MANOWAR
Joey DeMaio was working as a bass tech / pyrotechnic for Black Sabbath when he met with guitarist Ross the Boss, playing for a group called Shakin Street, a Black Sabbath support band. They later recruited Eric Adams for vocals and Donny Hamzik for the drums, to create Manowar — a band with an unusual epic sound. Manowar recorded Battle Hymns, their debut album, which featured "Dark Avenger", a slow epic track with narration by Orson Welles. (Welles returned on the Into Glory Ride album and did the narration on another slow track called "Defender". This song was later reworked for the band's Fighting the World album.)
Drummer Scott Columbus joined the band for their second album, Into Glory Ride. Their official biography states that custom stainless steel drum kits had to be built for him because his drumming technique was so "vicious" that it ruined standard kits. Custom equipment was built for the band by John "Dawk" Stillwell, which helped achieve the massive sound.
The band prevailingly performs in and around Europe, South America (especially Argentina and Brazil) and Japan.
The band is also notable for its ownership of their entire operation. Record recording and distribution, as well as merchandise, are all controlled by the band. Singer Eric Adams has said that the reason for this is that the band has received unfair treatment financially in the past, and also to ensure the highest quality production. The band's label, Magic Circle Music, includes other bands such as Rhapsody of Fire and HolyHell.
Their latest album is Gods of War,
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Current members
Eric Adams - vocals (since 1980) (also guitar for a short while in 1980)
Joey DeMaio - bass guitars / guitars / keyboards / classical guitar - (since 1980)
Karl Logan - guitars / keyboards / classical guitar - (since 1994)
Scott Columbus - drums and percussion (1983-1991 and since 1995)
Former members
Guitars
Ross the Boss (1980-1988)
David Shankle (1989-1993) played for a while in Chicago, Illinois, before he was chosen from about 150 guitarists to replace Ross The Boss. Eric and Joey met him while recording "Kings Of Metal" in Chicago.
Drums
Carl Canedy (formerly of The Rods) (1980)
Donny Hamzik (1981-1982)
Ethan Mays (1982, touring only)
Rhino (real name Kenny Earl Edwards) (1992-1995)
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Albums
Battle Hymns (1982)
Into Glory Ride (1983)
Hail to England (1984)
Sign of the Hammer (1984)
Fighting the World (1987)
Kings of Metal (1988)
The Triumph of Steel (1992)
Louder Than Hell (1996)
Warriors of the World (2002)
Gods of War (2007)
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