Lion (band)
Encyclopedia
Lion were an English
-American
rock
band, best known for their theme song from the 1986 animated movie The Transformers: The Movie
.
A hard rock
quartet, Lion (originally named Lyon) were formed in Los Angeles
in 1983 after ex-Tytan
vocalist Kal Swan (born Norman Swan) and former Lone Star
guitarist Tony Smith relocated from Great Britain
and teamed up with bassist Alex Campbell and drummer Mark Edwards, who had been in Steeler
alongside Yngwie Malmsteen, and Third Stage Alert. After beginning work on a demo, Swan and Edwards recruited guitarist Doug Aldrich
and bassist Jerry Best (both of whom had previously recorded with the band Mansfield) to complete the Lion line-up, and in 1984 the group made its recorded debut with "Love Is a Lie", a song on the Friday the 13th Part 4
soundtrack. In 1986, Lion returned with Power Love, a six-song EP released only in Japan
.
After recording the title for the Transformers animated film, they signed to Scotti Brothers and released their first full-length album, 1987's Dangerous Attraction. Their next record, Trouble in Angel City, was released on the Grand Slamm label in 1989. It contained re-recordings of the Power Love EP songs, a cover of the Slade
song "Lock Up Your Daughters
", and several new tracks.
In September of that year, Edwards suffered a broken neck after falling off a cliff while competing in a motorcycle race. Lion disbanded a month later, with Swan and Aldrich later teaming up in Bad Moon Rising along with former Hericane Alice
members Jackie Ramos and Ian Mayo. Aldrich also recorded with Hurricane
, House of Lords
, Burning Rain, Dio
and Whitesnake
. Jerry Best would later re-appear in Freak Of Nature
, featuring former White Lion
vocalist Mike Tramp
; he also briefly toured with Dio
in the late 1990s.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band, best known for their theme song from the 1986 animated movie The Transformers: The Movie
The Transformers: The Movie
The Transformers: The Movie is a 1986 animated feature film based on the animated series of the same name. It was released in North America on August 8, 1986 and in the UK on December 5, 1986....
.
A hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
quartet, Lion (originally named Lyon) were formed in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in 1983 after ex-Tytan
Tytan (band)
-History:Tytan was a British heavy metal band formed at the height of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal in the fall of 1981 by the former Angel Witch rhythm section, bassist Kevin Riddles and drummer Dave Dufort , Scottish vocalist Norman 'Kal' Swan, and guitarists Steve Gibbs and Stuart Adams...
vocalist Kal Swan (born Norman Swan) and former Lone Star
Lone Star (band)
-History:Lone Star were a Welsh rock band formed in Cardiff, Wales in 1975. An embryonic line-up consisted of former Iona members, Kenny Driscoll and Tony Smith, former Quest bassist Ray Jones, and drummer Jim Mathews...
guitarist Tony Smith relocated from Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and teamed up with bassist Alex Campbell and drummer Mark Edwards, who had been in Steeler
Steeler
Steeler was an early 1980s American heavy metal band from Nashville. Band members included: Ron Keel on vocals and guitar, Michael Dunigan on lead guitar, Bobby Eva on drums and Tim Morrison on bass. In 1982, they released the single Cold Day in Hell....
alongside Yngwie Malmsteen, and Third Stage Alert. After beginning work on a demo, Swan and Edwards recruited guitarist Doug Aldrich
Doug Aldrich
Doug Aldrich , is a Los Angeles-based hard rock guitarist, since 2003 a member of Whitesnake. He founded the band Burning Rain with Keith St.John in 1998 and has played previously with the bands Dio, Lion, Hurricane, House of Lords, and Bad Moon Rising...
and bassist Jerry Best (both of whom had previously recorded with the band Mansfield) to complete the Lion line-up, and in 1984 the group made its recorded debut with "Love Is a Lie", a song on the Friday the 13th Part 4
Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter
Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter is a 1984 slasher film. It is the fourth film in the Friday the 13th film series. Though it was billed as "The Final Chapter," there have been many further sequels in the franchise. The popularity and financial success of the film, which grossed over $32 million,...
soundtrack. In 1986, Lion returned with Power Love, a six-song EP released only in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
After recording the title for the Transformers animated film, they signed to Scotti Brothers and released their first full-length album, 1987's Dangerous Attraction. Their next record, Trouble in Angel City, was released on the Grand Slamm label in 1989. It contained re-recordings of the Power Love EP songs, a cover of the Slade
Slade
Slade are an English rock band from Wolverhampton, who rose to prominence during the glam rock era of the early 1970s. With 17 consecutive Top 20 hits and six number ones, the British Hit Singles & Albums names them as the most successful British group of the 1970s based on sales of singles...
song "Lock Up Your Daughters
Lock Up Your Daughters (song)
"Lock Up Your Daughters" is a single from rock band Slade which appeared on the album Till Deaf Do Us Part. It was written by lead singer Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea. The single was released in September 1981 and peaked at #29 in the UK, spending a total of 8 weeks on the chart...
", and several new tracks.
In September of that year, Edwards suffered a broken neck after falling off a cliff while competing in a motorcycle race. Lion disbanded a month later, with Swan and Aldrich later teaming up in Bad Moon Rising along with former Hericane Alice
Hericane Alice
Hericane Alice was a short lived metal band that formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Their debut album was the self titled and very limited Hurricane Alice. Due to conflict with metal band Hurricane , they changed the spelling of their name to Hericane Alice for their second album...
members Jackie Ramos and Ian Mayo. Aldrich also recorded with Hurricane
Hurricane (band)
Hurricane was a 1980s heavy metal / glam metal rock band originally featuring current Foreigner lead vocalist Kelly Hansen , Robert Sarzo , Tony Cavazo , and Jay Schellen...
, House of Lords
House of Lords (band)
House of Lords is a hard rock/AOR band from Los Angeles, California.-History:House of Lords was formed in 1987 by former Angel member and keyboardist Gregg Giuffria from his solo project Giuffria...
, Burning Rain, Dio
Dio (band)
Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
and Whitesnake
Whitesnake
Whitesnake are an English rock band, founded in 1978 by David Coverdale after his departure from his previous band, Deep Purple. The band's early material has been compared by critics to Deep Purple, but by the mid 1980s they had moved to a more commercial hard rock style...
. Jerry Best would later re-appear in Freak Of Nature
Freak of Nature (band)
Freak of Nature was an American Heavy Metal band, formed in 1992 by former White Lion lead singer Mike Tramp. The band was formed after White Lion broke up and was significantly darker and harder than White Lion. The band released three albums and then disbanded in 1995...
, featuring former White Lion
White Lion
White Lion is an American/Danish hard rock/heavy metal band that was formed in New York City in 1983 by Danish vocalist Mike Tramp and American guitarist Vito Bratta. Mainly active in the 1980s and early 1990s, the band achieved double platinum status with their #8 hit "Wait" and #3 hit "When the...
vocalist Mike Tramp
Mike Tramp
Mike Tramp is a Danish singer and songwriter who is best known for his work with the hard rock bands White Lion and Freak of Nature...
; he also briefly toured with Dio
Dio (band)
Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
in the late 1990s.
Line up
- 1983 - 1984
- Kal Swan - vocals
- Tony Smith - guitars
- Alex Cambell - bass
- Mark Edwards - drums
- 1984 - 1989
- Kal Swan - Vocals
- Doug Aldrich - guitars
- Jerry Best - bass
- Mark Edwards - drums
- Guy Stiner (session musician) - keyboards
- Scott Douglas MacLachlan - additional vocals
Discography
- 1986 - Power Love
- 1987 - Dangerous Attraction
- 1989 - Trouble In Angel City