The year 1990 was a somewhat interesting one in the world of music and rock n roll. The first few flickers of the grunge scene was starting to appear and the rock bands which had dominated the scene for so long began a sudden decline into non-existence. It would not be long for bands such as Motley Crue, Poison, Warrant and many others to decide to turn into a new direction with the music, a different sound in order to stay popular and at the top. One of the last true glam metal bands also rose to prominence before this decline and its name was Steelheart.
It Begins
Steelheart was formed from the remains of a band named Red Alert which hailed from Norwalk, Connecticut. The band consisted of guitarists Chris Risola and Frank DiCostanzo, bass player James Ward, drummer John Fowler and on lead vocals Croatian born Michael Matijevic. After many trials and tribulations to be noticed the band finally received a recording contact and in no time was in the studio recording its self titled album. The best part of 1989 was spent recording what would become the bands most successful album to date and finally on May 10, 1990 the world would be open to the sounds of Steelheart.
With tracks such as She's Gone, Everybody loves Eileen and I'll never let you go (Angel Eyes) the band became an overnight American success story and with the amazing vocal range of Matijevic became internationally recognized from South America to Europe and interestingly enough Japan and many parts of Asia. The album went on to peak at number 40 on the billboard charts and quickly became the band to be known as "the next big thing". Steelheart would release successful singles and videos for the abovementioned songs which became quickly popular on MTV including a top 20 hit with dwhich peaked at number 14 on the US Hot 100. The band was on a high and fast becoming a cornerstone to glam metal at the time.
Grunge becomes king and the moment
Steelheart would regroup after numerous concerts and shows to record its second album titled Tangled in Reins in 1992. By the time the album was released the Grunge movement had began with bands such as Nirvana, Alice in Chains and Soundgarden dominating on the mainstream charts and radio. Steelheart would produce a harder rock album which included such songs as Loaded Mutha, Dancin of Fire and Sticky side up. It would also include the ballad Mama don't you cry which would become a big hit in Japan, Hong Kong and in other parts of Asia. The album would chart at #144 on billboard, but while the band was losing a little appeal in the US they were becoming one of the most popular bands in other parts of the world.
After a very successful tour of Asia the band would join Slaughter on a tour of the US. During one of the final dates on the tour the future would change dramatically for Steelhearts lead vocalist Michael Matijevic and the very band itself. While performing one of the final songs of the set Matijevic would climb a unsecure lighting truss. He would try to dodge the rig but the large truss would end up crushing him causing a broken nose, cheekbone and jaw as well as severely twisting his spine. It would prove to be the final Steelheart show for many years to come.
The Road Back
After four years of recuperation Matijevic would return to revive the name Steelheart with a new line Up which included such players as Alex Makarovich and Kenny Kanowski. The product of this line up would be the album "Wait" . It would usher a brand new sound to Steelheart but would not appeal to the big US audience thou the single from the album with the same name would chart highly in many Asian markets once again. A few years later on, parts of the album would appear on a major motion picture by the name of Rockstar staring Mark Wahberg and would feature the track We all die young.What would follow would be a few more quite years with Matijevic trying to rebuild his life and the band and as well as auditions for such bands as Velvet Revolver. Matijevic would be subjected to the death of his mother and a dear friend which would cause him to revert to his rightful Croatian name Miljenko.
The Reunion and the Future
After the release the EP "Just a Taste" orginal Steelheart Guitarist Chris Risola would go on to rejoin the band for the first time since 1992. Although Risola would not be part of the bands upcoming album "Good to 2 be alive" was released brining back the classic rock roots to the Steelheart sound. Tracks such as Buried Unkind, Twisted Future and Underground would prove that Steelheart is back and here to stay. The band is fast becoming a mainstay in national US festivals such as Rocklahoma and is back on the right path to where it all thought it ended in 1992.
Miljenko Matijevic is living proof that what no matter what brings you down you must keep up the fight if you still have some faith. Though the times have been rough and a few more bad hands have been dealt along the way he continues to personify the essence of rock and rock and just as the famous song suggests and which may as well be the slogan for the bands fans, Steelheart and Mijenko we in turn " We Will never let you go"
Songs to Download and Steelheart Info
Give them all a chance they are amazing pieces of work. The stand out top 5 include Everyone Loves Eileen, We all die young, Angel Eyes, Sticky side up and She's Gone.
Best place to find all things steelheart :
Steelheart Website and Steelheart Myspace
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