Overview

The band formed in 1986 in New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

. A no-frills band heavy on tattoos, biker-band lyrics and leather, the band consisted of vocalist Alex Mitchell, guitar players Ricky Mahler and Gary Sunshine, bassist Craymore Stevens, and drummer Ryan Maher. The group played in New York for several years until they were signed by RCA Records

RCA Records

RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...

. Around 1990, Gary Sunshine switched to guitar, and Zowie joined as bassist. In 1990, Circus of Power got a huge break, being named as the lone opening band (for the complete tour) opening for Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...

 on their Tyr

Tyr (album)

TYR is the fifteenth studio album by heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released in August 1990 by I.R.S. Records.The album title and several song titles are taken from Norse mythology, which led many to call TYR a concept album, although bassist Neil Murray dispelled that in 2005, stating that while...

 album.

Zowie was replaced by Marc 'Frap' Frappier, and Mahler by Victor Indrizzo

Victor Indrizzo

Victor Indrizzo is an American session musician, primarily known for playing the drums, as well as a songwriter and producer.Indrizzo was born in Freeport, Long Island, New York...

 respectively. In 1991, the band signed to Columbia Records

Columbia Records

Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...

 and relocated to Los Angeles

Los Ángeles

Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...

. Circus of Power disbanded around 1995.

Revivals

In 2006, Circus of Power played two 20th-anniversary shows. The first in Austin, Texas

Austin, Texas

Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...

, at Elysium on June 3, during the Republic of Texas Biker Rally

Republic of Texas Biker Rally

The Republic of Texas Biker Rally is the biggest motorcycle rally in Texas. It is the fourth largest motorcycle rally of any kind in the U.S....

, and the second in New York City at Don Hill's on September 27. The NYC performance included Queen Vixen and Honey 1Percenter from Cycle Sluts From Hell

Cycle Sluts From Hell

The Cycle Sluts from Hell were an American heavy metal band from the late 1980s to early 1990s. They were only together briefly but are remembered for their name....

 on backing vocals, with Daniel Rey

Daniel Rey

Daniel Rey is an American musician, music producer and songwriter from New York City best known for his work with the Ramones....

 (Ramones

Ramones

The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...

) and Phil Caivano (Monster Magnet

Monster Magnet

Monster Magnet is an American stoner rock band. Hailing from Red Bank, New Jersey, the group was founded by Dave Wyndorf , John McBain and Tim Cronin...

) as guest performers. It was their first New York performance in 12 years.

A 2007 interview indicated that singer Alex Mitchell planned to resurrect the band with a new album.

In 2008, Circus of Power was offered the opportunity to play two events, neither of which they could attend due to scheduling conflicts. The first was the Republic of Texas Biker Rally

Republic of Texas Biker Rally

The Republic of Texas Biker Rally is the biggest motorcycle rally in Texas. It is the fourth largest motorcycle rally of any kind in the U.S....

 in June, and the Sturgis Biker Rally

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is an American motorcycle rally held annually in Sturgis, South Dakota, usually the first full week of August.-History:...

 in August.

On December 1, 2008, Alex Mitchell informed circusofpower.net that Rock Candy Records will reissue Circus of Power's eponymous debut album. The reissue will be remastered and contain a 14 page booklet with a 4000 word essay on the band. A release date has not been set.

The Knitting Factory in Los Angeles was the site for a Circus of Power reunion show on June 27, 2009. The show was to celebrate Club Vodka's seventh anniversary and the reissue of Circus of Power's debut album.

Past members

• Alex Mitchell - Vocals
• Ricky Mahler - Lead Guitar
• Gary Sunshine - Rhythm Guitar
• Marc Frappier - Bass Guitar
• Craymore Stevens - Bass Guitar
• Ryan Maher - Drums
• Ian Astbury
  Ian Astbury
  Ian Astbury is an English rock musician and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist for the rock band, The Cult.-Pre-Cult:...
  
  - Vocals
• Victor Indrizzo
  Victor Indrizzo
  Victor Indrizzo is an American session musician, primarily known for playing the drums, as well as a songwriter and producer.Indrizzo was born in Freeport, Long Island, New York...
  
  - Drums
• Zowie - Bass Guitar

Discography

• Circus of Power (1988)
• Still Alive (1989)
• Vices (1990)
• Live at The Ritz (1990)
• Magic & Madness (1993)

Tracks in film and television

• "Machine", from the band's 1988 eponymous debut album, was featured in the comedy movie The 'Burbs
  The 'Burbs
  The 'Burbs is a 1989 American black comedy thriller film directed by Joe Dante starring Tom Hanks, Bruce Dern, Carrie Fisher, Rick Ducommun, Corey Feldman and Henry Gibson. The film was written by Dana Olsen, who also has a cameo in the movie...
  
  the following year. Corey Feldman
  Corey Feldman
  Corey Scott Feldman is an American film and television actor. He became known during the 1980s, with roles in the Hollywood films Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, The Goonies, Stand by Me, The Lost Boys, License to Drive, Dream a Little Dream, Gremlins and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles...
  
  's character, Ricky Butler, played air guitar
  Air guitar
  Playing air guitar is a form of dance and movement in which the performer pretends to play rock or heavy metal-style electric guitar, including riffs, solos, etc. Playing an air guitar usually consists of exaggerated strumming and picking motions and is often coupled with loud singing or lip-synching...
  
   during the song's intro.
• They performed "Call of the Wild" and "Letter Home" at the end of a 1989 episode of the Morton Downey Jr. Show concerning heavy metal.
• In the Beavis and Butt-head
  Beavis and Butt-Head
  Beavis and Butt-head is an American animated television series created by Mike Judge. The series originated from Frog Baseball, a 1992 short film by Judge. After seeing the short, MTV signed Judge to develop the concept. Beavis and Butt-head originally aired from March 8, 1993 to November 28, 1997...
  
  episode "Eating Contest", the two watch the music video for "Heaven or Hell".