DAMIEN
BAND HISTORY AND BACKGROUND:
No exact date has ever been pinpointed, but some time during
the close of the 1970's and the beginning of the 1980's a
powerful metal group formed in Toledo, Ohio - they
called themselves DAMIEN. Influenced by some of the
greatest bands of their day, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath,
UFO, Scorpions, Michael Schenker, Ronnie James Dio and
Iron Maiden (to mention a few), this group of eager metal-heads
joined forces to create their own unique and intense brand
of heavy metal. Early on the band shuffled some members, but
one by one the pieces fell into place and eventually the final
lineup would include: Chuck Stohl (lead guitars), Randy
"Wolf" Mikelson (lead vocals), Kevin "Killer" Kekes
(bass), Fritz Adamshick (rhythm guitars), and Johnny
"Evil" Cappelletty (drums). They were the perfect blend
of talent and skill, each filling a specific role in the band,
and together forming the one and only, DAMIEN.
With the lineup solidified, the band regularly blew away club
audiences with their live shows and established a cult following
in Toledo. The word about DAMIEN continued to spread
like wildfire and lead to their being signed by New York's
SELECT RECORDS. In 1987 the band went into the studio
and finalized the 10 tracks that would eventually become their
debut masterpiece, "Every Dog Has Its Day". The album
was well received by metal fans across the globe and two years
later in 1989 they created yet another killer album entitled,
"Stop This War". The band shot videos for each album
that got regular airplay on MTV and HeadBanger's Ball, exposing
them to a larger audience and allowing them to headline their
own tours. The band was featured in many of the top metal
magazines at the time and did some concerts with Yngwie
Malmsteen, Quiet Riot, Overkill, and Slaughterhouse.
DAMIEN members parted ways in the early 90's but re-united
in 2004 to headline a few reunion concerts. In 2005 the band
is now playing more regularly and there is talk of a new album
in the works!
DAMIEN's metal music features an awesome blend of power
and speed that can't be ignored. Their songs are intricately
constructed with thoughtful lyrics and ballsy choruses that
are infectiously catchy. The band blazes on all cylinders
with world-class guitar solos, crunchy rhythms, thunderous
bass lines, and pounding drums that is heavy metal at it's
best.
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