Banshee (band)

Banshee is a metal band that was formed in 1986 in the American Midwest. Although they shared the image and sound with the glam/metal scene of the 80s, their music fully shares the elements of melodic power metal: catchy guitar riffs, eclectic drums and bass, powerful guitar solos, and intense vocals.

Banshee
OriginKansas City, Kansas, United States
GenresHeavy metal, power metal, glam metal, hard rock, glam rock
Years active1985–1993, 1999-2000, 2008-present
LabelsMetal Blade, Atlantic,
Websitehttp://www.bansheerocks.com/
MembersGeorge Call
Terry Dunn
Vinnie E. Parma
Past membersTyson Leslie
Bill Westfall
Tommy Lee Flood
Kent Burnham
Marty Schiermann
Mika Kazuo Horiuchi
Dean Kinney

Biography

Banshee, a melodic power metal band from the Midwest, was formed in the spring of 1986. Made up of members from the popular Mid-West touring act LICK (Tommy Lee & Chuck Hopkins), Terry Dunn of Kansas City-based FRODO, GRANMAX, and Kent Burnham from Kansas City-based CRYPT KEEPER. By the fall of 1986, they released their first EP entitled Cry in the Night. Hopkins left shortly thereafter to pursue other projects in L.A. and was replaced by local Kansas City bassist Bill Westfall.

In 1988, Metal Blade Records re-released Cry In The Night and included the song "We Want You" on a compilation record, Metal Massacre No. 9.

In 1989, the band began recording at Record Plant Studios and on September 15, 1989, released their first full-length album, Race Against Time, on Atlantic Records Titanium label. The album was released on vinyl, compact disk, and cassette tape. Shortly thereafter, Banshee parted ways with Atlantic Records.

In 1993, the band self-released their second full-length album, Take 'Em By Storm, with the band dismembering shortly after the initial release.

Reunion shows were played in 1999, 2000, and 2008. After numerous hiatus' throughout the 90s and most of the 2000s, Banshee reunited in 2008 to perform at Rocklahoma which was ultimately an ill-fated performance for the band. It was after this that founder and guitarist Terry Dunn realized the band needed drastic changes if the band was to continue. Also in 2008, a deal was negotiated with BlastZone Entertainment Group to provide worldwide distribution for a digitally remastered Take 'Em By Storm and saw distribution reach on Amazon.com, iTunes, and Wal-Mart, with the re-release of the previous albums to follow shortly thereafter.

On June 21, 2012, the band released their fourth studio album entitled Mindslave on Snowblind Records. The album featured vocalist George Call (ASKA, Violent Storm, Omen, Cloven Hoof), original bassist Chuck Hopkins, and drummer Marty Schiermann. After the initial release and in preparation for the Mindslave tour, Hopkins and Schiermann were both unable to tour with the band and Mika Horiuchi (ex-Falling In Reverse and ex-Celador) from Los Angeles, California stepped up on bass, while Vinnie E. Parma (Edenlust, Holly West, Silver Loves Mercury, MYSTERY) from Dallas, Texas took the role of drums.

In May 2017, Banshee signed to Visionary Noise Records. After several setbacks, on July 9, 2019, Banshee's fifth studio album entitled "The Madness" was released. Additionally, Visionary Noise Records re-released Mindslave on a limited pressing double-sided picture disk vinyl.

Members

Current members
  • Terry Dunn – Guitars (1985-Present)
  • George Call – Vocals (2011-Present)
  • Blu Davis - Bass (2019-Present)
  • Vinnie E. Parma - Drums (2012-Present)

Former members
  • Kent Burnham – Drums, Percussion (1985-1993, 1999-2000, 2008)
  • Tommy Lee Flood – Vocals (1985-1993, 1999-2000, 2008-2009)
  • Chuck Hopkins - Bass (1985-1986, 2008-2014, 2015-2018)
  • Bill Westfall - Bass (1986-1993, 1999-2000, 2014-2015), Keyboards (1989) (died 2020)
  • Tyson Leslie – Bass (2008 Rocklahoma Reunion Concert)
  • Marty Schiermann - Drums (2011-2012 Mindslave Sessions)
  • Mika Kazuo Horiuchi - Bass (2012 Tour)
  • Dean Kinney - Drums (2011-2012 Mindslave, Recorded 5 of the 11 tracks)

Timeline

Discography

EP
  • Cry In The Night (January 1, 1986)

LP
  • Race Against Time (September 15, 1989)
  • Take 'Em By Storm (1993)
  • Mindslave (June 21, 2012)
  • The Madness (July 9, 2019)

Demo
  • "Demo '91" (1991)
  • "The Slam" (1991)
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