Steelheart
Encyclopedia
Steelheart is a glam metal
band based in Norwalk
, Connecticut
. Formed in 1990, the band is fronted by vocalist Miljenko Matijevic.
band called Red Alert whose members included James Ward (bass), Chris Risola (guitars), Jack Wilkenson (drums) and after auditioning, Miljenko Matijevic on vocals. Frank DiCostanzo joined as a second guitarist and John Fowler replaced Jack Wilkenson on drums, after leaving the band Rage of Angels. Recording a four-track demo tape, Matijevic managed to meet artist manager Stan Poses. Poses wasn't interested but the next day, after hearing the demo tape, called confirming that "Red Alert" had just been given a contract with MCA records. Realizing that the Red Alert name was already taken, the band settled on Steelheart allegedly because of their attitude after trying to get a record deal for so long.
status. The ballad
"She's Gone" which showcased Matijevic's wide vocal range
hit #1 on the International Charts, staying there for 17 weeks. The ballad maintains its popularity in East Asian region until today. It has been played by most of the cover band
s those performing in the nightclubs in this region almost every night. The second single "I'll Never Let You Go (Angel Eyes)" reached #14 on the billboard charts
, and was MTV
's 2nd most requested video. The album reached #40 on the billboard charts
. "Everybody Loves Eileen" and its accompanying video also garnered much success. The song "Can't Stop Me Lovin' You" further showcased Matijevic's vocal range, but this time, lead guitarist Risola's guitar skills were also noticed. The accompanying video was another of the band's hits.
Steelheart's second album, "Tangled In Reins" with many songs containing sounds more like Guns N' Roses
than its debut. The song "Steelheart" featured Matijevic hitting his highest note of all the three albums. Since grunge
invasion was taking force, the album only reached #144 on the billboard charts. However the ballad "Mama Don't You Cry" charted #1 in many East Asian Countries, including Hong Kong
, prompting their Asian tour in September, 1992. The MTV
unplugged version in Hong Kong was a success, attracting an audience of over 10,000. After weeks of touring in Asia, Steelheart was later asked by the heavy metal
band, Slaughter
, to go on tour with them. Nearing the end of the tour, Slaughter asked Steelheart to perform one last show which would occur in Denver, Colorado. The show took place on Halloween night. While performing, "Dancing in the Fire", a hit from the "Tangled in Reins" album, Matijevic decided to climb a lighting truss, which was improperly secured. Matijevic tried to dodge the massive rig, but without success. The 1000 pound truss hit Matijevic on the back of the head and he fell face first onto the stage, breaking his nose, cheekbone, and jaw, and twisting his spine. Matijevic managed to walk off the stage and he was immediately taken to a hospital. "Steelheart" ended that night.
invasion causing the American European markets to be near closed to classic rock. Original member James Ward joined Steelheart on the tour supporting the album. Also on the "Wait" album, "We All Die Young", the first track, was in the motion picture, "Rock Star,"
starring Mark Wahlberg. Matijevic stated that "Wait" was the choice of the title because it took a long time to gain freedom from the record company and his greedy manager, who was taking more than what was his.
's character in the movie, Rock Star
, a story about a music fan who gets to become the singer for his favorite band. The band itself was made up of Zakk Wylde
(Ozzy Osbourne
's former guitarist and frontman of Black Label Society
), Jeff Pilson
(Dokken
) and Jason Bonham
, son of Led Zeppelin
drummer John Bonham
. The film also featured a re-recording of the song "We All Die Young
", from the Steelheart's third album Wait
. Kenny Kanowski went on to record his new CD with Vincent Mele on bass, and various musicians from Los Angeles. His newest CD is entitled Yabble Diddy Woop Woop which has gotten rave reviews.
. The EP is also a preview of what the new players of the band (Mike Humbert on drums and Uros Raskovski on lead guitar have to offer). Steelheart's new sound is modern and edgy while still retaining overtones of Miijenko Matijevic's roots. The live Steelheart DVD is also available online. Meanwhile, former drummer for Steelheart, John Fowler
, was working on two new projects- the Voodoo Jets and Smoke before his death. He died on 3/21/08 after falling into a coma from suffering a brain aneurysm
on 3/17/08. Chris Risola
has a guitar studio and rejoined Steelheart for the Just a Taste tour and the touring circle for the album Good 2b Alive. Instrumental guitarist Bill Lonero joined SteelHeart for the Rocklahoma
festival on July 13, 2008. He was replaced after Lonero left to pursue his band LoNero full-time. Uros Raskovski rejoined the band in early 2009. Uros worked with Miljenko on the new album Good 2B Alive. In 2010, Uros Raskovski left Steelheart once again and the band decided to continue on as a four piece.
Frank DiCostanzo currently plays guitar and vocals in a band called Pimpinella.
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...
band based in Norwalk
Norwalk
Norwalk is the name of several places in the United States of America:*Norwalk, California, a suburb of Los Angeles*Norwalk, Connecticut, a city in southwestern Connecticut that contains several neighborhoods including Central Norwalk, East Norwalk, South Norwalk, and West Norwalk** The Norwalk...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. Formed in 1990, the band is fronted by vocalist Miljenko Matijevic.
Formation
Steelheart started off as a rockRock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band called Red Alert whose members included James Ward (bass), Chris Risola (guitars), Jack Wilkenson (drums) and after auditioning, Miljenko Matijevic on vocals. Frank DiCostanzo joined as a second guitarist and John Fowler replaced Jack Wilkenson on drums, after leaving the band Rage of Angels. Recording a four-track demo tape, Matijevic managed to meet artist manager Stan Poses. Poses wasn't interested but the next day, after hearing the demo tape, called confirming that "Red Alert" had just been given a contract with MCA records. Realizing that the Red Alert name was already taken, the band settled on Steelheart allegedly because of their attitude after trying to get a record deal for so long.
Early years (1990-1992)
Steelheart released their self-titled debut album in 1990. It sold 33,000 albums on its first day in Japan alone, and quickly hit platinumMusic recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
status. The ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
"She's Gone" which showcased Matijevic's wide vocal range
Vocal range
Vocal range is the measure of the breadth of pitches that a human voice can phonate. Although the study of vocal range has little practical application in terms of speech, it is a topic of study within linguistics, phonetics, and speech and language pathology, particularly in relation to the study...
hit #1 on the International Charts, staying there for 17 weeks. The ballad maintains its popularity in East Asian region until today. It has been played by most of the cover band
Cover band
A cover band , is a band that plays mostly or exclusively cover songs. New or unknown bands often find the cover band format marketable for smaller gigs, and these bands may be known as a wedding band, party band and function band. A band whose covers consist mainly of songs that were chart hits is...
s those performing in the nightclubs in this region almost every night. The second single "I'll Never Let You Go (Angel Eyes)" reached #14 on the billboard charts
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
, and was 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....
's 2nd most requested video. The album reached #40 on the billboard charts
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
. "Everybody Loves Eileen" and its accompanying video also garnered much success. The song "Can't Stop Me Lovin' You" further showcased Matijevic's vocal range, but this time, lead guitarist Risola's guitar skills were also noticed. The accompanying video was another of the band's hits.
Steelheart's second album, "Tangled In Reins" with many songs containing sounds more like Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
than its debut. The song "Steelheart" featured Matijevic hitting his highest note of all the three albums. Since grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
invasion was taking force, the album only reached #144 on the billboard charts. However the ballad "Mama Don't You Cry" charted #1 in many East Asian Countries, including Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, prompting their Asian tour in September, 1992. The 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....
unplugged version in Hong Kong was a success, attracting an audience of over 10,000. After weeks of touring in Asia, Steelheart was later asked by the heavy metal
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, Slaughter
Slaughter (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...
, to go on tour with them. Nearing the end of the tour, Slaughter asked Steelheart to perform one last show which would occur in Denver, Colorado. The show took place on Halloween night. While performing, "Dancing in the Fire", a hit from the "Tangled in Reins" album, Matijevic decided to climb a lighting truss, which was improperly secured. Matijevic tried to dodge the massive rig, but without success. The 1000 pound truss hit Matijevic on the back of the head and he fell face first onto the stage, breaking his nose, cheekbone, and jaw, and twisting his spine. Matijevic managed to walk off the stage and he was immediately taken to a hospital. "Steelheart" ended that night.
Wait (1996)
Four years later, Matijevic formed a new version of Steelheart with Kenny Kanowski (guitars), Vincent Mele (bass) and Alex Makarovich (drums) to record and release the album "Wait". The album was very different from the previous two albums. The single "Wait" went #1 in many Asian countries, however that was the main area of the album's success, the grungeGrunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
invasion causing the American European markets to be near closed to classic rock. Original member James Ward joined Steelheart on the tour supporting the album. Also on the "Wait" album, "We All Die Young", the first track, was in the motion picture, "Rock Star,"
starring Mark Wahlberg. Matijevic stated that "Wait" was the choice of the title because it took a long time to gain freedom from the record company and his greedy manager, who was taking more than what was his.
Rock Star (2001)
In 2001, Matijevic provided some of the vocals for Mark WahlbergMark Wahlberg
Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg is an American actor, film and television producer, and former rapper. He was known as Marky Mark in his earlier years, and became famous for his 1991 debut as a musician with the band Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. He was named No. 1 on VH1's 40 Hottest Hotties of...
's character in the movie, Rock Star
Rock Star (2001 film)
Rock Star is a 2001 American comedy-drama film directed by Stephen Herek and starring Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Aniston. It tells the story of Chris "Izzy" Cole, a tribute band singer whose ascendance to the position of lead vocalist of his favorite band was inspired by the real-life story of Tim...
, a story about a music fan who gets to become the singer for his favorite band. The band itself was made up of Zakk Wylde
Zakk Wylde
Zachary Phillip Wylde , best known by the stage name Zakk Wylde, is an American musician, songwriter, and occasional actor who is best known as the former guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne and founder of the heavy metal band Black Label Society. He was the lead guitarist and vocalist in Pride & Glory,...
(Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy 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...
's former guitarist and frontman of Black Label Society
Black Label Society
Black Label Society is a heavy metal band formed by Zakk Wylde, with nine studio albums, one live album, two compilation albums, one EP, and three video albums released since formation of the band.-Formation and Sonic Brew :...
), Jeff Pilson
Jeff Pilson
Jeff Pilson is an American bass guitarist, best known for his stint in the heavy metal band Dokken...
(Dokken
Dokken
Dokken is an American heavy metal and hard rock band formed in 1978. They split up in 1989 but reformed four years later. The group accumulated numerous charting singles and has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide...
) and Jason Bonham
Jason Bonham
Jason John Bonham is an English drummer. Jason's parents are Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham and his wife Pat Phillips. After his father's death in 1980, he has played with Led Zeppelin on different occasions, including the Ahmet Ertegün Tribute Concert at The O2 Arena in London in...
, son of Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
drummer John Bonham
John Bonham
John Henry Bonham was an English musician and songwriter, best known as the drummer of Led Zeppelin. Bonham was esteemed for his speed, power, fast right foot, distinctive sound, and "feel" for the groove...
. The film also featured a re-recording of the song "We All Die Young
We All Die Young
"We All Die Young" is a song by Michael Matijevic of Steelheart. It is the first song from the 1996 album Wait. The song was covered by the fictional band Steel Dragon in the 2001 film Rock Star, with Miljenko Matijevic on vocals, Zakk Wylde on guitar, Jeff Pilson on bass and Jason Bonham on...
", from the Steelheart's third album Wait
Wait (album)
Wait is an album by Steelheart released October 25, 1996.Because of both the lack of any original members contributions besides Michael Matijevic and the departure from Steelheart's classic sound, some people see this is more of a solo effort for Matijevic, rather than a new Steelheart album...
. Kenny Kanowski went on to record his new CD with Vincent Mele on bass, and various musicians from Los Angeles. His newest CD is entitled Yabble Diddy Woop Woop which has gotten rave reviews.
Reunion, Just a Taste and Good 2B Alive (2006–present)
According to the Steelheart website, a new album Good 2b Alive was due out November 11. 2008. Currently, the Just a Taste is available to order from the website as well as being available live on their most recent tour of the same name. It features three tracks from the upcoming Good 2b Alive, "LOL (Laughing Out Loud)", "Twisted Future", and "Buried Unkind", as well as the previously released track "We All Die Young", from Steelheart's album WaitWait (album)
Wait is an album by Steelheart released October 25, 1996.Because of both the lack of any original members contributions besides Michael Matijevic and the departure from Steelheart's classic sound, some people see this is more of a solo effort for Matijevic, rather than a new Steelheart album...
. The EP is also a preview of what the new players of the band (Mike Humbert on drums and Uros Raskovski on lead guitar have to offer). Steelheart's new sound is modern and edgy while still retaining overtones of Miijenko Matijevic's roots. The live Steelheart DVD is also available online. Meanwhile, former drummer for Steelheart, John Fowler
John Fowler
John Fowler was a Jeffersonian Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from the state of Kentucky in the United States Congress....
, was working on two new projects- the Voodoo Jets and Smoke before his death. He died on 3/21/08 after falling into a coma from suffering a brain aneurysm
Aneurysm
An aneurysm or aneurism is a localized, blood-filled balloon-like bulge in the wall of a blood vessel. Aneurysms can commonly occur in arteries at the base of the brain and an aortic aneurysm occurs in the main artery carrying blood from the left ventricle of the heart...
on 3/17/08. Chris Risola
Chris Risola
Chris Risola is the lead guitarist for the rock band Steelheart, sometimes mis-credited as Chris Rizola....
has a guitar studio and rejoined Steelheart for the Just a Taste tour and the touring circle for the album Good 2b Alive. Instrumental guitarist Bill Lonero joined SteelHeart for the Rocklahoma
Rocklahoma
Rocklahoma is an annual hard rock music festival held in Pryor, Oklahoma...
festival on July 13, 2008. He was replaced after Lonero left to pursue his band LoNero full-time. Uros Raskovski rejoined the band in early 2009. Uros worked with Miljenko on the new album Good 2B Alive. In 2010, Uros Raskovski left Steelheart once again and the band decided to continue on as a four piece.
Frank DiCostanzo currently plays guitar and vocals in a band called Pimpinella.
Current members
- Miljenko Matijevic - lead vocals, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, piano (1990–1992, 1996, 2006–present)
- Chris RisolaChris RisolaChris Risola is the lead guitarist for the rock band Steelheart, sometimes mis-credited as Chris Rizola....
- lead guitar (1990–1992, 2006–present) - Rev Jones - bass (2007–present)
- Mike Humbert - drums, percussion (2006–present)
Past members
- Frank DiCostanzo - rhythm guitar (1990–1992), Pimpinella (http://www.pimpinella.us/) (2008-current)
- James Ward - bass (1990–1992, 1996)
- John Fowler - drums (1990–1992)
- Kenny Kanowski - lead guitar (1996)
- Vincent Mele - bass (1996)
- Alex Makarovich - drums (1996)
- Bill Lonero - lead guitar (2008)
- Uros Raskovski - lead guitar (2006–2008, 2009–2010)
Session members
- Sigve Sjursen - bass (2006–2008)
- Edward Roth - keyboards (2006-2008)
Albums
| Year | Album | US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Steelheart Steelheart (album) Steelheart was the first full-length album by Steelheart. It was released on May 10, 1990 and later re-released with a new cover in 1991. It reached #40 on the Billboard 200.-Track listing:# "Love Ain't Easy" – 3:41... |
40 |
| 1992 | Tangled In Reins Tangled in Reins Tangled in Reins is the second album by hard rock band Steelheart, recorded and produced in Los Angeles. It only reached #144 on the Billboard 200. However, the ballad "Mama Don't You Cry" reached #1 in Hong Kong, and Japan, prompting an MTV unplugged show in Hong Kong. The album itself only sold... |
144 |
| 1996 | Wait Wait (album) Wait is an album by Steelheart released October 25, 1996.Because of both the lack of any original members contributions besides Michael Matijevic and the departure from Steelheart's classic sound, some people see this is more of a solo effort for Matijevic, rather than a new Steelheart album... |
- |
| 2006 | Just a Taste Just a Taste Just a Taste is a four track EP from rock band Steelheart. Released in late 2006, it's literally a taste of music to be heard from the following album Good 2b Alive released on September 15, 2008, although the EP had its own supporting tour.... (EP) |
- |
| 2008 | Good 2B Alive Good 2b Alive Good 2B Alive is the fourth studio album by hard rock band Steelheart, released on October 24, 2008 in Europe, and November 11, 2008 in the US... |
- |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
US Main Rock | ||
| 1991 | "She's Gone (Lady)" | 59 | - |
| "I'll Never Let You Go" | 14 | 24 | |
| "Everybody Loves Eileen" | - | 34 | |
| 2011 | "Black Dog (Led Zeppelin Cover)" | ||