Dare

Formed in 1987, the British melodic rock quintet Dare drew its moniker from the Christian name of founder Darren Wharton, at the suggestion of Motörhead’s Lemmy. After Thin Lizzy disbanded, the former keyboardist moved to Manchester, where six months passed before he located players attuned to his vision. Wharton then assembled guitarist Vinny Burns, bassist Shelley, drummer James Ross and keyboardist Brian Cox, while assuming lead vocals and supplementary keyboard duties himself. The group’s 1988 debut album Out Of The Silence arrived as an expansive, keyboard-heavy affair whose sound recalled Giuffria, Journey and House Of Lords. Three years later Blood From Stone shifted toward hard-rock foundations, showcasing more prominent guitar work and noticeably stronger vocals from Wharton. Although observers predicted major international success, the band ultimately joined the roster of promising acts that never fully broke through. Wharton continues to perform with Dare, maintaining a steady schedule of shows across north Wales and north-west England.