A melodic hard rock band, Cry Wolf emerged from the L.A. scene with a tasteful debut album that made them famous in Japan, but almost completely ignored stateside.
Cry Wolf was a melodic hard rock band from the San Francisco Bay Area, originally named Heroes formed in the mid '80's with Tim Hall (vocals), Steve McKnight (guitar), Phil Deckard (bass), John Freixas (drums) and JC Crampton (Keyboards).
In 1986, the band moved to Los Angeles and started working the Hollywood club circuit, soon thereafter recruiting Hall's friend Paul Cancilla on drums. During recording sessions for their demo, the keyboardist, JC left and they were forced to change the name of the band. To generate a mailing list and search for a name at the same time the band ran a contest in the local BAM magazine. The person(s) who came up with the winning name would win Mötley Crüe tickets. The name "Cry Wolf" was chosen out of hundreds of entries.
At about the same time, a demo of the band was out on the streets and was starting a buzz on the strip. Word got out overseas and Cry Wolf was convinced to release it as a limited red vinyl in Japan and do a handful of live shows, all of which sold out. The band was promptly offered a recording contract and released their critically acclaimed self-titled debut on Epic/Sony which featured the Beatles song "I Am The Walrus".
The Japanese success led to an American recording contract and the re-release of the debut album on Grand Slamm/IRS, titled "Crunch". This album, along with the debut in Japan were produced and engineered by David DeVore (REO Speedwagon, Foreigner), and mixed by Joe Barresi (Queens of the Stone Age, The Melvins). The US release had a little different track listing. The band dropped "I Am The Walrus" and "Wings" and replaced them with "Road To Ruin", "On The Run" and "Dirty Dog Night". Along with an immensely popular MTV Japan video of "West Wind Blows", the band also released a video for "Pretender" on MTV's Headbangers Ball. While touring in support of Crunch, the band had played alongside such bands as Kings-X, Savatage, Every Mother's Nightmare, Saigon Kick, Judas Priest, Lynch Mob as well as many others.
While in Houston, TX, during a tour in support of "Crunch", however, the band's equipment truck was stolen along with all of their gear. At this point, Paul Cancilla had decided to leave the band. The band brought in Murder Bay drummer [John E. Link], as well as changed management. The band continued on as Cry Wolf through 1992 with a darker/heavier new sound and began recording song demos for their second album. Unfortunately the second album was never recorded due to Grand Slam's failure to support and fund the second album. As such the band took legal action and was released from Grand Slamm Records in 1992. Soon after being released John left the band and the remaining members changed their name to Shed, but as the Seattle Grunge scene emerged essentially killing off any hopes of getting noticed in the LA scene, the band decided to part ways and embark on new musical endeavours.
Since that time, Paul has played drums on a Kuni album released in 2000, and is presently working for KOCH Entertainment in Minnesota. Steve McKnight is a member of original Anthrax frontman Neil Turbin's new band DEATHRIDERS. Time permitting, Steve also writes and records with old friend Mike Inez (Alice in Chains, Heart) and drummer Ben Smith (Heart). Tim Hall has since started a solo career, releasing the cd "Imperfection" (1997). In 2001, Tim went a whole new and refreshing direction with the release of the cd "Tumble". Describing the new sound as "Hot Rod Country" or "Bluesabilly", his latest band is called "FAST OTTO". Bassist Phil Deckard played alongside and recorded with Tim for years, but has since left and is now writing and recording on his own. John E. Link started Sonic Legacy Records an independent record label. John continues to play drums as well as compose music and engineer, mix, and produce artist for his label.
On August 18th, 2007 - Cry Wolf kicked off a reunion tour to promote their upcoming album slated for a late 2007 release on Sonic Legacy Records. The album is being engineered, mixed, and produced by John E. Link and features Tim Hall on Lead Vocals, Steve McKnight on Guitar and Backup Vocals, Phil Deckard on Bass and Backup Vocals, and John Link on Drums. The reunion tour also includes original drummer Paul Cancilla playing with the band on songs from their 1989 Japanese release "Cry Wolf" and 1990 US release "Crunch". More information can be found on the band on their MySpace site located at http://myspace.com/crywolftheband
Since the break-up Cancilla has appeared doing guest work on Kuni albums and McKnight has been seen helping out former Anthrax frontman Neil Turbin, while Hall and McKnight have pursued solo careers.
Band Members
Tim Hall – vocals (1985–1994 and current as of 2007)
Steve McKnight – guitar, vocals (1985–1994 and current as of 2007)
Phil Deckard – bass guitar, vocals (1985–1994 and current as of 2007)
Paul Cancilla – drums (1986–1991 and 2007-2008 reunion tour)
John E. Link – drums, vocals (1991–1993 and current as of 2007)
Harley Mannix- drums and cymbals (SHED 1994-1996)
Discography
Cry Wolf 1990 (Japanese Released)
Crunch 1990 (US Released)
Official Website: http://www.crywolftheband.com/
Listen to Cry Wolf Music!
Watch Cry Wolf Video!
Pretender
Stop, Look and Listen (Japan Footage)
Cry Wolf was a melodic hard rock band from the San Francisco Bay Area, originally named Heroes formed in the mid '80's with Tim Hall (vocals), Steve McKnight (guitar), Phil Deckard (bass), John Freixas (drums) and JC Crampton (Keyboards).
In 1986, the band moved to Los Angeles and started working the Hollywood club circuit, soon thereafter recruiting Hall's friend Paul Cancilla on drums. During recording sessions for their demo, the keyboardist, JC left and they were forced to change the name of the band. To generate a mailing list and search for a name at the same time the band ran a contest in the local BAM magazine. The person(s) who came up with the winning name would win Mötley Crüe tickets. The name "Cry Wolf" was chosen out of hundreds of entries.
At about the same time, a demo of the band was out on the streets and was starting a buzz on the strip. Word got out overseas and Cry Wolf was convinced to release it as a limited red vinyl in Japan and do a handful of live shows, all of which sold out. The band was promptly offered a recording contract and released their critically acclaimed self-titled debut on Epic/Sony which featured the Beatles song "I Am The Walrus".
The Japanese success led to an American recording contract and the re-release of the debut album on Grand Slamm/IRS, titled "Crunch". This album, along with the debut in Japan were produced and engineered by David DeVore (REO Speedwagon, Foreigner), and mixed by Joe Barresi (Queens of the Stone Age, The Melvins). The US release had a little different track listing. The band dropped "I Am The Walrus" and "Wings" and replaced them with "Road To Ruin", "On The Run" and "Dirty Dog Night". Along with an immensely popular MTV Japan video of "West Wind Blows", the band also released a video for "Pretender" on MTV's Headbangers Ball. While touring in support of Crunch, the band had played alongside such bands as Kings-X, Savatage, Every Mother's Nightmare, Saigon Kick, Judas Priest, Lynch Mob as well as many others.
While in Houston, TX, during a tour in support of "Crunch", however, the band's equipment truck was stolen along with all of their gear. At this point, Paul Cancilla had decided to leave the band. The band brought in Murder Bay drummer [John E. Link], as well as changed management. The band continued on as Cry Wolf through 1992 with a darker/heavier new sound and began recording song demos for their second album. Unfortunately the second album was never recorded due to Grand Slam's failure to support and fund the second album. As such the band took legal action and was released from Grand Slamm Records in 1992. Soon after being released John left the band and the remaining members changed their name to Shed, but as the Seattle Grunge scene emerged essentially killing off any hopes of getting noticed in the LA scene, the band decided to part ways and embark on new musical endeavours.
Since that time, Paul has played drums on a Kuni album released in 2000, and is presently working for KOCH Entertainment in Minnesota. Steve McKnight is a member of original Anthrax frontman Neil Turbin's new band DEATHRIDERS. Time permitting, Steve also writes and records with old friend Mike Inez (Alice in Chains, Heart) and drummer Ben Smith (Heart). Tim Hall has since started a solo career, releasing the cd "Imperfection" (1997). In 2001, Tim went a whole new and refreshing direction with the release of the cd "Tumble". Describing the new sound as "Hot Rod Country" or "Bluesabilly", his latest band is called "FAST OTTO". Bassist Phil Deckard played alongside and recorded with Tim for years, but has since left and is now writing and recording on his own. John E. Link started Sonic Legacy Records an independent record label. John continues to play drums as well as compose music and engineer, mix, and produce artist for his label.
On August 18th, 2007 - Cry Wolf kicked off a reunion tour to promote their upcoming album slated for a late 2007 release on Sonic Legacy Records. The album is being engineered, mixed, and produced by John E. Link and features Tim Hall on Lead Vocals, Steve McKnight on Guitar and Backup Vocals, Phil Deckard on Bass and Backup Vocals, and John Link on Drums. The reunion tour also includes original drummer Paul Cancilla playing with the band on songs from their 1989 Japanese release "Cry Wolf" and 1990 US release "Crunch". More information can be found on the band on their MySpace site located at http://myspace.com/crywolftheband
Since the break-up Cancilla has appeared doing guest work on Kuni albums and McKnight has been seen helping out former Anthrax frontman Neil Turbin, while Hall and McKnight have pursued solo careers.
Band Members
Tim Hall – vocals (1985–1994 and current as of 2007)
Steve McKnight – guitar, vocals (1985–1994 and current as of 2007)
Phil Deckard – bass guitar, vocals (1985–1994 and current as of 2007)
Paul Cancilla – drums (1986–1991 and 2007-2008 reunion tour)
John E. Link – drums, vocals (1991–1993 and current as of 2007)
Harley Mannix- drums and cymbals (SHED 1994-1996)
Discography
Cry Wolf 1990 (Japanese Released)
Crunch 1990 (US Released)
Official Website: http://www.crywolftheband.com/
Listen to Cry Wolf Music!
Watch Cry Wolf Video!
Pretender
Stop, Look and Listen (Japan Footage)
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