Nitro (band)
Nitro | |
|---|---|
 Jim Gillette, T.J. Racer, Michael Angelo, K.C. Comet | |
| Background information | |
| Years active | 1987 – 1992 |
| Members | Jim Gillette Michael Angelo Batio Ralph Carter Johny Thunder |
| Past members | Vinne Saint James Kevin Jachetta T.J. Racer Bobby Rock K.C. Comet |
Nitro was a Glam Metal band formed by singer Jim Gillette and guitarist Michael Angelo Batio in Phoenix, Arizona in 1987.
History
Nitro was formed in 1987 by singer Jim Gillette and guitarist Michael Angelo Batio in Hollywood, California. They recruited bassist T.J. Racer, drummer Vinne Saint James, and keyboard player Kevin Jachetta. They then recorded Jim Gillette's solo album called Proud To Be Loud. After it was released Vinne Saint James and Kevin Jachetta left the band. They then changed their name to Nitro, and Vinnie was replaced by Vinnie Vincent Invasion drummer Bobby Rock. They were signed to Rampage (Rhino) after their first show, where Jim smashed 3 wine glasses with his voice. They recorded O.F.R. and released it in 1989, but when it was done Bobby Rock left and was replaced by K.C. Comet, who was in the first two videos for "Freight Train" and "Long Way From Home", and was the drummer on the O.F.R. tour. T.J. and K.C. then left and were replaced by Ralph Carter and Johny Thunder. Nitro released H.W.D.W.S. in 1991 and made a video for their cover of Ted Nugent's "Cat Scratch Fever". Nitro broke up in 1992. Afterwards Jim Gillette married Lita Ford; Michael Angelo started a solo career as Michael Angelo Batio; and Jim and Michael released a Compilation in 1998 called Gunnin' for Glory. Nitro fit into both the power metal and glam metal camps simultaneously, similar to fellow 80's shred band, Racer X. The bands also shared a slightly tongue-in-cheek approach to music and image though Racer X had a little bit more of the neo-classical elements added on.
Nitro's first album "OFR" features the longest "scream" in metal of all time (done by Jim Gillette of course), in the song "Machine Gunn Eddie" that lasts for 32 seconds. The band themselves have stated repeatedly that no effects were used to enhance the scream.
Nitro were also groundbreaking for being the first more traditional metal band (i.e non death, thrash, grind or black metal) to incorporate "blast beats" into their music, (in moments on Machine Gunn Eddie and Fighting Mad respectively), on their album O.F.R.
Line-Ups
Line-Up #1 (Proud To Be Loud period)
Jim Gillette - Vocals
Michael Angelo Batio - Guitar
T.J. Racer - Bass
Vinne Saint James - Drums
Kevin Jachetta - Keyboards
Line-Up #2 (O.F.R. album)
Jim Gillette - Vocals
Michael Angelo Batio - Guitar
T.J. Racer - Bass
Bobby Rock - Drums
Line-Up #3 (O.F.R. tour)
Jim Gillette - Vocals
Michael Angelo Batio - Guitar
T.J. Racer - Bass
K.C. Comet - Drums
Line-Up #4 (Nitro II: H.W.D.W.S period)
Jim Gillette - Vocals
Michael Angelo Batio - Guitar/Keyboards
Ralph Carter - Bass
Johny Thunder - Drums
Line-Up #5 (Gunnin' For Glory tracks)
Jim Gillette - Vocals
Michael Angelo Batio - Guitar/Bass
Paul Cammarata - Drums
Discography
- Proud To Be Loud (1987)
- O.F.R. (1989)
- Nitro II: H.W.D.W.S.(1991)
- Gunnin' for Glory (1998)
Videos
- Freight Train
- Long Way From Home
- Cat Scratch Fever