band contributed a song to the Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth
Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth
Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth is a 1992 American horror film and third installment in the Hellraiser series, directed by Anthony Hickox and starring Terry Farrell, Doug Bradley, Paula Marshall and Kevin Bernhardt...
soundtrack, as well as made a brief appearance in the film. Several months later, John Bush was offered the position of lead vocalist in the very successful thrash
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band Anthrax
Anthrax (band)
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
. Unsure of Armored Saint's future, Bush accepted the job. The remaining members declined to continue, and Armored Saint was officially disbanded.
After Armored Saint disbanded, Joey Vera kept busy playing with such bands as Fates Warning
Fates Warning
Fates Warning is an American progressive metal band, formed in 1982 by vocalist John Arch, guitarists Jim Matheos and Victor Arduini, bassist Joe DiBiase, and drummer Steve Zimmerman in Hartford, Connecticut. Fates Warning has experienced numerous line-up changes...
, Lizzy Borden
Lizzy Borden (band)
Lizzy Borden is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1983. Lizzy Borden is also the name of the band's lead vocalist.-History:Lizzy Borden specializes in the shock rock style originated by artists such as Alice Cooper and Kiss...
and Chroma Key
Chroma Key
Chroma Key is the name under which ex-Dream Theater keyboardist Kevin Moore records. Although primarily a solo project, several other musicians have recorded as part of Chroma Key such as bassist Joey Vera, drummer Mark Zonder, and guitarist Jason Anderson....
. He released a solo album in 1994 and started a successful second career as a producer and engineer.
Gonzo and Phil Sandoval formed a new band called Life After Death, a song oriented rock outfit influenced greatly by the legendary band Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums...
.
Reunion and future
In 1999, with Anthrax on temporary hiatus, John Bush and Joey Vera decided to reform Armored Saint. The entire Symbol of Salvation lineup returned to the studio, and in 2000 the album RevelationRevelation (Armored Saint album)
-Bonus tracks :-Credits:*John Bush - vocals*Jeff Duncan - guitars*Phil Sandoval - guitars*Joey Vera - Bass*Gonzo Sandoval - drums- External links :**[ Armored Saint on Allmusic Guide]*...
was released. It included the band's first song with Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
lyrics, "No Me Digas". A small club tour opening for Dio
Dio (band)
Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
and Lynch Mob
Lynch Mob (band)
Lynch Mob is an American band featuring former Dokken guitarist George Lynch, who has been the band's only permanent member. The rest of the original band which featured Oni Logan, Anthony Esposito and Mick Brown have come and gone, and in some cases, come back.-1989 Formation:Lynch Mob was formed...
followed.
The following year, the band released Nod to the Old School
Nod to the Old School
-Credits:*John Bush - vocals*Phil Sandoval - guitars*Jeff Duncan - guitars*Dave Prichard - guitars*Joey Vera - bass*Gonzo Sandoval - drums- External links :**[ Armored Saint on Allmusic Guide]*...
, a collection of rarities, demos and outtakes (many from the Prichard years), plus a few new tracks. Soon after, John Bush returned to the studio with Anthrax, and Armored Saint was once again placed on indefinite hiatus.
In 2004, Joey Vera re-joined Bush in Anthrax on a temporary basis, replacing bassist Frank Bello. Early in 2005, Anthrax's Scott Ian
Scott Ian
Scott Ian Rosenfeld , better known by the stage name Scott Ian, is an American musician, best known as the rhythm & lead guitarist for the heavy metal band Anthrax. Ian is also the guitarist and a founding member of the crossover thrash band Stormtroopers of Death...
announced that their classic "Among the Living"-era lineup was reforming, leaving the membership of Bush and Vera in question. Bush stated his involvement with Anthrax was over, and Dan Nelson
Dan Nelson
Dan Nelson is a singer/songwriter and the singer/guitarist for the band Tomorrows Ghost.He also is the lead vocalist/guitarist for the band BlackGates, as well as being the former lead vocalist of American thrash metal band Anthrax from 2007-2009.Dan Nelson has also worked with the Long Island...
took over vocal duties in the band in 2007. This move gave hope to many that Armored Saint would once again record. A one-off show with the Revelation lineup took place in 2005, and in 2006 the band embarked on a new tour.
As part of their 20th anniversary, Metal Blade released a special edition of Symbol of Salvation
Symbol of Salvation
-2003 reissue on Metal Blade Records:In 2003, Metal Blade Records remastered and re-released the album as a 3-disc Special Edition, which in addition to the full 13 song tracklist, the first disc contains the music videos to "Reign Of Fire," and "Last Train Home." The second disc contains the...
. Also reissued was the band's long out of print live video A Trip Thru Red Times.
The band recently finished recording their new album titled La Raza
La Raza (album)
-Personnel:*John Bush - vocals*Jeff Duncan - guitars*Phil Sandoval - guitars*Joey Vera - Bass and production*Gonzo Sandoval - drums*Bryan Carlstrom - Engineering and Mixing*John Nuss - Assistant Engineer*Maor Appelbaum - Mastering-External links:*...
, which was released on March 16, 2010.
Miscellaneous
In early 1981, John Bush was invited by Lars UlrichLars Ulrich
Lars Ulrich is a Danish drummer, and one of the founding members of the American thrash metal band Metallica. He was born in Gentofte, Denmark to an upper-middle class family. A tennis player in his youth, Ulrich moved to Los Angeles, California at age sixteen to pursue his training; though rather...
to audition as singer for Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
prior to James Hetfield
James Hetfield
James Alan Hetfield is the rhythm guitarist, co-founder, main songwriter, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Metallica. Hetfield co-founded Metallica in October 1981 after answering a classified advertisement by drummer Lars Ulrich in the Los Angeles newspaper The Recycler,...
taking over as lead vocalist. In 1986 during the Raising Fear
Raising Fear
-Credits:*John Bush - vocals*Dave Prichard - guitars*Joey Vera - bass*Gonzo Sandoval - drums-External links:**[ Armored Saint on Allmusic Guide]*...
recording sessions, Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
contacted Joey Vera to replace bassist, Cliff Burton
Cliff Burton
Clifford Lee "Cliff" Burton was an American musician, best known as the bass guitarist for the American heavy metal band Metallica....
after his untimely death.
It was revealed in an outtake from the documentary film Metallica: Some Kind of Monster
Some Kind of Monster (film)
Some Kind of Monster is a 2004 documentary film featuring the American heavy metal band Metallica. It shares its name with the song "Some Kind of Monster" from Metallica's 2003 album St. Anger....
that Phil Sandoval was involved in an altercation with Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich
Lars Ulrich
Lars Ulrich is a Danish drummer, and one of the founding members of the American thrash metal band Metallica. He was born in Gentofte, Denmark to an upper-middle class family. A tennis player in his youth, Ulrich moved to Los Angeles, California at age sixteen to pursue his training; though rather...
while attending a 1982 party. Phil pushed Lars to the ground, after which Dave Mustaine
Dave Mustaine
David Scott "Dave" Mustaine is the founder, main songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Megadeth. Prior to Megadeth, Mustaine was the first lead guitarist and a co-songwriter of the heavy metal band Metallica until he was fired from the band in 1983. In 2009, he...
, who was still a member of Metallica at that time, got involved and ended up breaking Phil's ankle. Mustaine recounts that to this day he feels bad about the incident, but that he was simply defending his bandmate. Mustaine later made amends by apologizing and giving Sandoval an ESP guitar
ESP Guitars
, located in North Hollywood, California, is an American-based, Japanese-owned manufacturer of electric guitars and basses.- History :In 1975, Hisatake Shibuya opened a shop called Electric Sound Products in Tokyo. It provided custom replacement parts for guitars. In 1976, ESP gained a reputation...
as closure.
In 1992, Armored Saint appeared in the film Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth
Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth
Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth is a 1992 American horror film and third installment in the Hellraiser series, directed by Anthony Hickox and starring Terry Farrell, Doug Bradley, Paula Marshall and Kevin Bernhardt...
, performing the song "Hanging Judge" in the club that Terry Farrell
Terry Farrell (actress)
Theresa Lee "Terry" Farrell is an American actress and former fashion model. She is perhaps best known for her performances in the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Becker.-Early life:...
's character visits.
Albums
| Year | Title | Label | Other information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Armored Saint EP Armored Saint (EP) -Track listing:All tracks by Armored Saint# "Lesson Well Learned" - 2:52# "False Alarm" - 4:03# "On the Way" - 4:43-Band Members:*John Bush - vocals*Dave Prichard - guitars*Phil Sandoval - guitars*Joey Vera - bass*Gonzo Sandoval - drums... |
Metal Blade Metal Blade Records Metal Blade Records is a record label which was founded by Brian Slagel in 1982. The U.S. corporate office for Metal Blade is located in Agoura Hills, California. It also has offices in Arizona, Germany, Japan, Canada, and the UK. The label is distributed in the U.S. by Sony BMG Music... |
3 song EP |
| 1984 | March of the Saint March of the Saint March of the Saint is the first album by American heavy metal band Armored Saint. It was released in 1984 on Chrysalis Records and recorded with producer Michael James Jackson who previously worked for Kiss... |
Chrysalis | |
| 1985 | Delirious Nomad Delirious Nomad -Band members:*John Bush - vocals*Dave Prichard - guitars*Phil Sandoval - guitars*Joey Vera - bass, backing vocals*Gonzo Sandoval - drums-Production:*Max Norman - producer, mixing*Bill Freesh - engineer, mixing*Matt Brady - engineer... |
||
| 1987 | Raising Fear Raising Fear -Credits:*John Bush - vocals*Dave Prichard - guitars*Joey Vera - bass*Gonzo Sandoval - drums-External links:**[ Armored Saint on Allmusic Guide]*... |
||
| 1988 | Saints Will Conquer Saints Will Conquer - Credits :*John Bush - vocals*Dave Prichard - guitars*Joey Vera - bass*Gonzo Sandoval - drums- External links :**[ Armored Saint on Allmusic Guide]*... |
Metal Blade Metal Blade Records Metal Blade Records is a record label which was founded by Brian Slagel in 1982. The U.S. corporate office for Metal Blade is located in Agoura Hills, California. It also has offices in Arizona, Germany, Japan, Canada, and the UK. The label is distributed in the U.S. by Sony BMG Music... |
Live album |
| 1991 | Symbol of Salvation Symbol of Salvation -2003 reissue on Metal Blade Records:In 2003, Metal Blade Records remastered and re-released the album as a 3-disc Special Edition, which in addition to the full 13 song tracklist, the first disc contains the music videos to "Reign Of Fire," and "Last Train Home." The second disc contains the... |
Reissued in 2003 with 3 disc Deluxe version | |
| 2000 | Revelation Revelation (Armored Saint album) -Bonus tracks :-Credits:*John Bush - vocals*Jeff Duncan - guitars*Phil Sandoval - guitars*Joey Vera - Bass*Gonzo Sandoval - drums- External links :**[ Armored Saint on Allmusic Guide]*... |
||
| 2001 | Nod to the Old School Nod to the Old School -Credits:*John Bush - vocals*Phil Sandoval - guitars*Jeff Duncan - guitars*Dave Prichard - guitars*Joey Vera - bass*Gonzo Sandoval - drums- External links :**[ Armored Saint on Allmusic Guide]*... |
A few new tracks plus rarities, demos and live material | |
| 2010 | La Raza La Raza (album) -Personnel:*John Bush - vocals*Jeff Duncan - guitars*Phil Sandoval - guitars*Joey Vera - Bass and production*Gonzo Sandoval - drums*Bryan Carlstrom - Engineering and Mixing*John Nuss - Assistant Engineer*Maor Appelbaum - Mastering-External links:*... |
Released: March 16, 2010 |
Other appearances
| Year | Title | Label | Other information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Metal Massacre II | Metal Blade | Compilation featuring "Lesson Well Learned" |
| 1985 | Crazed - an all out metal assault | JSI (Jelto Concepts Incorporated) records | Compilation of various metal bands featuring "Can u deliver" |
| 1988 | The Decline Of Western Civilization Part II (soundtrack) | Capitol/I.R.S. | Soundtrack to the movie of the same title. Featuring "You Can Run..." |
| 1996 | Metalmeister | Metal Blade | Compilation featuring "Creepy Feelings" |
Videos/DVDs
| Year | Title | Label | Other information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | A Trip Thru Red Times | Chrysalis | Live bootleg video. Re-released by Metal Blade in 2004 |
| 1992 | Hellraiser III | ||
| 2004 | Lessons Not Well Learned | Metal Blade | |