Lead Vocalist Josh Todd founded Buckcherry in the mid 90’s after bonding with guitarist Keith Nelson over a mutual appreciation of AC/DC in a California tattoo parlour. After recording music together, they added a bass player, Jonathan Brightman, and a drummer, Devon Glenn, and toured local bars and clubs in Hollywood, under the name Sparrow.
After gaining a local fanbase due to their classic rock n roll style, they were quickly snapped up by Dreamsworks Records, and forced to change their name to legal reasons. The band claims they named themselves after a draq queen in Hollywood.
Buckcherry released their self-titled debut studio album in 1999, which was a commercial and critical success, with the album certified Gold. Following on from the album, the band toured extensively, with highlights including an opening slot for Lenny Kravitz and playing at Woodstock festival.
They quickly followed with a sophomore album “Time Bomb” in 2001, however they album was considered by fans and critics as a disappointment, and with various artistic differences and member changes within the group, the band eventually broke up in 2002
After Todd and Nelson flirted with a project with Guns N’ Roses member Slash, and wrote and produced records for other bands such as Velvet Revolver, they decided to reform Buckcherry for a second stint in 2005.
They unleashed their successful comeback album “15” in 2006, which marked the completion of a successful return for the group as it was certified platinum. Since their return, Buckcherry have continued to write fruitful albums, including 2013’s “Confessions”.
Since their comeback, the band have played on massive tours with rock behemoths KISS and Motley Crue, and contributed music to movie soundtracks such as the “Avengers Assemble”
The roots of Death Angel can be traced to California and a quartet of cousins, Rob Cavestany, Dennis Pepa , Gus Pepa and Andy Galeon who formed the original line up yet they were known by many other pseudonyms including Dark Fury and Cavestany before eventually deciding on Death Angel. Their first album 'The Ultra-Violence' was released in 1987 after experimenting with different variations of traditional metal. The album was released through Enigma Records, it failed to chart yet it was hailed as a cult success by the band's early fan base.
The band followed this with two albums, 'Frolic Through The Park' in 1989 which remains the only appearance on the US Billboard charts whilst 1990's 'Part III' scored the band moderate chart success across Europe. In late 1990 drummer Andy Galeon was critically injured when their tour bus crashed and this was seen as the catalyst that ended with the band's demise. Their record label encouraged them to replace Galeon with another drummer due him needing a year to recover yet when the band refused they were then dropped. Various members decided to pursue life outside music and by 1991 Death Angel was no more.
However in 2001 the band reunited for a benefit show, although Gus Pepa was unable to attend due to no longer being in the States so Death Angel continued with collaborator and friend Ted Aguilar. They released their first album in 14 years which was titled 'The Art Of Dying' in 2004. The 2010 release 'Relentless Retribution' peaked at #10 on the US Heatseekers charts as well as appearing on numerous European charts.
Buckcherry have been a band out of time for as long as they’ve been together. Formed in 1995 they were too late to fit in with the Glam Metal scene of their native Los Angeles, too late to ride the wave of grunge in the early 90’s and a little bit too early to truly capitalize on the post-grunge boom at the turn of the 21st century. However, if you don’t fit in you can only stand out, and that’s exactly what Buckcherry do. They’ve built up a devoted fan-base by not only fusing the two genres that they missed the boat on the first time around better than anyone else around, but also by regularly turning in staggering live show after staggering live show which anyone can see to this day. Combining the street-born swagger of golden era Guns ‘n’ Roses with the tuned down riffs and heavy angst of Silverchair and Shinedown, a Buckcherry concert can stake a legitimate claim to being a melting pot of the last thirty years of American rock. Everything that made it exciting, edgy and life affirming can be found in spades along with Keith Nelson and Stevie D.’s duelling, scything guitar work, while all being conducted to perfection by Josh Todd, a frontman who could be the dictionary definition of commanding. The band hasn’t missed a step live as they come up to their 20th year as a band, and they’re only getting better. So anyone looking for the best time they can have with some sensational riffs and amps turned to twelve can’t go wrong with an evening with Buckcherry.
The Californian thrash metal band have had several stints of music production fame over the years, and have released several studio albums over the years. Death Angel are the kind of band that I wasn’t particularly interested in listening to until I saw them perform live. I was dragged along to a concert with a friend, and absolutely loved every moment. The instrumental talent that the band in incredibly high, and their musical solos demonstrated the complexity of their individual parts. Many people are inclined to think that the vocals in metal bands are simply shouting, but it is a highly difficult skill, and their front man, Mark Osegueda has it absolutely nailed.
Although their line up has changed quite a lot over the years, the band are incredibly strong and work together really well. They bounce their energy off of each other, and are constantly head banging throughout their sets, encouraging the audience to do the same. They played through their newest album The Dream Calls For Blood, as well as revisiting some of their older material, which seemed to please the long time fans.
Towards the end of the show, Ted Aguilar was chatting to us in the audience, telling a couple of funny stories, and revealed that they had a new album in the pipeline, and the band played us a preview of a track, and it sounded awesome!