SIN (band)
Encyclopedia
SIN was a Hard rock band was originally formed in New York
/New Jersey
in 1976-77, coming out of the ashes of New Jersey
club circuit bands VIRGIN and LUST, with the name SIN first being coined by bassist Rik Fox
, bringing with him, drummer Basil Stanley (Stan Bassel from Long Island
), joining Ian Criss and Keith Starz. In this line-up the band performed until 1978-79, when Criss left to join cover band Angelface.
, Fox joined Steeler for one album and after leaving Steeler, reformed a Los Angeles version of SIN once again
L.A. California the first version Mach I, formed upon Rik Fox
departure from Steeler
, after meeting keyboardist Vince Gilbert, from Arizona
. Rik tried to make the bands' approach like a cross-between Angel
-meets-Judas Priest
. (Little-known-fact: Rik was considered for the bass position for Angel several times, being friends to Punky Meadows
, Barry Brandt, and Frank Dimino)...
, and a good Lawyer Stan Diamond, forced Fox's former band mates to give up their attempts to use of the name SIN, forcing them to change it to Jagwire, who, broke up soon after their album was returned for lack of decent sales figures.
having to replace Ace Frehley
, since RIK was rehearsing at the same studios KISS were. Fox informed Kristi, that KISS already were using Vinnie Vincent
, however, he was looking for new members. So, upon the break-up of ALIEN, J.J. Kristi, Frank Starr, and new guitarist Richie Martel, made the cross-country trek to join Fox in re-forming SIN. With the addition of drummer Mark Anthony Bencachea, the new SIN line-up blew the roofs off of every venue they performed at, impressing all of Hollywood's industry-types. This led to bookings with former band mate Ron Keel
, Stryper
, and many other Hollywood Metal acts. Eventually, SIN became represented by Management 3, a TOP Industry management company handling the Beach Boys, 3 Dog Night, Neil Diamond
, and others. SIN wasn't even record label SIGNED YET!
bassist Dana Strum
, with a plan to have SIN signed to a major label soon. The ultimate demo that came out resulted in opening many doors for SIN, however, internal player-chemistry problems, again, found the line-up dissolving like sand through Fox's fingers, the more he tried to keep it together. After this line-up dissolved, Fox found a temporary stint in another L.A. Metal act called Rik and asked to audition for BURN by the band and won the job. BURN was managed by NIJI who where Ronnie James Dio and Wendy Dio.
drummer Mick Brown, which produced solid rhythm tracks, produced by Icon guitarist Dan Wexler. Surgical Steel, being an unstable band before Fox joined, eventually broke up.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
/New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
in 1976-77, coming out of the ashes of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
club circuit bands VIRGIN and LUST, with the name SIN first being coined by bassist Rik Fox
Rik Fox
Richard Suligowski , better known as Rik Fox, is an American heavy metal bass guitar player. He was mainly active during the 1970s and 1980s both in the New York City and Hollywood Rock and Metal scene.-Early life:...
, bringing with him, drummer Basil Stanley (Stan Bassel from Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
), joining Ian Criss and Keith Starz. In this line-up the band performed until 1978-79, when Criss left to join cover band Angelface.
Move To L.A.
Fox retained the rights to the name SIN and after moving to L.A. in 1982 to join and name WASP. After departing W.A.S.P.W.A.S.P.
W.A.S.P. is an American heavy metal band formed in 1982. They emerged from the same Los Angeles scene that spawned Mötley Crüe, Ratt, Quiet Riot and others. The band's popularity peaked in the 1980s, yet they continue to record and tour, making them one of the most enduring of the West Coast heavy...
, Fox joined Steeler for one album and after leaving Steeler, reformed a Los Angeles version of SIN once again
L.A. California the first version Mach I, formed upon Rik Fox
Rik Fox
Richard Suligowski , better known as Rik Fox, is an American heavy metal bass guitar player. He was mainly active during the 1970s and 1980s both in the New York City and Hollywood Rock and Metal scene.-Early life:...
departure from 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....
, after meeting keyboardist Vince Gilbert, from Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. Rik tried to make the bands' approach like a cross-between Angel
Angel (band)
Angel is a glam rock and heavy metal band from Washington, D.C., formed in the mid-70s by Punky Meadows and Mickie Jones. They were signed to Casablanca Records, and had the image of dressing in white.-History:...
-meets-Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
. (Little-known-fact: Rik was considered for the bass position for Angel several times, being friends to Punky Meadows
Punky Meadows
Punky Meadows is an American guitarist known for his glam image as a member of the band Angel.-Background and Early Career:...
, Barry Brandt, and Frank Dimino)...
Line-Up and Controversy
The line-up was made up of other unknown L.A. players. Being the catalyst of the band, Rik found competent players so not to lose momentum built by being a member of STEELER. Within 6 months of becoming one of L.A.'s most popular groups, the members, becoming so inflated with their new popularity, attempted to fire Fox from his own band. Rik actually walked out of their premier recording session and apologized to Metal Blade engineer Bill Metoyer, with regard to being unable to work with the new super-ego's in the group. The remaining members attempted to replace Rik with a new, lesser popular bass player, and continue attempting to illegally use the name SIN. Rik had service-marked the rights to the name, and, with the assistance of his friends in Motley CrueMötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil...
, and a good Lawyer Stan Diamond, forced Fox's former band mates to give up their attempts to use of the name SIN, forcing them to change it to Jagwire, who, broke up soon after their album was returned for lack of decent sales figures.
Second SIN Line-Up
Rik pushed on re-forming the band SIN with former ALIEN members Frank C. Starr, and J.J. Kristie, who was a previous band mate of Rik's in N.Y.C. This second L.A. line-up of SIN was ultimately more popular and successful, voting them the biggest Metal band of L.A. for 1983-84, by Music Connection Magazine. This second L.A. line-up was superbly beefed-up by replacing the entire former L.A. line-up, and replacing them with some members of the N.Y. band ALIEN. Then-fledgling, now legendary front man Frank Starr helped Fox pave the way for a superior SIN 'resurgence', pushing the band over-the-top. Rik was contacted by former band mate J.J. Kristi, inquiring about the auditions KISSKISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
having to replace Ace Frehley
Ace Frehley
Paul Daniel "Ace" Frehley is an American musician best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Kiss. He took on the persona of the "Spaceman" or "Space Ace" when the band adopted costumes and theatrics...
, since RIK was rehearsing at the same studios KISS were. Fox informed Kristi, that KISS already were using Vinnie Vincent
Vinnie Vincent
Vincent John Cusano, better known as Vinnie Vincent, is an American guitarist from Bridgeport, Connecticut and songwriter known for his brief membership in the band Kiss.-Replacing Ace Frehley in Kiss:...
, however, he was looking for new members. So, upon the break-up of ALIEN, J.J. Kristi, Frank Starr, and new guitarist Richie Martel, made the cross-country trek to join Fox in re-forming SIN. With the addition of drummer Mark Anthony Bencachea, the new SIN line-up blew the roofs off of every venue they performed at, impressing all of Hollywood's industry-types. This led to bookings with former band mate Ron Keel
Ron Keel
Ron Keel is a Heavy metal vocalist and guitarist for a number of bands from the 1980s to the modern day, including the glam metal band Keel.-Biography:...
, Stryper
Stryper
Stryper is a Christian glam metal band from Orange County, California. The group's lineup consists of Michael Sweet , Oz Fox , Tim Gaines , and Robert Sweet...
, and many other Hollywood Metal acts. Eventually, SIN became represented by Management 3, a TOP Industry management company handling the Beach Boys, 3 Dog Night, Neil Diamond
Neil Diamond
Neil Leslie Diamond is an American singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades from the 1960s until the present....
, and others. SIN wasn't even record label SIGNED YET!
Shopping A Record Deal
Demo sessions were soon handled by eventual SlaughterSlaughter (band)
Slaughter is an American heavy metal band formed in Las Vegas, Nevada by lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist Mark Slaughter and bassist Dana Strum. The band reached stardom in 1990 with their first album, Stick It to Ya which spawned several hit singles including "Up All Night", "Spend My Life", "Mad...
bassist Dana Strum
Dana Strum
Dana Strum is the bassist of heavy metal band Slaughter. Before that, he was in Vinnie Vincent Invasion together with fellow bandmate, Mark Slaughter...
, with a plan to have SIN signed to a major label soon. The ultimate demo that came out resulted in opening many doors for SIN, however, internal player-chemistry problems, again, found the line-up dissolving like sand through Fox's fingers, the more he tried to keep it together. After this line-up dissolved, Fox found a temporary stint in another L.A. Metal act called Rik and asked to audition for BURN by the band and won the job. BURN was managed by NIJI who where Ronnie James Dio and Wendy Dio.
Surgical Steel
Eventually, Fox was recruited by Arizona Metal act Surgical Steel, recording a debut album, which was shelved, upon lack of funds to finish it. Fox, did, however get to play in the sessions with DokkenDokken
Dokken is an American heavy metal and hard rock band formed in 1978. They split up in 1989 but reformed four years later. The group accumulated numerous charting singles and has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide...
drummer Mick Brown, which produced solid rhythm tracks, produced by Icon guitarist Dan Wexler. Surgical Steel, being an unstable band before Fox joined, eventually broke up.
SIN Band Members
- Rikk Kristi - Guitars 1985-1985
- Frank Starr (Frank Casamassina)- Vocals 1984-1985
- Carl James - Drums 1983-1985
- Vincent Gilbert - Keyboards 1983-1985
- Rik FoxRik FoxRichard Suligowski , better known as Rik Fox, is an American heavy metal bass guitar player. He was mainly active during the 1970s and 1980s both in the New York City and Hollywood Rock and Metal scene.-Early life:...
BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
1983-1985 - Howard DrossinHoward DrossinHoward Drossin is a music composer for film, television, commercials, and video games. He is best known for his score on the Tony Jaa martial arts film, The Protector, which he co-composed with hip-hop producer RZA....
Guitars 1983-1985 - Art Deresh - Vocals 1983-1984