Tokyo Blade

Tokyo Blade was a British heavy metal band, active from 1983 to 1997.

Details

Tokyo Blade are one of the many acts lumped into the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement from the early 1980s.

The band was formed in 1983 under the moniker "Genghis Khan". It consisted of Alan Marsh (vocals), Andy Boulton (guitar), Ray Dismore (guitar), Andy Robbins (bass), and Steve Pierce (drums). Later in the year, the band changed their name, recorded an album, and shared the stages of festivals with heavyweights like Metallica and Venom. This album was self-titled in all regions except in the United States, where it came out as "Midnight rendezvous" on the Combat Records label.

Band members changed frequently. By the time the follow-up was released, even vocalist Alan Marsh was replaced with Vic Wright. The album was issued as "Night of the Blade" on Combat in the US, and the band was part of a few memorable tour and festival packages including one with Blue Öyster Cult and others with Dio, Ozzy Osbourne, and Scorpions. (Later on, an edition of the album featuring Marsh's original vocals was eventually released as "Night of the Blade - The Night Before"). The band's third record "Black Hearts and Jaded Spades" was available as an import only. They also filmed a concert at London's Camden Palace (now the KOKO) which was aired on Channel 4, and has since made its way on to multiple bootleg DVD releases.

In the interim, members and former members were fairly active in a number of notable projects. Original vocalist Alan Marsh found his footing and a continued respect for Oriental culture with a new band called Shogun, alongside former Chinatown guitarist Danny Gwilym, who would release 2 albums, and even work with noted producer Bob Ezrin. The band would also feature in time Tokyo Blade bandmates Steve Pierce, Andy Wrighton, and Andy Robbins. Guitarist John Wiggins would go on to play in the first edition of Battlezone with ex-Iron Maiden vocalist Paul Di'anno. Original bassist, Andy Robbins would be a part of Jagged Edge and Taste, who recorded a single with Iron Maidens Bruce Dickinson, who would later become Skin. Vic Wright formed the band Johnny Crash who earned the distinction of being the first project related to Tokyo Blade to have a major label home in the U.S., and would later feature future Guns N' Roses members Dizzy Reed and Matt Sorum in the line up. The band did record a second album, "Damnation Alley", but remains unreleased.

Original guitarist Andy Boulton constructed an entirely new lineup and released two albums "Ain't Misbehavin" in 1988 and "No Remorse" in 1989, both with completely different line ups. The band toured the "Ain't Misbehavin" album on the festival circuit, playing alongside Black Sabbath at one point. The latter album appeared on the Apocalypse label in the US, and was a dual contractual obligation, for both Andy Boulton and GAMA labelmates The Dead Ballerinas (featuring former Kin Ping Meh vocalist Michael Pozz) - the two teaming up for this album. The sound of the band held little resemblance to the earlier forms of the band, and the album died a quick death here, becoming a cut-out bin staple shortly after its initial release. To add further insult to injury, the album has been reissued with multiple covers, not unlike what happened with the debut.

As record company problems befell Shogun, Marsh had since formed a new group called Mr. Ice. The band eventually included guitarist Andy Boulton. As the group featured two key members from Tokyo Blade, a move from the band's management to resurrect the old name for a European tour with Uriah Heep led to additional controversy. As a result of the dispute, Boulton exited the group and was replaced by guitarist Steve Kerr. After the conclusion of the tour, both Kerr and the management were gone. Some of the key tracks from Mr. Ice were released as a Tokyo Blade record in the mid-1990s.

In the early 1990s, Alan Marsh had another band, Pumphouse, which was beginning to attract attention. At the urging of a fan and key member of the hard rock press, Marsh contacted Boulton to reform Tokyo Blade. By 1994, Marsh and Boulton were again playing together and creating new music. The highlight of this is 1996s "Burning Down Paradise" which was originally released on SPV. Pumphouse's key tracks were also released as a Tokyo Blade record in the mid-to-late 1990s.

The early records by the band were reissued in 1997 by High Vaultage, and the later period recordings were gathered by Zoom Club. There was a promise for new music and efforts by the band, but there has been no sign of a new Tokyo Blade recording since.

Andy Boulton went on to be in XFX, and later concentrate on a forthcoming solo album, and is now teaching electric and bass guitar, whilst Alan Marsh joined the cast of a Jack the Ripper musical. Second vocalist Vic Wright has written a book, and is currently seeking a publishing deal.

Discography on CD

*"Tokyo Blade" (UK debut album)
*"Midnight Rendezvous" (US debut album)
*"NIght of the Blade" (Vic Wright vocals)
*"Night of the Blade - The Night Before" (Al Marsh vocals)
*"black hearts & jaded spades"
*"Ain't Misbehavin"
*"No Remorse"
*"Mr. Ice"
*"Pumphouse"
*"Burning Down Paradise"

Related releases

*"Shogun - Shogun" (Alan Marsh)
*"Shogun - 31 Days" (Alan Marsh/Andy Wrighton/Steve Pierce)
*"Johnny Crash - Neighbourhood Threat" (Vic Wright)
*"Battlezone - Forever Fighting Back" (John Wiggins)
*"Battlezone - Children of Madness" (John Wiggins)
*"Battlezone - Feel My Pain" (John Wiggins/Colin Riggs/Marc Angel)
*"12 Apostel - 12 Apostel" (Martin Machwitz)
*"Dead Ballerinas - Dead Ballerina" (Michael Pozz)
*"Kin Ping Meh - Kin Ping Meh" (Michael Pozz)
*"Skin" - Multiple records/CD's

External links

* [http://www.sleazeroxx.com/interviews/wright.shtml Vicki James Wright Interview]
* [http://www.myspace.com/warriorsoftherisingsun Official MySpace Page]