Vincent Damon Furnier who would later go on to be known as Alice Cooper, was born on February 4th 1948 in Detroit, Michigan. Vincent moved to Phoenix Arizona as a young boy, and had his first taste of rock-stardom when he performed at age 16 for a school talent show. Vincent accompanied by friends, entertained as “The Earwigs,” and despite the fact that they didn’t actually play any … [Read more...]

The band that would later become known as Motley Crue, officially formed on January 17th, 1981 in Los Angeles when drummer Tommy Lee and bassist Nikki Sixx started playing together. Guitarist Bob “Mick Mars” Deal soon joined Sixx and Lee, but this still left the group without a singer. After having seen vocalist Vince Neil perform with an other band, Mars suggest they recruit him. Lee had known … [Read more...]

After being fired from Metallica for drug abuse, guitarist Dave Mustaine wasn’t about to go quietly into the night. Mustaine initially started his new project, Megadeth, with guitarist Greg Handevidt, bassist Dave Ellefson and drummer Dijion Carruthers in 1983 in Los Angeles. (It is important to note that Mustaine and Ellefson were the only constant band members between 1983 and 2002, and that the … [Read more...]

In Houston, Texas, 1969, after the band Moving Sidewalks had broken up guitarist/singer Billy Gibbons joined forces with bassist/singer Dusty Hill and drummer Frank Beard whose band, American Blues, had also recently run its course. The guys reportedly chose the name ZZ Top in reference to B.B. King, who they admired. “Top,” was chosen because the “King,” would have supposedly been at the top. The … [Read more...]

KK Downing and Ian Hill had gone to school together in West Bromwich, a suburb of Birmingham, England. The boys became friends as adolescents, and after learning to play instruments, they started playing with drummer John Ellis. At the time, singer Al Atkins was a member of a local group “Judas Priest.” After the band broke up, Atkins joined Downing, Hill, and Ellis. The guys decided to keep the … [Read more...]

After bassist/singer Ian Fraser Kilmister, or Lemmy as he is better known to fans, was kicked out the group Hawkwind, he decided to form his own band. Lemmy recruited lead guitarist Larry Wallis and drummer Lucas Fox, and the first version of the band Motörhead came to life. The new band made their first appearance playing at a club in London, England on July 20th, 1975. By the time October rolled … [Read more...]

Pantera has its root in the town of Arlington Texas. Brothers Vinnie Paul Abbott (drummer) and Darrell Lance Abbott (guitarist, and also known as “Dimebag Darrell”) started playing with rhythm guitarist Terry Glaze, bassist Tommy Bradford and vocalist Donnie Hart, in 1981. Still in high school when they started, the guys performed at local Texas clubs playing a mix of cover songs as well as … [Read more...]

Ted Nugent was born on December 13, 1948 in Detroit, Michigan. Theodore "Ted" Nugent later moved with his family to Illinois, where his musical career was destined to take shape. Attending Saint Viator High School, Nugent's final school years were spent playing in a club called The Cellar with his band, The Amboy Dukes. The group steadily gained popularity, and by the time The Cellar officially … [Read more...]

After the band Mother Love Bone disbanded, members Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament started looking for a new band. Gossard started to play with Mike McCready in Seattle Washington, and after Ament joined the trio, they recorded a demo and started looking for a singer and drummer. Originally passing the demo on to ex-Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Jack Irons, it made it’s way into the hands of a friend … [Read more...]

Anna Mae Bullock was born in Nutbush, Tennessee on November 26th, 1939. After the grandmother Anna had lived with passed away, she moved to St. Louis, Missouri where her mother and sister were living. While at a local club, she met an R&B musician by the name of Ike Turner who was a member of the band Kings of Rhythm. Ike realized Anna was a capable singer, so she soon joined the band. As fate … [Read more...]