Steelheart is 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

Norwalk, Connecticut Norwalk is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The city, part of the New York metropolitan area, New York Metropolitan Area, is the List of municipalities of Connecticut by population, sixth-most populous city in Connecticut ...

, that formed in 1989. At the time that their debut was recorded, the band's members consisted of vocalist

Miljenko Matijevic Miljenko Matijevic (born November 30, 1964) is a Croatian-American singer, best known as the lead vocalist and songwriter of the hard rock band Steelheart. He has a big following in South Korea and has worked on several South Korean TV series. H ...

, lead guitarist Chris Risola, rhythm guitarist Frank DiCostanzo, bassist James Ward and the now deceased drummer John Fowler. The current lineup contains Miljenko Matijevic, Mike Humbert, Joe Pessia and James Ward. Steelheart's debut album, the self-titled '' Steelheart'' (1990), which was released on May 10, 1990, was certified gold by the

RIAA The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...

on July 30, 1991, mainly on the strength of the single " I'll Never Let You Go" which reached No. 23 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. It was their only major hit in the US, making them a

one-hit wonder A one-hit wonder is any entity that achieves mainstream popularity, often for only one piece of work, and becomes known among the general public solely for that momentary success. The term is most commonly used in regard to music performers with ...

History

Steelheart was initially formed as a band called Red Alert, whose members included James Ward (bass), Chris Risola (lead guitar), Jack Wilkenson (drums) and Miljenko Matijevic ('Mike', vocals). Former Rage of Angels members, rhythm guitarist Frank DiCostanzo and drummer John Fowler joined when Jack Wilkenson left. But after moving to L.A. and getting a record deal and a manager, the band ultimately decided to change their name to Steelheart. The band's debut album, the self-titled Steelheart, was released on May 10, 1990, and reached #40 on the ''Billboard'' 200 and was certified Gold by the

after one year, in 1991. Steelheart's second album, ''Tangled in Reins'', was released in 1992, reaching No. 144 on the ''Billboard'' charts. The album had significantly less success than its predecessor in the US, because it only reached #144 on the ''Billboard'' 200, and none of the released singles charted. The single "Mama Don't You Cry" charted No. 1 in many East Asian Countries, including

Hong Kong Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...

, leading to an Asian tour in September 1992. Towards the end of their tour of Asia, Steelheart was asked by Slaughter to open for them at a show in Denver, Colorado on Halloween night in 1992. While performing "Dancing in the Fire" from their ''Tangled in Reins'' album, Matijevic climbed an unsecured lighting truss, which fell toward the stage. In an attempt to evade it, the truss landed on top of him, crushing him face first into the stage. Matijevic suffered a broken nose, cheekbone, jaw and a twisted spine. In 1996, a revamped lineup of Steelheart emerged with guitarist Kenny Kanowski, bassist Vincent Mele and drummer Alex Makarovich, leaving Matijevic as the last original member. The new Steelheart recorded and released the album '' Wait'', despite their past two albums being filled with high powered

, this album has more of an

alternative metal Alternative metal (also known as alt-metal) is a genre of heavy metal music that combines heavy metal with influences from alternative rock and other genres not normally associated with metal. Alternative metal bands are often characterized by ...

sound. Original member James Ward joined Steelheart on the tour supporting the album. Though the album failed to chart in the US, the track "

We All Die Young "We All Die Young" is a power ballad by Miljenko Matijevic of Steelheart, and Kenny Kanowski formerly of Steelheart. It is the first song from the 1996 album '' Wait''. Covers The song was covered by the fictional band Steel Dragon in the 20 ...

" was featured in the motion picture '' Rock Star'', starring Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Aniston. In late 2006, the EP '' Just a Taste'' was released, three tracks on it would be released again on the 2008 album '' Good 2B Alive'', and the other track "We All Die Young" was previously put out on ''Wait'' and the ''Rock Star'' soundtrack. In 2016, Steelheart appeared at the three-day Rockingham 2016, glam metal festival with Marten Andersson from Lynch Mob and Lizzy Borden on bass, in Nottingham, United Kingdom on October 22, as the headline act of the second day. Steelheart released the album, ''Through Worlds of Stardust'', in 2017 and the live album, ''Rock'n Milan'', in 2018.

Band members

Current members

– lead vocals, rhythm and acoustic guitar, piano (1989–1992, 1996, 2006–present) * James Ward – bass, piano, backing vocals (1989–1992, 1996, 2023–present) * Mike Humbert – drums, percussion (2006–present) * Joe Pessia – lead guitar (2017–present)

Past members

* Chris Risola – lead guitar, backing vocals (1989–1992, 2006–2014) * Frank DiCostanzo – rhythm guitar, bass, backing vocals (1989–1992) * John Fowler – drums (1990–1992; died 2008) * Kenny Kanowski – lead guitar (1996; died 2017) * Vincent Mele – bass (1996) * Alex Makarovich – drums (1996) * Bill Lonero – lead guitar (2008) * Jack Wilkenson – drums (1989–1990) * Sigve Sjursen – bass (2006–2007) * Rev Jones – bass (2007–2016) * Uros Raskovski – lead guitar (2006–2008, 2009–2010, 2014–2017) * Marten Andersson – bass (2016–2022)

Discography

Albums

*'' Steelheart'' (1990) *''Tangled in Reins'' (1992) *''Wait'' (1996) *''Good 2B Alive'' (2008) *''Through Worlds of Stardust'' (2017)

Live Albums

* ''Rock'N Milan'' (2018)

Compilations

* ''30'' (2022)

EPs

*''Just a Taste EP'' (2006)

Singles

Video albums

References

External links

Official website
{{Authority control American hard rock musical groups American musical quartets Glam metal musical groups from Connecticut Heavy metal musical groups from Connecticut Musical groups established in 1990 Musical groups disestablished in 1992 Musical groups reestablished in 1996 Musical groups disestablished in 1996 Musical groups reestablished in 2006