Znowhite
Znowhite or Znöwhite were an American thrash/speed metal band who have been credited for helping to pioneer thrash metal in Chicago.[1]
Znowhite | |
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| File:Znowhite (band).jpg | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Snowhite, ZnöWhite |
| Origin | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Genres | Thrash metal, speed metal |
| Years active | 1982–1989 |
| Labels | Enigma, Roadrunner, Metal Mind |
| Spinoffs | Cyclone Temple |
| Past members | Ian Tafoya Sparks Tafoya Nicole Lee Nicky Tafoya Alex Olvera Scott Schafer Debbie Gunn John Slattery |
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History
Formation
In 1982, the heavy metal band Znowhite was founded by two African American brothers, guitarist Ian Tafoya and drummer Sparks Tafoya (real names Greg Fulton and Tony Heath), along with cousin Nicky Tafoya (real name Curtis Fulton) on bass.[2] Nicole Lee (real name Sue Sharp) joined the group soon after as lead vocalist. The band originally performed under the title Snowhite, but later replaced the S with a Z. They independently released their three-song flexi disc which featured the song "Hellbent". This caught the attention of Metal Blade Records founder Brian Slagel. On the strength of the recording Znowhite landed a spot on volume three of the Metal Massacre compilation, which helped give them some exposure.[3]
Lineup changes and disbandment
After Znowhite's initial success, Nicole, Ian, and Sparks decided to replace then bassist Amp Dawg. In 1985, Scott Schafer joined Znowhite taking over the bass duties. Four years of touring in America and Canada produced the independently released live album Live Suicide. Back in their hometown of Chicago the band started work on what would be the last Znowhite release, Act of God. Toward the end of the recording sessions Nicole Lee made the decision to leave Znowhite. Act of God was released in 1988 through Roadrunner Records.[2] An extensive American tour followed the album's release and featured Sentinel Beast vocalist Debbie Gunn (real name Debbie Gunderson) and drummer John Slattery - formerly of the band Tools Of Ignorance. Gunn left after the tours, while Fulton, Schafer, and Slattery went on to form Cyclone Temple.[3] When Cyclone Temple disbanded Fulton, Schafer, and Fulton's brother, former Znowhite drummer Tony Heath, formed a new group named Rebels Without Applause.[4] Gunn went on to sing for the group Ice Age[5] and, later, to reform Sentinel Beast.[6]
Band members
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Last known lineup
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Former members
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Timeline
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Colors =
id:vocals value:red legend:Vocals id:guitar value:green legend:Guitars id:bass value:blue legend:Bass id:drums value:orange legend:Drums,_percussion id:studio value:black legend:Studio_album id:bars value:gray(0.95)
BackgroundColors = bars:bars
LineData =
layer:back color:studio at:01/31/1984 at:01/31/1985 at:01/31/1988
BarData =
bar:Lee text:Sue Sharp (aka "Nicole Lee") bar:Gunn text:Debbie Gunderson (aka "Debbie Gunn") bar:Troch text:"Brian Troch" bar:Ian text:Greg Fulton (aka "Ian Tafoya") bar:Nickie text:Curtis Fulton (aka "Nicky Tafoya") bar:Dawg text:"Amp Dawg" bar:Schafer text:"Scott Schafer" bar:Olvera text:"Alex Olvera" bar:Sparks text:Tony Heath (aka "Sparks Tafoya") bar:Slattery text:"John Slattery"
PlotData=
width:11 bar:Lee from:01/01/1982 till:03/15/1988 color:vocals bar:Gunn from:03/16/1988 till:03/01/1989 color:vocals bar:Troch from:03/01/1989 till:end color:vocals bar:Ian from:01/01/1982 till:end color:guitar bar:Nickie from:01/01/1982 till:12/31/1983 color:bass bar:Dawg from:01/01/1984 till:12/31/1984 color:bass bar:Schafer from:01/01/1985 till:12/31/1989 color:bass bar:Olvera from:01/01/1987 till:02/01/1987 color:bass bar:Schafer from:01/01/1987 till:12/31/1988 color:bass width:3 bar:Schafer from:01/01/1985 till:end color:bass bar:Sparks from:01/01/1982 till:12/31/1986 color:drums bar:Schafer from:01/01/1987 till:12/31/1988 color:drums bar:Slattery from:01/01/1989 till:end color:drums
</timeline>
Discography
Studio albums
- All Hail to Thee (EP, 1984)
- Kick 'Em When They're Down (EP, 1985)
- Act of God (1988)[7]
Live albums
- Live Suicide (EP, 1986)
Compilation albums
- ZnöWhite (1998)[8]
- ZnöWhite (2007 re-issue with albums All Hail to Thee + Kick 'Em When They're Down + Live Suicide)
Singles
- Live for the Weekend (1983)
Other appearances
- "Hell Bent" on Metal Massacre III (1983)
- "Baptized by Fire" on Stars on Thrash (1988)
References
- ^ Christe (2003), p. 206, "Two black musicians from Chicago helped found that city's thrash metal scene: towering seven-foot guitarist Ian Tafoya of Znowhite, and denim-bedecked bassist Calvin Humphrey of Zoetrope."
- ^ 2.0 2.1 Colin Larkin, ed. (1995). The Guinness Who's Who of Heavy Metal (Second ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 395. ISBN 0-85112-656-1.
- ^ 3.0 3.1 Rivadavia, Eduardo. "allmusic (((Znowhite > Biography)))". AllMusic. Retrieved February 14, 2010.
- ^ "REBELS WITHOUT APPLAUSE: Full-Length Debut Out Now". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
- ^ "ICE AGE Demos Available For Free Download". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved February 14, 2010.
- ^ "SENTINEL BEAST: Performance Footage Of New Song Posted Online". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved February 14, 2010.
- ^ "allmusic (((Act of God > Overview)))". AllMusic. Retrieved February 14, 2010.
- ^ "allmusic (((ZnöWhite > Overview)))". AllMusic. Retrieved February 14, 2010.
Sources
- Christe, Ian (2003). Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal. HarperCollins. ISBN 0-380-81127-8