After moving from Denmark to New York in 1982, vocalist Mike Tramp (ex-Mabel, ex-Studs) met Brooklyn guitarist Vito Bratta (ex-Dreamer) and decided to form a band. The two recruited drummer Nicki Capozzi and bassist Felix Robinson (ex-Angel) and named the group Lion, soon changing it to White Lion. White Lion was signed by Elektra records in 1983 and recorded their debut 'Fight To Survive'. However, Elektra was unhappy with the final recording, and after refusing to release the album, terminated their contract. Both Capozzi and Robinson soon left the band. Nicki Capozzi was replaced by former Anthrax drummer Greg D'Angelo, and Felix Robinson was replaced by bassist Dave Spitz (brother of Anthrax guitarist Dan Spitz). Within a month of joining, however, Dave Spitz left to play bass with Black Sabbath and was replaced by James Lomenzo. The album 'Fight To Survive' was eventually picked up by RCA and released in Japan in 1984. The small US independent label Grand Slamm records finally released it in the US on November 9, 1985. In early 1986, White Lion, with a fictitious "female" member, had a brief part in the Tom Hanks/Shelley Long movie 'The Money Pit'. Early in 1987, the band was signed by Atlantic Records and on June 21, 1987, their breakthrough album, 'Pride', was released. The first single, "Wait", was released on June 1, 1987, but did not make waves for nearly seven months. While touring with AC/DC in 1988, the 'Pride' album and "Wait" single finally charted, due in no small part to MTV airing the "Wait" music video in regular rotation - nearly seven months after the single's release. In the spring of 1989, the 'Pride' tour finally ended, but rather than take a break, they instead chose to record the next album, a decision the group later came to regret due to the effects of fatigue from heavy touring on the final product. In August 1989, White Lion released their third album, 'Big Game', a musically eclectic follow-up to 'Pride'. 'Mane Attraction' was released in the summer of 1991. More of a "back to basics" album, centering on strong hooks and melodic hard rock, the album was received well by the fans. Unfortunately, the album failed to chart like the last two albums. It received little or no airplay due to the recent Grunge explosion and subsequent backlash on all things "hair metal". Greg D'Angelo and James Lomenzo left the band soon after the album's release, citing "musical differences", but White Lion carried on with bassist Tommy T-Bone Caradonna and drummer Jimmy DeGrasso (Megadeth, Alice Cooper, Suicidal Tendencies, Y&T). After briefly touring in support of 'Mane Attraction', Tramp and Bratta decided to call it a day, their last show being held in Boston at the Channel in September 1991.

PRIDE (1987) ATLANTIC

White Lion enjoyed success with their 1985 debut album, 'Fight To Survive'. 2 years later they released 'Pride', released through Atlantic Records June 21, 1987. The album would eventually go to #11 on The Billboard 200 and remained in the Billboard Top 200 for a full year, selling two million copies in the US alone. 4 singles where released from 'Pride, whereas 2 of them ended up as 1op 10 hits.

'Pride' was first recorded at 'Hotline Studio' Frankfurt, Germany, with Peter Hauke producing. But for whatever reason the band (or rather the record company, me thinks) opted to re-record the entire album, this time with Michael Wagner (Alice Cooper, Mötley Crüe, Dokken etc.) as the producer. I bet Michael's version sounds more polished than the original. Still, although the production values sound dated today, it sounds leaps and bounds better than the bands debut.

'Pride' is more of the great melodic hard rock that the band gave us on the debut. Vito is playing circles around all of his contemporaries, yet he largely remained unknown compared to the likes of George Lynch (Dokken) and Warren DeMartini (Ratt). Mike's street-smart voice also gives the band it's character. Basically this is the kind of music you listen to once or twice, and then you find yourself singing along to the brother part of the songs. "Hungry", "Lonely Nights", "Sweet Little Loving", "Wait", "Tell Me" and "When The Children Cry", all songs that'll have you humming along in no time. Personally I tend to favor the less obvious numbers after a while. "Lady Of The Valley", f.ex., is a largely overlooked gem.

White Lion had the looks that lumped them into the whole hair metal genre. Combined with a record company hell-bent on softening out all the rougher edges of their sound, the band was bound to receive flack from the metal loving fans they should have catered to. To me they were always a great band, and it easily heard if you can get past the slick production. 'Pride' is perhaps White Lion's strongest album, songwriting wise.

Killer tracks: Hungry, Lonely Nights, Sweet Little Loving, Wait, All You Need Is Rock N Roll, When The Children Cry

BIG GAME (1989) ATLANTIC

White Lion were one of the most successful melodic hardrock/metal bands of the 80's. Yet when they really started to sound great, no one really paid more attention to them. 'Big Game' was White Lion's 3rd album. It contains all the trademarks from the bands earlier successful albums, and this time they also have a great production to boot. The soaring voice of Mike Tramp combined with the talent skills of Vito Bratta is what set this band apart from the horde of contemporaries at the time. And it is a pleasure to listen to 2 of the most underrated musicians in rock history. Check out Vito's work in "Let's Get Crazy"! The band got some success with the singles "Little Fighter", "Cry For Freedom" and the Golden Earring cover of "Radar Love" from 'Big Game'. But I dare say that most of the others songs present here are just as good, if not better.

Killer tracks: Goin' Home Tonight, Little Fighter, Baby Be Mine, Don't Say It's Over, Cry For Freedom

MANE ATTRACTION (1991) ATLANTIC

'Mane Attraction' was White Lion's swansong. And it is obvious that the band planned it that way. The last track is actually written as a goodbye to the fans, celebrating the good times the band had on the road. Most fans seem to think that this was the bands worst effort. Not sure why, but it could be the inclusion of so many ballads. Still, I don't agree at all. I love this album, and would put it amongst my favorite melodic metal/hard rock album of all times. Heck, I even considered having "Till Death Do Us Part" played at my wedding! Not sure why they re-recorded "Broken Heart" though. But I have to admit that it sounds great with better production.

Killer tracks: Broken Heart, Love Don't Come Easy, You're All I Need, Till Death Do Us Part, Farewell To You

White Lion also appear on:  

V/A - 'Heavy Metal Hits Of The '80s'

V/A - 'Power Ballads'

V/A - 'Pondus - Flat Fuzzpedal'

Related artists:

Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath, Megadeth, Anthrax, Impellitteri