Description:
THE END was formed in 1980 by guitarists Jean Pierre Reimer and Billy Perrone. They initially starting out as a Power Rock band that played in a New Wave style. After drafting in drummer Leo Mancuso and bassist Bob Allen (SISTER SLEDGE), they entered the studio and recorded their first EP which was released on Revolver Records in 1981. After the release, keyboard player Rick Dry was added to round out the sound and the band hit the Philadelphia club circuit. As the Philadelphia heavy metal circuit began to develop, they decided to drop the power rock approach and concentrate on the hard rock they grew up on. The pair also decide
THE END was formed in 1980 by guitarists Jean Pierre Reimer and Billy Perrone. They initially starting out as a Power Rock band that played in a New Wave style. After drafting in drummer Leo Mancuso and bassist Bob Allen (SISTER SLEDGE), they entered the studio and recorded their first EP which was released on Revolver Records in 1981. After the release, keyboard player Rick Dry was added to round out the sound and the band hit the Philadelphia club circuit. As the Philadelphia heavy metal circuit began to develop, they decided to drop the power rock approach and concentrate on the hard rock they grew up on. The pair also decided to give Mancuso, Allen and Dry their walking papers and recruit musicians with similar ideas.
In 1983, THE END added bassist Chris Doyle, vocalist Cy Kranick and drummer Rob Lombardi. Kranick was fresh off the Philadelphia cover band circuit singing both JUDAS PRIEST and JOURNEY songs, while Lombardi had just returned from a year of touring and recording with Detroit punk band THE FACTS. The band then concentrated on infiltrating the clubs in Philly and New Jersey (even opening for TWISTED SISTER), while writing and recording new, heavier songs to gain more popularity. Unfortunately, Doyle didn't have the proper stage presence live and was fired toward the end of 1983. The band briefly had bassist Tim Buckwalder in the band (it wasn't a good match) and then tried to convince Billy Childs (later of BRITNY FOX) to join, but he declined. The bass slot was filled by Joel Trent of York, Pennsylvania. Trent was also a cover band veteran and knew his way around a stage. The band continued writing and rehearsing while booking shows for early 1984, but with shows booked, Trent decided to exit the band as the two hour drive to Philadelphia was becoming to much.
So, with the recommendation of HIDE YOUR DAUGHTERS bassist Buddy Cash, the band drafted Eddie Byrd into the bassist slot and began gigging thoughout the east coast. After completing four additional songs in the studio, this line up of THE END began to a amass a huge regional fan base (eventually over 5000 people) as the song 'City Pretty' featured regularly on radio. That garnered the attention of famed manager Doc McGee (MOTLEY CRUE, BON JOVI, SCORPIONS) and led to much publicity - not to mention alot of backstage antics with MOTLEY CRUE, RATT and IRON MAIDEN. IRON MAIDEN were even gracious enough to wear the 'End Girl' t-shirts on a few MTV interviews. Ultimately, things did not pan out with McGee and Lombardi became discouraged. Auditions were held in secret and in later 1984 Lombardi was fired and joined the band DRIVE as it's bassist. 'Bazooka' Joe Solina was then brought in on drums. The band then travelled to New York to appear on the Paragon Cable show 'Music Beat'. Two videos for 'Chosen One' and 'Cultural Exchange' were filmed and received regular airplay on cable telvision.
In 1985 the band parted ways with Perrone and brought in guitarist Curt Ritchie. Ritchie was the brains behind the hugely popular SAINTS IN HELL, which had featured Tom Keifer and Eric Brittingham of CINDERELLA and Michael Kelly Smith of BRITNY FOX. The band continued it's ascent recording two more songs with the new line up and releasing the popular album '1983-1985' that featured everyone ever in the band during those years (minus Joel Trent who never recorded with the band). The track 'Loud N' Proud' began receiving airplay on college and mainstream radio alike.
Tensions had always been high in the band from the start, so in early 1986 Reimer put the band on hiatus. Later in the year Paragon Cable came knocking with an offer of more appearances and music video shoots. But when the band re-grouped at the tail end of 1986, Kranick and Byrd were not asked to return. Reimer, Ritchie and Solina decided to revamp the sound a little and brought in stellar vocalist Brian Paine and also brought back former drummer Rob Lombardi. Lombardi had ditched the drums and been a full time bassist for two years. The band entered the studio to record a fresh batch of new music that would be the soundtrack for their early 1987 New York television appearances as 'Love And War' and 'Back On Top' were gaining radio and video play regionally. The band then began showcasing for major labels, most notably MCA and Capitol records, who both wanted to hear more material. So, again the band began writing to appease the label interest. Seven more songs were written when tension again arose between Reimer and Solina which led to Solina exiting the band and joining ROUGH DYMOND. The band briefly recruited drummer Jim "Feek' Ferraioli of WHITE FOXX, but sadly he was just starting to become ill with cancer. Sessions for the new material were completed with vetern drummer Jimmy Drnec (CINDERELLA, TANGIER, NETWORK) filling in.
After basic tracks were done, the bands relationship with Reimer totally broke down as the rest of the band were never really happy with the departure of Solina. So, Ritchie re-recorded all of Reimers guitar parts and Reimer was then ousted from the band he created. The recordings were released as '1987-1988' later that year. Reimer reportedly then toured the UK under an assumed name. At this point in 1988 the band drafted in drummer Mark Kaminski and later changed the name of the band to BRAT. The name recognition was gone with the name change and the label interest dried up. Ritchie and Paine then joined the popular DEAD END KIDS, while Lombardi was recruited into APRIL FOOL.
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