Biography
The B'ZZ issued only one album, the exuberant Get Up, earning them the unique status of the sole unsigned act to perform on American Bandstand. Earlier, several members had belonged to the Boyzz, whose biker boogie sound on Too Wild to Tame drew attention through high-voltage live shows. Keyboardist Anatole Halinkovitch, later known as Tony Hall, exited that group with Dave Angel and Michael Tafoya, then assembled the B'ZZ by adding Tom Holland and Steve Riley. The new quintet discarded the Godz/Black Oak Arkansas approach in favor of pursuing Foreigner-style chart success. Within six months they had compiled a large catalog of original material, cultivated a substantial local audience, and landed the notorious Bandstand appearance. Following their Epic signing, the B'ZZ delivered the snappy debut Get Up under the guidance of AOR maven Tom Werman, whose pop overhauls had previously reshaped recordings by Cheap Trick, Off Broadway, and the Producers. Airplay followed for the outstanding "Too Much to Ask For" as well as "Get Up Get Angry," whose video also appeared on MTV. Hall soon left to launch a solo career and ultimately scored every episode of America's Most Wanted. Holland launched a self-titled band and later joined Tafoya in the Raw Dogs; he has also explored reuniting the B'ZZ, while Tafoya continues with a reformed Boyzz. Steve Riley spent time playing drums for W.A.S.P.
Albums
