American heavy metal band
Lizzy Borden
is an American
heavy metal
band formed in
Los Angeles
in 1983. To date, the band has charted on the
Billboard
200
four times.
[1]
Lizzy Borden is eponymous of the band's lead vocalist.
History
[
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]
Early career (1983?1986)
[
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]
The band was founded in 1983 by brothers Lizzy Borden (born Gregory Charles Harges; June 23, 1960) and Joey Scott. The band got noticed after their song "Rod of Iron" featured on
Metal Blade Records
'
Metal Massacre IV
compilation LP. The band signed to Metal Blade in 1984 and released their debut EP
Give 'Em the Axe
in May of the same year.
[2]
The band is named after the notorious
Lizzie Borden
, a woman accused and acquitted of murder in the late 19th century.
In 1985, late guitarist Alex Nelson replaced original guitarist Tony Matuzak and was first featured on the band's only live album to date, titled
The Murderess Metal Road Show
.
[3]
Commercial success and first hiatus (1987?1999)
[
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]
In 1987, the band reached their commercial peak with the release of their third LP "Visual Lies" which saw guitarist
Joe Holmes
make his debut with the band.
[4]
The first single from the album, "Me Against the World", was featured in the cult film
Black Roses
. Holmes later went on to join
Ozzy Osbourne
's band.
The band issued their fourth studio album
Master of Disguise
, via their label
Metal Blade
, on July 15, 1989, and it has since become a cult classic.
[5]
The band frequently plays songs from this album live.
The band was featured prominently in the
rockumentary
The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years
(directed by
Penelope Spheeris
).
In the early 1990s, the band slowed down its activity due to the changing metal scene. The band went on a short hiatus in 1996 after the departure of their two guitarists, David Philips and Corey James. Singer Lizzy alongside bassist Michael White, guitarist Joe Steals and drummer Joey Scott went on to play in the glam band Diamond Dogs (later renamed Starwood) with bassist
Marten Andersson
.
[6]
Reunion, death of Alex Nelson and second hiatus (2000?2004)
[
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]
In 1999, the band was once again fully active and touring with 3/5 of its classic lineup (Borden, Joey Scott & Alex Nelson) alongside longtime bassist Marten Andersson. Lizzy Borden previewed their new CD and tour, entitled
Deal With the Devil
, at the
Wacken Open Air Festival
, Germany, in front of 35,000 people followed by a worldwide tour. Longtime Lizzy Borden fan, artist and multimedia entrepreneur
Todd McFarlane
(best known for his creation of
Spawn
and stylistic revision of
Spider-Man
) was enlisted to capture the essence of Lizzy Borden for the stage show and the CD cover art.
On May 17, 2004, guitarist Alex Nelson was killed in a head-on car collision. Lizzy Borden disbanded soon after.
[7]
In a 2008 interview with Lucem Fero, when asked about Alex Nelson, singer Lizzy Borden said:
"He had a connection to everybody. I'm usually very business like, and don't like to screw around too much when we're working. He felt it was his job to break that down, and try to have more fun. He was the only one that could break down the wall; for some reason, he had that ability with everyone. Even though I always told him he was the most talented musician I've ever worked with in every way, He never really thought he was all that talented. People would ask him who his influences are, and he would say 'everything I've ever seen or heard.' I used to love that quote as it was so true of all of us."
[8]
Second reunion (2006?present)
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]
Two years after Alex Nelson's death, Lizzy Borden regrouped with new guitarist
Ira Black
and on November 1, 2007, the album
Appointment with Death
was released worldwide. The album also features guest appearances by
George Lynch
(
Lynch Mob
, ex-
Dokken
),
Dave Meniketti
(
Y&T
), and
Corey Beaulieu
(
Trivium
), among others. The first video for "Tomorrow Never Comes" was nominated for video of the year and was in the Top 25 Metal Videos of 2008 on
MTV
Headbangers Ball
. The follow-up video for "Under Your Skin" premiered in April the same year.
[9]
In early 2008, the band announced various festival appearances including
Sweden Rock Festival
(Sweden), Kobetasonik festival (Spain) and
Bang Your Head
festival (Germany). In November 2008, Lizzy Borden toured the United States with Finnish Monster Rockers
Lordi
. The band toured Europe as part of their headlining tour, performing in 11 countries. Lizzy Borden was the first-day headliner of the two-day Keep It True XII festival at Tauberfrankenhalle in
Lauda-Konigshofen
Germany 2009, where they introduced Gogo Dancers as part of their regular show routine.
[10]
North American festival appearances included
Rocklahoma
and
Rock Gone Wild
.
On January 24, 2009, former guitarist Corey James died in a car accident.
[11]
[12]
In 2010, Lizzy Borden toured North America and Europe, including festival appearances at
Wacken Open Air
2010, Alcatraz Metal Festival, Leyendas del Rock festival (cancelled) and Elsrock Festival.
In 2011, Lizzy Borden launched the "Summer of Blood" tour in North American Followed by the European version, entitled "Death Takes a Holiday Tour", festival appearances in 2011 included Heaven and Hell Metal Fest, Christmas Metal Festival and the Hard Rock Hell Festival.
In 2012, Lizzy Borden performed on various Open Air Festivals in Mexico and Europe. Festivals included
Hellfest
in France and
Gods of Metal
in Italy. Both festivals were with
Ozzy Osbourne
,
Motley Crue
,
Guns N' Roses
and more. They returned to Europe in July 2012 to play
Zwarte Cross
festival in the Netherlands, Headbangers Open Air in Germany and Bulgaria the first time in their career at the
Kavarna Rock Festival
.
In 2013, Lizzy Borden premiered their new tour "30 Years of American Metal" show created from the ground up at the
70000 Tons of Metal
, followed by a string of North American shows and European Festivals, including the Swedish Festival Skogsrojet.
On January 1, 2014, guitarist Dario Lorina left the band after joining American heavy metal band
Black Label Society
.
On August 1, 2014, Lizzy Borden performed on Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival with former guitarist Ira Black.
By 2014, Lizzy Borden had spent the last few years working on the follow up to 2007's
Appointment with Death
.
[13]
[14]
The band's first album in 11 years,
My Midnight Things
, was released on June 15, 2018,
[15]
and peaked at number 148 in the
Billboard Top 200
and number 84 on the Top Hard Music Charts in Canada.
[16]
Lizzy Borden is currently working on a follow-up album,
[17]
and the band released its first song in five years, "Death of Me", on August 23, 2023.
[18]
In February 2021, former guitar player and founding member Tony Matuzak died.
[19]
Members
[
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]
Current
[
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]
- Lizzy Borden ? lead vocals
(1983?1996, 1999?2004, 2006?present)
- Joey Scott ? drums
(1983?1996, 1999?2004, 2006?present)
- Brandon Paul ? guitar
- Colton Seaver ? bass
- AC Alexander ? guitar
Former
[
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]
- Gene Allen ? guitars
(1983?1988)
- Tony Matuzak ? guitars
(1983?1985; died 2021)
- Steve Hochheiser ? bass
(1983)
- Michael Davis ? bass
(1983?1988)
- Alex Nelson ? guitars
(1985?1987, 1999?2004; died 2004)
- Joe Holmes
? guitars
(1987?1988)
- Brian Perry
? bass
(1989?1992)
- David Philips ? guitars
(1989?1996)
- Corey James Daum ? guitars
(1989?1996; died 2009)
- Ronnie Jude ? guitars
(1989)
- Chris Sanders ? guitars
(2007-2010)
- Dario Lorina ? guitars
(2010?2014)
- Marten Andersson
? bass
(1992?1996, 1999?2004, 2006?present)
- Ira Black
? guitars
(2006?2008, 2014?present (live))
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Timeline
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]
Discography
[
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]
References
[
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]
- ^
"Lizzy Borden ? Chart History"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
May 11,
2018
.
- ^
"Lizzy Borden BNR Bio"
. BNR Metal Pages. Archived from
the original
on December 12, 2013
. Retrieved
December 10,
2013
.
- ^
"Lizzy Borden At Metallian,com"
. Metallian
. Retrieved
December 10,
2013
.
- ^
"Lizzy Borden At Metal Metropolis.com"
. Metal Metropolis
. Retrieved
December 10,
2013
.
- ^
"Master of Disguise details at metal blade"
. Metal Blade Records
. Retrieved
December 10,
2013
.
- ^
Greg, Prato.
"Bio at AllMusic"
.
AllMusic
. Retrieved
December 10,
2013
.
- ^
"Lizzy Borden Remembers Alex Nelson"
.
Blabbermouth
. Retrieved
December 10,
2013
.
- ^
Fero, Lucem.
"2008 Interview with Lucem Fero"
. Lucem Fero Interviews. Archived from
the original
on April 18, 2012
. Retrieved
December 10,
2013
.
- ^
"Appointment With Death Meat Blade"
. Metal Blade Records
. Retrieved
December 10,
2013
.
- ^
Mark & Shane, Rockpit (2009).
"Rocklahoma Day Three"
.
www.therockpit.net
. Retrieved
May 4,
2022
.
- ^
Classic Rock Magazine
. Issue 130, April 2009, page 14.
- ^
"Corey James Death"
.
Blabbermouth
. Retrieved
December 10,
2013
.
- ^
"Interview with Brazil's "Wikimetal"
"
.
Blabbermouth
. Retrieved
December 10,
2013
.
- ^
"Exclusive: Lizzy Borden Interview"
.
KNAC.com
. Retrieved
August 13,
2014
.
- ^
"Lizzy Borden Returns With His First Album In 11 Years, 'My Midnight Things'
"
.
Blabbermouth.net
. April 18, 2018
. Retrieved
April 18,
2018
.
- ^
"Lizzy Borden storms Billboard charts with first album in 11 years, 'My Midnight Things' | Metal Blade Records"
.
www.metalblade.com
. Retrieved
July 22,
2018
.
- ^
"KNAC.COM - Features - Exclusive Interview: LIZZY BORDEN"
.
KNAC.com
. January 23, 2020
. Retrieved
April 16,
2020
.
- ^
"LIZZY BORDEN Releases First New Single In Five Years, 'Death Of Me'
"
.
Blabbermouth.net
. August 23, 2023
. Retrieved
August 23,
2023
.
- ^
"Lizzy Borden - Former Guitarist Dies"
.
Metal Storm
. February 18, 2021
. Retrieved
July 29,
2021
.
External links
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