Biography
Hailing from Los Angeles, California, the metal group Bulletboys incorporated former members of King Cobra and Ratt. Their flashy mix of glam metal and hard rock scored commercial success through a gold-certified debut album that landed at the tail end of the 1980s hair metal wave. After a string of lineup shifts and creative detours, the band dissolved in 1998, only to resurface in the 2010s with fresh personnel and renewed drive, powering later efforts such as Elefante (2015) and From Out of the Skies (2018).
Drawing from Van Halen and AC/DC, vocalist/guitarist Marq Torien joined guitarist Mick Sweda, bassist Lonnie Vencent, and drummer Jimmy D'Anda to launch the band in 1987. Shortly after forming, Bulletboys signed with Warner Bros. and issued their self-titled debut in 1988. The album climbed the upper reaches of the Billboard 200 on the strength of two radio favorites: a cover of the O'Jays' "For the Love of Money" and the band's signature track, the punchy "Smooth Up in Ya," both of which earned heavy MTV rotation.
Although the 1991 follow-up Freakshow earned solid reviews, it could not replicate the debut's traction amid the rising grunge tide, despite the single "Hang on St. Christopher," a Tom Waits cover that peaked at number 22 on the mainstream rock chart. The 1993 release Za-Za marked the final Warner Bros. outing and also the departure of Sweda and D'Anda soon after. With Torien and Vencent joined by guitarist Tommy Pittam and drummer Robby Karras, the 1995 album Acid Monkey reflected stylistic shifts. The group entered a period of inactivity before reuniting for a 1998 tour, yet five years passed before fresh material appeared.
A lineup of Torien, guitarist Jason Hook, bassist Jimmy Nelson, and drummer Pete Newman produced 2003's Sophie, which included a guest appearance by Sebastian Bach (Skid Row), while Torien assembled another roster for 2010's 10¢ Billionaire. The 2006 greatest-hits set Smooth Up in Ya: The Best of the Bulletboys and the 2007 live album Behind the Orange Curtain documented earlier work. Further studio releases including Rocked and Ripped (2011), Elefante (2015), and From Out of the Skies (2018) upheld the hard rock and glam metal sound, with sole remaining original member Torien guiding a revolving lineup of experienced musicians. In 2021 the Cherry Red imprint HNE issued Warner Albums [1988-1993], a box set containing remastered editions of the band's first three studio LPs.
Drawing from Van Halen and AC/DC, vocalist/guitarist Marq Torien joined guitarist Mick Sweda, bassist Lonnie Vencent, and drummer Jimmy D'Anda to launch the band in 1987. Shortly after forming, Bulletboys signed with Warner Bros. and issued their self-titled debut in 1988. The album climbed the upper reaches of the Billboard 200 on the strength of two radio favorites: a cover of the O'Jays' "For the Love of Money" and the band's signature track, the punchy "Smooth Up in Ya," both of which earned heavy MTV rotation.
Although the 1991 follow-up Freakshow earned solid reviews, it could not replicate the debut's traction amid the rising grunge tide, despite the single "Hang on St. Christopher," a Tom Waits cover that peaked at number 22 on the mainstream rock chart. The 1993 release Za-Za marked the final Warner Bros. outing and also the departure of Sweda and D'Anda soon after. With Torien and Vencent joined by guitarist Tommy Pittam and drummer Robby Karras, the 1995 album Acid Monkey reflected stylistic shifts. The group entered a period of inactivity before reuniting for a 1998 tour, yet five years passed before fresh material appeared.
A lineup of Torien, guitarist Jason Hook, bassist Jimmy Nelson, and drummer Pete Newman produced 2003's Sophie, which included a guest appearance by Sebastian Bach (Skid Row), while Torien assembled another roster for 2010's 10¢ Billionaire. The 2006 greatest-hits set Smooth Up in Ya: The Best of the Bulletboys and the 2007 live album Behind the Orange Curtain documented earlier work. Further studio releases including Rocked and Ripped (2011), Elefante (2015), and From Out of the Skies (2018) upheld the hard rock and glam metal sound, with sole remaining original member Torien guiding a revolving lineup of experienced musicians. In 2021 the Cherry Red imprint HNE issued Warner Albums [1988-1993], a box set containing remastered editions of the band's first three studio LPs.
Albums
From out of the Skies
2018
Elefante'
2015
Rocked & Ripped
2011
Greatest Hits
2005
Za-Za
1993
Freakshow
1991
Bulletboys
1988
Singles
