Icon (band)
Encyclopedia
Icon is an American
heavy metal
/glam metal
band that formed in 1981, disbanding in 1990.
, Arizona
by high school friends Dan Wexler (guitar), Stephen Clifford (vocals) and Tracy Wallach (bass). They were joined by David Henzerling (guitar) and John Covington (drums). In 1984, Icon was signed to Capitol Records
. By this point, Henzerling, and Covington had left the band and were replaced by John Aquilino (guitar) and Pat Dixon (drums).
In 1989, Right Between the Eyes was released on Atlantic/Megaforce, with Jerry Harrison on vocals and Drew Bollmann on second guitar. A video for "Taking My Breath Away" was played on MTV
's Headbangers' Ball. Following the release of Right Between the Eyes and a supporting tour, which included David Lauser
on drums (currently Sammy Hagar
's drummer), Icon disbanded. Singer Harrison recorded with a new project called Harlequin. The other band members continued to be involved in music projects; guitarist Dan Wexler in particular wrote and recorded with Alice Cooper
(who had performed backing vocals on "Holy Man's War" from Right Between the Eyes). In 1994, (An Even) More Perfect Union--an expanded version of A More Perfect Union, including tracks recorded for potential release on Right Between the Eyes--was released on CD. Icon was one of those few bands that never got credit. Most underrated band of the 80's by fans.
On November 29, 2008, Icon opened up for Tesla
at the Dodge Theatre in their home town of Phoenix, AZ. They received a warm reception. Copies of their 1984 DVD were signed and sold and the band promised that new material was on the way. 93.3 KDKB, the local rock station, plugged Icon as a band they love yet rarely play.
In May 2009, singer Scott Hammons decided to pursue a solo career so he decided to leave the band and was replaced with former Adler's Appetite
vocalist Sheldon Tarsha.
Previous plans to record new songs, possibly for a new album, still exist.
There is a possibility both the original self-titled album Icon' and Night of the Crime will be re-released in the near future.
. Henzerling was a guitarist for Carmine Appice's band 'King Kobra'
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 that formed in 1981, disbanding in 1990.
Formation
Originally known as Schoolboys, Icon was formed in 1981, in PhoenixPhoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
by high school friends Dan Wexler (guitar), Stephen Clifford (vocals) and Tracy Wallach (bass). They were joined by David Henzerling (guitar) and John Covington (drums). In 1984, Icon was signed to Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
. By this point, Henzerling, and Covington had left the band and were replaced by John Aquilino (guitar) and Pat Dixon (drums).
Background
In 1984, Icon released their self-titled debut, Icon. In 1985, Night of the Crime was released. During the mixing of the album, vocalist Stephen Clifford decided to leave the band for personal reasons. Regrouping, the band released a local-only cassette called A More Perfect Union, featuring a polished pop-rock sound, a new singer (Jerry Harrison) and a keyboardist (Kevin Stoller). Although it was only released locally, it garnered enough attention to renew major-label interest in the group.In 1989, Right Between the Eyes was released on Atlantic/Megaforce, with Jerry Harrison on vocals and Drew Bollmann on second guitar. A video for "Taking My Breath Away" was played on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's Headbangers' Ball. Following the release of Right Between the Eyes and a supporting tour, which included David Lauser
David Lauser
David Lauser is a drummer who is most famous for playing with Sammy Hagar.Sammy Hagar and David Lauser played together in a band called Justice Brothers before Sammy Hagar joined Montrose....
on drums (currently Sammy Hagar
Sammy Hagar
Sam Roy "Sammy" Hagar , also known as The Red Rocker, is an American rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Also sings Country Music....
's drummer), Icon disbanded. Singer Harrison recorded with a new project called Harlequin. The other band members continued to be involved in music projects; guitarist Dan Wexler in particular wrote and recorded with Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
(who had performed backing vocals on "Holy Man's War" from Right Between the Eyes). In 1994, (An Even) More Perfect Union--an expanded version of A More Perfect Union, including tracks recorded for potential release on Right Between the Eyes--was released on CD. Icon was one of those few bands that never got credit. Most underrated band of the 80's by fans.
2008 Reunion
In August 2008, Icon celebrated their reunion with a re-issue of a 1984 Bootleg Concert on DVD. Original members Wexler, Aquilino and Dixon, along with former member Dave Henzerling and new singer Scott Hammons had plans to record new material potentially for a new album.On November 29, 2008, Icon opened up for Tesla
Tesla (band)
Tesla is an American hard rock band formed in Sacramento, California in 1984. They have sold 14 million albums in the United States.-Formation and Mechanical Resonance :...
at the Dodge Theatre in their home town of Phoenix, AZ. They received a warm reception. Copies of their 1984 DVD were signed and sold and the band promised that new material was on the way. 93.3 KDKB, the local rock station, plugged Icon as a band they love yet rarely play.
In May 2009, singer Scott Hammons decided to pursue a solo career so he decided to leave the band and was replaced with former Adler's Appetite
Adler's Appetite
Adler's Appetite, previously Suki Jones, is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2003. As of 2011, the lineup consists of Patrick Stone , Michael Thomas , Lonnie Paul , Chip Z'nuff and Steven Adler...
vocalist Sheldon Tarsha.
Previous plans to record new songs, possibly for a new album, still exist.
There is a possibility both the original self-titled album Icon' and Night of the Crime will be re-released in the near future.
Side projects
Wexler participated in other musical projects after Icon's disbandment, most notably co-writing several tracks with Alice CooperAlice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
. Henzerling was a guitarist for Carmine Appice's band 'King Kobra'
Current members
- Sheldon Tarsha - vocals
- Dan Wexler - guitars
- John Aquilino - guitars
- Dave Henzerling - bass
- Pat Dixon - drums
Former members
- Stephen Clifford – lead vocals (1981–1986)
- Tracy Wallach – bass, backing vocals (1981–1990)
- Scott Hammons – lead vocals (2008–2009)
- John Covington – drums (1981–1984)
- Jerry Harrison – lead vocals (1986–1990)
- David Lauser - drums (1990)
- Drew Bollmann – guitars (1989–1990)
Session musicians
- Alice CooperAlice CooperAlice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
– vocals on Right Between the Eyes (2 tracks) (1989)
Studio albums
- IconIcon (Icon album)Icon was the self-titled debut album by the hard rock and glam metal band Icon. It included their biggest metal radio hit song, "On Your Feet".-Tracklist:#" Through the Night" - - 3:31...
(1984) - The Night of the CrimeThe Night of the CrimeThe Night of the Crime was the second debut album by the hard rock and glam metal band Icon. It was far more polished than their self-titled debut and forayed into areas of glam only previously alluded to on their debut. It was produced and engineered by legendary producer, Eddie Kramer.- Tracklist...
(1985) - A More Perfect Union (1987)
- Right Between the Eyes (1989)
Other releases
- (An Even) More Perfect Union (CD release) (1994) set to be re-issued in 2009
- 1984 Live(bootleg)-reissue (DVD) (2008)