Phantom blue
Encyclopedia
Phantom Blue was an all-female American
heavy metal
band from Los Angeles, California
, formed in 1987. Phantom Blue were the first and only female artists to be signed to Mike Varney's Shrapnel Records, only three months after forming.
by Michelle Meldrum
and Nicole Couch
. Couch and Meldrum were students of Paul Gilbert
and Bruce Bouillet
of Racer X. Michelle Meldrum had played with drummer Linda McDonald
in previous projects and together with vocalist Gigi Hangach
and original bassist, Debra Armstrong, the band signed a contract with Shrapnel Records. Armstrong left the band prior to recording and was replaced by Kim Nielsen-Parsons
, a student of John Alderete, bassist for Racer X and The Mars Volta
. Phantom Blue recorded their first album with the help of producer Steve Fontano and fellow Shrapnel label mate, Marty Freidman. Couch and Meldrum also co wrote a track on the album with Marty Freidman. Roadrunner Records, who owned the bands European distribution rights, were responsible for the band shooting a video for the single "Why Call it Love" and a successful European tour followed.
Upon returning to the States, Phantom Blue caught the attention of singer Don Dokken
who introduced them to Tom Zutaut of Geffen Records. Other major labels were interested in signing the band, most notably Disney's Hollywood Records, but the band signed with Geffen. Couch and Meldrum began writing the material for the Gefffen release. Couch left the band prior to recording and Meldrum successfully recorded all the guitar parts for Built to Perform. Guitarist Karen Kreutzer replaced Couch and the band embarked on another successful European tour and shot a video for the single Time to Run.
The band was eventually dropped from Geffen, sued by manager Byron Hontas and the management position was taken over by Mark Dawson, boyfriend of drummer Linda McDonald. Guitarist Michelle Meldrum was the first to leave due to disagreement as to the direction of the band under Mark Dawson and vocalist Gigi Hangach soon followed. By 1996, drummer Linda McDonald was the only original member left and she continued to use the name Phantom Blue, enlisting a total of ten different members until finally calling it quits in early 2000.
went on to form The Iron Maidens
(billed as "The World's Only Female Tribute to Iron Maiden
"), who have released a self-titled tribute album worldwide and Japanese release version, the CD/DVD release Route 666 and the EP The Root of All Evil
in Japan. In addition, she plays drums in the cover bands Crabby Patty (I'm So Unclear!), Unholy Pink and Valley Dolls. She was also the drummer of the all-female Ozzy Osbourne
tribute The Little Dolls from 2005 to 2010.
Guitarist Karen Kreutzer (from the 1993-1997 lineups) retired after moving to West River, MD. She is currently married with one daughter and is working as a data analyst for a content solutions company.
Bassist Kim Nielsen (who now goes by her married name Kim Nielsen-Parsons
) has become a successful session musician, tour production and artist management assistant, working with many top bands in the music industry. Her most notable work outside of Phantom Blue is in Asia
's 2004 album Silent Nation.
Lead vocalist Gigi Hangach
currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada
and is a fierce supporter of animal rights. Critics claimed her performance at the 2009 Phantom Blue reunion show was captivating and she is regarded to be one of the most underrated hard rock/metal vocalists in music history.
Guitarist Nicole Couch
currently lives in New York City with her husband and two kids and works as a music teacher.
Original Bassist Debra Armstrong currently lives in Sioux City, Iowa
with her husband. She left the music industry soon after being replaced by Kim Nielsen in 1988, and went on to pursue a career in 3D modeling and engineering, working for clients such as Disney Imagineering, DARPA and others.
Guitarist Michelle Meldrum
went on to form an international band called Meldrum
. The band have toured with Zakk Wylde
's Black Label Society
, Motörhead, Sepultura
, Nashville Pussy
and Danzig
. They have released a live DVD, Loaded Live, and two albums, Loaded Mental Cannon
and Blowin' Up the Machine
, the latter featuring her former Phantom Blue band mate, drummer Linda McDonald. Sadly, on May 21, 2008, Meldrum died as a result of a cerebral hemorrhage. She is survived by her husband John Norum
(of Europe
) and their son Jake.
in Hollywood, CA
. Meldrum's position was filled by Tina Wood (from the 1997 lineup), while Sara Marsh and Courtney Cox
of The Iron Maidens filled in for Nicole Couch.
Original members Gigi Hangach and Nicole Couch are constructing the website www.phantomblue.net in honor of Michelle Meldrum.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band from Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, formed in 1987. Phantom Blue were the first and only female artists to be signed to Mike Varney's Shrapnel Records, only three months after forming.
Formation and main career (1987-2001)
Phantom Blue was formed in 1987 in Hollywood, CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
by Michelle Meldrum
Michelle Meldrum
Michelle Meldrum-Norum was an American hard rock guitarist known for being a member of the bands Phantom Blue and Meldrum.-Biography:...
and Nicole Couch
Nicole Couch
Nicole Couch is a female American musician and songwriter, and founding member of the all-female heavy metal band Phantom Blue.-Biography:Nicole Couch was born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in rural Mississippi and Memphis, Tennessee....
. Couch and Meldrum were students of Paul Gilbert
Paul Gilbert
Paul Brandon Gilbert is an American guitarist. He is well known for his technical guitar work with Racer X and Mr...
and Bruce Bouillet
Bruce Bouillet
Bruce "Einstein" Bouillet is a guitarist who has played in the bands Racer X, The Scream, DC-10, and Epidemic.-Racer X:Bouillet played on Racer X's Second Heat, Live Extreme - Vol.I, and Live Extreme - Vol. II. After leaving the band, he joined with former Angora singer John Corabi, and his former...
of Racer X. Michelle Meldrum had played with drummer Linda McDonald
Linda McDonald
Linda McDonald is the drummer of the all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens . In addition, she is a member of the Ozzy Osbourne tribute band The Little Dolls and the cover bands Valley Dolls, Crabby Patty and Unholy Pink...
in previous projects and together with vocalist Gigi Hangach
Gigi Hangach
Gigi Hangach is an American female singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of the all-female heavy metal band Phantom Blue. From 1989 to 1997, Hangach recorded three studio albums and a live album with Phantom Blue....
and original bassist, Debra Armstrong, the band signed a contract with Shrapnel Records. Armstrong left the band prior to recording and was replaced by Kim Nielsen-Parsons
Kim Nielsen-Parsons
Kim Nielsen-Parsons is an American hard rock bassist known for being a member of the all-female band Phantom Blue.-Biography:Kim Nielsen first picked up the bass guitar at the age of 12. In the years to come, she played with local bands in Los Angeles, California, while taking lessons from Racer X...
, a student of John Alderete, bassist for Racer X and The Mars Volta
The Mars Volta
The Mars Volta is a Grammy award winning American progressive rock band from El Paso, Texas. Founded in 2001 by guitarist Omar Rodríguez-López and vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala, the band incorporates various influences including progressive rock, krautrock, jazz fusion, Latin American music, and...
. Phantom Blue recorded their first album with the help of producer Steve Fontano and fellow Shrapnel label mate, Marty Freidman. Couch and Meldrum also co wrote a track on the album with Marty Freidman. Roadrunner Records, who owned the bands European distribution rights, were responsible for the band shooting a video for the single "Why Call it Love" and a successful European tour followed.
Upon returning to the States, Phantom Blue caught the attention of singer Don Dokken
Don Dokken
Donald Maynard Dokken is best known for being the lead singer and founder of the band Dokken. He is known for his vibrato-laden, melodic vocal style which has made him an influential figure in American heavy metal. After enjoying mainstream success with Dokken, he parted ways with the band in 1988...
who introduced them to Tom Zutaut of Geffen Records. Other major labels were interested in signing the band, most notably Disney's Hollywood Records, but the band signed with Geffen. Couch and Meldrum began writing the material for the Gefffen release. Couch left the band prior to recording and Meldrum successfully recorded all the guitar parts for Built to Perform. Guitarist Karen Kreutzer replaced Couch and the band embarked on another successful European tour and shot a video for the single Time to Run.
The band was eventually dropped from Geffen, sued by manager Byron Hontas and the management position was taken over by Mark Dawson, boyfriend of drummer Linda McDonald. Guitarist Michelle Meldrum was the first to leave due to disagreement as to the direction of the band under Mark Dawson and vocalist Gigi Hangach soon followed. By 1996, drummer Linda McDonald was the only original member left and she continued to use the name Phantom Blue, enlisting a total of ten different members until finally calling it quits in early 2000.
Post-disbandment (2001-present)
Drummer Linda McDonaldLinda McDonald
Linda McDonald is the drummer of the all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens . In addition, she is a member of the Ozzy Osbourne tribute band The Little Dolls and the cover bands Valley Dolls, Crabby Patty and Unholy Pink...
went on to form The Iron Maidens
The Iron Maidens
The Iron Maidens are an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 2001 as an all-female tribute act to English heavy metal band Iron Maiden...
(billed as "The World's Only Female Tribute to Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
"), who have released a self-titled tribute album worldwide and Japanese release version, the CD/DVD release Route 666 and the EP The Root of All Evil
The Root of All Evil (EP)
The Root of All Evil is a Japan-only EP release by the all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens. It includes three new cover recordings of Iron Maiden songs and a dance remix of "The Trooper." This was the band's last recording to feature lead vocalist Aja Kim and guitarist Heather Baker, who left...
in Japan. In addition, she plays drums in the cover bands Crabby Patty (I'm So Unclear!), Unholy Pink and Valley Dolls. She was also the drummer of the all-female Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
tribute The Little Dolls from 2005 to 2010.
Guitarist Karen Kreutzer (from the 1993-1997 lineups) retired after moving to West River, MD. She is currently married with one daughter and is working as a data analyst for a content solutions company.
Bassist Kim Nielsen (who now goes by her married name Kim Nielsen-Parsons
Kim Nielsen-Parsons
Kim Nielsen-Parsons is an American hard rock bassist known for being a member of the all-female band Phantom Blue.-Biography:Kim Nielsen first picked up the bass guitar at the age of 12. In the years to come, she played with local bands in Los Angeles, California, while taking lessons from Racer X...
) has become a successful session musician, tour production and artist management assistant, working with many top bands in the music industry. Her most notable work outside of Phantom Blue is in Asia
Asia (band)
Asia are an English rock group formed in 1981. The band was labelled a supergroup as it included former members of several veteran progressive rock bands, namely John Wetton , Geoff Downes , Steve Howe and Carl Palmer Asia are an English rock group formed in 1981. The band was labelled a...
's 2004 album Silent Nation.
Lead vocalist Gigi Hangach
Gigi Hangach
Gigi Hangach is an American female singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of the all-female heavy metal band Phantom Blue. From 1989 to 1997, Hangach recorded three studio albums and a live album with Phantom Blue....
currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
and is a fierce supporter of animal rights. Critics claimed her performance at the 2009 Phantom Blue reunion show was captivating and she is regarded to be one of the most underrated hard rock/metal vocalists in music history.
Guitarist Nicole Couch
Nicole Couch
Nicole Couch is a female American musician and songwriter, and founding member of the all-female heavy metal band Phantom Blue.-Biography:Nicole Couch was born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in rural Mississippi and Memphis, Tennessee....
currently lives in New York City with her husband and two kids and works as a music teacher.
Original Bassist Debra Armstrong currently lives in Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....
with her husband. She left the music industry soon after being replaced by Kim Nielsen in 1988, and went on to pursue a career in 3D modeling and engineering, working for clients such as Disney Imagineering, DARPA and others.
Guitarist Michelle Meldrum
Michelle Meldrum
Michelle Meldrum-Norum was an American hard rock guitarist known for being a member of the bands Phantom Blue and Meldrum.-Biography:...
went on to form an international band called Meldrum
Meldrum
Meldrum is a multi-national Heavy Metal band formed by ex-Phantom Blue guitarist Michelle Meldrum.-History:American guitarist Michelle Meldrum started her first band Wargod with Strapping Young Lad drummer Gene Hoglan, later going on to form Phantom Blue, with whom she released two albums and an EP...
. The band have toured with Zakk Wylde
Zakk Wylde
Zachary Phillip Wylde , best known by the stage name Zakk Wylde, is an American musician, songwriter, and occasional actor who is best known as the former guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne and founder of the heavy metal band Black Label Society. He was the lead guitarist and vocalist in Pride & Glory,...
's Black Label Society
Black Label Society
Black Label Society is a heavy metal band formed by Zakk Wylde, with nine studio albums, one live album, two compilation albums, one EP, and three video albums released since formation of the band.-Formation and Sonic Brew :...
, Motörhead, Sepultura
Sepultura
Sepultura is a Brazilian heavy metal band from Belo Horizonte, formed in 1984. The band was a major force in the death metal, thrash metal and ultimately groove metal realms during the late 1980s and early 1990s, with their later experiments melding nu metal, hardcore punk and industrial.Sepultura...
, Nashville Pussy
Nashville Pussy
Nashville Pussy is an American hard rock band from Atlanta, Georgia. Their musical style mixes boogie rock, Southern metal and psychobilly. Much of the band's lyrical themes mostly revolve around sex, drugs, drinking, fighting, and rock 'n' roll...
and Danzig
Danzig (band)
Danzig is an American heavy metal band, formed in 1987 in Lodi, New Jersey. The band serves as a musical outlet for the singer/songwriter Glenn Danzig. Danzig can be seen as the third stage in Glenn Danzig's musical career, preceded by the horror punk bands The Misfits and Samhain...
. They have released a live DVD, Loaded Live, and two albums, Loaded Mental Cannon
Loaded Mental Cannon
Loaded Mental Cannon is the debut album by the heavy metal band Meldrum. Guest appearances on the album include Brian Robertson , Marcel Jacob and founder/guitarist Michelle Meldrum's husband John Norum ....
and Blowin' Up the Machine
Blowin' Up the Machine
Blowin' Up the Machine is the second album by the heavy metal band Meldrum, featuring a modified lineup compared to that of their 2001 debut Loaded Mental Cannon...
, the latter featuring her former Phantom Blue band mate, drummer Linda McDonald. Sadly, on May 21, 2008, Meldrum died as a result of a cerebral hemorrhage. She is survived by her husband John Norum
John Norum
John Norum is a rock music guitarist and founder of the Swedish band Europe . Concurrent to his role with Europe, he also maintains a side solo project...
(of Europe
Europe (band)
Europe is a Swedish rock band formed in Upplands Väsby in 1979 under the name Force by vocalist Joey Tempest, guitarist John Norum and drummer Tony Reno. Although widely associated with glam metal, the band's sound incorporates heavy metal and hard rock elements...
) and their son Jake.
Reunion (2009)
On May 26, 2009, Linda McDonald, Gigi Hangach and Kim Nielsen-Parsons reunited as Phantom Blue for the Michelle Meldrum Memorial Concert at the Whisky a Go GoWhisky a Go Go
The Whisky a Go Go is a nightclub in West Hollywood, California, United States. It is located at 8901 Sunset Boulevard, on the Sunset Strip.-History:...
in Hollywood, CA
Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Hollywood is a famous district in Los Angeles, California, United States situated west-northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Due to its fame and cultural identity as the historical center of movie studios and movie stars, the word Hollywood is often used as a metonym of American cinema...
. Meldrum's position was filled by Tina Wood (from the 1997 lineup), while Sara Marsh and Courtney Cox
Courtney Cox (musician)
Courtney Cox is a female American guitarist and member of the all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens.- Career :A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Courtney Cox first started playing guitar around the age of 13. When she turned 15, she enrolled at The Paul Green School of Rock Music...
of The Iron Maidens filled in for Nicole Couch.
Original members Gigi Hangach and Nicole Couch are constructing the website www.phantomblue.net in honor of Michelle Meldrum.
Studio albums
- Phantom BluePhantom Blue (album)Phantom Blue is the debut album by American all-female heavy metal band Phantom Blue. It was released in the U.S. by Shrapnel Records and on the rest of the world by Roadrunner Records. Marty Friedman co-produced the album...
(1989) - Built to PerformBuilt to PerformBuilt to Perform is the second full-length album by American heavy metal band Phantom Blue. In contrast to the first album's glam metal sound, Built to Perform displays a more raw, heavy metal sound. It also features songwriting credits by all five of the band members plus former member Nicole...
(1993)
Singles
- "Why Call it Love?" (1989)
- "Time to Run" (1993)
- "My Misery" (1994, promo CD)
Members
| Pre-Shrapnel Era (1987–1988) |
|
|---|---|
| Shrapnel/Roadrunner Era (1988–1993) |
Kim Nielsen-Parsons Kim Nielsen-Parsons is an American hard rock bassist known for being a member of the all-female band Phantom Blue.-Biography:Kim Nielsen first picked up the bass guitar at the age of 12. In the years to come, she played with local bands in Los Angeles, California, while taking lessons from Racer X... – bass |
| Geffen Era (1993–1994) |
|
| (1994–1996) |
|
| Reunion (2009) |
Courtney Cox (musician) Courtney Cox is a female American guitarist and member of the all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens.- Career :A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Courtney Cox first started playing guitar around the age of 13. When she turned 15, she enrolled at The Paul Green School of Rock Music... - guitar |