Blues-based, Led Zeppelin inspired metal that should have made Tora Tora a household name, but sadly didn't. One of the best-unknown bands in the hard rock genre, but lack of label support killed any chance the band had for massive success.
Tora Tora is a hard rock band formed in Memphis, TN in 1985. "Tora" means "tiger" in Japanese (not "bird", which is "tori" in Japanese). The name is a play on the code name for attack used by the Japanese Imperial Navy during their attack on Pearl Harbor, "Tora, Tora, Tora". The actual origin of the bandname was more likely a reference to the song of the same name recorded by Van Halen on their 1980 release Women and Children First.
Tora Tora started out as a local garage band then eventually got studio time when they won a local Battle of the Bands contest. Following this, the band recorded To Rock To Roll as an independent EP. After its release the songs "Phantom Rider" and "Love's A Bitch" received extensive airplay on local radio station Rock 98. After signing with A&M Records, they recorded their debut album Surprise! Attack in 1989. This album peaked on Billboard's Top 200 at #47. The single "Dancing With A Gypsy" was on the soundtrack for the film Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure later that year.
In 1992, their second album, Wild America, was released. It only achieved #134 on the Billboard charts and it did not sell as well, but, it was a more mature step at songwriting.
A third album, Revolution Day, was recorded in 1994, but it was never released due to label restructuring. After missing the due date, the band folded.
Around 1997/8, two of the members of Tora Tora (Anthony Corder and Patrick Francis) went on to form a band together called "Homemade Flavor". The rest of the line up included Hal McCormack on guitar, Tony Gravier on drums (both ex-Survivor), and Joe "Boogie" on Hammond B-3. They described their music as "a perfect blend of blues, soul, and rock that satisfies any music appetite". The band gigged locally around Memphis, Tennessee but often under the name "Tora Tora". They did some recording in Hal McCormack's home studio and apparently had some interest from a couple of record companies but no news since. The band had a webiste but even that has disappeared now.
Homemade Flavor are back doing shows in Memphis. They play at the Poplar Lounge every Saturday night, and also have played Neil’s on Madison Avenue and The Hard Rock Cafe on Beale Street. They now have a new drummer called Jay Sheffield and Joe Boogie is no longer with the band. I have been told that they are one of the best live bands to go see in Memphis, so go and see them if you can! They play a couple of Tora Tora songs, "As Time Goes By" and "Nowhere to go But Down" but have written a whole load of their own new songs and recorded some tracks in Los Angeles for a new CD which should be released very soon.
Back in September 2001, Tora Tora did a benefit show for their friend at the Blue Monkey in Memphis, which included all four members of the band (Anthony, Patrick,Keith & John). The benefit was a "secret" so the show was not advertised but word just got around town that "Tora Tora" was rehearsing and there was gonna be a show to raise money for Mark. The turn-out was incredible
But sadly they didn't stick around to do any more shows. Keith went back to work at the glue factory that his family owns where the band use to practice and have their parties in when they came home. And John went back to the hunting store that he owns.
Recently, in 2008, all four original bandmembers have reunited to do two performances. One was a sold out performance at Newbie's, a local club in Memphis, TN to celebrate their 20th anniversary of receiving their record deal. After the show, a record was sold to fans which included songs from there first two albums and material slated for their unreleased "Revolution Day" album. The album was titled The Warehouse... 20 Years Later. The second will occur during Rocklahoma 2008. It is unclear whether any further touring from the band will follow.
Band Members
Anthony Corder - vocals
Patrick Francis - bass
Keith Douglas - guitar
John Patterson - drums
Discography
Surprise Attack (1989)
Walkin' Shoes (single) bw Love's a Bitch and One For The Road (UK AMY557) (1990)
Wild America (1992)
Revolution Day (1994) (not released)
The Warehouse... 20 Years Later (2008)
Listen to Tora Tora Music!
Watch Tora Tora Video!
Walkin' Shoes
Phantom Rider
Guilty
Faith Healer
Amnesia
Nowhere To Go But Down (Unplugged)
Wild America (Live)
Love A Bitch (Live)
'Power Hour' Interview and Clips
Tora Tora is a hard rock band formed in Memphis, TN in 1985. "Tora" means "tiger" in Japanese (not "bird", which is "tori" in Japanese). The name is a play on the code name for attack used by the Japanese Imperial Navy during their attack on Pearl Harbor, "Tora, Tora, Tora". The actual origin of the bandname was more likely a reference to the song of the same name recorded by Van Halen on their 1980 release Women and Children First.
Tora Tora started out as a local garage band then eventually got studio time when they won a local Battle of the Bands contest. Following this, the band recorded To Rock To Roll as an independent EP. After its release the songs "Phantom Rider" and "Love's A Bitch" received extensive airplay on local radio station Rock 98. After signing with A&M Records, they recorded their debut album Surprise! Attack in 1989. This album peaked on Billboard's Top 200 at #47. The single "Dancing With A Gypsy" was on the soundtrack for the film Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure later that year.
In 1992, their second album, Wild America, was released. It only achieved #134 on the Billboard charts and it did not sell as well, but, it was a more mature step at songwriting.
A third album, Revolution Day, was recorded in 1994, but it was never released due to label restructuring. After missing the due date, the band folded.
Around 1997/8, two of the members of Tora Tora (Anthony Corder and Patrick Francis) went on to form a band together called "Homemade Flavor". The rest of the line up included Hal McCormack on guitar, Tony Gravier on drums (both ex-Survivor), and Joe "Boogie" on Hammond B-3. They described their music as "a perfect blend of blues, soul, and rock that satisfies any music appetite". The band gigged locally around Memphis, Tennessee but often under the name "Tora Tora". They did some recording in Hal McCormack's home studio and apparently had some interest from a couple of record companies but no news since. The band had a webiste but even that has disappeared now.
Homemade Flavor are back doing shows in Memphis. They play at the Poplar Lounge every Saturday night, and also have played Neil’s on Madison Avenue and The Hard Rock Cafe on Beale Street. They now have a new drummer called Jay Sheffield and Joe Boogie is no longer with the band. I have been told that they are one of the best live bands to go see in Memphis, so go and see them if you can! They play a couple of Tora Tora songs, "As Time Goes By" and "Nowhere to go But Down" but have written a whole load of their own new songs and recorded some tracks in Los Angeles for a new CD which should be released very soon.
Back in September 2001, Tora Tora did a benefit show for their friend at the Blue Monkey in Memphis, which included all four members of the band (Anthony, Patrick,Keith & John). The benefit was a "secret" so the show was not advertised but word just got around town that "Tora Tora" was rehearsing and there was gonna be a show to raise money for Mark. The turn-out was incredible
But sadly they didn't stick around to do any more shows. Keith went back to work at the glue factory that his family owns where the band use to practice and have their parties in when they came home. And John went back to the hunting store that he owns.
Recently, in 2008, all four original bandmembers have reunited to do two performances. One was a sold out performance at Newbie's, a local club in Memphis, TN to celebrate their 20th anniversary of receiving their record deal. After the show, a record was sold to fans which included songs from there first two albums and material slated for their unreleased "Revolution Day" album. The album was titled The Warehouse... 20 Years Later. The second will occur during Rocklahoma 2008. It is unclear whether any further touring from the band will follow.
Band Members
Anthony Corder - vocals
Patrick Francis - bass
Keith Douglas - guitar
John Patterson - drums
Discography
Surprise Attack (1989)
Walkin' Shoes (single) bw Love's a Bitch and One For The Road (UK AMY557) (1990)
Wild America (1992)
Revolution Day (1994) (not released)
The Warehouse... 20 Years Later (2008)
Listen to Tora Tora Music!
Watch Tora Tora Video!
Walkin' Shoes
Phantom Rider
Guilty
Faith Healer
Amnesia
Nowhere To Go But Down (Unplugged)
Wild America (Live)
Love A Bitch (Live)
'Power Hour' Interview and Clips
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