White Lion
Encyclopedia
White Lion is an American
/Danish
hard rock
/heavy metal
band that was formed in New York City
in 1983 by Danish
vocalist Mike Tramp
and American
guitarist Vito Bratta
. Mainly active in the 1980s and early 1990s, the band achieved double platinum status with their #8 hit "Wait"
and #3 hit "When the Children Cry
" from their second album Pride. The band continued their success with their third album Big Game
. After the fourth album Mane Attraction
, White Lion disbanded in 1992, but was reformed again by Tramp in 1999 with all new musicians.
to New York in 1983, vocalist Mike Tramp
(formerly of the bands Mabel and Studs) met Staten Island
guitarist Vito Bratta
(Formerly of Dreamer) and decided to form a band. The two recruited drummer Nicki Capozzi and bassist Felix Robinson (formerly of Angel
) and named the group White Lion.
White Lion was signed by Elektra Records
in 1984 and recorded their debut album Fight to Survive
. Elektra was unhappy with the final recording, and after refusing to release the album, terminated their contract.
Both Capozzi and Robinson soon left the band. Nicki Capozzi was replaced by former Anthrax
drummer Greg D'Angelo
, and Felix Robinson was replaced by bassist Dave Spitz
(brother of Anthrax guitarist Dan Spitz
). Within a month of joining, however, Dave Spitz left to play bass with Black Sabbath
and was replaced by James LoMenzo
.
The album Fight to Survive
was eventually re-recorded with the new line-up and released in Japan by RCA Records
in 1984. The small US independent label Grand Slam Records finally released Fight To Survive in the US on November 9, 1985
. A few months later, Grand Slam Records went bankrupt.The album charted at number 151 on The Billboard 200.
In early 1986, White Lion, with a fictitious female member (portrayed by Louise Robey
), had a brief part in the Tom Hanks
/Shelley Long
movie The Money Pit
.
and on June 21, 1987 their album Pride was released. The first single, "Wait
", was released on June 1, 1987, but did not reach the charts for nearly seven months.
The Pride tour started in July 1987 as White Lion opened for Ace Frehley
's 80s band Frehley's Comet. The next year and a half was filled with constant touring, opening for such bands as Aerosmith
, Ozzy Osbourne
, Stryper
and KISS
. In January 1988 White Lion landed the opening slot for AC/DC
on their Blow Up Your Video
American tour.
While touring with AC/DC, the Pride album and "Wait" single finally charted, due in no small part to MTV
airing the "Wait" music video in regular rotation—nearly seven months after the single's release. "Wait" hit #8 on the singles chart, while Pride hit #11 on the album charts. Pride would remain on the Top 200 Billboard album charts for a full year, selling two million copies in the US alone.
In August 1988, the album's second single, "Tell Me
", reached #58. Around the time this single was released, White Lion played at the Ritz
club in New York City. The show was filmed and later aired on MTV.
The Pride album's third single, a power ballad titled "When the Children Cry
", made it to #3 on the charts with heavy MTV airplay, making Pride one of about 20 hard rock albums to ever have multiple top 10 hits.
The success of "When the Children Cry" would eventually push sales of Pride over the two million mark. In addition, Vito Bratta was recognized for his instrumental talents by racking up Best New Guitarist awards with both Guitar World
magazine and Guitar for the Practicing Musician
magazine. All You Need Is Rock 'n' Roll
was the final single released from the album.
In the spring of 1989, the Pride tour finally ended, and they immediately began work on their next album
, a musically eclectic follow-up to Pride that featured the singles "Little Fighter
" (which peaked at #52), "Cry for Freedom
" (did not chart), and a cover of Golden Earring
's "Radar Love
" (which peaked at #59). The album quickly went gold, with a peak of #19 on the album charts..
After two years of writing and recording, White Lion released Mane Attraction in the summer of 1991.
More of a "back to basics" album, centering on strong hooks and melodic hard rock, the album was received well by the fans. Unfortunately, the album failed to reach the top 20 like the last two albums, charting at #61 on The Billboard 200.. It received little or no airplay due to the recent Grunge
explosion and subsequent backlash on all things "hair metal". The album also contained White Lion's only instrumental song, "Blue Monday", a tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan
, who had died while the band was writing for the album. The album featured the singles Lights and Thunder
, Broken Heart '91
and Love Don't Come Easy
which peaked at number 24 on The Mainstream Rock
Charts.
Greg D'Angelo and James LoMenzo left the band soon after the album's release, citing "musical differences," but White Lion carried on with bassist Tommy T-Bone Caradonna and drummer Jimmy DeGrasso
(Megadeth
, Alice Cooper
, Suicidal Tendencies
, Y&T
, Fiona
). After briefly touring in support of Mane Attraction, Tramp and Bratta decided to fold the group, their last show being held in Boston at the Channel
in September 1991. Exactly one year later in September 1992, the band's first compilation album was released titled The Best of White Lion
.
, a ship owned by the environmental group Greenpeace
that was destroyed
by operatives of the French intelligence service. This concern for political and social issues was also hinted at in the cover art to their album Big Game, which featured a lion's head hidden in tall grass with the White House
in the background.
, releasing three albums, Freak of Nature
, Gathering of Freaks
, and Outcasts
. Tramp also released four studio albums and one live album as a solo artist: Capricorn, Recovering the Wasted Years, More To Life Than This, and Songs I Left Behind as studio efforts, with Rock n' Roll Alive as a live album. Tramp also reformed White Lion with all new musicians. Today, Tramp continues his solo career, now fronting his latest act, "Mike Tramp & the Rock n Roll Circuz", a Copenhagen-based band with all Danish members.
James LoMenzo and Greg D'Angelo joined Zakk Wylde
's band, Lynyrd Skynhead, in the mid 90's which became the band Pride & Glory
when Greg D'Angelo was replaced by Brian Tichy
. Pride & Glory released one album, then James LoMenzo left the band. James went on to record and tour with ex-Van Halen
frontman David Lee Roth
and toured with Zakk Wylde's band Black Label Society
. In February 2006, James joined the thrash band
Megadeth
on a permanent basis. Greg D'Angelo was the drummer for the band AntiProduct
in 2006. Greg D'angelo recently joined Greg Leon Invasion featuring Greg Leon (formerly of Dokken
and Quiet Riot
).
Vito Bratta stayed briefly with Atlantic Records to help produce an album for CPR, and later tried to form a new music group that never panned out. Despite a dedicated worldwide following of guitar aficionados, Vito disappeared from public view from 1994 until his interview by Eddie Trunk
live on February 16, 2007. Vito is also the sole owner of the original White Lions four album music catalogs. Retaining the rights after Mike sold all his rights to the catalogs in the mid 90's. They are owned by Vavoom music which is owned by Bratta.
In 1999 Mike Tramp, with all new musicians, released Remembering White Lion
, which featured new versions of some of White Lion's classic songs. In October 2003, Tramp announced a White Lion reunion with the original members. This statement was quickly denied by the other former members. Later Tramp said that Vito Bratta wanted nothing to do with a reunion. With summer festivals in Europe already booked, Tramp attempted to put together a "new White Lion" featuring former members James LoMenzo
and Jimmy DeGrasso
, along with Warren DeMartini
of Ratt
. Vito Bratta filed suit claiming partial ownership of the name, and the tour was scrapped. Tramp later commented that despite his willingness, "There will never be an original White Lion reunion".
In 2005, Mike Tramp organized another group of unknown musicians and due to legal issues with former members named the act Tramp's White Lion. 'TWL' (aka White Lion 2) played and re recorded White Lion songs, touring and releasing a double-live CD entitled Rocking the USA
in 2005. In November and December 2006, Tramp's White Lion played several dates in Europe including Sweden, Norway, Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark.
On February 16, 2007, Vito Bratta appeared on the Eddie Trunk radio show in New York, stating that despite what Mike Tramp said, he had never refused a White Lion reunion, stating that the only reason he was unable to participate was due to the illness of his father. He added that he would still be open to the idea and has not closed the door to returning to the music industry again. Trunk made it clear that Bratta's involvement in the show was something that he had wanted to happen since White Lion first broke up in 1991. Bratta took calls and answered questions from fans for almost 3 hours. On April 6 and 7, 2007, at the L'Amours Reunion Shows in New York, Bratta made his first public musical appearances in over 15 years.
Three weeks later Mike Tramp called the same show from Australia, speaking about Bratta and the band's new album, including the tour dates that Tramp's White Lion had recently confirmed. Tramp said that he was thankful that Bratta had finally answered fan's questions, the same questions he himself had been asked many times over the past 15 years. He also stated that he felt uncomfortable answering on Vito's behalf, and that he was upset that Vito had withdrawn himself from the music industry.
" was released in 2007 and the band was set for a summer tour with Poison
and Ratt only to be dropped by the tour promoter after ex-White Lion guitarist Vito Bratta threatened to take legal action over the band name. Eventually Mike Tramp was able to use the White Lion name again.
The band appeared at Rocklahoma
in Pryor, OK on July 13, 2007 with Poison, Ratt, Quiet Riot
, Slaughter
, Y&T
, Gypsy Pistoleros, Dirty Penny, Greg Leon Invasion and Zendozer. After this festival they toured the US.
A new studio album entitled "Return of the Pride
" was released on March 14, 2008 and the band was now once again simply known as White Lion. The band did a world tour to support the album. White Lion toured India and played to 42,000 at Shillong
, Meghalaya
, and a 30,000 plus crowd at the Dimapur stadium in Nagaland
. The band was invited to India by the head of the Tripura
Royal Family Maharaja Kirit Pradyot Deb Burman.
A live DVD was released on December 5, 2008 entitled "Bang Your Head Festival 2005
".
Non official websites:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
/Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
/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 that was formed in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1983 by Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
vocalist Mike Tramp
Mike Tramp
Mike Tramp is a Danish singer and songwriter who is best known for his work with the hard rock bands White Lion and Freak of Nature...
and American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
guitarist Vito Bratta
Vito Bratta
Vito Bratta is the former lead guitarist and lead songwriter for the 1980s rock band White Lion from 1983 to 1992....
. Mainly active in the 1980s and early 1990s, the band achieved double platinum status with their #8 hit "Wait"
Wait (White Lion song)
"Wait" is a song recorded by White Lion and written by White Lion vocalist Mike Tramp and guitarist Vito Bratta. It was the lead single from their second album, Pride. It is well known for its guitar solo at the 2:15 mark....
and #3 hit "When the Children Cry
When the Children Cry
"When the Children Cry" is a power ballad, performed by the rock group White Lion on their 1987 album Pride. The single peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, #53 in Canada, and #88 in the UK in early 1989....
" from their second album Pride. The band continued their success with their third album Big Game
Big Game (album)
Big Game is the third studio album by the hard rock band White Lion. It was released on August 10, 1989 by Atlantic Records, reaching #19 on The Billboard 200 album chart.- Overview :...
. After the fourth album Mane Attraction
Mane Attraction
Mane Attraction was the fourth studio album by the hard rock band White Lion. It was released in 1991 by Atlantic Records, and reached #61 on The Billboard 200.- Overview :...
, White Lion disbanded in 1992, but was reformed again by Tramp in 1999 with all new musicians.
Fight to Survive
After moving from DenmarkDenmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
to New York in 1983, vocalist Mike Tramp
Mike Tramp
Mike Tramp is a Danish singer and songwriter who is best known for his work with the hard rock bands White Lion and Freak of Nature...
(formerly of the bands Mabel and Studs) met Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
guitarist Vito Bratta
Vito Bratta
Vito Bratta is the former lead guitarist and lead songwriter for the 1980s rock band White Lion from 1983 to 1992....
(Formerly of Dreamer) and decided to form a band. The two recruited drummer Nicki Capozzi and bassist Felix Robinson (formerly of Angel
Angel (band)
Angel is a glam rock and heavy metal band from Washington, D.C., formed in the mid-70s by Punky Meadows and Mickie Jones. They were signed to Casablanca Records, and had the image of dressing in white.-History:...
) and named the group White Lion.
White Lion was signed by Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
in 1984 and recorded their debut album Fight to Survive
Fight to Survive
Fight to Survive was the first album by the American/Danish hard rock band White Lion, released by Victor Records in Japan in 1985. The band was signed to Elektra Records, which shelved the album with no intention of publishing it in the USA. Philadelphia-based Grand Slamm Records bought the album...
. Elektra was unhappy with the final recording, and after refusing to release the album, terminated their contract.
Both Capozzi and Robinson soon left the band. Nicki Capozzi was replaced by former 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...
drummer Greg D'Angelo
Greg D'Angelo
Greg D’Angelo, is a drummer most famous for his work in the American band White Lion.-Early career :...
, and Felix Robinson was replaced by bassist Dave Spitz
Dave Spitz
Dave "The Beast" Spitz is a musician best known for having played bass guitar for the heavy metal group Black Sabbath from 1985 to 1987, appearing on the albums Seventh Star and being credited for The Eternal Idol...
(brother of Anthrax guitarist Dan Spitz
Dan Spitz
Dan Spitz is a musician best known for his work as the lead guitarist of the heavy metal band Anthrax from 1983–1995 and from 2005 to 2007. He is the brother of former White Lion and Black Sabbath bassist Dave Spitz.-Personal life:...
). Within a month of joining, however, Dave Spitz left to play bass with 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 was replaced by James LoMenzo
James Lomenzo
James "JLo" LoMenzo is a metal bassist known for his roles as a former member of White Lion and Megadeth. He is also known for his work in Black Label Society .-Past bands and other works :...
.
The album Fight to Survive
Fight to Survive
Fight to Survive was the first album by the American/Danish hard rock band White Lion, released by Victor Records in Japan in 1985. The band was signed to Elektra Records, which shelved the album with no intention of publishing it in the USA. Philadelphia-based Grand Slamm Records bought the album...
was eventually re-recorded with the new line-up and released in Japan by RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
in 1984. The small US independent label Grand Slam Records finally released Fight To Survive in the US on November 9, 1985
1985 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1985.-January–March:*January 1 - The newest music video channel, VH-1, debuts on American cable. It is aimed at an older demographic than its sister station, MTV...
. A few months later, Grand Slam Records went bankrupt.The album charted at number 151 on The Billboard 200.
In early 1986, White Lion, with a fictitious female member (portrayed by Louise Robey
Louise Robey
Louise Ann Robey is a Canadian singer-songwriter, model, and actress.-Early life and career:Born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Robey was educated throughout Europe and attended the Royal Ballet School. Discovered by French photographer Jacques Henri Lartigue while sunbathing in the French Riviera,...
), had a brief part in the Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks
Thomas Jeffrey "Tom" Hanks is an American actor, producer, writer, and director. Hanks worked in television and family-friendly comedies, gaining wide notice in 1988's Big, before achieving success as a dramatic actor in several notable roles, including Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia, the title...
/Shelley Long
Shelley Long
Shelley Lee Long is an American actress best known for her role as Diane Chambers on the sitcom Cheers, for which she won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress and two Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress...
movie The Money Pit
The Money Pit
The Money Pit is a 1986 comedy film and remake of Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House. Directed by Richard Benjamin and executive produced by Steven Spielberg, the film stars Tom Hanks and Shelley Long as a couple who attempt to renovate a recently purchased house. The Money Pit was filmed in New...
.
Pride
Early in 1987, the band was signed by Atlantic RecordsAtlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
and on June 21, 1987 their album Pride was released. The first single, "Wait
Wait (White Lion song)
"Wait" is a song recorded by White Lion and written by White Lion vocalist Mike Tramp and guitarist Vito Bratta. It was the lead single from their second album, Pride. It is well known for its guitar solo at the 2:15 mark....
", was released on June 1, 1987, but did not reach the charts for nearly seven months.
The Pride tour started in July 1987 as White Lion opened for Ace Frehley
Ace Frehley
Paul Daniel "Ace" Frehley is an American musician best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Kiss. He took on the persona of the "Spaceman" or "Space Ace" when the band adopted costumes and theatrics...
's 80s band Frehley's Comet. The next year and a half was filled with constant touring, opening for such bands as Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
, 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...
, Stryper
Stryper
Stryper is a Christian glam metal band from Orange County, California. The group's lineup consists of Michael Sweet , Oz Fox , Tim Gaines , and Robert Sweet...
and KISS
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
. In January 1988 White Lion landed the opening slot for 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"...
on their Blow Up Your Video
Blow Up Your Video
Blow Up Your Video is the 11th Australian and 10th international studio album by the Australian hard rock band AC/DC, first released on 1988. It was later released in the US on 1 February 1988...
American tour.
While touring with AC/DC, the Pride album and "Wait" single finally charted, due in no small part to 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....
airing the "Wait" music video in regular rotation—nearly seven months after the single's release. "Wait" hit #8 on the singles chart, while Pride hit #11 on the album charts. Pride would remain on the Top 200 Billboard album charts for a full year, selling two million copies in the US alone.
In August 1988, the album's second single, "Tell Me
Tell Me (White Lion song)
"Tell Me" is a song by American/Danish glam metal band White Lion. The song is the second single from their 1987 album Pride. It is a rock song that peaked at number 25 on the Mainstream Rock Charts and number 58 on The Billboard Hot 100.-Personnel:...
", reached #58. Around the time this single was released, White Lion played at the Ritz
Ritz (rock club)
-History:The Ritz was founded in 1980 by Jerry Brandt on 11th Street between Third and Fourth Avenues in the East Village neighborhood of New York City. Formerly a ballroom known as Webster Hall, The Ritz still retained some of its previous incarnation's Art Deco style. As a venue, it focused...
club in New York City. The show was filmed and later aired on MTV.
The Pride album's third single, a power ballad titled "When the Children Cry
When the Children Cry
"When the Children Cry" is a power ballad, performed by the rock group White Lion on their 1987 album Pride. The single peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, #53 in Canada, and #88 in the UK in early 1989....
", made it to #3 on the charts with heavy MTV airplay, making Pride one of about 20 hard rock albums to ever have multiple top 10 hits.
The success of "When the Children Cry" would eventually push sales of Pride over the two million mark. In addition, Vito Bratta was recognized for his instrumental talents by racking up Best New Guitarist awards with both Guitar World
Guitar World
Guitar World is a monthly music magazine devoted to guitarists. It contains original interviews, album and gear reviews and guitar and bass tablature of approximately five songs each month. The magazine is published 13 times per year...
magazine and Guitar for the Practicing Musician
Guitar for the Practicing Musician
Guitar for the Practicing Musician was a guitar magazine published in the United States by Cherry Lane Music in the 1980s and 1990s. In 1992, it was the most popular music publication at newsstands, selling 740,000 issues over a six-month period. It was popular for publishing songs with guitar and...
magazine. All You Need Is Rock 'n' Roll
All You Need Is Rock 'n' Roll
"All You Need Is Rock 'n' Roll" is a song by American/Danish glam metal band White Lion. The song was released as a promotional single and it appears on their 1987 album Pride which peaked at number 11 on The Billboard 200....
was the final single released from the album.
In the spring of 1989, the Pride tour finally ended, and they immediately began work on their next album
Big Game & Mane Attraction
In August 1989, White Lion released their third album, Big GameBig Game (album)
Big Game is the third studio album by the hard rock band White Lion. It was released on August 10, 1989 by Atlantic Records, reaching #19 on The Billboard 200 album chart.- Overview :...
, a musically eclectic follow-up to Pride that featured the singles "Little Fighter
Little Fighter (song)
Little Fighter is a song by American/Danish hard rock band White Lion and was the first single released from the 1989 album Big Game.The song is about a Greenpeace boat named "Rainbow Warrior" which was destroyed by the French...
" (which peaked at #52), "Cry for Freedom
Cry for Freedom
"Cry for Freedom" is a song by American/Danish hard rock band White Lion. The song was released as the third single for their 1989 album Big Game, which peaked at number 19 on The Billboard 200....
" (did not chart), and a cover of Golden Earring
Golden Earring
Golden Earring are a Dutch rock band, founded in 1961 in The Hague as the Golden Earrings . They had international chart success with the songs "Radar Love" in 1973, "Twilight Zone" in 1982, and "When the Lady Smiles" in 1984. In their home country, they had over 40 hits and made over 30 gold and...
's "Radar Love
Radar Love
"Radar Love" is a song by the Dutch rock band Golden Earring. Music critic Bill Lamb rates this among his "top 10 driving songs" due to its lyrics about driving all night and its pulse-quickening, up-tempo beat. The single version of "Radar Love" reached #13 in the US...
" (which peaked at #59). The album quickly went gold, with a peak of #19 on the album charts..
After two years of writing and recording, White Lion released Mane Attraction in the summer of 1991.
More of a "back to basics" album, centering on strong hooks and melodic hard rock, the album was received well by the fans. Unfortunately, the album failed to reach the top 20 like the last two albums, charting at #61 on The Billboard 200.. It received little or no airplay due to the recent 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...
explosion and subsequent backlash on all things "hair metal". The album also contained White Lion's only instrumental song, "Blue Monday", a tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Stephen Ray "Stevie Ray" Vaughan was an American electric blues guitarist and singer. He was the younger brother of Jimmie Vaughan and frontman for Double Trouble, a band that included bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton. Born in Dallas, Vaughan moved to Austin at the age of 17 and...
, who had died while the band was writing for the album. The album featured the singles Lights and Thunder
Lights and Thunder
"Lights and Thunder" is a song by American/Danish Glam metal band White Lion and was released as the first single from their 1991 album Mane Attraction....
, Broken Heart '91
Broken Heart (White Lion song)
"Broken Heart" is a song by hard rock band White Lion and was their debut single.The song was originally from the band's Fight to Survive album in 1985, but was later re-recorded and re-released as a single for the Mane Attraction album in 1991 which peaked at number 61 on The Billboard 200.-1985...
and Love Don't Come Easy
Love Don't Come Easy
"Love Don't Come Easy" is a song and single by American/Danish glam metal band White Lion. The song is the third single from their 1991 album Mane Attraction. The song peaked at number 24 on The Mainstream Rock Charts.-Personnel:...
which peaked at number 24 on The Mainstream Rock
Mainstream rock
Mainstream rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations in the United States and Canada.-Format background:...
Charts.
Greg D'Angelo and James LoMenzo left the band soon after the album's release, citing "musical differences," but White Lion carried on with bassist Tommy T-Bone Caradonna and drummer Jimmy DeGrasso
Jimmy DeGrasso
Jimmy DeGrasso is an American heavy metal drummer. He is currently the drummer for F5.DeGrasso was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and graduated from Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1981....
(Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
, Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
, Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies is a U.S. crossover thrash band founded in 1981 in Venice, Los Angeles, California by Mike Muir, its leader and only permanent member. The band is sometimes credited as one of "the fathers of crossover thrash"...
, Y&T
Y&T
Y&T is an American hard rock/heavy metal band formed in 1974. They hail from Oakland, California...
, Fiona
Fiona
Fiona is a feminine given name. The name Fiona was invented, and first used, by the Scottish poet James Macpherson , author of the Ossian poems, which he claimed were translations from ancient Gaelic sources...
). After briefly touring in support of Mane Attraction, Tramp and Bratta decided to fold the group, their last show being held in Boston at the Channel
The Channel (nightclub)
The Channel was a Boston music venue that was part of the underground arts community of south Boston .-History:Joe Cicerone founded The Channel in 1980, choosing the name because the club sat at the edge of the Fort Point Channel, which separates South Boston from the Financial District...
in September 1991. Exactly one year later in September 1992, the band's first compilation album was released titled The Best of White Lion
The Best of White Lion
The Best of White Lion is the first greatest hits compilation album from the Hard rock band White Lion, released in September of 1992...
.
Social issues
Unlike most bands of their genre, White Lion recorded occasional songs that addressed social or political issues such as apartheid ("Cry for Freedom") and the effect of divorce on children ("Broken Home"). The song "Little Fighter" was about the Rainbow WarriorRainbow Warrior (1978)
The Rainbow Warrior was a former UK Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food trawler later purchased by the environmental organisation Greenpeace...
, a ship owned by the environmental group Greenpeace
Greenpeace
Greenpeace is a non-governmental environmental organization with offices in over forty countries and with an international coordinating body in Amsterdam, The Netherlands...
that was destroyed
Sinking of the Rainbow Warrior
The sinking of the Rainbow Warrior, codenamed Opération Satanique, was an operation by the "action" branch of the French foreign intelligence services, the Direction Générale de la Sécurité Extérieure , carried out on July 10, 1985...
by operatives of the French intelligence service. This concern for political and social issues was also hinted at in the cover art to their album Big Game, which featured a lion's head hidden in tall grass with the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
in the background.
After White Lion
Mike Tramp went on to form Freak of NatureFreak of Nature (band)
Freak of Nature was an American Heavy Metal band, formed in 1992 by former White Lion lead singer Mike Tramp. The band was formed after White Lion broke up and was significantly darker and harder than White Lion. The band released three albums and then disbanded in 1995...
, releasing three albums, Freak of Nature
Freak of Nature (album)
Freak of Nature is the self titled debut album from the hard rock band Freak of Nature, released on March 29, 1993. The band features former White Lion vocalist Mike Tramp who formed Freak of Nature following White Lion's last album release The Best of White Lion in 1992...
, Gathering of Freaks
Gathering of Freaks
Gathering of Freaks is the second album from the Heavy Metal band Freak of Nature, fronted by former White Lion lead singer Mike Tramp. The album was released in 1994 and spent one week at #66 on the UK Albums Chart in October 1994. It was the band's only UK chart presence. The album was recorded...
, and Outcasts
Outcasts (Freak of Nature album)
Outcasts is the third and final album from the Hard rock band Freak of Nature, released in 1998. The album is a compilation of B-sides, demos and outtakes released through Ulftone Records....
. Tramp also released four studio albums and one live album as a solo artist: Capricorn, Recovering the Wasted Years, More To Life Than This, and Songs I Left Behind as studio efforts, with Rock n' Roll Alive as a live album. Tramp also reformed White Lion with all new musicians. Today, Tramp continues his solo career, now fronting his latest act, "Mike Tramp & the Rock n Roll Circuz", a Copenhagen-based band with all Danish members.
James LoMenzo and Greg D'Angelo joined 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,...
's band, Lynyrd Skynhead, in the mid 90's which became the band Pride & Glory
Pride and Glory (band)
Pride and Glory was a side project for Black Label Society guitarist Zakk Wylde. This was Zakk's first self-fronted project, then he released his solo-album Book of Shadows in 1996...
when Greg D'Angelo was replaced by Brian Tichy
Brian Tichy
Brian Tichy is a drummer, guitar player, vocalist and songwriter. He is currently the drummer with Whitesnake. Previously he was the drummer for Foreigner from 2009 until 2010, when he was replaced by Jason Sutter. Tichy began playing drums at age eight and started playing guitar at age 12...
. Pride & Glory released one album, then James LoMenzo left the band. James went on to record and tour with ex-Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
frontman David Lee Roth
David Lee Roth
David Lee Roth is an American rock vocalist, songwriter, actor, author, and former radio personality. Roth was ranked nineteenth by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Singers of All Time....
and toured with Zakk Wylde's band 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 :...
. In February 2006, James joined the thrash band
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...
Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
on a permanent basis. Greg D'Angelo was the drummer for the band AntiProduct
AntiProduct
AntiProduct are a UK-based glam punk band, fronted by Alex Kane, formerly of Clam Abuse, Enuff Z'nuff, Holland, and Life, Sex & Death.The band formed in 2000, and have played alongside acts such as Rachel Stamp, The Wildhearts, Ginger, The Quireboys, Enuff Z'Nuff, Electric Eel Shock, Tyla from...
in 2006. Greg D'angelo recently joined Greg Leon Invasion featuring Greg Leon (formerly of 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 Quiet Riot
Quiet Riot
Quiet Riot is an American Heavy Metal band. They are best known for their hit singles "Metal Health" and "Cum On Feel the Noize". They were founded in 1973 by guitarist Randy Rhoads and bassist Kelly Garni, under the original name Mach 1, before changing the name to Little Women and finally Quiet...
).
Vito Bratta stayed briefly with Atlantic Records to help produce an album for CPR, and later tried to form a new music group that never panned out. Despite a dedicated worldwide following of guitar aficionados, Vito disappeared from public view from 1994 until his interview by Eddie Trunk
Eddie Trunk
Eddie Trunk is an American music historian, radio personality, talk show host, and author best known as the host of several hard rock and heavy metal themed radio and television shows.- Current work :...
live on February 16, 2007. Vito is also the sole owner of the original White Lions four album music catalogs. Retaining the rights after Mike sold all his rights to the catalogs in the mid 90's. They are owned by Vavoom music which is owned by Bratta.
The new White Lion and legal issues
Remembering White Lion
Remembering White Lion is a White Lion studio album featuring new versions of songs from White Lion's previous 4 studio albums, including the band's biggest three hits: "When the Children Cry", "Wait", and "Little Fighter".Following three albums as the lead singer of the Hard rock band Freak of...
, which featured new versions of some of White Lion's classic songs. In October 2003, Tramp announced a White Lion reunion with the original members. This statement was quickly denied by the other former members. Later Tramp said that Vito Bratta wanted nothing to do with a reunion. With summer festivals in Europe already booked, Tramp attempted to put together a "new White Lion" featuring former members James LoMenzo
James Lomenzo
James "JLo" LoMenzo is a metal bassist known for his roles as a former member of White Lion and Megadeth. He is also known for his work in Black Label Society .-Past bands and other works :...
and Jimmy DeGrasso
Jimmy DeGrasso
Jimmy DeGrasso is an American heavy metal drummer. He is currently the drummer for F5.DeGrasso was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and graduated from Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1981....
, along with Warren DeMartini
Warren DeMartini
Warren Justin DeMartini , nicknamed Torch, is the lead guitarist for Ratt, a popular American band during the mid-to-late 1980s Los Angeles glam metal scene.-Early life:...
of Ratt
Ratt
Ratt is an American heavy metal band that had significant commercial success in the 1980s. The band is best known for songs such as "Round and Round," "Wanted Man," "Lay It Down," "You're in Love", "Slip of the Lip", "Back For More", "Dance", "Body Talk", "I Want a Woman", and "Way Cool Jr." Ratt...
. Vito Bratta filed suit claiming partial ownership of the name, and the tour was scrapped. Tramp later commented that despite his willingness, "There will never be an original White Lion reunion".
In 2005, Mike Tramp organized another group of unknown musicians and due to legal issues with former members named the act Tramp's White Lion. 'TWL' (aka White Lion 2) played and re recorded White Lion songs, touring and releasing a double-live CD entitled Rocking the USA
Rocking the USA
Rocking the USA is the first White Lion live compilation album released in 2005, now better known as Tramp's White Lion or White Lion 2, with all new band members again but still features original lead singer Mike Tramp....
in 2005. In November and December 2006, Tramp's White Lion played several dates in Europe including Sweden, Norway, Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark.
On February 16, 2007, Vito Bratta appeared on the Eddie Trunk radio show in New York, stating that despite what Mike Tramp said, he had never refused a White Lion reunion, stating that the only reason he was unable to participate was due to the illness of his father. He added that he would still be open to the idea and has not closed the door to returning to the music industry again. Trunk made it clear that Bratta's involvement in the show was something that he had wanted to happen since White Lion first broke up in 1991. Bratta took calls and answered questions from fans for almost 3 hours. On April 6 and 7, 2007, at the L'Amours Reunion Shows in New York, Bratta made his first public musical appearances in over 15 years.
Three weeks later Mike Tramp called the same show from Australia, speaking about Bratta and the band's new album, including the tour dates that Tramp's White Lion had recently confirmed. Tramp said that he was thankful that Bratta had finally answered fan's questions, the same questions he himself had been asked many times over the past 15 years. He also stated that he felt uncomfortable answering on Vito's behalf, and that he was upset that Vito had withdrawn himself from the music industry.
White Lion: recent activities
A White Lion compilation "The Definitive Rock CollectionThe Definitive Rock Collection (White Lion album)
The Definitive Rock Collection is the latest compilation album by White Lion, released in 2007 by Atlantic Records. The ultimate collection of studio and live 'White Lion' tracks. The compilation features all of White Lion's charted singles...
" was released in 2007 and the band was set for a summer tour with Poison
Poison (band)
Poison is an American glam metal band that achieved great success in the mid-1980s to mid-1990s. To date, Poison has sold over 30 million records worldwide and have sold 15 million records in the United States alone. The band has also charted ten singles to the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100,...
and Ratt only to be dropped by the tour promoter after ex-White Lion guitarist Vito Bratta threatened to take legal action over the band name. Eventually Mike Tramp was able to use the White Lion name again.
The band appeared at Rocklahoma
Rocklahoma
Rocklahoma is an annual hard rock music festival held in Pryor, Oklahoma...
in Pryor, OK on July 13, 2007 with Poison, Ratt, Quiet Riot
Quiet Riot
Quiet Riot is an American Heavy Metal band. They are best known for their hit singles "Metal Health" and "Cum On Feel the Noize". They were founded in 1973 by guitarist Randy Rhoads and bassist Kelly Garni, under the original name Mach 1, before changing the name to Little Women and finally Quiet...
, 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...
, Y&T
Y&T
Y&T is an American hard rock/heavy metal band formed in 1974. They hail from Oakland, California...
, Gypsy Pistoleros, Dirty Penny, Greg Leon Invasion and Zendozer. After this festival they toured the US.
A new studio album entitled "Return of the Pride
Return of the Pride
Return of the Pride is the fifth studio album by White Lion. The album was released in 2008 on March 14 , April 9 , April 29...
" was released on March 14, 2008 and the band was now once again simply known as White Lion. The band did a world tour to support the album. White Lion toured India and played to 42,000 at Shillong
Shillong
-Connectivity:Although well connected by road, Shillong has no rail connection and a proper air connection. Umroi Airport exists but has only limited flights.-Roadways:Shillong is well connected by roads with all major north eastern states...
, Meghalaya
Meghalaya
Meghalaya is a state in north-eastern India. The word "Meghalaya" literally means the Abode of Clouds in Sanskrit and other Indic languages. Meghalaya is a hilly strip in the eastern part of the country about 300 km long and 100 km wide, with a total area of about 8,700 sq mi . The...
, and a 30,000 plus crowd at the Dimapur stadium in Nagaland
Nagaland
Nagaland is a state in the far north-eastern part of India. It borders the state of Assam to the west, Arunachal Pradesh and part of Assam to the north, Burma to the east and Manipur to the south. The state capital is Kohima, and the largest city is Dimapur...
. The band was invited to India by the head of the Tripura
Tripura
Tripura is a state in North-East India, with an area of . It is the third smallest state of India, according to area. Tripura is surrounded by Bangladesh on the north, south, and west. The Indian states of Assam and Mizoram lie to the east. The capital is Agartala and the main languages spoken are...
Royal Family Maharaja Kirit Pradyot Deb Burman.
A live DVD was released on December 5, 2008 entitled "Bang Your Head Festival 2005
Bang Your Head Festival 2005
Bang Your Head Festival 2005 is a live DVD released by White Lion on December 5, 2008. The main feature is White Lion's return concert at the 2005 Bang Your Head Festival in Germany. The DVD also includes a full length interview with Mike Tramp, a slide show, and performances of songs from the USA...
".
Current members
- Mike TrampMike TrampMike Tramp is a Danish singer and songwriter who is best known for his work with the hard rock bands White Lion and Freak of Nature...
- lead vocals (1983–1991, 1999–present) - Jamie Law - guitars (2005–present)
- Troy Patrick FarrellTroy Patrick FarrellTroy Patrick Farrell is an American drummer who has played in bands including White Lion, Pretty Boy Floyd, John Corabi and Michael Aston's Gene Love Jezebel....
- drums (2005–present) - Henning Wanner - keyboards (2005–present)
- Claus Langeskov - bass (2005–present)
- Bruno RavelBruno RavelBruno Ravel, born May 1, 1964, is a bassist and guitarist who is most famous for playing in the band Danger Danger.Before Danger Danger, he was in the band Hotshot, along with original Danger Danger lead vocalist Mike Pont and Danger Danger drummer Steve West...
- guitar (early) - Vito BrattaVito BrattaVito Bratta is the former lead guitarist and lead songwriter for the 1980s rock band White Lion from 1983 to 1992....
- guitars (1983–1991) - James LoMenzoJames LomenzoJames "JLo" LoMenzo is a metal bassist known for his roles as a former member of White Lion and Megadeth. He is also known for his work in Black Label Society .-Past bands and other works :...
- bass (1984–1991) - Greg D'AngeloGreg D'AngeloGreg D’Angelo, is a drummer most famous for his work in the American band White Lion.-Early career :...
- drums (1984–1991) - Nicki Capozzi - drums (1983–1984)
- Felix Robinson - bass (1983–1984)
- Dave SpitzDave SpitzDave "The Beast" Spitz is a musician best known for having played bass guitar for the heavy metal group Black Sabbath from 1985 to 1987, appearing on the albums Seventh Star and being credited for The Eternal Idol...
- bass (1984) - Dan Hemmer - Hammond B-3 organ (1999–2005)
- Kasper Damgaard - guitar (1999–2005)
- Nils Kroyer - bass (1999–2005)
- Bjarne T. Holm - drums (1999–2005)
- Tommy T-Bone Caradonna - bass (1991)
- Jimmy DeGrassoJimmy DeGrassoJimmy DeGrasso is an American heavy metal drummer. He is currently the drummer for F5.DeGrasso was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and graduated from Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1981....
- drums (1991) - EJ Curse - bass (2008)
Classic line up
- Mike TrampMike TrampMike Tramp is a Danish singer and songwriter who is best known for his work with the hard rock bands White Lion and Freak of Nature...
- lead vocals - Vito BrattaVito BrattaVito Bratta is the former lead guitarist and lead songwriter for the 1980s rock band White Lion from 1983 to 1992....
- guitars - James LoMenzoJames LomenzoJames "JLo" LoMenzo is a metal bassist known for his roles as a former member of White Lion and Megadeth. He is also known for his work in Black Label Society .-Past bands and other works :...
- bass - Greg D'AngeloGreg D'AngeloGreg D’Angelo, is a drummer most famous for his work in the American band White Lion.-Early career :...
- drums
Discography
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Fight to Survive Fight to Survive Fight to Survive was the first album by the American/Danish hard rock band White Lion, released by Victor Records in Japan in 1985. The band was signed to Elektra Records, which shelved the album with no intention of publishing it in the USA. Philadelphia-based Grand Slamm Records bought the album... |
Asylum Records Asylum Records Asylum Records is an American record label founded in 1971 by David Geffen, and partner Elliot Roberts, who had previously worked as agents at the William Morris Agency. Founded specifically to provide a record contract for Jackson Browne, the label signed Tom Waits, Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell... |
| 1987 | Pride | Atlantic Records Atlantic Records Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz... |
| 1989 | Big Game Big Game (album) Big Game is the third studio album by the hard rock band White Lion. It was released on August 10, 1989 by Atlantic Records, reaching #19 on The Billboard 200 album chart.- Overview :... |
|
| 1991 | Mane Attraction Mane Attraction Mane Attraction was the fourth studio album by the hard rock band White Lion. It was released in 1991 by Atlantic Records, and reached #61 on The Billboard 200.- Overview :... |
|
| 1999 | Remembering White Lion Remembering White Lion Remembering White Lion is a White Lion studio album featuring new versions of songs from White Lion's previous 4 studio albums, including the band's biggest three hits: "When the Children Cry", "Wait", and "Little Fighter".Following three albums as the lead singer of the Hard rock band Freak of... |
Cleopatra Records Cleopatra Records Cleopatra Records is a Los Angeles-based independent record label.- History :Founded in 1992 by Brian Perera, it specializes in gothic rock, hard rock, heavy metal and reissues of out-of-print music... |
| 2008 | Return of the Pride Return of the Pride Return of the Pride is the fifth studio album by White Lion. The album was released in 2008 on March 14 , April 9 , April 29... |
Frontiers Records Frontiers Records Frontiers Records is an Italian record label, predominantly producing melodic rock. It was formed in 1996 by Serafino Perugino and is based in Naples, Italy.-History:... |
External links
Official websites:- Official White Lion Website
- Official White Lion MySpace Website
- Official Mike Tramp Website
- Official Troy Patrick Farrell Website
Non official websites: