Melanie Sisneros
Encyclopedia
Melanie Sisneros is an American bassist
and is currently a member of four bands: Crescent Shield, Whole Lotta Rosies (an all-female AC/DC
tribute band), Hangar 18 (a Megadeth
tribute band) and Mz Led (an all-female Led Zeppelin
tribute band). She was also a former member of the bands Sinergy
, The Iron Maidens
and New Eden.
. She graduated cum laude in Pomona College
in Pomona, California
, in 1994, majoring in Latin
and Greek
languages.
In early 1998, Sisneros and guitarist/vocalist William Rustrum formed a local band called Raven Mad. The band released two albums before disbanding on December 2000. She joined the heavy metal
band New Eden on January 2001 and stayed with them for over a year.
On June 2000, Sisneros joined the Iron Maiden
tribute band Wrathchild, where she took the stage name "Steve Heiress" (a female version of bassist Steve Harris
). A year later, she and lead vocalist Jenny Warren
co-founded The Iron Maidens
("World's Only Female Tribute to Iron Maiden") with former Phantom Blue
members Linda McDonald
and Josephine Draven
and former Bandit member Sara Marsh
. Her stay with the band lasted a year before leaving both the Maidens and New Eden to join the Finland
-based power metal
band Sinergy
. Unfortunately, she lasted all but one gig with Sinergy before the band released her.
Shortly after returning to the U.S., Sisneros joined the heavy metal band Crescent Shield in 2003. They currently have one album - The Last of My Kind - and are signed with Italian
label Cruz del Sur Music and German label Pure Steel Records
.
In addition to Crescent Shield, Sisneros regrouped with Rustrum to form the Megadeth
tribute Hangar 18, where she uses the stage name "Mellefson" (an amalgamation of her name and former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson
). She also currently plays bass for the all-female AC/DC
tribute Whole Lotta Rosies, as well as the all-female Led Zeppelin
tribute Mz Led.
Sisneros cites Steve Harris, Cliff Burton
, Geddy Lee
, Bob Daisley
, David Ellefson, Steve DiGiorgio
, Markus Grosskopf
and John Taylor as her influences.
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
and is currently a member of four bands: Crescent Shield, Whole Lotta Rosies (an all-female AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
tribute band), Hangar 18 (a Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
tribute band) and Mz Led (an all-female Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
tribute band). She was also a former member of the bands Sinergy
Sinergy
Sinergy was a Finnish power metal band started in 1998 by American musician, Kimberly Goss. Aside from Sinergy, the most notable bands Goss has been involved with are Dimmu Borgir; as keyboardist, and Children of Bodom; where she filled in live for Janne Wirman and also contributed lyrics...
, The Iron Maidens
The Iron Maidens
The Iron Maidens are an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 2001 as an all-female tribute act to English heavy metal band Iron Maiden...
and New Eden.
Biography
Melanie Ann Sisneros was born the second of three daughters and raised in various towns in New MexicoNew Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. She graduated cum laude in Pomona College
Pomona College
Pomona College is a private, residential, liberal arts college in Claremont, California. Founded in 1887 in Pomona, California by a group of Congregationalists, the college moved to Claremont in 1889 to the site of a hotel, retaining its name. The school enrolls 1,548 students.The founding member...
in Pomona, California
Pomona, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Pomona had a population of 149,058, a slight decline from the 2000 census population. The population density was 6,491.2 people per square mile...
, in 1994, majoring in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
and Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
languages.
In early 1998, Sisneros and guitarist/vocalist William Rustrum formed a local band called Raven Mad. The band released two albums before disbanding on December 2000. She joined the 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...
band New Eden on January 2001 and stayed with them for over a year.
On June 2000, Sisneros joined the Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
tribute band Wrathchild, where she took the stage name "Steve Heiress" (a female version of bassist Steve Harris
Steve Harris (musician)
Stephen Percy "Steve" Harris is an English musician and songwriter, known as the bassist, occasional keyboardist, backing vocalist and primary songwriter of the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, which he founded in 1975...
). A year later, she and lead vocalist Jenny Warren
Jenny Warren
Jenny Warren is an American female singer, best known as the co-founder of the all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens.-Biography:Jenny Warren first had an Iron Maiden tribute band called Wrathchild. The idea came when she discovered the website of a Chicago-based tribute band called Revelations...
co-founded The Iron Maidens
The Iron Maidens
The Iron Maidens are an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 2001 as an all-female tribute act to English heavy metal band Iron Maiden...
("World's Only Female Tribute to Iron Maiden") with former Phantom Blue
Phantom blue
Phantom Blue was an all-female American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1987. Phantom Blue were the first and only female artists to be signed to Mike Varney's Shrapnel Records, only three months after forming....
members Linda McDonald
Linda McDonald
Linda McDonald is the drummer of the all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens . In addition, she is a member of the Ozzy Osbourne tribute band The Little Dolls and the cover bands Valley Dolls, Crabby Patty and Unholy Pink...
and Josephine Draven
Jojo Draven
Josephine Soegijanty-Draven is an Indonesian musician and film score composer. She is currently a cast member of the Blue Man Group. She was also a guitarist for the American all-female heavy metal band Phantom Blue and the tribute band The Iron Maidens....
and former Bandit member Sara Marsh
Sara Marsh
Sara Marsh was one of two guitarists of the all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens . In addition, she is a former founding member of the Ozzy Osbourne tribute band The Little Dolls...
. Her stay with the band lasted a year before leaving both the Maidens and New Eden to join the Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
-based power metal
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
band Sinergy
Sinergy
Sinergy was a Finnish power metal band started in 1998 by American musician, Kimberly Goss. Aside from Sinergy, the most notable bands Goss has been involved with are Dimmu Borgir; as keyboardist, and Children of Bodom; where she filled in live for Janne Wirman and also contributed lyrics...
. Unfortunately, she lasted all but one gig with Sinergy before the band released her.
Shortly after returning to the U.S., Sisneros joined the heavy metal band Crescent Shield in 2003. They currently have one album - The Last of My Kind - and are signed with Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
label Cruz del Sur Music and German label Pure Steel Records
Pure Steel Records
Pure Steel Records is a record label based on Germany, focused on heavy metal music. Pure Steel produces CDs and LPs.Founded by Kay Anders and Andreas Lorenz in 2006, the main interest of Pure Steel is to spread the true and independent heavy metal sound inspired by the glorious 80s...
.
In addition to Crescent Shield, Sisneros regrouped with Rustrum to form the Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
tribute Hangar 18, where she uses the stage name "Mellefson" (an amalgamation of her name and former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson
David Ellefson
David Warren "Dave" Ellefson is a bassist and founding member of the American thrash metal band Megadeth. He also goes by "Junior." He currently resides in Scottsdale, Arizona...
). She also currently plays bass for the all-female AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
tribute Whole Lotta Rosies, as well as the all-female Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
tribute Mz Led.
Sisneros cites Steve Harris, Cliff Burton
Cliff Burton
Clifford Lee "Cliff" Burton was an American musician, best known as the bass guitarist for the American heavy metal band Metallica....
, Geddy Lee
Geddy Lee
Gary Lee Weinrib, OC, better known as Geddy Lee , is a Canadian musician, best known as the lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the Canadian rock group Rush...
, Bob Daisley
Bob Daisley
Robert John "Bob" Daisley is an Australian musician, bassist and lyricist who has performed in genres of rock, blues, R&B, hard rock and metal.-Early career:...
, David Ellefson, Steve DiGiorgio
Steve DiGiorgio
Steve DiGiorgio is an American bassist and musician.DiGiorgio has played bass guitar in heavy metal bands such as Death, Autopsy, Control Denied, Testament, Vintersorg, Iced Earth, Sebastian Bach, Charred Walls of the Damned, Obituary, and is a founding member of Sadus. He is widely renowned for...
, Markus Grosskopf
Markus Grosskopf
Markus Großkopf, born 21 September 1965 in Hamburg, Germany, is the bass guitarist, and one of only two remaining original members of the German power metal band Helloween...
and John Taylor as her influences.