Danger Danger

Danger Danger
Danger Danger at the 2004 Sweden Rock Festival
Danger Danger at the 2004 Sweden Rock Festival
Background information
OriginQueens, New York, U.S.
GenresGlam metal,[1][2] hard rock[3]
Years active1986–present
(hiatus 1995–1997)
LabelsEpic, D-Rock, Frontiers
MembersBruno Ravel
Steve West
Ted Poley
Rob Marcello
Past membersKasey Smith
Al Pitrelli
Mike Pont
Tony "Bruno" Rey
Andy Timmons
Paul Laine
Websitewww.dangerdanger.com

Danger Danger is an American glam metal band formed in Queens, New York, in 1986.[4]

History

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Danger Danger was formed in 1986 by former Hotshot members lead vocalist Mike Pont (joined in 1987), bassist Bruno Ravel, and drummer Steve West (joined in 1987). This lineup also featured then future Hotshot guitarist Al Pitrelli and the former keyboardist of Jazz/Rock/Fusion group Get With It,[5] Kasey Smith. Mike Pont later left the band and was replaced by Ted Poley, who previously played in the band Prophet as drummer, and sometimes lead vocalist. Somewhere during this time, they made a failed attempt at recording a demo.

They made another attempt at recording a demo and this time it landed them a recording contract with Epic Records.[4] In 1988, Pitrelli left Danger Danger.[4] Shortly after, Pont and Pitrelli reunited to form a new lineup of Hotshot. Since then, Pitrelli has played in various other bands. Pitrelli played on most of the Danger Danger compilation album Rare Cuts.

In 1988, Saraya guitarist Tony Rey joined briefly and played on part of their debut album, before returning to his previous band. Andy Timmons replaced him and played on the rest of their debut album, which was released the same year.[4] The album spawned two hits with "Naughty Naughty" and "Bang Bang", with the former gaining a spot in MTV's Headbangers Ball. The band went on tour opening for KISS, Alice Cooper, Extreme and Warrant.[6]

After that, the band went on to record their follow-up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, releasing Screw It! in 1991.[4] The album spawned two other hits with "Monkey Business" and "I Still Think About You" and again they went on tour with KISS. After the tour, Kasey Smith left the band and started a new project titled Shock together with friend and former Get With It drummer Michael Bellusci.[7]

In 1993 the band had finished work with their third album titled Cockroach. However, the band fired singer Poley. Subsequent lawsuits from Poley prevented the album from being released. In the meantime, Paul Laine was hired by Ravel and West as the new singer and he re-recorded the vocals for the new album. When they were about to release the album, Epic thought it was in their best interest to shelve the record. Shortly after that the band and the label parted ways. In addition, guitarist Timmons left the band to pursue a solo career. Timmons went on to play guitar on both of Kip Winger's solo albums.

Ravel and West formed their own label, Low Dice Records, and started working on a new album with Laine. They released Dawn in 1995 which featured a more somber and introspective tone. The album was partly marketed through the band's fan club, newsletter and website. The band recruited bassist Scott Brown, who had previously played with Paul Laine as a solo artist, and they went on tour again in the U.S.

Danger Danger in 2004

The band went back in the studio and released Four the Hard Way in 1997. Former band members Andy Timmons and Kasey Smith contributed to the album, and the band went back on tour. In 2000 they released The Return of the Great Gildersleeves.

In 2001 the band made a unique move after talks with Epic, releasing Cockroach, which was supposed to be their third album, but could not be released for legal issues. The album featured two discs with two versions of the album, one with Laine on vocals and the other with Ted Poley. In 2002 the song "Naughty Naughty Christmas" was featured in the Tim Allen movie The Santa Clause 2. They followed Cockroach with Rare Cuts in 2003, a collection of unreleased and rare tracks including early demos with original member Pitrelli, now playing with Megadeth and Trans-Siberian Orchestra, that were recorded in his mother's laundry room. In 2004 Laine left the band and original singer Poley returned. However, in 2005 the band still released, Live and Nude, which was recorded in 2003 and featured Laine on vocals.

In 2008 rock and roll comic C.C. Banana recorded a song called "Ted Poley", released on the album Kiss My Ankh. The song is a parody of the Kiss song "Unholy", inspired by the story of Poley's first encounter with Kiss lead singer Paul Stanley.[8]

On September 19, 2009, the independent label Frontiers Records released Revolve, featuring the return of Poley as lead singer, as well as new member, guitarist Rob Marcello.[9] The album coincided with the 20th anniversary of their debut release for Imagine Records.

The classic lineup of Ted Poley, Bruno Ravel, Steve West, Andy Timmons, and Kasey Smith reunited in 2014 for a series of touring dates.[10][11]

Members

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Current members

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  • Bruno Ravel – bass, backing vocals (1986–1995; 1997–present), guitar (1993–1995, 1997–2000), keyboards (1993–1995, 1998–2014, 2014-present)
  • Steve West – drums, backing vocals (1987–1995; 1997–present)
  • Ted Poley – lead vocals (1987–1993, 2004–present)
  • Rob Marcello – guitar, backing vocals (2003–present)
  • Steve Brown – guitar, backing vocals (2016–present; occasional touring guest)

Former members

[edit]
  • David Walls – lead vocals (1986) (repetitions only)
  • Mike Rose — guitar (1986) (repetitions only)
  • Joe Franco — drums (1986) (repetitions only)
  • Phil Naro – lead vocals (1986-1987)
  • Mike Pont – lead vocals (1987)
  • Al Pitrelli – guitar, backing vocals (1987–1988)
  • Tony "Bruno" Rey – guitar (1988–1989, 1997, 2000)
  • Kasey Smith – keyboards, backing vocals (1987–1993, 1997–1998, 2014)
  • Andy Timmons – guitar, backing vocals (1989–1993, 1997–2003, 2014)
  • Paul Laine – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards (1994–1995; 1997–2004)
  • Scott Brown – bass, backing vocals (1994—1995; touring member)

Timeline

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Discography

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Studio albums

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Title Release Peak chart positions
US JPN
[12]
Danger Danger 1989 88 —
Screw It! 1991 123 67
Dawn 1995 — —
Four the Hard Way 1997 — —
The Return of the Great Gildersleeves 2000 — —
Cockroach 2001 — —
Revolve 2009 — 145

Live albums

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Compilation albums

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Singles

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Title Release Peak chart positions Album
US US
Main 		UK
[13]
"Naughty Naughty" 1989 — — — Danger Danger
"Bang Bang" 49 39 —
"Don't Walk Away" 1990 — — —
"Monkey Business" 1992 — — 42 Screw It!
"I Still Think About You" — — 46
"Comin' Home" — — 75

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Prato, Greg. "Danger Danger – Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
  2. ^ McPadden, Mike (September 23, 2015). "The Hair Metal 100: Ranking the '80s Greatest Glam Bands, Part 3". VH1 News. Archived from the original on May 24, 2022. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  3. ^ Sharpe-Young, Garry. "Danger Danger". MusicMight. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d e Colin Larkin, ed. (1995). The Guinness Who's Who of Heavy Metal (Second ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 93. ISBN 0-85112-656-1.
  5. ^ "Kasey Smith – Rediff Pages". Pages.rediff.com. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  6. ^ "2009 July 08 « Hard Rock Hideout". Hardrockhideout.com. July 8, 2009. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  7. ^ "Kasey Smith – Rediff Pages". pages.rediff.com. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  8. ^ "KISS MY ANKH: A Tribute To Vinnie Vincent". SplitScreen Entertainment. Archived from the original on August 31, 2008. Retrieved August 31, 2008.
  9. ^ "2007 News Archive". MelodicRock.com. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  10. ^ "Danger Danger – Live At Firefest, Nottingham, Oct 26, 2014". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  11. ^ "DANGER DANGER Boys will be boys LIVE Amityville L.I. USA Aug 30, 2014". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  12. ^ "デンジャー・デンジャーのCDアルバムランキング、デンジャー・デンジャーのプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE". Oricon.co.jp. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
  13. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 139. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
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