Hellion (band)
Encyclopedia
Hellion is a heavy metal
band, which was formed during 1982 in Los Angeles, California
. The first line-up included Ann Boleyn (vocals), Ray Schenck (guitar), Sean Kelley (drums) and Peyton Tuthill (bass). With a different line-up they continue on today.
, Scorpions
and AC/DC
. The group's first performances (or "Mega-Parties") were held at a locally famous haunted mansion in Tujunga, California which was occupied by Ann Boleyn
. In late 1982 Hellion was approached by Mystic Records, a Hollywood-based punk
label, who wanted to include "Nightmares in Daylight" on a compilation album. Several weeks prior to the recording session, Peyton Tuthill left the band, citing Ann Boleyn's involvement in the occult arts as his reason. Tuthill has since become a minister. Bassist Rik Foxx (who was a founding member of W.A.S.P.) replaced Tuthill, however, quit several days before the band's first recording session after being offered a gig with Steeler
(which then included Yngwie Malmsteen). At the last minute Brian West, who had played in Power Program with Ann Boleyn, was brought in for the recording session which took place on New Year's Eve.
, the label decided to retaliate by including both bands on one single. Both the "Sound of Hollywood Girls" compilation album and the single are now considered valuable collector's items.
By 1983 Hellion had solidified their line-up with the addition of bassist Bill Sweet and a second lead-guitarist, Alan Barlam. In an attempt to gain a major label record contract the group entered Fiddler's Studio in Hollywood, California to record a demo
. The band recorded the basic tracks in one evening between the hours of midnight and 07:00am and recorded the guitar solos, vocals, and mixed on the following night. The demo did not gain Hellion a major recording contract, but, fans' demands for the demo surprised everyone. After destroying two separate cassette recorders while making copies of the demo, Hellion decided to press the recording onto vinyl and formed Bongus Lodus Records.
The self-titled 12" soon made its way onto the import charts in Kerrang!
, Sounds and Aardschok magazines. As a result London
-based record company, Music for Nations
, offered the band a recording contract and gave the band money to record two more songs which were added to the earlier recording to make the Hellion Mini-LP
. Tracks #2 through #5 are from that release. The Hellion Mini-LP was released in January 1984 and climbed to #6 on the UK rock charts in Kerrang!
and Sounds
magazine. The record was voted #2 EP
of the Year by the journalists at Kerrang! magazine.
Despite Hellion's success abroad, and later the assistance of Ronnie James Dio
and managers Wendy Dio and Curt Lorraine, the band remained unsigned in America. In early 1985 Hellion's male members decided to split from vocalist Ann Boleyn and formed a new group under the moniker "Burn." Ann, however, retaliated by gathering a new line-up including some of Southern California's most respected musicians, reformed Hellion and also began her own record company, New Renaissance Records
.
(both in the daytime and on Headbanger's Ball), Sky Channel, and other music programs. In a similar sense to Mötley Crüe
's Shout at the Devil
-era and early W.A.S.P. the band played with elements of glam metal
; taking influence from the likes of Black Sabbath
and Alice Cooper
.
However, by the end of the year, the new line-up began fighting about the band's musical direction. Members blamed Ann Boleyn's insistence on a European-style heavy metal direction that including occult and anti-social themes in her lyrics as the reason for their failure to secure a major-label recording deal. About this same time Burn disbanded, leaving Ray Schenck, Alan Barlam and Sean Kelley without a band. Anxious to get back to work, Hellion entered The Record Plant in Los Angeles with their long-time friend Angelo Arcuri and recorded the "Postcards from the Asylum" Mini-LP "just for fun". At one point Hellion's remake of the Judas Priest classic "Exciter" was listed on the play-lists of over 124 radio stations. Two months later, despite being over seven minutes long, "The Evil One" surpassed the earlier single, boasting listings on 128 U.S.stations.
, stood in for Ray Schenck.
Unfortunately for Hellion, Enigma Records went out of business, resulting in Hellion's contract being transferred to Medusa Records, a division of Restless Records for the US release. Because Hellion was also signed to [Music For Nations] in England and [Pony Canyon] in Japan, the delay by the Restless Records caused the other labels release to also be delayed. Around this time guitarists Chet Thompson and Ray Shenck returned in time for Hellion's appearance at the Monster's of Rock in the then-U.S.S.R. The trip marked the first time a U.S. rock band had actually toured in the Soviet Union and bided time for the U.S. release.
With the release of "The Black Book" delayed for over a year by Restless, the band grew restless themselves. And, it soon became evident that the new label was also in financial trouble. In late 1991, with the cancellation of MTV's Headbanger's Ball, and the emergence of the Seattle Sound and New Metal, Restless cancelled the editing of two videos as well as Ann Boleyn's appearance hosting Headbanger's Ball which was to coincide with a contest in which a viewer would win a free trip to Hell in the Grand Caymen Islands. Restless did eventually release "The Black Book," but the packaging was of substantially lower quality than the gate-fold version that was sold in England and Japan. And, due to the delay in the albums release, the book deal was also shelved.
entered Talon Studio to record "Will Not Go Quietly." Due to legal problems facing the producer, Mikey Davis, after the recording was begun, "Will Not Go Quietly" was not completed for nearly a year and a half. The record was finally released in Germany in 2003, on Massacre Records, largely due to the assistance of Ole Bang, the manager of King Diamond
.
, was asked to fill-in for the late Dawn Crosby
in the reunited Detente
for a number of festivals in the USA and Europe. Unlike Hellion, which performed traditional European-style heavy metal, Detente was regarded as a thrash metal band. Critics were initially hesitant to lend credence to Boleyn as the replacemnet for the legendary Dawn Crosby. However, surprisingly the reviews from the festivals were very good and Boleyn continued to perform with Detente until the end of 2009.
Several music magazines have reported that Ann Boleyn has participated in several tributes following the death of Boleyn's mentor, Ronnie James Dio in April 2010,. Similar sources have reported that Boleyn back in Los Angeles writing material for a new album. However, it is not confirmed as to if this will be for a Hellion album, or another project.
In addition to performing music, Ann Boleyn is also an avid marathon runner, and has run at least ten of the last Los Angeles Marathons, as well as qualifying several times as a sanctioned runner in the Boston Marathon.
Guitarist Chet Thompson now owns a recording studio in Los Angeles, California. Bassist Alex Campbell went on to be instrumental in designing a pace-maker capable of restarting one's heart.
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band, which was formed during 1982 in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. The first line-up included Ann Boleyn (vocals), Ray Schenck (guitar), Sean Kelley (drums) and Peyton Tuthill (bass). With a different line-up they continue on today.
History
The band started as a cover group, covering songs by the likes of Ozzy OsbourneOzzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
, Scorpions
Scorpions (band)
Scorpions are a heavy metal/hard rock band from Hannover, Germany, formed in 1965 by guitarist Rudolf Schenker, who is the band's only constant member. They are known for their 1980s rock anthem "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and many singles, such as "No One Like You", "Send Me an Angel", "Still...
and AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
. The group's first performances (or "Mega-Parties") were held at a locally famous haunted mansion in Tujunga, California which was occupied by Ann Boleyn
Ann Boleyn (singer)
Ann Boleyn is a recording artist and performer from the United States. Arguably she is responsible for coining the term speed metal. She also is credited for developing the careers of many international recording artists through New Renaissance Records, the record label she founded.-Career:Boleyn...
. In late 1982 Hellion was approached by Mystic Records, a Hollywood-based punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
label, who wanted to include "Nightmares in Daylight" on a compilation album. Several weeks prior to the recording session, Peyton Tuthill left the band, citing Ann Boleyn's involvement in the occult arts as his reason. Tuthill has since become a minister. Bassist Rik Foxx (who was a founding member of W.A.S.P.) replaced Tuthill, however, quit several days before the band's first recording session after being offered a gig with Steeler
Steeler
Steeler was an early 1980s American heavy metal band from Nashville. Band members included: Ron Keel on vocals and guitar, Michael Dunigan on lead guitar, Bobby Eva on drums and Tim Morrison on bass. In 1982, they released the single Cold Day in Hell....
(which then included Yngwie Malmsteen). At the last minute Brian West, who had played in Power Program with Ann Boleyn, was brought in for the recording session which took place on New Year's Eve.
Ronnie James Dio takes band under his wing
Several months later, after both Hellion and another female fronted metal band, Bitch, refused to sign full recording contracts with Mystic RecordsMystic Records
Mystic Records is a record label and music production company that was based in Hollywood CA one block south of Hollywood and Vine and later moved to Oceanside, California...
, the label decided to retaliate by including both bands on one single. Both the "Sound of Hollywood Girls" compilation album and the single are now considered valuable collector's items.
By 1983 Hellion had solidified their line-up with the addition of bassist Bill Sweet and a second lead-guitarist, Alan Barlam. In an attempt to gain a major label record contract the group entered Fiddler's Studio in Hollywood, California to record a demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
. The band recorded the basic tracks in one evening between the hours of midnight and 07:00am and recorded the guitar solos, vocals, and mixed on the following night. The demo did not gain Hellion a major recording contract, but, fans' demands for the demo surprised everyone. After destroying two separate cassette recorders while making copies of the demo, Hellion decided to press the recording onto vinyl and formed Bongus Lodus Records.
The self-titled 12" soon made its way onto the import charts in Kerrang!
Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
, Sounds and Aardschok magazines. As a result London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
-based record company, Music for Nations
Music For Nations
Music For Nations was a British independent record label focusing mainly on rock and metal. They were a subsidiary of the larger label distributor Zomba Records who in turn is owned by BMG....
, offered the band a recording contract and gave the band money to record two more songs which were added to the earlier recording to make the Hellion Mini-LP
Mini-LP
A Mini-LP or Mini-album is a short album, usually retailing at a lower price than an album that would be considered "full-length".-History:...
. Tracks #2 through #5 are from that release. The Hellion Mini-LP was released in January 1984 and climbed to #6 on the UK rock charts in Kerrang!
Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
and Sounds
Sounds (magazine)
Sounds was a long-term British music paper, published weekly from 10 October 1970 – 6 April 1991. It was produced by Spotlight Publications , which was set up by Jack Hutton and Peter Wilkinson, who left "Melody Maker" to start their own company...
magazine. The record was voted #2 EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
of the Year by the journalists at Kerrang! magazine.
Despite Hellion's success abroad, and later the assistance of Ronnie James Dio
Ronnie James Dio
Ronald James Padavona , better known as Ronnie James Dio, was an American heavy metal vocalist and songwriter. He performed with, amongst others, Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, and his own band Dio, which means God in Italian. Other musical projects include the collective fundraiser...
and managers Wendy Dio and Curt Lorraine, the band remained unsigned in America. In early 1985 Hellion's male members decided to split from vocalist Ann Boleyn and formed a new group under the moniker "Burn." Ann, however, retaliated by gathering a new line-up including some of Southern California's most respected musicians, reformed Hellion and also began her own record company, New Renaissance Records
New Renaissance Records
New Renaissance Records is an American record label founded in 1984 by Ann Boleyn, who also is the lead singer of the group Hellion and is credited for coining the term speed metal.-History:...
.
Debut release
In 1986 the new Hellion released their first full length album, "Screams in the Night." The album gained substantial national and international radio airplay and the video, "Bad Attitude", was shown on MTVMTV
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....
(both in the daytime and on Headbanger's Ball), Sky Channel, and other music programs. In a similar sense to Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil...
's Shout at the Devil
Shout at the Devil
Shout at the Devil is the second album by heavy metal band Mötley Crüe, released on September 26, 1983. "Looks That Kill" and "Too Young to Fall in Love" became huge hits and "Shout at the Devil" became very popular as well.-Reception:...
-era and early W.A.S.P. the band played with elements of glam metal
Glam metal
Glam metal is a subgenre of hard rock and heavy metal that arose in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the United States, particularly on the Los Angeles Sunset Strip music scene...
; taking influence from the likes of Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
and Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
.
However, by the end of the year, the new line-up began fighting about the band's musical direction. Members blamed Ann Boleyn's insistence on a European-style heavy metal direction that including occult and anti-social themes in her lyrics as the reason for their failure to secure a major-label recording deal. About this same time Burn disbanded, leaving Ray Schenck, Alan Barlam and Sean Kelley without a band. Anxious to get back to work, Hellion entered The Record Plant in Los Angeles with their long-time friend Angelo Arcuri and recorded the "Postcards from the Asylum" Mini-LP "just for fun". At one point Hellion's remake of the Judas Priest classic "Exciter" was listed on the play-lists of over 124 radio stations. Two months later, despite being over seven minutes long, "The Evil One" surpassed the earlier single, boasting listings on 128 U.S.stations.
The Black Book
In 1988 Hellion embarked on a European tour in support of "Postcards from the Asylum." While on the road the band decided they wanted to do a concept album. However, once Ann Boleyn began writing the lyrics, she decided that a full length novel should accompany the album. A lucrative publishing book deal followed as well as a new recording contract with Enigma Records, which had distribution through Capital. Guitarist Tim Kelly, later of SlaughterSlaughter (band)
Slaughter is an American heavy metal band formed in Las Vegas, Nevada by lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist Mark Slaughter and bassist Dana Strum. The band reached stardom in 1990 with their first album, Stick It to Ya which spawned several hit singles including "Up All Night", "Spend My Life", "Mad...
, stood in for Ray Schenck.
Unfortunately for Hellion, Enigma Records went out of business, resulting in Hellion's contract being transferred to Medusa Records, a division of Restless Records for the US release. Because Hellion was also signed to [Music For Nations] in England and [Pony Canyon] in Japan, the delay by the Restless Records caused the other labels release to also be delayed. Around this time guitarists Chet Thompson and Ray Shenck returned in time for Hellion's appearance at the Monster's of Rock in the then-U.S.S.R. The trip marked the first time a U.S. rock band had actually toured in the Soviet Union and bided time for the U.S. release.
With the release of "The Black Book" delayed for over a year by Restless, the band grew restless themselves. And, it soon became evident that the new label was also in financial trouble. In late 1991, with the cancellation of MTV's Headbanger's Ball, and the emergence of the Seattle Sound and New Metal, Restless cancelled the editing of two videos as well as Ann Boleyn's appearance hosting Headbanger's Ball which was to coincide with a contest in which a viewer would win a free trip to Hell in the Grand Caymen Islands. Restless did eventually release "The Black Book," but the packaging was of substantially lower quality than the gate-fold version that was sold in England and Japan. And, due to the delay in the albums release, the book deal was also shelved.
Will Not Go Quietly
In 2001 Ann BoleynAnn Boleyn (singer)
Ann Boleyn is a recording artist and performer from the United States. Arguably she is responsible for coining the term speed metal. She also is credited for developing the careers of many international recording artists through New Renaissance Records, the record label she founded.-Career:Boleyn...
entered Talon Studio to record "Will Not Go Quietly." Due to legal problems facing the producer, Mikey Davis, after the recording was begun, "Will Not Go Quietly" was not completed for nearly a year and a half. The record was finally released in Germany in 2003, on Massacre Records, largely due to the assistance of Ole Bang, the manager of King Diamond
King Diamond
Kim Bendix Petersen , better known by his stage name King Diamond, is a Grammy Award nominated Danish heavy metal musician. As a vocalist, he is known for his extensive vocal range, in particular his usage of falsetto. He is the lead vocalist for both Mercyful Fate and the eponymous King Diamond...
.
Current Activities
In 2007, Hellion's founder, Ann BoleynAnn Boleyn (singer)
Ann Boleyn is a recording artist and performer from the United States. Arguably she is responsible for coining the term speed metal. She also is credited for developing the careers of many international recording artists through New Renaissance Records, the record label she founded.-Career:Boleyn...
, was asked to fill-in for the late Dawn Crosby
Dawn Crosby
Dawn Crosby was the lead singer of the underground act Detente.Following her exit from Detente, Dawn Crosby together with producer Ross Robinson went on to form Fear of God, which was signed to Warner Bros. Records....
in the reunited Detente
Detente (band)
Detente is a thrash metal band founded in 1984 in Los Angeles, California. The group's original line-up included Dawn Crosby on vocals, Steve Hochheiser on bass, Dennis Butler on drums and Ross Robinson and Caleb Quinn on guitars,.-History:...
for a number of festivals in the USA and Europe. Unlike Hellion, which performed traditional European-style heavy metal, Detente was regarded as a thrash metal band. Critics were initially hesitant to lend credence to Boleyn as the replacemnet for the legendary Dawn Crosby. However, surprisingly the reviews from the festivals were very good and Boleyn continued to perform with Detente until the end of 2009.
Several music magazines have reported that Ann Boleyn has participated in several tributes following the death of Boleyn's mentor, Ronnie James Dio in April 2010,. Similar sources have reported that Boleyn back in Los Angeles writing material for a new album. However, it is not confirmed as to if this will be for a Hellion album, or another project.
In addition to performing music, Ann Boleyn is also an avid marathon runner, and has run at least ten of the last Los Angeles Marathons, as well as qualifying several times as a sanctioned runner in the Boston Marathon.
Guitarist Chet Thompson now owns a recording studio in Los Angeles, California. Bassist Alex Campbell went on to be instrumental in designing a pace-maker capable of restarting one's heart.
Members
- Ann BoleynAnn Boleyn (singer)Ann Boleyn is a recording artist and performer from the United States. Arguably she is responsible for coining the term speed metal. She also is credited for developing the careers of many international recording artists through New Renaissance Records, the record label she founded.-Career:Boleyn...
- vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
(1982–present) - Chet Thompson - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(1986–1988, 1990, 2002–present) - Ray Schenck - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(1982–1986, 1988–present) - Glenn Cannon - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2002–present) - Seann ScottSeann Scott (Drummer)Seann Scott is a rock/metal drummer who has played in various bands, and continues to be active in multiple current acts, most notably the female fronted heavy metal band Hellion.- Musical career:...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(2002–present)
Former members
- Alan Barlam - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(1983–1986, 1988–1991) - Peyton Tuthill - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(1982) - Rik Foxx - bass (1982)
- Bill Sweet - bass (1982–1986)
- Alex Campbell - bass (1986–1988)
- Dave Dutton - bass (1988–1989)
- Rex Tennyson - bass (1989–91)
- Sean Kelley - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(1982–1986, 1988–1991) - Greg Pecka - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(1986–1988) - Bill Bruce - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(1990–1991) - Chris Kessler - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(2001–2003) - Billy the Fist - Bass Player (2001)
Discography
A complete discography of the band Hellion, spanning several different record companies.Albums
- Screams in the Night - (1987)
- The Black Book - (1990)
- Will Not Go Quietly - (2003)
EPs
- Hellion - (1983)
- Postcards from the Asylum - (1988)
- The Witching Hour - (1999)
- Into Cold Darkness - (1999)
Live
- Live and Well in Hell - (1999)
- The Live "Uh Oh!" Album - (1999)
- Cold Night in Hell - (1999
Singles
- Driving Hard - (1983)
- Nightmares - (1983)
- Also known as "Sound of Hollywood Girls"
- Screams in the Night - (1987)
Others
- Queen of Hell - sampler - (2000)
- Fan Club Special Release - (2001)
- Up From The Depths -- CD compilation featuring first 2 EPs plus additional tracks.