Mick Sweda
Encyclopedia
Mick Sweda is a songwriter
, guitarist
and singer born in Gowanda, NY on April 18, 1960.
After attending college on a drama scholarship
and touring the east coast with various bands, Sweda moved to Los Angeles
where he spent time in various musical projects.
In 1984, he was approached by Carmine Appice
to join his new band King Kobra
, which had been signed to Capitol Records
. Sweda recorded two records with King Kobra ('Ready to Strike
' and 'Thrill of a Lifetime
') and toured extensively, opening for bands such as Iron Maiden
, Kiss
and Ted Nugent
. Sweda left the band in 1987 to form BulletBoys
with Marq Torien
, who had briefly served as King Kobra's lead singer. The band signed to Warner Bros. Records
in 1988. Upon the release of their eponymous debut, the band toured extensively opening for bands such as Cheap Trick
, Bon Jovi
, Ozzy Osbourne
and others, as well as headlining theaters. BulletBoys recorded two more records for Warner Bros. (Freakshow
and Za-Za
) and supported both records with tours before Sweda left the band.
After recording demos for a wide range of artists in his studio and doing some session work, Sweda formed a new band called Brain Stem Babies which included Jason Hook and Jeremy Spencer. They played scattered shows but spent the majority of their time recording records which Sweda made available on his Monsters Making Music label. The band parted ways in 1996 and Sweda, along with BSB bassist Jon Winquist, recruited Troy Patrick Farrell
('White Lion
') to form Lolligag. They played occasionally in Los Angeles but again spent more time recording and disbanded in 1998. Sweda continued to record with John Porter
and Marty Horenburg at Cello Studios in Hollywood but began to concentrate on personal matters.
Sweda married in 1999, had a child and reunited with BulletBoys sporadically, finally quitting for good in 2000. He moved from LA, built his studio (Redcake Digital) and continues to write and record. His 2007 release, 'Songs in the Key of Cool', is a record for kids and parents alike.
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, 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...
and singer born in Gowanda, NY on April 18, 1960.
After attending college on a drama scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
and touring the east coast with various bands, Sweda moved 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...
where he spent time in various musical projects.
In 1984, he was approached by Carmine Appice
Carmine Appice
Carmine Appice is an American rock drummer of Italian background and is the older brother of drummer Vinny Appice by 12 years. He received a classical music training and was influenced by the jazz drumming of Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa early on...
to join his new band King Kobra
King Kobra
King Kobra is a glam metal group founded by drummer Carmine Appice after his tenure with Ozzy Osbourne in 1984. The band during the time of their first two albums included four relatively unknown musicians: vocalist Mark Free, guitarist David Michael-Philips, guitarist Mick Sweda, and bassist...
, which had been 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...
. Sweda recorded two records with King Kobra ('Ready to Strike
Ready to Strike
Ready to Strike is the first album by the band King Kobra. It was released on November 9, 1985.Its single "Hunger" was written by members of the Canadian metal band Kick Axe and was released by them in 1986. On the The Transformers: The Movie soundtrack album, they were under the made-up name of...
' and 'Thrill of a Lifetime
Thrill of a Lifetime
Thrill of a Lifetime was a television reality series created by Sidney M. Cohen and Willie Stein. It was telecast from 1981 to 1988 in Canada on the CTV network. Thrill of a Lifetime gave viewers the chance to live their dreams, with thrills ranging from daredevil adventures to the romantic...
') and toured extensively, opening for bands such as 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...
, Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
and Ted Nugent
Ted Nugent
Theodore Anthony "Ted" Nugent is an American guitarist, musician, singer, author, reserve police officer, and activist. From Detroit, Michigan, he originally gained fame as the lead guitarist of The Amboy Dukes, before embarking on a lengthy solo career...
. Sweda left the band in 1987 to form BulletBoys
BulletBoys
BulletBoys is an American hard rock group formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1987. The group's original lineup was composed of former Ratt guitarist/King Kobra lead vocalist Marq Torien , former King Kobra guitarist Mick Sweda, Lonnie Vencent and Jimmy D'Anda...
with Marq Torien
Marq Torien
Marq Torien is the lead singer of the hard rock act BulletBoys. He is the only member to have remained with the group since the release of their self-titled debut album in 1988....
, who had briefly served as King Kobra's lead singer. The band signed to Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
in 1988. Upon the release of their eponymous debut, the band toured extensively opening for bands such as Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, formed in 1973. The band consists of members Robin Zander , Rick Nielsen , Tom Petersson , and Bun E...
, Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald...
, Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
and others, as well as headlining theaters. BulletBoys recorded two more records for Warner Bros. (Freakshow
Freakshow (BulletBoys album)
Freakshow is the second album from the hard rock band BulletBoys, released in 1991 by Warner Bros. Records.-Track listing:# Hell Yeah! - 3:19# THC Groove - 3:33# Thrill That Kills - 3:06# Hang On St...
and Za-Za
Za-Za
Za-Za is the third album from the hard rock band BulletBoys, released in 1993. This was the last album released by Warner Bros. Records.-Track listing:#"When Pigs Fly"#"Slow and Easy"#"The Rising"#"Sing a Song"#"Mine"#"1-800-Goodbye"#"The Show"...
) and supported both records with tours before Sweda left the band.
After recording demos for a wide range of artists in his studio and doing some session work, Sweda formed a new band called Brain Stem Babies which included Jason Hook and Jeremy Spencer. They played scattered shows but spent the majority of their time recording records which Sweda made available on his Monsters Making Music label. The band parted ways in 1996 and Sweda, along with BSB bassist Jon Winquist, recruited Troy Patrick Farrell
Troy Patrick Farrell
Troy Patrick Farrell is an American drummer who has played in bands including White Lion, Pretty Boy Floyd, John Corabi and Michael Aston's Gene Love Jezebel....
('White Lion
White Lion
White Lion is an American/Danish hard rock/heavy metal band that was formed in New York City in 1983 by Danish vocalist Mike Tramp and American guitarist Vito Bratta. Mainly active in the 1980s and early 1990s, the band achieved double platinum status with their #8 hit "Wait" and #3 hit "When the...
') to form Lolligag. They played occasionally in Los Angeles but again spent more time recording and disbanded in 1998. Sweda continued to record with John Porter
John Porter
John Porter may refer to:* John Porter , partner of Anita Lipnicka* John Porter , trainer in British Thoroughbred flat racing* John Porter , hockey player...
and Marty Horenburg at Cello Studios in Hollywood but began to concentrate on personal matters.
Sweda married in 1999, had a child and reunited with BulletBoys sporadically, finally quitting for good in 2000. He moved from LA, built his studio (Redcake Digital) and continues to write and record. His 2007 release, 'Songs in the Key of Cool', is a record for kids and parents alike.