Robin Black

Infobox Musical artist


Img_size = 150 |
Name = Robin Black and the Intergalactic Rock Stars
Landscape =
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = Toronto
Genre = Glam rock
Years_active = 1998–present
Label = Sextant Records
Venus/EMI
Associated_acts =
URL = http://www.myspace.com/robinblackrocks/ Robin Black MySpace
Current_members = Robin Black
Ky Anto
Starboy
John Kerns
Chris Kidd
Past_members = Stacey Straye
Kevin Taylor
Notable_instruments =

Robin Black is a Canadian glam rock band, originally known as Robin Black and the Intergalactic Rock Stars, formed in 1998. The band's lead singer also uses Robin Black as his stage name.

History

Robin Black the frontman had previously lived in Manitoba, performing with the band Ballroom Zombies. He moved to Toronto in 1998 to form Robin Black and the Intergalactic Rock Stars. One of the band members he would find was Killer Ky; a Canadian guitarist who had played with the band Sassy Scarlet as well as performing with Sylvain Sylvain (New York Dolls) and Michael Monroe's (Hanoi Rocks) solo groups. killer Ky joined the band as bass player after the departure of original but short lived member Jackie Duncan. The band also included guitarist/ keyboard player Chris Cunnane aka Starboy, guitarist Stacey Stray and drummer Kevin Taylor. Stacey and Kevin joined the band when they left their previous Toronto group, The Conscience Pilate, in 1998. In 2002 Stacey Stray left the band. Killer Ky switched to lead guitar and B.B. Mcqueen was added on bass.

The band released their first recording, a novelty CD single cut in the shape of a star, in 2000. The album "Planet Fame", produced by Moe Berg and Garth Richardson, followed on February 14, 2002. It was filled with glam rock tracks, led by the single "So Sick of You". A video for the single was also released.

Prior to the release of their second album, the band brought in two new members; Chris "The Kidd" Avolos on drums and John "The Creep" Kerns on bass. The 2005 album was named "Instant Classic", and was produced by Bob Ezrin along with Garth Richardson. For this release the band's name was shortened to just Robin Black.

They toured extensively for this release, including the UK, where they toured with British rock band, Disarm.

Frontman Robin also made an appearance on Showcase's TV series "KinK." Black was also a judge on the 2006 Much Music "VJ Search". He holds a blackbelt in taekwondo. Robin also won the 2008 Naga world championships. He now trains at Xtreme Couture in Toronto along side with other fighters such as Mark Hominick, Mark Bocek, Misha Cirkunov, and Rob Di Censo

Robin Black toured the U.K again across July and August of 2008 with support from German glam rock band The Pleasures and British based Patchwork Grace. This tour culminated in a headline show at Trash Stock festival, Nottingham.

Members

Current

ROBIN BLACK
*Robin Black - vocals
*Peter Arviddson - lead guitar, backing vocals
*Chris "Starboy" Cunnane - guitar, backing vocals
*Robbie Ruckus - bass
*Aaron Verdonk - Drums

Former

ROBIN BLACK AND THE INTERGALACTIC ROCK STARS1998-2002
*Robin Black - lead vocals
*Stacey Straye - lead guitar, backing vocals
*Chris "Starboy" Cunnane - guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
*jackie Duncan - bass (may-sept. 98)
*Killer Ky Anto - bass (sept. 98-may 2002)
*Kevin Taylor aka K-Tron - drums

ROBIN BLACK AND THE INTERGALACTIC ROCK STARS2002-2003
*Robin Black - lead vocals
*Killer Ky Anto - lead guitar, backing vocals
*Chris "Starboy" Cunnane - guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
*B.B. McQueen - bass
*Kevin Taylor - drums

ROBIN BLACK2003-2006
*Robin Black - lead vocals
*Killer Ky Anto - lead guitar, backing vocals
*Chris "Starboy" Cunnane - guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
*John "The Creep" Kerns - bassChris "The Kid" Avolos - drums

2007-band hiatus

2008-see above for current line up

He is also now a professional mixed martial artist.

Discography

Albums

* "Planet:Fame" (2002)
* "Instant Classic" (2005)

ingles

* "Star Shaped Single" (2000)
* "Two Song Tease" (2004)
* "Hellraiser" (2003) U.K. only release

DVD

* "We Came, We Saw...We Came!" (DVD, 2002)

Videos

{| class="wikitable"!align="center" valign="top" width="40"|Year!align="left" valign="top"|Title!align="left" valign="top"|Director!align="left" valign="top"|Album
-
align="center" valign="top"|2002
align="left" valign="top"| So Sick Of You
align="left" valign="top"|Pablo Fairhall
align="left" valign="top"|"Planet Fame"
-
align="center" valign="top"|2002
align="left" valign="top"|Some Of You Boys (And Most of You Girls)
align="left" valign="top"|Pablo Fairhall
align="left" valign="top"|"Planet Fame"
-
align="center" valign="top"|2002
align="left" valign="top"|Time Travel Tonight
align="left" valign="top"|Kris Lefcoe
align="left" valign="top"|"Planet Fame"
-
align="center" valign="top"|2002
align="left" valign="top"|Take Myself Away
align="left" valign="top"|Chris Grismer
align="left" valign="top"|"Planet Fame"
-
align="center" valign="top"|2005
align="left" valign="top"|We See Right Through Ya
align="left" valign="top"|Kris Lefcoe
align="left" valign="top"|"Instant Classic"
-
align="center" valign="top"|2005
align="left" valign="top"|Why Don't You Love Me?
align="left" valign="top"|Kris Lefcoe & Ghostmilk Studios
align="left" valign="top"|"Instant Classic"
-

Mixed Martial Arts

Robin has been a known practicioner of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He was featured on a MuchMusic program entitled "Robin Black: Cage Fighter". [http://axs.muchmusic.com/?fr_chl=7fbb96dc2149ea58de01a61aeb81e79ae62237ea] On the program, Black trained with legendary Mixed Martial Artists Georges St. Pierre, Sam Stout, Mark Hominick, and Halifax native Roger Hollett.

Black was also recently a guest commentator at an XMMA show in Montreal featuring David Loiseau. [http://www.cageplay.com/blog/2008/07/22/robin-black-freedom-fight-mma-debut/]

Black's first professional televised match was against Chris "The Pitbull" Myra, a tattoo artist [http://www.doghouseink.ca/default3.asp] in Pembroke, Ontario, Canada, and MMA fighter.Unfortunately for Black, Chris Myra lived up to his nickname, and beat Black.

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/robinblackrocks MySpace]