Ready to Rock

Slash's Snakepit was a rock band formed by then-Guns N' Roses lead guitarist Slash in 1994. Fellow Guns N' Roses members Matt Sorum (drums), Gilby Clarke (rhythm guitar) also joined him. On bass was Mike Inez of Alice in Chains. Eric Dover (who had previously played guitar for Jellyfish) sang lead vocals. GN'R colleagues Teddy Andreadis and Dizzy Reed also appeared on the record playing harmonica & keyboards respectively.
The first, and more notable lineup, sometimes regarded as the "true" Slash's Snakepit (the 2000 line-up with Rod Jackson was not as well-received by fans and critics) released the album It's Five O'Clock Somewhere which was issued in March 1995 almost by accident.
The legend goes that Slash and Sorum were jamming in Slash's home studio (known as "The Snakepit" due to the guitarist's fondness for snakes, and the studio being in proximity to his pets) with a view to working on new GN'R material. Soon, Gilby Clarke (rhythm guitar in Guns at the time) was joining them and contributing ideas. They demo'd songs together, onto which Slash apparently overdubbed some bass parts. In some cases, GN'R bassist Duff McKagan also contributed ideas and is credited as having co-written "Beggars & Hangers-On".
According to Axl Rose, in a 1999 interview with MTV's Kurt Loder, these songs were offered to Guns N' Roses as prospective material, but were turned down by Rose.
Slash recruited Alice in Chains bassist Mike Inez to complete the musical side of the group. Gilby Clarke's drummer, Mark Danziesen, suggested Dover as vocalist, and after passing the audition, he joined the quintet to complete recording of what would become "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere".
Up to this point, Slash had always been publicly against a solo effort, claiming he had no need for one whilst Guns was in action. In promoting this album, he remained pragmatic in statements that it wasn't "really" a solo album, just a project that had come together by accident, and morphed into another band which was now keeping him busy whilst Guns was on hiatus. Slash wanted the band to simply be called "Snakepit", but the record company insisted they add his name to help increase sales.
With a title taken from a passing comment made by an airport attendant, and artwork provided by Slash's brother, Ash Hudson, the album was released in March 1995 during a period of downtime for Guns N' Roses.
Shortly after the album's release, a local all-girl San Diego band named simply "Snakepit" filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Slash to limit his use of the "Snakepit" name. The lawsuit was settled on confidential terms.
Frustrated by Guns' inactivity and Rose's erratic moves, as well as pressure from Geffen to promote the album (according to Slash's autobiography he wanted to tour and Geffen supported him until Rose said he was ready to start writing for GN'R again at which point they pulled the plug), a six-month tour was arranged. Clarke, Slash and Dover remained the only members of the recording lineup to tour, with Inez committed to Alice in Chains, and Sorum agreeing to stay behind in the GN'R camp as a compromise to placate the angered Rose, who saw this side project as an act of defiance. Once off the road, the group disbanded, as it was - after all - only a side project for all involved.
Eric Dover went on to form Imperial Drag with Jellyfish keyboardist Roger Manning, Slash returned to the GN'R fold, and Clarke went on to record more solo albums.
In 1996, however, Slash left GN'R, citing an inability to continue working with Rose (McKagan and Sorum left the following year) and went on to cobble together various projects, including the "jam band" covers band, "Slash's Blues Ball".
2000 saw more recordings and live shows for Slash's Snakepit, but with a completely new lineup (except for Slash). The band released Ain't Life Grand in October 2000, featuring Rod Jackson on vocals, Johnny Griparic on bass, Matt Laug on drums and Ryan Roxie on guitar. Keri Kelli later replaced Roxie on tour as he was committed to work with Alice Cooper.

Background

Slash's Snakepit : Origin United States
Genre(s) : Hard rock, Blues-rock
Years active : 1994 – 1995;1998 – 2001
Label(s) : Geffen Records
Koch Records
Associated acts : Velvet Revolver
Megadeth
Alice in Chains
Guns N' Roses
Jellyfish
Alice Cooper
White Lion
Black Label Society

Discography

• It's Five O'Clock Somewhere (1995)
• Ain't Life Grand (2000)

Lineups

1994
Performed initial jams, recruited rest of lineup
• Slash - lead guitar
• Gilby Clarke - rhythm guitar
• Mike Inez - bass guitar
• Matt Sorum - drums




1994 - 1995
Wrote first/recorded first album together
• Eric Dover - lead vocals
• Slash - lead guitar
• Gilby Clarke - rhythm guitar
• Mike Inez - bass guitar
• Matt Sorum - drums

1995
Toured in support of the first album
• Eric Dover - lead vocals
• Slash - lead guitar
• Gilby Clarke - rhythm guitar
• James LoMenzo - bass guitar
• Brian Tichy - drums

1996-1998
Disbanded

1998-2000
Performed in the pre-album tour of 1999, and recorded the second Snakepit album
• Rod Jackson - lead vocals
• Slash - lead guitar
• Ryan Roxie - rhythm guitar
• Johnny Griparic - bass guitar
• Matt Laug - drums
• Teddy Andreadis - keyboards
2000-2001
Toured in support of the second Snakepit album
• Rod Jackson - lead vocals
• Slash - lead guitar
• Keri Kelli - rhythm guitar
• Johnny Griparic - bass guitar
• Matt Laug - drums
• Beathoven - keyboards

(source from Wikipedia)

Van Halen is a hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California in 1972. They enjoyed success from the release of their self titled debut album in 1978. As of 2007 Van Halen has sold more than 80 million albums worldwide and have had the most number one hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. During the 1980s they also had more Billboard Hot 100 hits than any other hard rock or heavy metal band. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, Van Halen is the 19th best selling band/artist of all time with sales of over 56 million albums in the USA and is one of five rock bands that have had two albums sell more than 10 million copies in the USA.
In addition to being recognized for success, the band is known for the drama surrounding the exits of former members. The (multiple) exits of singers David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar were surrounded in controversy and mass press coverage with various contrasting press statements between them and the band. The band changed style dramatically following the departure of Roth, with his solo career being more similar to the band's original work than Van Halen's own songs with later singers. More recently, Michael Anthony was kicked out of the band for controversial reasons. Following their 2004 concert tour the band was on a hiatus from the public until September 2006, when new bassist Wolfgang Van Halen's place was confirmed and Roth-reunion rumors began to re-surface coinciding with the band's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction on March 12, 2007. After years of speculation, Van Halen began a tour with Roth in late 2007 across North America, which has been extended into 2008. An album is proposed to follow. Along with this, a live tour DVD was announced at their May 13, 2008 concert at the Izod Center that would contain recordings from several performances on their current tour.

Background information

Origin : Pasadena, California, US
Genre(s) : Hard rock, heavy metal
Years active : 1972 - present
Label(s) : Warner Bros., Yessup Recording
Associated acts : David Lee Roth, The Other Half, Chickenfoot, Mad Anthony Xpress
Website : www.van-halen.com

Band members

Current members

* David Lee Roth – lead & backing vocals (1974–1985, 1996, 2007–present)
* Eddie Van Halen – lead & rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (1972–present)
* Wolfgang Van Halen – bass guitar, backing vocals (2006–present)
* Alex Van Halen – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1972–present)

Former members

* Michael Anthony – bass guitar, backing vocals (1974–2002, 2004–2005)
* Sammy Hagar – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1985–1996, 2003–2005)
* Gary Cherone – lead vocals (1997–1999)
* Mitch Malloy - lead vocals (1996 - see above, band on public hiatus during brief tenure)
* Mark Stone – bass guitar, backing vocals (1972–1974 - only a member when the band still used the name Mammoth)

Discography

* Van Halen (1978)
* Van Halen II (1979)
* Women and Children First (1980)
* Fair Warning (1981)
* Diver Down (1982)
* 1984 (1983)
* 5150 (1986)
* OU812 (1988)
* For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (1991)
* Live: Right Here, Right Now (1993)
* Balance (1995)
* Best of Volume I (1996)
* Van Halen III (1998)
* The Best of Both Worlds (2004)

Van Halen awards and nominations

American Music Awards

Grammy Awards

MTV Video Music Awards

(source from Wikipedia)

Anthrax was formed in mid-1981 by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker. They found the band's name in a biology textbook and claimed it because it sounded sufficiently evil to them. John Connelly (Nuclear Assault) jammed with them a few times while trying out for the band, but never actually joined. John Connelly ended up being a roadie for the band for many of their early shows. Drummer Dave Weiss and a bassist named Kenny Kushner were other original members. Kenny Kushner was replaced very early on by Paul Kahn, who was found to be insufficient as well, so Lilker chose to take over on bass and Greg Walls joined as lead guitarist and vocalist Neil Turbin, who the band found after going through a series of temporary vocalists (including Ian's 14-year-old brother Jason). Weiss left and was replaced by Greg D'Angelo (White Lion) on drums, who left the band in spring of 1983 while recording the second demo.
Anthrax is a New York City-based heavy metal band that released its first full-length album in 1984. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene and is notable for being the first to combine heavy metal with rap music. The band is classified as one of the "big four" of thrash metal alongside Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer.
Anthrax has made several appearances on television, including the programs Married... with Children, WWE Raw, NewsRadio, Cheers, and Ask Dr. Ruth among others. The band has also appeared in films such as Run Ronnie Run (performing as the fictional band Titannica) and Calendar Girls. Their song "Madhouse" was used in the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City in-game radio station V-Rock and in Guitar Hero II. The song "Now It's Dark" was also converted into simlish on the metal radio station for The Sims PC game. Their song "Caught in a Mosh" was featured in Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s. In 2006, guitarist Scott Ian was a cast member of VH1's reality show SuperGroup and is also featured on many other VH1 shows such as I Love the 80s and I Love the 90s.
.
Background information

Origin : New York City, New York, United States
Genre(s) : Heavy metal, thrash metal, Speed metal
Years active : 1981–present
Label(s) : Megaforce, Island, Elektra, Ignition, Beyond, Sanctuary, Universal
Associated acts : Stormtroopers of Death, Public Enemy, Nuclear Assault, Armored Saint, Damnocracy
Website : www.anthrax.com



Band members
Current
• Dan Nelson – lead vocals (2007–present)
• Rob Caggiano – lead guitars (2001–2005, 2007–present)
• Scott Ian – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1981–present)
• Frank Bello – bass, backing vocals (1984–2004, 2005–present)
• Charlie Benante – drums, percussion (1983–present)

Former
Lead vocals
• John Connelly (1981)
• Dirk Kennedy (1981)
• Jason Rosenfeld (1981–1982)
• Neil Turbin (1982–1984)
• Matt Fallon (1984)
• John Bush (1992–2005)
• Joey Belladonna (1984–1992, 2005–2007)
Lead guitars
• Danny Lilker (1981)
• Greg Walls (1981–1983)
• Dan Spitz (1983–1995, 2005–2007)
• Bob Berry (1983)
Bass
• Kenny Kushner – bass (1981)
• Paul Kahn – bass (1981)
• Danny Lilker (1981–1984)
• Joey Vera (2004–2005)
Drums
• Dave Weiss (1981)
• Greg D'Angelo (1981–1983)

Discography

• Fistful of Metal (1984)
• Spreading the Disease (1985)
• Among the Living (1987)
• State of Euphoria (1988)
• Persistence of Time (1990)
• Sound of White Noise (1993)
• Stomp 442 (1995)
• Volume 8: The Threat Is Real (1998)
• We've Come for You All (2003)
• Worship Music (2009)

(source from Wikipedia)

Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Myung, John Petrucci and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, before they dropped out to support the band. Though a number of lineup changes followed, the three original members remain today along with James LaBrie and Jordan Rudess.
Dream Theater has become a successful progressive metal band, despite the drop in popularity of the genre since the mid-1970s. Although the band has had a few successful hits (notably "Pull Me Under" in the early 1990s, which received extensive MTV rotation), they have mostly stayed underground for their career.
The band is well known for the technical proficiency of its instrumentalists, who have won many awards from music instruction magazines. Dream Theater's members have collaborated with many other notable musicians. Guitarist John Petrucci has been named as the third player on the G3 tour six times, more than any other invited guitarist, following in the footsteps of Eric Johnson and Robert Fripp.
The band's highest selling album is the gold selling Images and Words (1992), which reached #61 on the Billboard 200 chart. Both the 1994 release Awake and their 2002 release Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence also entered the charts at #32 and #46 respectively and received mostly positive reviews. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence also led to Dream Theater becoming the initial band reviewed in the Music Section of Entertainment Weekly during its opening week of release, despite the magazine generally preferring more mainstream music. In 2007, Systematic Chaos entered US Billboard 200 at #19. Dream Theater has sold over two million albums in the U.S., and over 8 million records worldwide. The band has finished recording their 10th studio album, and it is in the process of being mixed.

Background information

Origin : New York, USA
Genre(s) : Progressive metal, Progressive rock
Years active : 1985–present
Label(s) : Roadrunner, Elektra, EastWest, Atco, Mechanic Records
Associated acts : Liquid Tension Experiment, Liquid Trio Experiment, Explorers Club, MullMuzzler, Nightmare Cinema, OSI, Platypus, The Jelly Jam, Transatlantic, True Symphonic Rockestra, Chroma Key
Website : www.dreamtheater.net

Band Members

• James LaBrie - Lead vocals, Percussion (1991-present)
• John Myung - Bass guitar, Chapman stick (1985-present)
• John Petrucci - Guitars, Backing vocals (1985-present)
• Mike Portnoy - Drums, Percussion, Backing vocals (1985-present)
• Jordan Rudess - Keyboards, Continuum, Lap steel guitar (1999-present)

Former members

• Chris Collins - Lead vocals (1985-1986)
• Charlie Dominici - Lead vocals (1986-1989)
• Kevin Moore - Keyboards (1985-1994)
• Derek Sherinian - Keyboards, Backing vocals (1994-1999)

Discography

• 1989: When Dream and Day Unite
• 1992: Images and Words
• 1994: Awake
• 1995: A Change of Seasons (EP)
• 1997: Falling into Infinity
• 1999: Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory
• 2002: Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
• 2003: Train of Thought
• 2005: Octavarium
• 2007: Systematic Chaos
• 2009: TBA


Awards and Certificates
RIAA gold and platinum certification
1. Images and Words (Gold) - February 2, 1995
2. Metropolis 2000: Live Scenes From New York (Gold) - November 8, 2002
3. Live at Budokan (DVD) (Platinum) - January 26, 2005
4. Live in Tokyo/5 Years in a Livetime (Platinum) - March 22, 2006
5. Score (DVD) (Platinum) - October 11, 2006

Keyboard Magazine
Jordan Rudess was awarded the following 'Keyboard Magazine Reader's Poll award':
1. Best New Talent (1994)
2. Burrn magazine's best keyboards player of the year (2007)

Modern Drummer
Mike Portnoy won the following Modern Drummer magazine Reader's Poll awards:
1. Best Up & Coming Talent (1994)
2. Best Progressive Rock Drummer (1995-2006)
3. Best Recorded Performance (1995 for Awake, 1996 for A Change of Seasons, 1998 for Falling Into Infinity, 2000 for Metropolis, Pt. 2: Scenes From a Memory, 2002 for Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, and 2007 for Score)
4. Best Clinician (2000, 2002)
5. Best Educational Video/DVD (2000, 2002)
6. Hall of Fame Inductee (2004)

Guitar World
The album Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory was ranked #95 on the magazine's list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Albums of All Time.

Total Guitar
John Petrucci won Guitarist of the year award (2007).

Other recognitions
• At Dream Theater's Salt Lake City show, Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. signed a proclamation making July 30, 2007 "Dream Theater Day".
• In December 2007, Dream Theater was chosen as Xbox Live's artist of the month.
• Dream Theater's music video "Constant Motion" was voted second in the Headbanger's Ball 2007 competition.
• Dream Theater's song "Panic Attack" off of their album Octavarium is featured in the video game Rock Band 2. The song "Pull Me Under" from the album Images and Words is also featured on Guitar Hero: World Tour.
• Since August 12, 2008 (Xbox 360) and August 14, 2008 (PS3), Dream Theater's song "Constant Motion" has been available for download for Rock Band. For the first month, it was available for a promotional price equivalent to $0.99 USD, but later reverted to a normal $1.99 cost for Rock Band downloadable content.

(source from Wikipedia)

The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California by vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger. The Doors' music was a fusion of garage rock, blues, and acid rock. They were considered a controversial band, due mostly to Morrison's cryptic lyrics and unpredictable stage persona. After Morrison's death on July 3, 1971, the remaining members continued as a threesome until disbanding in 1973. Despite a career that barely totaled eight years, The Doors still enjoy a huge cult following as well as status in the mainstream music industry as being hugely influential and original. According to the RIAA, they have sold over 32 million albums in the US alone. The origins of The Doors lay in a chance meeting between acquaintances and fellow UCLA film school alumni Jim Morrison and Ray Manzarek on Venice Beach California in July 1965. Morrison told Manzarek he had been writing songs (Morrison said "I was taking notes at a fantastic rock-n-roll concert going on in my head") and, with Manzarek's encouragement, sang "Moonlight Drive". Impressed by Morrison's lyrics, Manzarek suggested they form a band. Keyboardist Manzarek was in a band called Rick & the Ravens with his brothers Rick & Jim Manczarek, while drummer John Densmore was playing with The Psychedelic Rangers, and knew Manzarek from meditation classes. In August, Densmore joined the group and, along with members of The Ravens and bass player Pat Sullivan (later credited using her married name Patricia Hansen in the 1997 box CD release), recorded a six-song demo in September 1965. This circulated widely as a bootleg recording and appeared in full on the 1997 Doors box set. That month the group recruited guitarist Robby Krieger, and the final lineup — Morrison, Manzarek, Krieger and Densmore — was complete. The band took their name from the title of a book by Aldous Huxley, The Doors of Perception (1954). That title was in turn taken from a line in a poem by the 18th-century artist and poet William Blake: "If the doors of perception were cleansed, every thing would appear to man as it is: infinite". The Doors were unusual among rock groups because they did not use a bass guitar when playing live. Instead, Manzarek played the bass lines with his left hand on the newly invented Fender Rhodes Piano Bass, an offshoot of the Fender Rhodes electric piano, playing other keyboards with his right hand. On their studio albums (with the notable exception of their eponymous first record), The Doors did, however, use bass players, such as Jerry Scheff, Doug Lubahn (who also played with Clear Light), Harvey Brooks, Kerry Magness, Lonnie Mack, Larry Knechtel, Leroy Vinnegar, and Ray Neapolitan. Many of The Doors' original songs were group compositions, with Morrison or Krieger contributing the lyrics and an initial melody, and the others providing harmonic and rhythmic suggestions, or even entire sections of songs, such as Manzarek's organ introduction to "Light My Fire". By 1966, the group was playing the London Fog club and soon graduated to the prestigious Whisky a Go Go, where they were the house band, supporting acts including Van Morrison's group Them. On their last night together the two bands joined up for "In the Midnight Hour" and a twenty-minute jam session of Them's "Gloria". On August 10, they were spotted by Elektra Records president Jac Holzman who was present at the recommendation of Love singer Arthur Lee, whose group was on Elektra. After Holzman and producer Paul A. Rothchild saw two sets of the band playing at the Whisky a Go Go, they signed them to the Elektra Records label on August 18—the start of a long and successful partnership with Rothchild and engineer Bruce Botnick. The timing was fortunate, because on August 21 the club fired the band after a profanity-filled performance of "The End". In an incident that foreshadowed the controversy that later followed the group, an acid-tripping Morrison raucously recited his own version of the Greek drama Oedipus Rex, in which Oedipus kills his father and has sex with his mother.

Background information

Origin : Los Angeles, California, United States
Genre(s) : Rock, blues-rock, psychedelic rock, acid rock
Years active :1965-1973
(Partial reunions :1978, 2001, 2003, 2008) Label(s) Elektra, Rhino (for compilations)
Website : www.thedoors.com

Band members
(1965–1971)
• Jim Morrison - lead vocals
• Robby Krieger - guitar, vocals
• Ray Manzarek - keyboards, keyboard bass, vocals
• John Densmore - drums, percussion

(1971–1973)
• Robby Krieger - guitar, vocals
• Ray Manzarek - keyboards, keyboard bass, vocals
• John Densmore - drums, percussion


Discography

• 1967 - The Doors
• 1967 - Strange Days
• 1968 - Waiting for the Sun
• 1969 - The Soft Parade
• 1970 - Morrison Hotel
• 1971 - L.A. Woman
• 1971 - Other Voices
• 1972 - Full Circle
• 1978 - An American Prayer

Awards and Accolades

• In 1993, The Doors were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
• In 1998, Light My Fire was inductee into the Grammy Hall of Fame under the category Rock (track)
• In 2002, The Doors (their debut album) was inductee into the Grammy Hall of Fame under the category Rock (Album)
• In 2007, The Doors received a lifetime achievement award at the 2007 Grammy Awards
• In 2007, The Doors received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
• In 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked The Doors[19] #41 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.[20]
• The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine includes 3 studio albums by The Doors. The Doors at #42, L.A Woman at #362 and Strange Days at #407
• The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine includes 2 songs by The Doors. Light My Fire at #35 and The End at #328
• In 2000 The Doors are ranked #32 on VH1's 100 Greatest Hard Rock Artists
• The Doors' "Light My Fire" is ranked #7 on VH1 Greatest Rock Songs, in 2000
- The Doors were the first American Rock-n-Roll band to sell 8 consecutive Gold records
- The RIAA, as of November 2008, certifies the following albums as Gold (RIAA Web Search)
- Absolutely Live
- Alive, She Cried
- Legacy: The Absolute Best
- Weird Scenes Inside the Gold Mine
• The RIAA, as of November 2008, certifies the following albums as Platinum (RIAA Web Search)
- An American Prayer
- In Concert
- Morrison Hotel
- Strange Days
- The Doors - 13
- The Doors (Movie Soundtrack)
- The Doors Box Set
- The Soft Parade
- Waiting For The Sun
• The RIAA, as of November 2008, certifies the following albums as Multi-Platinum (RIAA Web Search)
- Greatest Hits (1996 Reissue) (2.0x Platinum)
- L.A. Woman (2.0x Platinum)
- Greatest Hits (LP) (3.0x Platinum)
- The Doors (4.0x Platinum)
• The RIAA, as of November 2008, certifies the following albums as Diamond (RIAA Web Search)
- The Best of The Doors
• The RIAA, as of November 2008, certifies the following singles as Gold (RIAA Web Search)
- Hello, I Love You
- Light My Fire
- Touch Me
• The RIAA, as of November 2008, certifies the following videos as Gold (RIAA Web Search)
No One Here Gets Out Alive
- Soundstage
• The RIAA, as of November 2008, certifies the following videos as Platinum (RIAA Web Search)
- A Tribute to Jim Morrison
- Dance on Fire
- Live In Europe
- The Doors Live at The Hollywood Bowl

(source from Wikipedia)

Mr. Big is an American Hard rock super group. Formed in 1988, Mr. Big is particularly popular in Japan. Mr. Big are probably best known for their 1991 rock hit, "Green-Tinted Sixties Mind", as well as their 1992 acoustic Billboard Hot 100 number one single "To Be With You." Mr. Big combined two popular musical trends of the rock scene in the 1980s: a particular brand of Hard rock, focused on melodies and listener-friendly choruses, and impressive technical proficiency, then called shredding. The seeds for the group were sown when bass player Billy Sheehan (bass guitarist for guitarist Steve Vai) left David Lee Roth's solo band (also with Vai) in 1988. Almost immediately after his exit, Sheehan began piecing together a new outfit, with the help of Mike Varney from Shrapnel Records, a label specialized in the shredding genre. However, what Sheehan did not know was that he was about to form one of the most revered "supergroups" to come out of America. The band, now managed by former Journey and Santana manager Herbie Herbert, was composed of Shrapnel artist and former Racer X guitarist Paul Gilbert, Pat Torpey on drums, and singer Eric Martin, who had a number of album releases throughout the 1980s with his Eric Martin Band. By 1989, the newly formed quartet had already inked a recording contract with Atlantic, resulting in the release of a self-titled debut the same year. Despite causing a buzz amongst musicians, the album failed to cross over to a mainstream rock audience stateside; however, Mr. Big was an immediate smash success overseas in Japan. The band's breakthrough came with their second album, Lean Into It, in 1991. It featured two ballads that established the band as a commercial success: "To Be With You" and "Just Take My Heart", as well as rock songs that remained as staples of their live set for years to come, such as "Green-Tinted Sixties Mind". Other releases followed, Bump Ahead in 1993 and Hey Man in 1996, but the band never replicated its earlier success in the US market. The song "Take Cover" was included on the soundtrack to the cartoon series Mega Man released in 1995, which is based on the best selling video game franchise of the same name by Capcom, and was played during the end credits of the episodes "Bad Day At Peril Park" and "Mega X". In Japan, on the other hand, they continued to sell out tours, resulting in a number of live releases for the Japanese market throughout their career (from Raw Like Sushi in 1990 to Mr. Big In Japan in 2002). Paul Gilbert left the band in 1997 to pursue a solo career and eventually reform Racer X. Richie Kotzen, another Shrapnel artist and former guitarist for Poison, was brought in to take on guitar duties, also contributing occasional vocals. Two studio albums were released by this lineup: Get Over It in 2000 and Actual Size in 2001, which featured the single "Shine", used as the ending theme in the animation series of Hellsing. Tensions in the band led to their demise—contractual obligations for yet another Japanese tour were fulfilled in the form of a "farewell tour". The multi-million record-selling band broke up in 2002, many years since their last US hit, but while still enjoying great popularity in Japan. All of the former members have gone on to other projects in the music industry. The band also contributed the soundtrack to the 1993 Sega Mega CD release of The Amazing Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin. On May 7, 2008, a Mr. Big "almost-reunion" took place at guitarist Paul Gilbert's solo show at the House of Blues in West Hollywood, California. Paul invited his former MR. BIG bandmates Billy Sheehan and Pat Torpey, along with fellow ex-Mr. Big guitarist Richie Kotzen (he joined the band as Paul's replacement) to his stage and they played two songs: "30 Days in the Hole" (Humble Pie song with Kotzen on vocals), and "Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy" (with Gilbert and Mike Szuter from Paul's band on vocals).



Background information

Origin : USA
Genre(s) : Hard Rock, Heavy Metal
Years active :1988–2002 ; 2009 (reunion)
Label(s) : Warner/Atlantic
Associated acts Racer X, Poison, Steve Vai, G3, David Lee Roth, Tak Matsumoto Group
Website : www.mrbigsite.com

Band members
• Eric Martin - lead vocals (1988-2002, 2009)
• Pat Torpey - drums, percussion (1988-2002, 2009)
• Billy Sheehan - bass guitar (1988-2002, 2009)
• Paul Gilbert - guitar (1988-1997, 2009)

Former Members
• Richie Kotzen - guitar (1999-2002)

Discography

Studio albums
• Mr. Big (1989) (The Billboard 200 #46, Japan Oricon Album Chart #22, JPN - Gold, UK #60[4])
• Lean Into It (1991) (The Billboard 200 #15, Japan Oricon Album Chart #6, US - Platinum, JPN - Platinum, UK #28[4])
• Bump Ahead (1993) (The Billboard 200 #82, Japan Oricon Album Chart #4, JPN - Platinum, UK #61[4])
• Hey Man (1996) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #1, JPN - 2x Platinum)
• Get Over It (2000) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #5, JPN - Gold)
• Actual Size (2001) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #5)

Live albums
• Raw Like Sushi (1990) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #32)
• Mr. Big Live (Live in San Francisco) (1992) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #45)
• Raw Like Sushi II (1992) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #8, JPN - Gold)
• Japandemonium: Raw Like Sushi 3 (1994) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #11, JPN - Platinum)
• Channel V at the Hard Rock Live (1996) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #32)
• Live at Budokan (1997) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #20)
• In Japan (2002) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #12)

Singles
• "Addicted to That Rush" (1989) (Mainstream Rock Tracks #39)
• "Wind Me Up" (1989)
• "Green-Tinted Sixties Mind" (1991) (Mainstream Rock Tracks #33, UK #72[4])
• "To Be With You" (1991) (The Billboard Hot 100 #1 (3 weeks), Mainstream Rock Tracks #19, Adult Contemporary #11, UK #3[4])
• "Just Take My Heart" (1992) (The Billboard Hot 100 #16, Mainstream Rock Tracks #18, Japan Oricon Single Chart #68, UK #26[4])
• "Wild World" (1993) (The Billboard Hot 100 #27, Mainstream Rock Tracks #33, Top 40 Mainstream #12, Japan Oricon Single Chart #40, UK #59[4])
• "Ain't Seen Love Like That" (1994) (The Billboard Hot 100 #83)
• "Take Cover" (1996) (Japan Oricon Single Chart #1)
• "Not One Night" (1997)
• "Superfantastic" (2000) (Japan Oricon Single Chart #97)
• "Static" (2000) (Japan Oricon Single Chart #66)
• "Where Are They Now" (2000) (Japan Oricon Single Chart #47)
• "Shine" (2001) (Japan Oricon Single Chart #1)
• "Arrow" (2001) (Japan Oricon Single Chart #42)

Compilations
• Big Bigger Biggest: Greatest Hits (1996) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #2, JPN - 4x Platinum)
• Deep Cuts (2000) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #12)
• Greatest Hits (2004) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #70)

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Metallica is an American heavy metal band that formed in 1981 in Los Angeles. Founded when drummer Lars Ulrich posted an advertisement in a local newspaper, Metallica's line-up has primarily consisted of Ulrich, rhythm guitarist and vocalist James Hetfield, and lead guitarist Kirk Hammett, while going through a number of bassists. Currently, the spot is held by Robert Trujillo.
Metallica's early releases included fast tempos, instrumentals, and aggressive musicianship that placed them as one of the "big four" of the thrash metal subgenre alongside Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax. The band earned a growing fan base in the underground music community and critical acclaim, with the 1986 release Master of Puppets described as one of the most influential and "heavy" thrash metal albums. The band achieved substantial commercial success with Metallica (1991), which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. With this release the band expanded its musical direction resulting in an album that appealed to a more mainstream audience.
In 2000, Metallica was among several artists who filed a lawsuit against Napster for sharing the band's copyright-protected material for free without the band members' consent. A settlement was reached, and Napster became a pay-to-use service. Despite reaching number one on the Billboard 200, the release of St. Anger alienated many fans with the exclusion of guitar solos and the "steel-sounding" snare drum. A film titled Some Kind of Monster documented the recording process of St. Anger.
Metallica has released nine studio albums, two live albums, two EPs, twenty-two music videos, and forty-three singles. The band has won nine Grammy Awards, and has had five consecutive albums debut at number one on the Billboard 200, making Metallica the only band ever to do so. The band's 1991 album, Metallica, has sold over 15 million copies in the United States, and 22 million copies worldwide, which makes it the 25th-highest-selling album in the country. The band has sold an estimated 100 million records worldwide as of the release of their latest album Death Magnetic. As of September 2008, Metallica is the fourth highest-selling music artist since the SoundScan era began tracking sales on May 25, 1991, selling a total of 51,136,000 albums in the United States alone.

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Bon Jovi is an American hard rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Fronted by lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi, the group originally achieved large-scale success in the 1980s. Over the past 25 years, Bon Jovi has sold over 120 million albums worldwide. Bon Jovi formed in 1983 with lead singer Jon Bon Jovi (born John Francis Bongiovi, Jr.), guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, bassist Alec John Such, and drummer Tico Torres. Other than the departure of Alec John Such in 1994 (which pared the lineup down to a quartet), the lineup has remained the same for the past 25 years. After two moderately successful albums in 1984 and 1985, the band scored big with Slippery When Wet (1986) and New Jersey (1988), which sold a combined 19 million copies in the U.S. alone, charted eight Top Ten hits (including four number one hits), and launched the band into global super stardom. After non-stop touring, the band went on hiatus after the New Jersey Tour in 1990, during which time Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora both released successful solo albums. In 1992, the band returned with the double platinum Keep the Faith and has since created a string of platinum albums throughout the 1990s and 2000s. In 2006, the band won a Grammy for best Country Collaboration for "Who Says You Can't Go Home" with Jennifer Nettles from Sugarland and also became the first rock band to reach #1 on the Hot Country Songs chart with the same song. The band has also received multiple Grammy nominations for music from the albums Crush, Bounce, and Lost Highway. Throughout their career, the band has released ten studio albums, of which nine have gone platinum in US. In addition, the band has charted 19 singles to the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, five of which reached #1 - "You Give Love a Bad Name", "Livin' on a Prayer", "Bad Medicine", "I'll Be There for You" and Jon Bon Jovi's solo hit "Blaze of Glory". The band also holds the record for the most weeks for a hard rock album at #1 on the Billboard 200 with Slippery When Wet, as well as the most Top 10 singles from a hard rock album, with New Jersey, which charted five such singles. With $252 million in ticket sales alone from the hugely successful Lost Highway Tour, the band is looking to move on from the Country Rock theme of Lost Highway. When asked by Billboard.com whether they will release another country album, Lead Guitarist, Richie Sambora said, "No, we have to change. We have to do something different. I don't know what that's going to be. As we get into the writing process and continue on, we'll see what that's going to look like. I think it comes to, stylistically, what songs you're writing. What kind of music is coming out of you, and what's the mood of those songs. You have to color those little drawings with the right production value and the right music.

Background information

Origin : Sayreville, New Jersey, United States
Genre(s) : Hard rock
Years active : 1983–present
Label(s) : Island, Mercury
Website : http://bonjovi.com

Band members

Current members
* Jon Bon Jovi - vocals, guitar, percussion, harmonica (1983-present)
* Richie Sambora - guitar, backing vocals (1983-present)
* David Bryan - keyboards, backing vocals (1983-present)
* Tico Torres - drums, percussion (1983-present)

Additional musician
* Hugh McDonald - bass guitar, backing vocals (1995-present)

Former members
* Alec John Such - bass guitar, backing vocals (1983-1994)

Discography Studio albums
• Bon Jovi (1984)
• 7800° Fahrenheit (1985)
• Slippery When Wet (1986)
• New Jersey (1988)
• Keep the Faith (1992)
• These Days (1995)
• Crush (2000)
• Bounce (2002)
• Have a Nice Day (2005)
• Lost Highway (2007)

Compilation albums
• Cross Road: Greatest Hits (1994)
• This Left Feels Right (2003)

Live albums
• One Wild Night Live 1985-2001 (2001)

Box Sets
100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong (2004)

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Aerosmith is an American hard rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston”and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band".Their style, rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, glam, and rhythm and blues, which has inspired many subsequent rock artists. The band was formed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1970. Guitarist Joe Perry and bassist Tom Hamilton, originally in a band together called the Jam Band, met up with singer Steven Tyler, drummer Joey Kramer, and guitarist Ray Tabano, and formed Aerosmith. By 1971, Tabano was replaced by Brad Whitford, and the band began developing a following in Boston. They were signed to Columbia Records in 1972 and released a string of multi-platinum albums, beginning with their 1973 eponymous debut album. In 1975, the band broke into the mainstream with the album Toys in the Attic, and their 1976 follow-up Rocks cemented their status as hard rock superstars. By the end of the 1970s, they were among the most popular hard rock bands in the world and developed a loyal following of fans, often referred to as the "Blue Army". However, drug addiction and internal conflict took their toll on the band, which resulted in the departures of Perry and Whitford, in 1979 and 1981 respectively. They were replaced by Jimmy Crespo and Rick Dufay. The band did not fare well between 1980 and 1984, releasing a lone album, Rock in a Hard Place, which went gold but failed to match their previous successes. Although Perry and Whitford returned in 1984 and the band signed a new deal with Geffen Records, it wasn't until the band sobered up and released 1987's Permanent Vacation that they regained the level of popularity they had experienced in the 1970s. Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, the band scored several hits and won numerous awards for music from the multi-platinum albums Pump (1989), Get a Grip (1993), and Nine Lives (1997). Their comeback has been described as one of the most remarkable and spectacular in rock 'n' roll history. After 39 years of performing, the band continues to tour and record music. Aerosmith is the best-selling American hard rock band of all time, having sold 150 million albums worldwide, including 66.5 million albums in the United States alone. They also hold the record for the most gold and multi-platinum albums by an American group. The band has scored 21 Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, nine #1 Mainstream Rock hits, four Grammy Awards, and ten MTV Video Music Awards. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001, and in 2005 they were ranked #57 in Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

Background information

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The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in 1962 in London when multi-instrumentalist Brian Jones and pianist Ian Stewart were joined by vocalist Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards. Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early lineup. Stewart, deemed unsuitable as a teen idol, was removed from the official lineup in 1963 but continued to work with the band as road manager and keyboardist until his death in 1985. Jagger and Richards early on formed a songwriting partnership and gradually took over leadership of the band from the increasingly troubled and erratic Jones. At first recording mainly covers of American blues and R&B songs, since 1966's Aftermath, The Rolling Stones new studio releases have had almost exlusively Jagger/Richards songs. Shortly before his death in 1969, the band fired Jones and replaced him with Mick Taylor. Taylor recorded five studio albums with The Rolling Stones before quitting in 1974. Faces guitarist Ronnie Wood replaced Taylor and has since remained with the band. Wyman left the Rolling Stones in 1993; bassist Darryl Jones, who is not an official band member, has worked with the group since 1994. First popular in the UK and Europe, The Rolling Stones came to the US during the early 1960s "British Invasion". The Rolling Stones have released 22 studio albums in the UK (24 in the US), eight concert albums (nine in the US) and numerous compilations; and have sold more than 200 million albums worldwide. Their latest album, A Bigger Bang, was released in 2005. Sticky Fingers (1971) began a string of eight consecutive studio albums that charted at number one in the United States. In 1989 The Rolling Stones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in 2004 they were ranked number 4 in Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. Their image of unkempt and surly youth is one that many musicians still emulate.

Background information
Origin : London, England
Genre(s) : Rock and roll, rhythm and blues, blues, rock
Years active : 1962–present
Label(s) : Decca, Rolling Stones, Virgin, ABKCO, Interscope, Polydor
Website : www.RollingStones.com

Members :
Mick Jagger
Keith Richards
Charlie Watts
Ronnie Wood

Former members :
Brian Jones
Ian Stewart
Dick Taylor
Mick Taylor
Bill Wyman

Line Up :

1962
• Mick Jagger - lead vocals, harmonica, percussion
• Brian Jones - guitars, backing vocals, harmonica, percussion
• Keith Richards - guitars, backing vocals
• Ian Stewart - piano, percussion
with
• Dick Taylor - bass
• Ricky Fenson - bass
• Bill Wyman - bass
• Tony Chapman - drums
• Carlo Little - drums
• Mick Avory – drums

January - April 1963
• Mick Jagger - lead vocals, harmonica, percussion
• Brian Jones - guitars, backing vocals, harmonica, percussion
• Keith Richards - guitars, backing vocals
• Ian Stewart - piano, percussion
• Charlie Watts - drums
• Bill Wyman - bass, backing vocals

May 1963 - May 1969
• Mick Jagger - lead vocals, harmonica, percussion
• Brian Jones - guitars, backing vocals, harmonica, percussion, tamboura, sitar, dulcimer, keyboards, autoharp, brass, woodwinds, theremin, kazoo
• Keith Richards - guitars, vocals, bass, keyboards, percussion
• Charlie Watts - drums, percussion
• Bill Wyman - bass, vocals, percussion, keyboards

May 1969 - December 1974
• Mick Jagger - lead vocals, harmonica, keyboards, percussion, guitar
• Keith Richards - guitars, vocals, bass, keyboards
• Mick Taylor - guitars, bass, synthesizer, percussion, backing vocals
• Charlie Watts - drums, percussion
• Bill Wyman - bass, synthesizer
May 1975 - 1993
• Mick Jagger - lead vocals, harmonica, keyboards, guitar
• Keith Richards - guitars, vocals, bass, keyboards, percussion
• Charlie Watts - drums, percussion
• Ronnie Wood - guitars, backing vocals, bass, drums, percussion
• Bill Wyman - bass, synthesizer

1993 - present
• Mick Jagger - lead vocals, harmonica, percussion, guitar, bass, keyboards
• Keith Richards - guitars, vocals, bass, keyboards
• Charlie Watts - drums, percussion
• Ronnie Wood - guitars, backing vocals, bass
with
• Darryl Jones - bass

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