Reckless

Guitarist Steve Madden assembled this Canadian pop metal group alongside vocalist Jan Melanson, bassist Gene Stout and drummer Gil Roberts, launching the project under the Harlow moniker. Their debut album Reckless arrived to favorable notices, its glossy, guitar-driven sound echoing Van Halen while Melanson’s idiosyncratic vocal style supplied a singular twist. The frontwoman’s eye-catching blond appearance further suggested the band might carve out a distinct space amid the era’s competition. Sales proved disappointing, however, prompting the original lineup to disband. Madden subsequently recruited vocalist Doug Adams, bassist Todd Pilon and drummer Steve Wayne Lederman for a fresh configuration, and the resulting Heart Of Steel delivered another solid showcase of his polished guitar work. Yet the record failed to recapture the first album’s standout character, leaving the group to drift into obscurity.