Wrathchild
Encyclopedia
Wrathchild were an English
heavy metal
band. Formed in 1980, the group was an early band of the glam metal
genre, starting off before other bands of the genre such as Mötley Crüe
. However, they did not gain the same level of success or influence as their American counterparts.
In their home country, the bands speciality was in its D.I.Y. aesthetic (common for many NWOBHM
bands), over the top stage shows, and striking image. During their early days, they would often play in pubs but still used confetti, pyrotechnics
, and dressed in full glam metal gear, including their trademark platform boots and huge, teased hair.
, England
by Marc Angel and Phil "Wrathchild" Vokins. They recruited Rocky Shades for lead vocals, and Brian "Thunderburst" Parry on drums.
Phil Vokins left in 1981 to join Bill Ward (Black Sabbath)in America with a new band Max Havoc and Brian Parry left and returned to his hometown of Chester.
The band soon added two members from the band Medusa; guitarist Lance Rocket and drummer Eddie Star who became mainstays in the band and completed the much recognised over the top lineup for a decade of touring and recording.
After releasing a string of demos, such as Mascara Massacre in 1982, the band was offered a record deal by Bullet Records
. On this label the group put out their first official release in 1983, an EP called Stackheel Strutt.
In 1984, the band recorded and released their debut studio album, Stakk Attakk. It would spawn two singles; a cover version of the Gary Glitter
classic "Doing Alright with the Boys" and "Trash Queen".
Unfortunately, just as Wrathchild was garnering success, they came embroiled in contractual problems with their label, Heavy Metal Records. RCA Records
, a major label, unsuccessfully attempted to sign the band from Heavy Metal Records in an effort to free them from their contract. Meanwhile, the group released a video compilation in called War Machine in 1984.
After finally settling the dispute with Heavy Metal Records nearly four years later, the band released their second album, The Biz Suxx
, in 1988. The album spawned a single, Nukklear Rokket, which had a promotional video that was produced by Bruce Dickinson
of Iron Maiden
. Bruce plays the protester in the video whilst the performance was filmed in the car park at his home in Chiswick. Ron Kennedy directed and edited the video as well as appearing as the mad professor. Steve Prior was the cameraman.
The band's third and final studio album, Delirium
, was released shortly after in 1989. It featured Grim Reaper's Steve Grimmet on backing vocals. Soon after the release Rocky Shades left to join the punk band Discharge
and with the onset of grunge, Wrathchild broke up.
In 2005 Marc Angel and Eddie Star got back together along with original guitarist Phil 'Wrathchild' Vokins and recruited vocalist Gaz 'Psychowrath' Harris, formerly of the band Beyond Recognition. This new line-up went under the name Psychowrath until 2009, then acquired the trademarks for Wrathchild & Wrathchild UK and reverted to using their original name Wrathchild. They have played several gigs between 2005 and 2009.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
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. Formed in 1980, the group was an early band of the 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...
genre, starting off before other bands of the genre such as 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...
. However, they did not gain the same level of success or influence as their American counterparts.
In their home country, the bands speciality was in its D.I.Y. aesthetic (common for many NWOBHM
New Wave of British Heavy Metal
The New Wave of British Heavy Metal was a heavy metal movement that started in the late 1970s, in Britain, and achieved international attention by the early 1980s. The movement developed as a reaction in part to the decline of early heavy metal bands such as Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Black...
bands), over the top stage shows, and striking image. During their early days, they would often play in pubs but still used confetti, pyrotechnics
Pyrotechnics
Pyrotechnics is the science of using materials capable of undergoing self-contained and self-sustained exothermic chemical reactions for the production of heat, light, gas, smoke and/or sound...
, and dressed in full glam metal gear, including their trademark platform boots and huge, teased hair.
History
Wrathchild was formed in 1980 in EveshamEvesham
Evesham is a market town and a civil parish in the Local Authority District of Wychavon in the county of Worcestershire, England with a population of 22,000. It is located roughly equidistant between Worcester, Cheltenham and Stratford-upon-Avon...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
by Marc Angel and Phil "Wrathchild" Vokins. They recruited Rocky Shades for lead vocals, and Brian "Thunderburst" Parry on drums.
Phil Vokins left in 1981 to join Bill Ward (Black Sabbath)in America with a new band Max Havoc and Brian Parry left and returned to his hometown of Chester.
The band soon added two members from the band Medusa; guitarist Lance Rocket and drummer Eddie Star who became mainstays in the band and completed the much recognised over the top lineup for a decade of touring and recording.
After releasing a string of demos, such as Mascara Massacre in 1982, the band was offered a record deal by Bullet Records
Bullet Records
At least three record labels with the name Bullet Records have existed.The earliest one was a record label based in Nashville, USA, which was started in 1945 by Jim Bulliet and C.V. Hitchcock. Bulleit was an early partner in Sun Records...
. On this label the group put out their first official release in 1983, an EP called Stackheel Strutt.
In 1984, the band recorded and released their debut studio album, Stakk Attakk. It would spawn two singles; a cover version of the Gary Glitter
Gary Glitter
Gary Glitter is an English former glam rock singer-songwriter and musician.Glitter first came to prominence in the glam rock era of the early 1970s...
classic "Doing Alright with the Boys" and "Trash Queen".
Unfortunately, just as Wrathchild was garnering success, they came embroiled in contractual problems with their label, Heavy Metal Records. 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...
, a major label, unsuccessfully attempted to sign the band from Heavy Metal Records in an effort to free them from their contract. Meanwhile, the group released a video compilation in called War Machine in 1984.
After finally settling the dispute with Heavy Metal Records nearly four years later, the band released their second album, The Biz Suxx
The Biz Suxx
The Biz Suxx is an album by Wrathchild, released in 1988.The line "I look like a star but I'm still on the dole" from the title track is a reference to Mott the Hoople's song "All the Way from Memphis".-Track listing:# "The Biz Suxx"# "Millionaire"...
, in 1988. The album spawned a single, Nukklear Rokket, which had a promotional video that was produced by Bruce Dickinson
Bruce Dickinson
Paul Bruce Dickinson is an English singer, songwriter, airline pilot, fencer, broadcaster, author, screenwriter, actor and marketing director, best known as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden....
of Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
. Bruce plays the protester in the video whilst the performance was filmed in the car park at his home in Chiswick. Ron Kennedy directed and edited the video as well as appearing as the mad professor. Steve Prior was the cameraman.
The band's third and final studio album, Delirium
Delirium (Wrathchild album)
-Track listing:# "Delirium"# "Watch Me Shake Me"# "That's What U Get "# "My Girlz"# "Long Way 2 Go"# "Good Girlz"# "Do What U Wanna"# "Kid Pusher"# "She's High On Luv"# "Rokk Me Over"# "Only 4 The Fun"-Band members:...
, was released shortly after in 1989. It featured Grim Reaper's Steve Grimmet on backing vocals. Soon after the release Rocky Shades left to join the punk band Discharge
Discharge
Discharge in the context to expel or to "let go" may refer to:* A military discharge, issued when a member of the armed forces is released from service* Termination of employment, the end of an employee's duration with an employer...
and with the onset of grunge, Wrathchild broke up.
In 2005 Marc Angel and Eddie Star got back together along with original guitarist Phil 'Wrathchild' Vokins and recruited vocalist Gaz 'Psychowrath' Harris, formerly of the band Beyond Recognition. This new line-up went under the name Psychowrath until 2009, then acquired the trademarks for Wrathchild & Wrathchild UK and reverted to using their original name Wrathchild. They have played several gigs between 2005 and 2009.
Psychowrath
Marc Angel, Eddie Star, and Phil Vokins, along with new singer Gaz Harris started a band in 2005 called Psychowrath. In 2009 they acquired the trademarks for Wrathchild & Wrathchild UK and reverted back the name WRATHCHILD and released "STAKKATTAKKTWO" in August 23rd 2011 from PERRIS RECORDS.Rocky Shades Wrathchild
Rocky Shades Wrathchild, also known as R.S.W., was started by former lead vocalist Rocky Shades in 2006. They recorded the demo 'Dead Good' which was featured on their myspace website for a short time. The current lineup is Rocky Shades, Jon Sudbury, and James Crofts. They were set to play the Hard Rock Hell III festival in December 2009, but were removed from the bill in October; reason as quoted by Hard Rock Hell promotors "All involved in Hard Rock Hell felt that without being able to use the name to advertise, and without more than one member of the original line-up in the band, what we were left with was simply not what we booked. It’s as if we had booked Genesis and got Phil Collins. Hence it was not a proper booking, to which the agent who booked it agreed too."Wildside Riot
In December 2010 Rocky Shades decided to start fresh by creating a new band with nothing to do with the Wrathchild name. Wildside Riots original line up was Rocky Shades on vocals, Iggie Pistolero and Rob D'Var on guitars, Natt Kid on bass and Gaz Wilde (Gary Hunt) on drums the current line up is Rocky Shades on vocals, Joss Riot and Jamez Gunn on guitars, James Crofts on bass and Gaz Wilde (Gary Hunt) on drums. The band was launched in August 2011 and are currenty recording there debut album to be released early 2012.Line-ups
| Line-Up #1 |
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| Line-Up #2 |
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| Line-Up #3 current line-up |
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Albums
- Stakk Attakk (1984)
- Trash QueensTrash QueensTrash Queens is an album by Wrathchild, released in 1985. It's a Compilation of the Do You Want My Love? single, the Stackheel Strutt EP, and three live tracks...
(1985) - The Biz SuxxThe Biz SuxxThe Biz Suxx is an album by Wrathchild, released in 1988.The line "I look like a star but I'm still on the dole" from the title track is a reference to Mott the Hoople's song "All the Way from Memphis".-Track listing:# "The Biz Suxx"# "Millionaire"...
(1988) - DeliriumDelirium (Wrathchild album)-Track listing:# "Delirium"# "Watch Me Shake Me"# "That's What U Get "# "My Girlz"# "Long Way 2 Go"# "Good Girlz"# "Do What U Wanna"# "Kid Pusher"# "She's High On Luv"# "Rokk Me Over"# "Only 4 The Fun"-Band members:...
(1989) - Stakkattakktwo (2011)
Singles
- "Do You Want My Love?" (1982)
- "Alrite With the Boyz" (1984)
- "Trash Queen" (1984)
- "(Na Na) Nukklear Rokket" (1988)
Members
- Rocky Shades - Vocals (former)
- Phil Wrathchild - Lead guitar, backing vocals
- Marc Angel - Bass guitar, backing vocals
- Brian Parry - Drums (former)
- Lance Rocket - Lead guitar, backing vocals (former)
- Eddie Star - Drums
- Gaz Psychowrath - Vocals