Wrathchild

The origins of Wrathchild trace back to 1980 in Evesham, Worcestershire, England, where the group first assembled under the stylistic sway of Black Sabbath. Two years passed before the band stepped into the vanguard of the emerging glam rock movement. Founding members Rocky Shads on vocals and Marc Angel on bass recruited Lance Rocket on guitar and Eddie Starr on drums, both formerly of Medusa. An EP appeared on Bullet Records, prompting an intensive touring schedule in support. By 1983 the quartet had cultivated an exaggerated stage presentation and sharpened their Kiss and Angel leanings without shedding a distinctly English character. A recording agreement with Heavy Metal Records arrived in 1984, yet the selection of Robin George as producer yielded an overly polished yet lifeless result that failed to capture the band’s essence. Prolonged litigation with the label ensued and nearly extinguished the group. In the interim, Dojo issued a collection of earlier recordings on its independent imprint; this compilation surpassed the official album in quality and featured the definitive rendering of the concert staple and title track “Trash Queens.” The aptly named The Bizz Suxx marked a 1988 return, accompanied by the release of “Nukklear Rokket” and a subsequent tour that lacked the original ferocity and theatrical flair. The 1989 follow-up struggled commercially when measured against entrenched glam acts such as Mötley Crüe, prompting another lawsuit—this time aimed at preventing an American thrash metal outfit from adopting the same name. Victory in court led the U.S. band to append “America” to its title, after which Wrathchild faded from sight.