Often called America’s answer to Black Sabbath, one of the most unsung bands in the history of US hard rock music, BANG, is back! With the heaviness of Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, coupled with the groove of Grand Funk Railroad, BANG released three critically acclaimed albums on Capitol Records in the early 1970s before disappearing into obscurity for a number of years. Says original drummer and founding member Tony Diorio, “Basically we’re back to finish what was started a long time ago and cut short by forces out of our control.”
BANG will be embarking on the band's
first tour in over 40 years!
Tour Dates:
Oct 25 The Pyramid Scheme - Grand
Rapids, MI
Oct 27 House of Blues - Cleveland, OH
Oct 28 Mr. Smalls Theatre - Millvale,
PA
Oct 29 Baltimore Soundstage -
Baltimore, MD
Oct 30 Johnny Brendas w/ Pentagram -
Philadelphia, PA
Oct 31 ArtsRiot - Burlington, VT
Nov 01 Gramercy Theater - New York, NY
Nov 02 The Met - Pawtucket, RI
The 1971 self-titled debut album ‘BANG’
is considered an important forerunner to the early Doom Metal genre.
Undoubtedly one of America’s heaviest ‘proto-metal’ bands from
the period, BANG also had a strong sense of melodic power. The band’s
versatility and songwriting skills are second to none. Highly
regarded as a cult act by many for years, it’s now time for this
truly amazing rock band to be enjoyed by a new audience worldwide!
Back in the spring of 1972, BANG was
shaping up to be the proverbial ‘next big thing’. Signed a few
months earlier to Capitol Records, the band’s first single
“Questions” was taking off in the Billboard Hot 100. With the
enthusiastic support of their record label, the trio’s self-titled
debut album was also climbing in the charts. The group’s management
had them opening shows for just about every major band of the era.
Moreover, BANG had recently opened for their all time favorite band
Black Sabbath, and by common consensus of opinion, stole the show!
With two band members, guitarist Frank Gilcken and lead
singer/bassist Frank Ferrara, still in their teens, and
drummer/lyricist Tony Diorio, BANG seemed to be unstoppable!
Somehow, though, it didn’t quite work
out. Even as “Questions” was charting, a corporate shakeup at
Capitol saw the band’s supporters moving on and replaced by A&R
men who had their own signings to promote. With the band’s
producer, Michael Sunday, also leaving the label, BANG’s support
system was crumbling. Their new producer engineered a change in
personnel that led to drummer/lyricist Tony Diorio’s departure.
Meanwhile, the label insisted that BANG develop a more mainstream,
pop oriented sound. Trying to keep the dream alive, they changed
management companies, only to discover that they were being
blacklisted, making gigs scarce. With a much more commercial
approach, the group released a 3rd album, ‘BANG Music’ in 1973,
which, although did contain some great songs and performances, failed
to chart. By 1974, just a couple of years after their initial
success, a tired and disillusioned BANG had lost their direction,
momentum and self-belief. They went their separate ways.
Despite the relative briefness of their
career, BANG left behind a powerful recorded legacy: four albums,
including their unreleased 1971 concept album ‘Death Of A Country’,
as well as a trio of non-album tracks that were recorded as singles
when their deal with Capitol was about to expire. In 1996, much to
everyone’s surprise, BANG reunited! The band recorded and released
in 1998 a new album titled ‘Return To Zero’, with the more
metal-oriented album titled ‘The Maze’ (featuring new versions of
old favorites “Love Sonnet” and “Bow To The King”) following
in 2004, proving once again that the band still had the magic that
made them great back in the early 70’s!
And
now, much to the excitement of their fans, BANG is preparing to play
live in 2014-15! Frank Ferrara adds, “The three of us realized that
BANG was still a musical force. And even though a lot of years have
passed, we were writing songs as if it were yesterday. The dream is
alive, and with renewed thirst and love of the music, we are resuming
our quest.” With drummer Jake Leger, and the Franks, the band will
remain a three piece, sounding just like the records!
BANG is making available free
ringtones! Free Frank Gilcken guitar solos for iPhones and Androids!
http://www.bangmusic.com/
http://www.bangmusic.com/
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