Iron Man (band)

Infobox musical artist |
Name = Iron Man


Img_capt =
Img_size =
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = Maryland, USA
Genre = Heavy metal Doom metal
Years_active = 1988 – present
Label = Hellhound Records Brainticket Records Leaf Hound Records
Associated_acts = Spirit Caravan Wretched Pentagram Internal Void Unorthodox Asylum Valkyrie Nitroseed Life Beyond Sabbra Cadabra
URL =
Current_members = Alfred Morris III Joe Donnelly Louis Strachan Dex Dexter
Past_members = Rob Levey Dan Michalak Larry Brown Ginger Ron Kalimon Gary Isom Vic Tomaso
Gus Basilika
Jon Owen
Jared Rein
Jadd Schickler
VIIX

Iron Man is a hard rock/heavy metal/doom band from Maryland.

Biography

Iron Man evolved from earlier Alfred Morris III projects Force and Rat Salad. In 1988 the band decided to become a Black Sabbath cover band and changed their name to Iron Man. [http://rockdetector.com/artist,4483.sm Iron Man at Rockdetector] ] The band has been billed as "Blacker than Black Sabbath" since it has featured multiple black musicians. [https://secure.washingtoncitypaper.com/cgi-bin/Archive/abridged2.bat?path=q:DocRoot/2005/050506/DOOM "Doomed from the Start"] Washington City Paper May 6th, 2005 (Retrieved November 28th, 2007)] The band soon began writing original songs again in the vein of Sabbath and were signed to Hellhound Records in 1993. They released their debut album "Black Night" in 1993 and followed up with second album, "The Passage" in 1994. During this time, Lee Dorrian offered Morris the lead guitar position in Cathedral but had to turn it down because of his family situation. In 1999 the band released their most recent album, "Generation Void". Each album has had a new line-up with Morris being the only constant throughout the years. In 2006, a bootleg recording of Iron Man surfaced entitled "Iron Man: Live in Cincinnati". This concert was one of the very few performed on the ill-fated 2000 U.S. Tour. The show was recorded on February 9th, 2000 at Annie's Saloon in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was the last show ever with Dan Michalak & Vic Tomaso.

At the beginning of 2000 Iron Man embarked on a 20 city U.S. tour which ended prematurely with two band members (Michalak and Tomaso) leaving. Temporary bassist ViiX recruited two additional temps (Jared Rein on drums and Jadd of MeteorCity Records founder on vocals) for the tour. She also provided a van for the band to use & did various photography & artwork. They resumed touring up until April 2000. This line up played their last show on April 1st, 2000 at the Emerson Theatre in Indianapolis, Indiana.

In 2004 Michael Lindenauer took on the role as their manager and helped Morris to revive Iron Man. Morris had recruited new band members, one of which, Jon Owen, was from London, England. This caused problems when they tried to make their first comeback show on July 9th, 2005 at the Templars of Doom Festival held in Indianapolis. Jon Owen was unable to secure a proper visa in time and was going through a series of personal problems as well. It took the combined efforts of both Morris and Lindenauer to put the band back together yet again. Ex-members of Maryland doom bands Wretched and Life Beyond (Louis Strachan on bass and Gus Basilika on drums) were recruited for the rhythm section. After a long search Lindenauer secure Joe Donnelly of Sabbra Cadabra (a Black Sabbath tribute band). Iron Man was booked for the Doom Or Be Doomed Festival to be held over three days in Baltimore, Maryland on the weekend of April 13-15th, 2007. Just a month before the show, Basilika left the band over musical differences. Former Force drummer Brian "Dex" Dexter filled Basilika's spot. With the new line up intact the band finally made there comeback show as planned on April 15th at the D.O.B.D. Festival. Since then they have managed to put out a self produced CDEP called "Submission".

In 2007, Leaf Hound Records began re-released the first two albums originally released on Hellhound Records. Both albums have been remastered. "The Passage" was re-released on CD. In 2008, "Black Night" was released on LP with plans to re-release the CD version in the future.

There are two releases on Doom Records that feature Morris. There is a self-titled Force album and "A Double Dose of Doom", which features Rat Salad and Obstination (who would go on to become Unorthodox). In 1979, during the early Force years, Larry Brown was offered a spot in the Bad Brains but declined thinking Force was the better prospect. [ [https://secure.washingtoncitypaper.com/cgi-bin/Archive/abridged2.bat?path=q:DocRoot/2005/050805/cover_story "Honor the Sabbath"] Washington City Paper August 5, 2005 (retrieved November 27, 2007)] Morris also appears on the "Scene Killer" album (2001) on MeteorCity Records, which is a collaboration of musicians from New Jersey bands along with a few out-of-state guests. [ [http://www.meteorcity.com/017.htm Scene Killer at MeteorCity] ] Former vocalist Rob Levey is now better known for his work in organizing the Stoner Hands of Doom festivals. [ [http://bnrmetal.com/groups/irmn.htm Iron Man at BNR Metal] ]

Discography

*"Black Night" CD (1993 Hellhound Records)
*"The Passage" CD (1994 Hellhound Records)
*"Generation Void" CD (1999 Brainticket Records)
*"Submission" CD (2007 self-released)

Reissue

*"The Passage" CD (2007 Leaf Hound Records)
*"Black Night" LP (2008 Leaf Hound Records)

References