Metal Blade Records history by Dan Slessor:
Founded upon owner Brian Slagel's enduring drive to find great bands and get their music out to as many people as possible, since 1982 Metal Blade has brought wave after wave of powerful, innovative, and often genre-defining music to the ever-hungry metal masses. It is this ethos that has seen Metal Blade build up a stunning and diverse catalogue, weather the various storms facing any independent label, and in an age of declining record sales boast the most successful years of its existence as it strides into its fourth decade.

What perhaps makes this achievement all the more notable is the fact that Slagel never even intended to start a label. Working in an LA record store and writing for various publications, Slagel was acutely aware that many great bands in the local metal scene were being ignored, and he decided to release a compilation of tracks drawn from these ranks. "There were a lot of really good bands and I was just bummed out that nobody could hear them. It just seemed like I could help them out and have some fun at the same time, and that compilation was the first Metal Massacre," he states. Collating tracks from then unknown bands including Ratt, Bitch, Cirith Ungol, and Metallica amongst others, the compilation sold out immediately. "How important is Metal Blade to our career? They're only the reason we are enjoying the worldwide success we have today," states Metallica's James Hetfield. "Without Brian's openness to some raunchy teens with a crap sounding cassette tape we would be who knows where, and playing who knows what!" With the popularity of the tape spurring Slagel on, the first seeds of Metal Blade were sown. "After the success of those compilations I just started putting out records of bands that I was friends with, but without ever really intending it to be a label at all," he explains. "After I put out four or five releases I started to feel like something was happening, and I decided to quit the record store and quit college and see where it went."

Battling through the first few lean years, when the label consisted solely of Slagel working out of his mom's poorly ventilated garage in the San Fernando Valley, it gradually grew in both revenue and stature. Within a few years Metal Blade would go on to release the debuts of Slayer, Armored Saint, Trouble, and Corrosion Of Conformity amongst others, fanning the flames of the burgeoning metal scene and launching careers of bands that would go onto reap global success. "Without Metal Blade, there is a damn good chance we never would've made it out of L.A," says Slayer's Kerry King. "That was the one bit of luck we needed. You can be the most awesome band on the scene, and if no one notices you, you don't catch on. And Brian Slagel is still one of the biggest metalheads I know!" This genuine love and devotion to metal is central to the relationship many of the artists have with Metal Blade, and King Diamond credits much of its relevance and strength to this passion. "I refer to it as having 'boots on the ground'," the mighty Dane states. "It's not like a major label where some people might be into what you're doing but a lot of them just see it as a job – there's a genuine love for metal there. Through staying true to that and doing their own thing they've carved out a very specific niche that they control, and as an artist it's wonderful to be a part of that."over the years. Clearly without those people we couldn't do what we do, and to everyone out there who has helped us along by being a fan we are so very grateful to you."

Read more: http://www.metalblade.com/us/about-us/

 Living Colour is an American rock band from New York City, formed in 1984. Led by guitarist Vernon Reid, the band's lineup solidified in the mid-80's w/ Corey Glover (vocals), Will Calhoun (drums) and Muzz Skillings (bass). Stylistically, the band's music is a creative fusion influenced by free jazz, funk, hard rock and heavy metal. Their lyrics range from the personal to the political, in some of the latter cases attacking Eurocentrism and racism in America.

The band’s debut album, “Vivid,” was released in 1988 on Epic Records. The album reached #6 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart and was later certified double platinum by the RIAA. It featured “Cult of Personality,” a #13 hit on the Billboard 200 Singles chart as well as the Top 40 hit, “Glamour Boys.” “Cult of Personality” went on to earn the band their first Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance.

In 1990 the band's second full-length album, “Time's Up,” was released and reached #13 on the Billboard 200 while certifying gold. It won a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Album and featured guest appearances by Queen Latifah, Little Richard, Doug E. Fresh, Maceo Parker and James Earl Jones.

Due to creative differences, Skillings left the band in the summer of 1992, only to be replaced by session veteran and SugarHill Gang bass player Doug Wimbish.

“Stain,” their third studio album, was released in 1993 by Epic. Reaching #26 on the Billboard 200, the album had a much heavier and aggressive sound, containing elements of thrash metal and industrial music while receiving a Grammy nomination for 'Leave It Alone'.

After a split in 1995, Living Colour returned in the Dec 2000 and began recording “Collideøscope” in late 2002. Released in 2003, the album featured aggressive lyrics, with many of the songs about the September 11 attacks. It also contained cover versions of AC/DC's “Back in Black” and The Beatles' “Tomorrow Never Knows.”

Their first release on Megaforce Records, “The Chair in the Doorway,” was issued in 2009 and reached #159 on the Billboard 200 charged by the single 'Behind The Sun'

In 2013, the band celebrated the 25th anniversary of 'Vivid' w/ a world tour crossing North and South Americas, Europe, and Japan including the Soundwave festival in Australia.

The root of Living Colour's next album, came from a performance of Robert Johnson's "Preachin' Blues" at the 100th Anniversary Birthday celebration at the Apollo in New York City. To be released in the fall of 2016, ‘Shade’ is the sound of a band coming to terms with its shadows and light,” says founder Vernon Reid. “From the blue pulpit of Robert Johnson to the mean red streets of Brooklyn to the golden lure of Hollywood, ‘Shade’ is the next chapter of a unique American journey.”

Andy was signed to Atlantic Records and had significant airplay on MTV and Radio 1 with his old band, No Hope In New Jersey. This culminated in a main-stage performance at the V Festival. When the band split, Andy was at a loss, but one day he received a parcel from his uncle: the biography of Jimi Hendrix. The days Hendrix spent as a sideman fascinated Andy, and inspired him to learn more about his craft as a musician. This was the start of eight years’ apprenticeship playing various styles of music in bands all over the world.

In 2015,  his apprenticeship over, he decided to stay, and work on his own material.

This resulted in 7 albums. Work Of Fiction and Dedicated to Nobody.

Work Of Fiction contains 9 songs which were featured on BBC Introducing and one song featured on a playstation advert. 

Dedicated To Nobody contains 4 BBC Introducing tracks of the week. The songs “Fall Apart”, “One Fine Day” and “Get Up” where picked by BBC Radio Leicester and subsequently featured on the Ben Jackson Morning Show. Each track getting a play everyday for a week.

The songs “Steal” and “Hey Into The Void” also made it onto the Fresh On The Net LP. Over 200 songs were submitted by other artists. “Steal” and “Hey Into The Void” made the top 25 on different weeks.

“Hey Into Void” subsequently featured on the Tom Robinson BBC 6 Introducing Mixtape where Tom himself picks his favourite tracks and it also became a Northampton BBC Introducing track of the week.

In addition to the above the songs “Approval Removal”, “1985” and “Standard Affair” also got played on the regular BBC Introducing show.

In April 2020  “I Don’t Know” became BBC Introducing track of the week. This version wasn’t included on “Dedicated to Nobody”, so we decided to create an EP with 3 more new songs to compliment it. These songs were recorded straight after the Work of Fiction sessions in 2018 and they found a home on the V Sides EP. 2020 has been a busy year for releases. August 1st 2020 saw the release of another EP called Silencer. It brings together 5 alt rock recordings focusing on the heavier side of things.

To date, songs from Andrew Van Garratt have been played on BBC Introducing 18 times, “Capital D” has been featured in the TV show Doctors, and “Invaders” from his previous band No Hope In New Jersey has been featured in Top Gear, and Blue Peter. Recently his new songs have featured on an advert for Nissan and a trailer for PlayStation.

Pianist and teacher, available to play at weddings and events in Oxfordshire and surrounding areas.

Original alternative rock band form Oxfordshire UK. 
Jai: Guitarist, Lead Vocals, Songwriter
Martin: Drums
Jannine: Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals

Andrea Ojano is a prolific vocalist/songwriter currently working as the lead singer of Bon Giovi (Bon Jovi Tribute Band)

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