Tangier

This American hard rock group has explored a fresh approach with every record they have released. Vocalist Bill Matson and guitarist/songwriter Doug Gordon established the band in 1984, initially favoring blues-infused hard rock that nodded to Free, Molly Hatchet and Bad Company. Completing the roster were Rocco Mazella on guitar, Mike Kost on bass and Mark Hopkins on drums; the quintet logged countless road miles yet never broke through. In 1989, five years after forming, Matson and Gordon reassembled with Gari Saint on guitar, Garry Nutt on bass and Bobby Bender on drums to cut Four Winds. As Atco’s inaugural signing, the group delivered a polished style that tilted toward mainstream AOR while retaining blues flavors. Matson and Saint departed in 1990, prompting Mike Le Compte to assume lead vocals as the lineup shrank to four members. The following year brought Stranded, an album that expanded the band’s range and added greater edge. Though the resulting blend occasionally felt uneven, it usually succeeded in yielding radio-friendly songs built around catchy choruses.