Heavy Metal Kids

Heavy Metal Kids

The Heavy Metal Kids are British hard rock band formed in the early 1970s in London.

Early years

The Heavy Metal Kids were formed in 1972 by the merger of two previous bands: Heaven and Biggles. They took their name from a gang of street kids featured in a novel by legendary beat generation writer William S. Burroughs. The "heavy metal" prefix is also used to define a musical genre which they clearly did not subscribe to.

The initial, pre-recording line-up consisted of Mickey Waller (guitar), Ronnie Thomas (bass and vocals), Gary Holton (lead vocals), Keith Boyce (drums) and Cosmo (guitar) and later Barry Paul (guitar). Barry left the band in October 1973 to join Flash and Danny Peyronel (keyboards and vocals) was asked to join. They were the first signing by Atlantic Records' new London offices, having been spotted by A & R man and sixties legend, Dave Dee.

In January 1974 they recorded their first, self-titled album, produced by Dave Dee and engineered by Phil Chapman. People who seem to have truly noted what the Kids were doing were the Rolling Stones -- the laconic reggae of "Run Around Eyes" is a dry run for the Stones' later romp through "Cherry Oh Baby".

Mickey Waller left the band shortly before they went in to Island Studios to record the follow-up album for Atlantic, Anvil Chorus, in January 1975, produced by Andy Johns. Although most of the material had been co-written with Mickey, the guitar parts were recorded by new member Cosmo.

Peyronel left to join UFO and was replaced by John Sinclair. Shortly after, Cosmo was replaced by Barry Paul, and the band moved to Mickie Most's RAK Records where they recorded Kitsch, produced by Mickie.

John Sinclair left to join Uriah Heep and was replaced by Jay Williams.

Present day

After Gary Holton's death in 1985, the band went into a long hiatus until, in 2002, they recorded a new album, Hit The Right Button, released in 2003 and featuring Danny Peyronel, now on lead vocals and keyboards, Ronnie Thomas, Keith Boyce, Marco Barusso (guitars and vocals) and Marco Guarnerio (guitars and vocals). The album was produced by Marco Barusso.

Present day

After Gary Holton's death in 1985, the band went into a long hiatus until, in 2002, they recorded a new album, Hit The Right Button, released in 2003 and featuring Danny Peyronel, now on lead vocals and keyboards, Ronnie Thomas, Keith Boyce, Marco Barusso (guitars and vocals) and Marco Guarnerio (guitars and vocals). The album was produced by Marco Barusso.

"Hit The Right Button enjoyed unprecedented and widespread critical success. It was hailed by some as the best album of the year, and by others as the best effort in the band's history. The 'twentieth century' Heavy Metal Kids embarked on a series of tours of the UK and Europe, but were unable to jump on the increasingly crowded band-wagon of reformed bands. Their recognized 'cult' status did not appear to have been enough to make up for their lack of major hit singles or albums during their early years. The fact that every single band-member lived in a different city of Europe could not have helped matters either.

In early 2008, a 'special edition' of the album was released by Angel Air Records. Under the name Hit The Right Button Plus, the cd featured four of their classic songs performed live in London and Milan between 2003 and 2005 as bonus tracks, as well as fully re-designed artwork.

Marco Guarnerio's studio commitments had become too demanding, but, having been instrumental in the making of Hit The Right Button and the Kid's return along with Danny Peyronel and Marco Barusso, remained close to the band. In October 2008, and now featuring Matteo Salvadori on Guitar and Vocals replacing Guarnerio, the Heavy Metal Kids went into Massive Arts Studio in Milan, where they laid down 16 backing tracks for their new album 'UNCONTROLLABLE'. Marco Barusso was once again guitarist and producer and worked for nearly two years with Salvadori and Peyronel to finish the cd. Founder and original guitarist Mickey Waller, as well as Barry Paul and Jay Williams, both of whom were on the last line-up of the twentieth century Kids, contributed solos on 'Living The Life Of Charlie', 'London Sleeps No More' and 'Uncontrollable', respectively.

On 8th August 2010 however, actor John Altman (Eastender's Nick Cotton) was unveilled by Boyce and Thomas unilaterally as the new lead singer. Altman is said to have known original frontman Gary Holton, and appeared with him the the film 'Quadrophenia'

September 2010, The Heavy Metals are now about to embark on a tour with the new line-up featuring John Altman on Vocals, Ronnie Thomas on Bass and Vocals, Cosmo on the Guitar, Keith Boyce on Drums and Justin McConville on Guitar Vocals and Keyboards. They are also working on their own version of a new album, also called 'UNCONTROLLABLE!, to some confusion to the fans who had seen photos, reports and announcements of the Milan album on the band's website since 2008. A single of the same title has just been released as has a cracking video. 'Rough-mix' versions of some of the tracks the band worked on for the past two years have also, and, inevitably in the age of the net, made their way to youtube.

The members of the previous line-up are said to be already embarked on different ventures in Europe and the USA.

The future is...uncontrollable.

Discography

• Heavy Metal Kids (1974);
• Anvil Chorus (1975);
• Kitsch (1977);
• Hit The Right Button (2003);
• By Appointment...Best Of The Old Bollocks (2004);
• Delirious, Classic Kids Capers (DVD) 2006;

References

Bibliography

• York, W, (1982). "Who's Who In Rock", Arthur Barker,Ltd.
• Jasper,T & Oliver, D, (1983). "The International Encyclopedia of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal", Sidgwick and Jackson, Ltd.
• Van den Heuvel, J A, (1990). "Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Encyclopedia", Arcana Editrice, Srl.
• Popoff, M, (2005). "UFO Shoot Out The Lights", Metal Blade, Inc.