Rock Hard Forever: White Lion

In the beggining of last decade, actually 1982, Mike moved from Spain where he lived for three years (originally Danish, moved to Spain at the age of 18) ,to Santa Monica. There he met guitarist Vito Bratta, and decided that the time has come for them. They joined forces with bassist Felix Robinson and drummer Nicky Capozzi and started the story. The story's name was WHITE LION! They had the killer songs, all they needed yet was the contract with the record company. They managed to sign with Elektra Records, and overjoyed went to Frankfurt (Germany) to record their debut FIGHT TO SURVIVE. Everything went great, they had great stuff, the producer was contented, had the great team, the people from record company called every day to say how satisfied they were with their works and how they were ready to give them support of any kind...But that was to ideal to be true. Back then the boys were full of begginer's enthusiasm, and there was no time for any kind of pessimism.

Few months before the record was supposed to see the light, they found that they were forgotten. Fired. Kicked out. They had no idea what's going on. Everyone at the company acted like there was no contract. They gave no attention to what will happen with the band or the album. There was the story that the singer of one hi-rated band, which was also under Elektra, was frightened that WL would make success, after which his band will lose (!?!) some because of that. He thought that there was no room for both bands, so he made same moves... WL managed to release the album in Japan, and very soon went gold. One small house brought it to Europe also. The album brought attraction to a lot of American record houses, and very soon the band was in Atlantic Records. Only this time they assured from any kind of breaking the contract, or any kind of bad work.In the meantime the band had one line-up change. Bass guitarist James Lomenzo replaced Dave Spitz (brother of Anthrax's guitarist Dan Spitz) who was in the band some time, and Greg "Kickin' Ass" D'Angelo, former Anthrax drummer came to WL.

Now this formation gave the band new injection to reach out for new horisonts. The result was PRIDE,... the story of the youth..., the album which presented some fresh, untamable, wide kind of sound, with great lines, power drumming and nervous guitar stuff (with the exeption of When The Children Cry, the song closing the album, which was in some softer feeling). The World Tour was on, while as soon as the album came out it was annouced as album of the month in numerous magazines.The tour ended in november '88 when the band soon went back to studio to record brand new album, which came in the beginning of '89.The album was called BIG GAME, and very soon was on the top of the charts. There were great rocking numers like Living On The Edge, Goin' Home Tonight or a killer version of Golden Earring's Radar Love. But like WTCCry on PRIDE, they touched some touchy themes like Cry For Freedom, Broken Home or Little Fighter (In Memory Of The Rainbow Warrior).They toured a lot, and when they finished they took a lot more time to create the material for another record. During 1991 they finally released MANE ATTRACTION, the album that brought them back on position #ONE.

This time they had Richie Zito producing this album. Ten perfect songs, including Lights And Thunder, the opening tune, which has its specifical intensity, Love Don't Come Easy, which was actually the first single off the album in America (for Europe it was Lights And Thunder), rawer Leave Me Alone, very strong War Song (What Are We Fighting For) with some great tempo change in the middle of it, and two brilliant solos (which Vito's guitar part is bad, by the way? Never heard actually!), one outofcontrolfastandloose in the first part, and after the slowing down one deep blue sensitive solo with great support by the rest of the band.On CD release you can find two bonus songs, contagious She's Got Everything, and Blue Monday, instrumental, in memory of S.R.Vaughan. They re-released the song Broken Heart, which also appeared on their FIGHT TO SURVIVE works, here in different shape and that was their second single off the album.So bad that this was actually their last tour together. The band broke apart in the middle of it. After that they continued in different line-up, with Tommy T-Bone Caradonna on bass, and Jimmy De Grasso (Megadeth, Alice Cooper, Suicidal Tendencies, Y&T, Fiona).on drums, but not for long. After briefly touring in support of Mane Attraction, Tramp and Bratta decided to call it a day, their last show being held in Boston at the Channel in September 1991.

Unlike most bands of their genre, White Lion recorded occasional songs that addressed social or political issues such as apartheid ("Cry for Freedom") and the effect of divorce on children ("Broken Home"). The song "Little Fighter" was about the Rainbow Warrior, a ship owned by the environmental group Greenpeace that was illegally destroyed by French commandos. This concern for political and social issues was also hinted at in the cover art to their album Big Game, which featured a lion's head hidden in tall grass with the White House in the background.

Mike Tramp went on to form Freak of Nature. Freak of Nature released three albums, Freak of Nature, Gathering of Freaks, and Outcasts. Mike Tramp went on as a solo artist. He has released four studio albums and one live album so far; Capricorn, Recovering the Wasted Years, More To Life Than This, and Songs I Left Behind as studio efforts, with Rock n' Roll Alive as his sole live album. Today, Tramp continues his solo career, recording and releasing his own music. Through his website, fans can find media from his solo career, as well as White Lion.

James Lomenzo and Greg D'Angelo joined Zakk Wylde's band, Lynyrd Skynhead in the mid 90's which became the band Pride & Glory when Greg D'Angelo was replaced by Brian Tichy. Pride & Glory released one album, then James Lomenzo left the band. James went on to record and tour with ex-Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth and toured with Zakk Wylde's band Black Label Society. In February 2006, James joined the legendary thrash band Megadeth on a permanent basis. Greg D'Angelo was the drummer for the band AntiProduct in 2006. Greg D'angelo is also filling in on drums for Britny Fox on 2007 US/European tour since their drummer Johnny Dee is unable to tour.

Vito Bratta stayed briefly with Atlantic Records to help produce an album for CPR, and later tried to form a new music group that never panned out. Sadly, despite a very dedicated worldwide following of guitar aficionados, Vito was not seen or heard from publicly since 1994 until his interview by Eddie Trunk live on February 16, 2007.

In 1999 Mike Tramp with new musicians released Remembering White Lion also released as The Last Roar and Ultimate White Lion which featured new versions of some of White Lion's classic songs and then in October 2003, Mike Tramp announced a White Lion reunion with the original line up. This statement was quickly denied by the other former members. Later Tramp said that Vito Bratta wanted nothing to do with a reunion. With summer festivals in Europe already booked, Tramp attempted to put together a "new White Lion" featuring former members James Lomenzo, and Jimmy DeGrasso, along with Warren DeMartini of Ratt. Vito Bratta filed suit claiming partial ownership of the name, and the tour was scrapped. Tramp later revealed that despite his willingness, "There will never be an original White Lion reunion".

In 2005, with legal battles finally out of the way, Mike Tramp again organized a group of unknown musicians and named the act Tramp's White Lion. 'TWL' (White Lion 2) played White Lion songs, touring and releasing a double-live CD entitled Tramp's White Lion: Rockin' The USA. In November and December 2006, Tramp's White Lion played several dates in Europe including Sweden, Norway, Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark. The UK dates with Crimes of Passion were abandoned due to illness.

On February 16, 2007, Vito appeared on "The Eddie Trunk" radio show in New York, stating that despite what Mike Tramp said, he had never turned down any offer to reform White Lion or refused a White Lion reunion, stating that what Mike Tramp had said was not true, but, rather, that at the time Mike had approached him, Vito's father was sick and dying and he could not leave him to do a reunion tour at that time. He added that he would still be open to the idea and has not closed the door to returning to the music industry again. Trunk also made it clear that Vito's involvement in the show was something that he had wanted to happen since White Lion first broke up in 1991. Vito took calls and answered questions from fans for almost 3 hours. On Friday April 6 and 7, 2007, at the L'Amours Reunion Shows in New York (the club that made White Lion), Vito made his first public musical appearances at both Friday and Saturday night's shows in over 15 years. Mike Tramp was not present.

Three weeks later Mike Tramp called the same show from Australia, speaking about Vito and the band's new album, including the tour dates that Tramp's White Lion had recently confirmed. Tramp said that he was thankful that Vito had finally answered fan's questions, the same questions he himself had been bombarded with over the past 15 years. He also stated that he felt uncomfortable answering on Vito's behalf, and that he was upset that Vito had withdrawn himself from the music industry.

A White Lion Definitive Collection album was released in 2007. Summer of 2007 Tour featuring Tramp's White Lion opening up for Poison and Ratt was canceled after threatened legal action by Bratta caused them to be dropped by the promoter.

This threatened legal action however did not stop the band from appearing at Rocklahoma in Pryor, Ok on July 13, 2007 with Poison, Ratt, Quiet Riot, Slaughter, Y&T,Gypsy pistoleros, Dirty Penny, Greg Leon Invasion and Zendozer. After this they also toured the US. A new studio album entitled "Return of the Pride" was released on March 14, 2008 (Frontiers Records and King Records April 9th, and April 29th in North America via Airline/Sony).

Current members

Mike Tramp - vocals, songwriter (1983 - present)
Jamie Law - guitars (2005 - present)
Troy Patrick Farrell - drums (2005 - present)
Claus Langeskov - bass (2005 - present)
Henning Wanner - keyboards (2005 - present)

Former members

Vito Bratta - guitars, songwriter (1983-1992)
James Lomenzo - bass (1984-1992)
Greg D'Angelo - drums (1984-1992)
Nicki Capozzi - drums (1983-1984)
Felix Robinson - bass (1983-1984)
Dave Spitz - bass (1984)
Dan Hemmer - Hammond B-3 organ (1998-2005)
Kasper Damgaard - guitar (1998-2005)
Nils Kroyer - bass (1998-2005)
Bjarne T. Holm - drums (1998-2005)
Tommy T-Bone Caradonna - bass (1991)
Jimmy DeGrasso - drums (1991)

Discography

Fight to Survive (November 9, 1985)
Pride (June 21, 1987)
Big Game (August 10, 1989)
Mane Attraction (1991)
The Best Of White Lion - Greatest hits compilation (1992)
Remembering White Lion - new versions (1999)
Anthology 83-89 - demos/previously unreleased songs (2004)
Last Roar - (re-release of "Remembering White Lion" album, with new title) (2004)
Rocking The USA - live album (November 8, 2006)
The Definitive Rock Collection - compilation (2007)
White Lion-Extended Versions (2007)
Return of the Pride (2008)

Official Website: http://www.returnofthepride.com/

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