Rock Hard Forever: Danger Danger

Just like any musical movement, when such glam metal pretty boys as Poison and Ratt hit the big time in the late '80s, numerous copycat acts followed in their path; one being Danger Danger.

For Danger Danger, good things seem to come in twos. Formed in 1987 by Bruno Ravel and Steve West, and rounded out by Ted Poley, Andy Timmons and Kasey Smith, it didn't take long for the band to be noticed by Epic Records' Lennie Petze. Petze, who had earlier discovered Boston, Cyndi Lauper and Aldo Nova, to name a few, made Danger Danger the first signing to his newly minted Imagine Records.

Released in 1989, the self-titled Imagine/Epic release struck gold. While touring with Kiss, Alice Cooper, Warrant and Extreme, the band smashed out two hit singles at both radio and MTV - the classic Naughty Naughty, and highly infectious Bang Bang. Good things for Danger Danger did indeed, come in twos.

1991 saw the release of Screw It! With extensive touring and overwhelming press coverage, Screw It! actualized two hits, Monkey Business and I Still Think About You. Another tour with Kiss, this time in Europe, and a second sold out headlining tour of Japan, solidified Danger Danger’s place in the rock world.

Now a hot commodity, success could be seen night after sold-out night, whether they were opening for the biggest rock acts or headlining venues on their own.

In 1993, Danger Danger recorded their 3rd disc for Sony titled Cockroach, however, due to legal wrangling, the album wouldn’t see the light of day until eight years later.

Upon completion of the album, the band parted ways with lead singer Ted Poley. Needing a replacement, friend and former Elektra recording artist, Canadian Paul Laine stepped in. The lead vocals were re-recorded with Laine and the album was back on the release schedule. The band and Sony were both soon hit with lawsuits from the departed singer, thus causing Sony to decide it was in their best interest to shelve the record. Eventually the band amicably parted ways with the label.

In 1995, Bruno Ravel and Steve West formed Low Dice Records, and released their first album for the label - Dawn. Conceived during this dark chapter for the band, the record was somewhat of a departure from their earlier work, reflecting a somber and introspective tone, both musically and lyrically.

1998 saw the release of Four The Hard Way, a return to the band’s original melodic rock roots. The album was heralded as a classic in the genre, receiving rave reviews throughout the world. The Return Of The Great Gildersleeves followed in 2000. It too, was greeted with stellar reviews from critics and fans the world over, further helping cement the band's reputation.

In 2001, the long awaited, and eagerly anticipated Cockroach was finally released. In a joint venture with Sony Music, Low Dice Records issued a 2 CD set featuring both versions of the album. Disc one features then current vocalist Paul Laine, while disc two features original lead vocalist Ted Poley. The response was overwhelming. The album consistently landed on top ten lists everywhere. It has been hailed as Danger Danger’s finest album to date.

In 2002, VH1 voted the group one of the “Top 40 Hairbands Of All Time,” landing at number 25, and featuring them in their hit special VH1’s “Top 40 Hairbands Of All Time.” Later that year, the band scored another coup when their song Naughty Naughty Xmas was featured in the #1 movie in America – Disney’s "The Santa Clause 2."

2003 was filled with many highlights, beginning with the release of Rare Cuts, a collection of unreleased and rare tracks. Following the success of the album, the band triumphantly returned to the UK (after a ten year absence) and Spain, wowing fans and critics alike. The end of the year also saw the release of the critically acclaimed We Wish You A Hairy Christmas, a collection of Christmas songs featuring some of the biggest “hair bands” of all time. Singling out the band, Rolling Stone had this to say: “Danger Danger’s Naughty Naughty Xmas affirms that beneath all the hair spray, the Eighties-metal boom included a bunch of totally rocking Cheap Trick tribute bands.” More praise came as Guitar For The Practicing Musician magazine declared Danger Danger’s self-titled debut one of the “50 Greatest Guitar Albums Of The ‘80s.”

2004, looks to be an even more exciting year with the return of original vocalist Ted Poley after an eleven-year absence. The band will return to the road this summer with an extensive tour. Sweden Rock will be one of their first shows in Scandinavia, with many dates to follow throughout Europe, Brazil, Canada and the USA.

In 2005, the band released Live and Nude, which was recorded in 2003 and features former vocalist, Paul Laine.

The independent label Frontiers Records recently announced the signing of Danger Danger for the release of a brand new studio album during 2008, which will be the first to include guitarist Rob Marcello, and will feature original members Ted Poley, Bruno Ravel and Steve West.

Current members

Ted Poley—vocals (1987–1993, 2004–present)
Bruno Ravel—bass guitar, guitar (1987–present)
Steve West—drums (1987–present)
Rob Marcello—guitar (2003–present)

Former members

Andy Timmons—guitar (1989–1993)
Kasey Smith—keyboards (1987–1992)
Paul Laine—vocals (1994–2004)
Mike Pont—vocals (1987)
Al Pitrelli—guitar (circa 1987)
Tony "Bruno" Rey—guitar (1989)

Discography

Danger Danger (1989)
Down And Dirty Live EP
Screw It! (1991)
Dawn (1995)
Four the Hard Way (1997)
The Return of the Great Gildersleeves (2000)
Cockroach (2001)
Rare Cuts (2003)
Live and Nude (2005)

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

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