Lizzy Borden
This theatrical rock outfit, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group took their name from the infamous axe murderess. Utilizing strong sexual, leather and horror images, their visual image owed much to Alice Cooper. The group featured Lizzy Borden (vocals), his brother Joey Scott Harges (drums), Mike Kenny (bass) and Tony Matuzak (guitar). Their contribution to the METAL MASSACRE IVCOMPILATION impressed Metal Blade boss Brian Slagel enough, to offer them a contract. The mini-album, GIVE 'EM THE AXEEMERGED in the summer of 1984, followed a year later by LOVE YOU TO PIECES, their official full-length debut. Both were highly derivative of Rainbow/ Iron Maiden, with Lizzy's vocals sounding very similar to Geoff Tate's of Queensryche. Alex Nelson replaced Tony Matuzak on guitar at this juncture before the recording of THE MURDERESS METAL ROADSHOW. This was a double live set that did not show the band at their best, with low-tech recording and poor production. Two more studio albums followed, Gene Allen was added as a second guitarist and Jesse Holmes and Mychal Davis replaced Nelson and Kenny respectively, before the recording of, what is arguably, the band's finest and most commercial set, VISUAL LIES. Loosely based around a central theme of visual illusions, the album was varied, hard-hitting and full of infectious hooks, anthemic choruses and smouldering guitar breaks. They played the Reading Festival in 1987, to an indifferent reaction and Lizzy disbanded the group shortly afterwards. Concentrating on a solo career he released MASTER OF DISGUISE, an ambitious concept album, that consisted of a few good ideas spread over a dozen songs.