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Nitro was an American
glam metal Glam metal (also known as hair metal or pop metal) is a subgenre of heavy metal music, heavy metal that features pop music, pop-influenced Hook (music), hooks and guitar riffs, upbeat arena rock, rock anthems, and slow Sentimental ballad#Powe ...
band from
Hollywood, California Hollywood, sometimes informally called Tinseltown, is a List of districts and neighborhoods in Los Angeles, neighborhood and district in the Central Los Angeles, central region of Los Angeles County, California, within the city of Los Angeles. ...
. Formed in 1988, the group originally featured vocalist
Jim Gillette James Gillette (born November 10, 1967) is an American singer who was the frontman of the glam metal band Nitro. Originally a member of Tuff, Gillette released a solo album in 1987 and then formed Nitro with guitarist Michael Angelo Batio. T ...
, guitarist
Michael Angelo Batio Michael Angelo Batio ( ; born June 12, 1956), also known as Michael Angelo, Mike Batio or MAB, is an American heavy metal music, heavy metal guitarist. He was the lead guitarist for the glam metal band Nitro (band), Nitro in the late 1980s and ...
, bassist T. J. Racer and drummer Bobby Rock. Nitro released its debut album '' O.F.R.'' in 1989, which reached number 140 on the US ''Billboard'' 200. Rock was replaced by K. C. Comet for the album's tour and Racer would leave the band thereafter. '' Nitro II: H.W.D.W.S.'', released in 1992, featured Ralph Carter on bass and Johnny Thunder on drums. The group broke up in 1993, with a number of previously unreleased demo recordings issued on the 1999 album '' Gunnin' for Glory''. In late 2016, it was announced that Gillette and Batio had reformed the band, with
Lamb of God Lamb of God (; , ) is a Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, title for Jesus that appears in the Gospel of John. It appears at wikisource:Bible (American Standard)/John#1:29, John 1:29, where John the Baptist sees Jesus and exclaims, " ...
drummer
Chris Adler Christopher James Adler (born November 23, 1972) is an American musician, best-known as a founding member and the longtime drummer of Heavy metal music, heavy metal band Lamb of God (band), Lamb of God from 1994 to 2019. He was also a Grammy A ...
added to the group's lineup. Plans were made to record a third album – which would have been the band's first full-length studio album since 1992 – with
Victor Wooten Victor Lemonte Wooten (born September 11, 1964) is an American bassist, songwriter, and record producer. He has been the bassist for Béla Fleck and the Flecktones since the group's formation in 1988 and a member of the band SMV with two other ...
on bass and
Kane Churko Kane Gregory Churko (born January 20, 1986) is a Canadian record producer and sound engineer, best known for his work with artists such as Ozzy Osbourne, Papa Roach, Cory Marks, Modern Science, Five Finger Death Punch, Gemini Syndrome, In This ...
producing.
Matt DeVries Matthew DeVries (born January 28, 1977) is an American musician. He is the rhythm guitarist in the metal band Chimaira and the former bassist in Fear Factory. During his time with Chimaira, he, along with lead guitarist Rob Arnold and singer ...
performed in place of Wooten at live shows. In 2017, "It Won't Die" was released as the lead single from the album. However, Batio announced in May 2019 that the band had once again split up, but added that some of the material from the abandoned third album would surface on his next solo release.


History


1987–1993: Formation and first two releases

In 1987, vocalist
Jim Gillette James Gillette (born November 10, 1967) is an American singer who was the frontman of the glam metal band Nitro. Originally a member of Tuff, Gillette released a solo album in 1987 and then formed Nitro with guitarist Michael Angelo Batio. T ...
released his debut solo album ''Proud to Be Loud'', which featured contributions from guitarist
Michael Angelo Batio Michael Angelo Batio ( ; born June 12, 1956), also known as Michael Angelo, Mike Batio or MAB, is an American heavy metal music, heavy metal guitarist. He was the lead guitarist for the glam metal band Nitro (band), Nitro in the late 1980s and ...
and bassist T. J. Racer, the three of whom would later go on to form Nitro. Gillette and Batio had initially met at a beach party, while Racer was introduced to the singer as an attendee of one of his instructional vocal courses. Former Vinnie Vincent Invasion drummer Bobby Rock joined the band shortly thereafter. Speaking about joining the band, Rock recalled that Gillette and Batio recruited him by explaining that they "wanted to record the most over-the-top, in-your-face metal record ever". Nitro signed with
Rhino Entertainment Rhino Entertainment Company (formerly Rhino Records Inc.) is an American specialty record label and production company founded in 1978. It is currently the catalog division for Warner Music Group. Its current CEO is Mark Pinkus. History Founded ...
record label Rampage Records after their first show, at which Gillette "reportedly shattered three wine glasses with his voice". Gillette, Batio, Racer and Rock recorded the first Nitro album at Front Page Productions in
Costa Mesa, California Costa Mesa (; Spanish language, Spanish for "coastal tableland") is a city in Orange County, California, United States. Since its incorporation in 1953, the city has grown from a semi-rural farming community of 16,840 to an urban area including ...
with producer and engineer Charlie Watts. The album was released in 1989 and spent nine weeks on the US ''Billboard'' 200, peaking at number 140. Shortly after the recording of the album, Rock left Nitro to join
Nelson Nelson may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Nelson'' (1918 film), a historical film directed by Maurice Elvey * ''Nelson'' (1926 film), a historical film directed by Walter Summers * ''Nelson'' (opera), an opera by Lennox Berkeley to a lib ...
, with K. C. Comet replacing him for the album's promotional
concert tour A concert tour (or simply tour) is a series of concerts by an artist or group of artists in different cities, countries or locations. Often, concert tours are named to differentiate different tours by the same artist and to associate a specific ...
(he also appeared in the
music video A music video is a video that integrates a song or an album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device intended to ...
s for the singles "
Freight Train A freight train, also called a goods train or cargo train, is a railway train that is used to carry cargo, as opposed to passengers. Freight trains are made up of one or more locomotives which provide propulsion, along with one or more railroad ...
" and "Long Way from Home"). After the tour, Comet was replaced by Johnny Thunder while Ralph Carter was brought in after Racer's departure. The band released its second album '' Nitro II: H.W.D.W.S.'' in 1992, which featured a
cover version In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song release ...
of
Ted Nugent Theodore Anthony Nugent (; born December 13, 1948) is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and political activist. He goes by several nicknames, including Uncle Ted, the Nuge, and Motor City Madman. Nugent initially gained fame as the le ...
's "
Cat Scratch Fever ''Cat Scratch Fever'' is the third studio album by American rock musician Ted Nugent. It was released on May 13, 1977, by Epic Records. Vocalist Derek St. Holmes, who had left the band during the recording of the album '' Free-for-All'', had c ...
" as its sole single, before breaking up the following year. After Nitro's breakup, a number of previously unreleased demo recordings were issued on the compilation '' Gunnin' for Glory'', released on Batio's record label
M.A.C.E. Music M.A.C.E. Music, Inc. is an American record label founded by Michael Angelo Batio in April 1993. Currently based in Gurnee, Illinois, the label's main job is that of selling material and merchandise of Batio's, including his albums, videos and acces ...
in 1999. In the subsequent years, there were occasional comments from Gillette and Batio hinting at a potential reformation of the band. In 2008, when asked at
Rocklahoma Rocklahoma is an annual 3-day hard rock and metal festival held in Pryor Creek, Oklahoma, Pryor, Oklahoma. The festival features 3 official stages, as well as many unofficial campground parties and performing acts and onsite vendors. There were ...
festival about the possibility of a return for the group, Gillette commented that "It would be great to do; maybe next year", adding that "It would take about six months to get back to where I would like it to be vocally." However, Batio responded later in the year by revealing that he did not want to reform the band as Gillette was only interested in writing new material, not performing the band's old songs, which the guitarist explained would "not be the same".


2016–2019: Return and canceled third album

On November 30, 2016, it was announced that Gillette and Batio were set to reform Nitro with then-
Lamb of God Lamb of God (; , ) is a Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, title for Jesus that appears in the Gospel of John. It appears at wikisource:Bible (American Standard)/John#1:29, John 1:29, where John the Baptist sees Jesus and exclaims, " ...
drummer
Chris Adler Christopher James Adler (born November 23, 1972) is an American musician, best-known as a founding member and the longtime drummer of Heavy metal music, heavy metal band Lamb of God (band), Lamb of God from 1994 to 2019. He was also a Grammy A ...
. Speaking about the potential style of the band's new material, Adler commented that "I'm blown away by the modern sound and groove in the material. The chaos has been harnessed and it's incredibly heavy." The trio began recording for a new album the following month with engineer Josh Wilbur.
Victor Wooten Victor Lemonte Wooten (born September 11, 1964) is an American bassist, songwriter, and record producer. He has been the bassist for Béla Fleck and the Flecktones since the group's formation in 1988 and a member of the band SMV with two other ...
was later enlisted as the bassist for the recording of the album, followed by producer and songwriter
Kane Churko Kane Gregory Churko (born January 20, 1986) is a Canadian record producer and sound engineer, best known for his work with artists such as Ozzy Osbourne, Papa Roach, Cory Marks, Modern Science, Five Finger Death Punch, Gemini Syndrome, In This ...
. Batio commented on the direction of the group's new recordings in February 2017, suggesting that it would feature more
death metal Death metal is an extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. It typically employs heavily distorted and low-tuned guitars, played with techniques such as palm muting and tremolo picking; deep death growl, growling vocals; aggressive ...
than the glam for which the band was previously known, owing to Gillette's changed vocal style. "It Won't Die" was released as the band's first new song since 1999 on July 25. In September, the reunited band performed its first string of concerts on an Indian tour in September 2017, with
Matt DeVries Matthew DeVries (born January 28, 1977) is an American musician. He is the rhythm guitarist in the metal band Chimaira and the former bassist in Fear Factory. During his time with Chimaira, he, along with lead guitarist Rob Arnold and singer ...
joining as the touring bassist. In a May 2019 interview, Batio announced that Nitro had once again broken up. When asked about the status of the band's slated third album, he said, "It's gone ... we just can't go back ... after we did a few songs, we did a tour together, we all realized". The guitarist later added, "I'm best friends with Jim Gillette – we're like brothers. We never had an argument, even back in the old days", as well as assuring fans that some of the material recorded with Adler and Wooten would surface on his next solo release, due later in the year.


Members

Former members *
Jim Gillette James Gillette (born November 10, 1967) is an American singer who was the frontman of the glam metal band Nitro. Originally a member of Tuff, Gillette released a solo album in 1987 and then formed Nitro with guitarist Michael Angelo Batio. T ...
– vocals *
Michael Angelo Batio Michael Angelo Batio ( ; born June 12, 1956), also known as Michael Angelo, Mike Batio or MAB, is an American heavy metal music, heavy metal guitarist. He was the lead guitarist for the glam metal band Nitro (band), Nitro in the late 1980s and ...
– guitars, keyboards, backing vocals *T. J. Racer – bass *Bobby Rock – drums *K. C. Comet – drums *Ralph Carter – bass, backing vocals *Johnny Thunder – drums *
Chris Adler Christopher James Adler (born November 23, 1972) is an American musician, best-known as a founding member and the longtime drummer of Heavy metal music, heavy metal band Lamb of God (band), Lamb of God from 1994 to 2019. He was also a Grammy A ...
– drums *
Matt DeVries Matthew DeVries (born January 28, 1977) is an American musician. He is the rhythm guitarist in the metal band Chimaira and the former bassist in Fear Factory. During his time with Chimaira, he, along with lead guitarist Rob Arnold and singer ...
– bass Guests *Markus Mueller - drums (1992) (Died: 1995) *
Victor Wooten Victor Lemonte Wooten (born September 11, 1964) is an American bassist, songwriter, and record producer. He has been the bassist for Béla Fleck and the Flecktones since the group's formation in 1988 and a member of the band SMV with two other ...
– bass


Timeline


Discography

Studio albums *'' O.F.R.'' (1989) *'' Nitro II: H.W.D.W.S.'' (1992) Compilations *'' Gunnin' for Glory'' (1999) Singles *"
Freight Train A freight train, also called a goods train or cargo train, is a railway train that is used to carry cargo, as opposed to passengers. Freight trains are made up of one or more locomotives which provide propulsion, along with one or more railroad ...
" (1989) *"Long Way from Home" (1989) *"
Cat Scratch Fever ''Cat Scratch Fever'' is the third studio album by American rock musician Ted Nugent. It was released on May 13, 1977, by Epic Records. Vocalist Derek St. Holmes, who had left the band during the recording of the album '' Free-for-All'', had c ...
" (1992) *"Johnny Died on Christmas" (1992) *"It Won't Die" (2017) Music videos *"Freight Train" (1989) *"Long Way from Home" (1989) *"Johnny Died on Christmas" (1992) *"Cat Scratch Fever" (1992) *"Boyz Will B Boyz" (1993)


References


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Nitro Glam metal musical groups from California Heavy metal musical groups from California Musical groups established in 1988 Musical groups disestablished in 1993 Musical groups reestablished in 2016 Musical groups disestablished in 2019 Musical quartets from California