Diamond Rexx
Encyclopedia
Diamond Rexx is an American
heavy metal
/ glam metal
band from Chicago
, Illinois
, formed in 1985 by singer Nasti Habits and guitarist
Steven St. Lust (aka S. Scot Priest, also of D'Molls
).
, and with the addition of bassist Andre and drummer Johnny Cottone they released their debut album Land of the Damned in 1986. In 1989, the band signed to the independent Red Light Records, where they released their second album Rated Rexx in 1990. The band went on hiatus in the 1990s, but Habits formed a new line-up in 2001, now with S.S. Priest on guitar, Basil Cooper on bass and background vocals and Billy Nychay on drums, the band's now influenced by alternative metal
. This line-up recorded the Rexx Erected album, released on the Diamond label, after which Cooper left to be replaced by Tommy Hanus. The Evil was released in 2002 on Crash Music. In 2006 bassist Tommy Evans joined the band, and the following year, original drummer Johnny Cottone returned on drums. The band then went dormant and remained quiet over the next few years. In 2009 the original line-up of Habits/Andre/Priest/Cottone reunited for a twenty-year anniversary show.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
/ glam metal
Glam metal
Glam metal is a subgenre of hard rock and heavy metal that arose in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the United States, particularly on the Los Angeles Sunset Strip music scene...
band from Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, formed in 1985 by singer Nasti Habits and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Steven St. Lust (aka S. Scot Priest, also of D'Molls
D'Molls
D'Molls, originally known as The Chicago Molls, were a band featuring lead vocalist/guitarist Desi Rexx, guitarist S.S. Priest, bassist Lizzy Valentine, and drummer Billy Dior....
).
History
Singer Nasti Habits created the original four-member lineup in 1985. Four months after their first live show the band signed a management deal with Mark Nawara who then got the band signed to Island recordsIsland Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
, and with the addition of bassist Andre and drummer Johnny Cottone they released their debut album Land of the Damned in 1986. In 1989, the band signed to the independent Red Light Records, where they released their second album Rated Rexx in 1990. The band went on hiatus in the 1990s, but Habits formed a new line-up in 2001, now with S.S. Priest on guitar, Basil Cooper on bass and background vocals and Billy Nychay on drums, the band's now influenced by alternative metal
Alternative metal
Alternative metal is a genre of alternative rock and heavy metal that gained popularity in the early 1990s. Most notably, alternative metal bands are characterized by heavy guitar riffs and experimental approaches to heavy music.-Origins:...
. This line-up recorded the Rexx Erected album, released on the Diamond label, after which Cooper left to be replaced by Tommy Hanus. The Evil was released in 2002 on Crash Music. In 2006 bassist Tommy Evans joined the band, and the following year, original drummer Johnny Cottone returned on drums. The band then went dormant and remained quiet over the next few years. In 2009 the original line-up of Habits/Andre/Priest/Cottone reunited for a twenty-year anniversary show.
Current members
- Nasti Habits — lead vocals (1985–present)
- S.S. Priest — lead & rhythm guitars (1985–1995, 2004–present)
- Dave Andre — bass (1985–1989, 2004–present)
- Johnny Cottone — drums, percussion (1985–1986, 2007–present)
Former members
- Johnny Angel — lead & rhythm guitars (1995–2004)
- Dave Andre — bass, backing vocals (1985–1988)
- Chrissy Salem — bass (1995–2003)
- Basil Cooper — bass, backing vocals (1990–1992)
- Tim Tully — drums, percussion (1986–1990, 1991–1995)
- Billy Nychay — drums, percussion (1995–2003)
- Bill Schmidt - drums, percussion (2003–2007)
- Tommy Evans — bass
- Tommy Hanus — bass
Albums
- Land of the DamnedLand of the DamnedLand of the Damned is the debut album by American heavy metal/glam metal band Diamond Rexx. It was released by Island Records in 1986, and is the band's sole major label release. It was reissued in 2007 by Crash Music Inc. and in 2008 by Massacre Poland. A video was made for "Wish I Was Rich"...
(1986) - Rated RexxRated RexxRated Rexx is the third studio album by American heavy metal/glam metal band Diamond Rexx. It was released by Red Light Records in 1990, and reissued by Crash Music Inc. in 2002.- Track listing :All tracks by S. St...
(1990) - Golden Gates (1991)
- Rexx ErectedRexx ErectedRexx Erected is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal/glam metal band Diamond Rexx. It was released by Crash Music Inc. on November 6, 2001.-Track listing:All tracks written by Diamond Rexx, except where noted.# "The Evil" – 3:04...
(2001) - The Evil (2002)
External links
- Diamond Rexx at MusicMightMusicMightMusicMight, formerly Rockdetector is a rock music website which provides artist and product information through a global website and an ongoing book series...