Biography
New York's the Brandos channel gritty, back-to-basics rock & roll whose origins lie in the Seattle scene that existed well before its later renown. Dave Kincaid, the group's frontman, previously led the Allies, an early-'80s power pop band that claimed victory in an MTV contest through the video for "Emma Peel." New wave-influenced groups emerging from the Emerald City at the time drew scant notice beyond the Pacific Northwest, prompting Kincaid to leave the Allies and relocate to New York in 1985. Spotting an advertisement in the Village Voice placed by Soul Attack in search of a fresh lead singer, Kincaid joined the outfit and promptly renamed it the Brandos. With Kincaid handling vocals and guitar alongside Ed Rupprecht on guitar, Ernie Mendillo on bass and vocals, and Larry Mason on drums, the band issued its debut album, Honor Among Thieves, via Relativity Records in 1987. Favorable notices appeared in Rolling Stone and Time, while MTV aired the clip for "Gettysburg" with unusual frequency for an act on an independent label. Kincaid earned the Best Male Vocalist (Independent Label) honor at the New York Music Awards in 1988. That same year the Brandos departed Relativity to ink a deal with Geffen Records, yet legal complications ensnared the arrangement and steered the group instead to RCA Records in 1989. After completing their sophomore LP, Trial by Fire, in 1990, RCA released the Brandos from their contract. Their third album, Gunfire at Midnight, reached listeners through Germany's SPV Records in 1992. Rupprecht and Mason exited in 1993, with ex-Del Lords members Scott Kempner on guitar and Frank Funaro on drums stepping in as replacements. Frank Giordano joined on vocals and guitar in 1996, coinciding with the release of the band's fourth LP, Pass the Hat. Kincaid finished a solo album the following year yet rejoined the Brandos for a subsequent record and European performances supporting Bryan Adams, Van Morrison, and Deep Purple.
Albums
