Ann Boleyn (singer)
Encyclopedia
Ann Boleyn is a recording artist and performer from the United States. Arguably she is responsible for coining the term speed metal
. She also is credited for developing the careers of many international recording artists through New Renaissance Records
, the record label she founded.
. According to an interview in Hit Parader
magazine, by the time she was 13, Boleyn was performing in nightclubs, often without the knowledge of her parents. At age 15, she had received offers to tour in several bands, one of which featured guitarist Tommy Bolin
, but was forbidden to do so by her parents.
In 1976, while still a teenager in high school, she was spotted by producer Kim Fowley
and recruited to join The Runaways
as the bass
player. According to the liner-notes of the "Queen of Hell" anthology album, after she threatened to run away, Boleyn's parents finally allowed her to leave her home in Washington State and move to Hollywood. Other accounts relate that guitarist Tommy Bolin
convinced her not to join the band and that the verse "Just keep me out of L.A., things are crazy out there" from his song Post Toastee referred to Fowley's management of the all-female band.
Ann has never officially been acknowledged as having ever been a member of the band
Ann was spotted by Hal Guthu, a modeling agent who had been the still photographer and cinematographer for Edward D. Wood, Jr. Though Hal Guthu rarely accepted brunettes, he made an exception with Boleyn, whom he said reminded him of Vampira when interviewed in the August 1984 edition of CineBeat. Through Hal Guthu, Ann Boleyn became featured in a number of B-rate horror movies for which she used other names, allegedly to avoid embarrassment to her family. Some, have speculated that Boleyn was under-age at the time many of her movies were filmed. Ann Boleyn's music and screams also can be heard on various sound tracks, including The Return of the Living Dead, Part II.
By 1977, Ann Boleyn emerged as the midnight-to-six DJ at Los Angeles Radio Station KROQ-FM
, where she hosted a show that specialized in fast-paced metal and punk. By the time the station decided to alter its format to "the rock of the 80's", Boleyn's show had become known as "Speed Metal Hell", a term Boleyn later used for the heavy metal compilations albums she would later produce.
In 1982, Ann Boleyn together with guitarist Ray Schenck, bassist Peyton Tuthill, and drummer Sean Kelley
formed Hellion
. The group released a series of albums which were met with varying success. They were signed to Music For Nations
in England, Roadrunner Records
in Europe, Pony Canyon
in Japan, and New Renaissance Records
in the USA.
In 1985 Ann Boleyn formed New Renaissance Records
, which put out the first commercial recordings and helped develop the careers of then unknown bands such as Sepultura
, Bathory
, Flotsam & Jetsam
, At War
, Morbid Angel
and Wehrmacht
. Other label acts included Deadly Blessing, Amulance, Blood Feast, Necrophagia
, Dream Death, Illwill, Indestroy, Sarcastic, Artillery
, Mayhem
, and more.
Boleyn left the music business in the late 1990s to obtain a degree from UCLA
, where she specialized in the study of the Old Norse
language. She obtained her law degree in 2007.
Boleyn was singing in Detente
where she was filling in for the late Dawn Crosby
who died in 1996. Boleyn has since been replaced by Tiina Teal.
Speed metal
Speed metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that originated in the late 1970s from NWOBHM and hardcore punk roots. It is described by Allmusic as "extremely fast, abrasive, and technically demanding" music....
. She also is credited for developing the careers of many international recording artists through New Renaissance Records
New Renaissance Records
New Renaissance Records is an American record label founded in 1984 by Ann Boleyn, who also is the lead singer of the group Hellion and is credited for coining the term speed metal.-History:...
, the record label she founded.
Career
Boleyn began as a keyboard player in the early 1970s, specializing in the Hammond organHammond organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
. According to an interview in Hit Parader
Hit Parader
Hit Parader is an American music magazine focusing on the genres of hard rock, pop, and heavy metal.The magazine was originally started as a pop song lyric magazine by Charlton Publications in 1942. Charlton sold off the magazine before the company went under in 1991...
magazine, by the time she was 13, Boleyn was performing in nightclubs, often without the knowledge of her parents. At age 15, she had received offers to tour in several bands, one of which featured guitarist Tommy Bolin
Tommy Bolin
Thomas Richard "Tommy" Bolin was an American-born guitarist who played with Zephyr , The James Gang , and Deep Purple , in addition to doing solo work...
, but was forbidden to do so by her parents.
In 1976, while still a teenager in high school, she was spotted by producer Kim Fowley
Kim Fowley
Kim Vincent Fowley is an American record producer, impresario, songwriter, musician, film maker, and radio actor. He is best known for his role behind a string of novelty and cult rock pop singles in the 1960s, and for managing The Runaways in the 1970s...
and recruited to join The Runaways
The Runaways
The Runaways were an American all-girl rock band that recorded and performed in the second half of the 1970s. The band released four studio albums and one live set during its run. Among its best known songs: "Cherry Bomb", "Queens of Noise", "Neon Angels On the Road to Ruin", "California Paradise"...
as the bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
player. According to the liner-notes of the "Queen of Hell" anthology album, after she threatened to run away, Boleyn's parents finally allowed her to leave her home in Washington State and move to Hollywood. Other accounts relate that guitarist Tommy Bolin
Tommy Bolin
Thomas Richard "Tommy" Bolin was an American-born guitarist who played with Zephyr , The James Gang , and Deep Purple , in addition to doing solo work...
convinced her not to join the band and that the verse "Just keep me out of L.A., things are crazy out there" from his song Post Toastee referred to Fowley's management of the all-female band.
Ann has never officially been acknowledged as having ever been a member of the band
Ann was spotted by Hal Guthu, a modeling agent who had been the still photographer and cinematographer for Edward D. Wood, Jr. Though Hal Guthu rarely accepted brunettes, he made an exception with Boleyn, whom he said reminded him of Vampira when interviewed in the August 1984 edition of CineBeat. Through Hal Guthu, Ann Boleyn became featured in a number of B-rate horror movies for which she used other names, allegedly to avoid embarrassment to her family. Some, have speculated that Boleyn was under-age at the time many of her movies were filmed. Ann Boleyn's music and screams also can be heard on various sound tracks, including The Return of the Living Dead, Part II.
By 1977, Ann Boleyn emerged as the midnight-to-six DJ at Los Angeles Radio Station KROQ-FM
KROQ-FM
KROQ-FM — branded 106.7 KROQ — is a commercial modern rock radio station licensed to Pasadena, California serving the Greater Los Angeles. The call sign is pronounced "kay rock." It is the flagship station of Loveline hosted by Dr...
, where she hosted a show that specialized in fast-paced metal and punk. By the time the station decided to alter its format to "the rock of the 80's", Boleyn's show had become known as "Speed Metal Hell", a term Boleyn later used for the heavy metal compilations albums she would later produce.
In 1982, Ann Boleyn together with guitarist Ray Schenck, bassist Peyton Tuthill, and drummer Sean Kelley
Sean Kelley
Sean Kelley is an American soccer player currently playing for Orlando City in the USL Professional Division.-College and amateur:...
formed Hellion
Hellion (band)
Hellion is a heavy metal band, which was formed during 1982 in Los Angeles, California. The first line-up included Ann Boleyn , Ray Schenck , Sean Kelley and Peyton Tuthill . With a different line-up they continue on today....
. The group released a series of albums which were met with varying success. They were signed to Music For Nations
Music For Nations
Music For Nations was a British independent record label focusing mainly on rock and metal. They were a subsidiary of the larger label distributor Zomba Records who in turn is owned by BMG....
in England, Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records is an American record label that concentrates primarily on heavy metal bands. It is currently a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.-History:...
in Europe, Pony Canyon
Pony Canyon
is a Japanese company, established on October 1, 1966 , which publishes music, DVD and VHS videos, movies and video games. It is a subsidiary of Japanese Media Group, Fujisankei Communications Group.-History:...
in Japan, and New Renaissance Records
New Renaissance Records
New Renaissance Records is an American record label founded in 1984 by Ann Boleyn, who also is the lead singer of the group Hellion and is credited for coining the term speed metal.-History:...
in the USA.
In 1985 Ann Boleyn formed New Renaissance Records
New Renaissance Records
New Renaissance Records is an American record label founded in 1984 by Ann Boleyn, who also is the lead singer of the group Hellion and is credited for coining the term speed metal.-History:...
, which put out the first commercial recordings and helped develop the careers of then unknown bands such as Sepultura
Sepultura
Sepultura is a Brazilian heavy metal band from Belo Horizonte, formed in 1984. The band was a major force in the death metal, thrash metal and ultimately groove metal realms during the late 1980s and early 1990s, with their later experiments melding nu metal, hardcore punk and industrial.Sepultura...
, Bathory
Bathory (band)
Bathory was a Swedish heavy metal band, formed by Quorthon in 1983. They are regarded as pioneers of both black metal and viking metal. Quorthon remained the main songwriter and member of Bathory for more than two decades. Bathory was permanently ended after Quorthon's death in 2004...
, Flotsam & Jetsam
Flotsam and Jetsam (band)
Flotsam and Jetsam is a thrash metal band that formed in Phoenix, Arizona in 1982.-1981-1986: The beginning:The band's original name was "Paradox" founded by Drummer Kelly David-Smith and two other guitarists, until 1982 when bassist Jason Newsted joined. Jason had come to Phoenix with his band...
, At War
At War
At War is an EP by the Brazilian death metal band Rebaelliun. It was released in 1999 by Hammerheart Records.-Personnel:*Marcello Marzari – bass, vocals*Fabio Penna Corrêa – guitar*Ronaldo Lima – guitar*David Stone– drums...
, Morbid Angel
Morbid Angel
Morbid Angel is an American death metal band based in Tampa, Florida. UK music magazine Terrorizer ranked one Morbid Angel album in its “Top 40 greatest death metal albums”, with their 1989 debut Altars of Madness appearing at number 1...
and Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht (band)
Wehrmacht is an American thrash metal/hardcore punk band, that was formed in Portland, Oregon in 1985. After releasing two albums on New Renaissance Records, the band split up. Later, both albums were re-issued on one CD....
. Other label acts included Deadly Blessing, Amulance, Blood Feast, Necrophagia
Necrophagia
Necrophagia is an American death metal band. The group was assembled in Wellsville, Ohio in 1983 and are credited as being one of the very first musical groups to be classified within the death metal genre. The group was founded by Frank Pucci...
, Dream Death, Illwill, Indestroy, Sarcastic, Artillery
Artillery (band)
Artillery is a Danish technical thrash metal band. They participated in the early development of the genre, and their highly energetic, riff-centric and often fast-paced music is similar in style to that of Voivod, Coroner, Megadeth and Sabbat from the same era...
, Mayhem
Mayhem (band)
Mayhem is a Norwegian black metal band formed in 1984 in Oslo, Norway and regarded as one of the pioneers of the influential Norwegian black metal scene...
, and more.
Boleyn left the music business in the late 1990s to obtain a degree from UCLA
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
, where she specialized in the study of the Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
language. She obtained her law degree in 2007.
Boleyn was singing in Detente
Detente (band)
Detente is a thrash metal band founded in 1984 in Los Angeles, California. The group's original line-up included Dawn Crosby on vocals, Steve Hochheiser on bass, Dennis Butler on drums and Ross Robinson and Caleb Quinn on guitars,.-History:...
where she was filling in for the late Dawn Crosby
Dawn Crosby
Dawn Crosby was the lead singer of the underground act Detente.Following her exit from Detente, Dawn Crosby together with producer Ross Robinson went on to form Fear of God, which was signed to Warner Bros. Records....
who died in 1996. Boleyn has since been replaced by Tiina Teal.