Bang Tango
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | January 1, 1988 in Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Founder | Mark Knight, Kyle Kyle |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
| Website | www |
Bang Tango is a hard rock group from the United States, established in Los Angeles in 1988 and promptly signed to MCA Records that same year.
Origins (1988)
The band was initiated by guitarist Mark Knight and bassist Kyle Kyle, who later incorporated second guitarist Kyle Stevens and lead vocalist Joe Lesté, the latter brought in following a recommendation from Rough Cutt's Amir Derakh. Drummer Tigg Ketler, who had been friends with Lesté since childhood, completed the ensemble. Bang Tango rapidly built a fanbase within the Hollywood Sunset Strip circuit, which triggered a competitive bidding process among major record companies before ultimately partnering with MCA Records.
Psycho Café Era (1989–1990)
Their debut output was the Live Injection EP released in early 1989, which preceded their first full-length album Psycho Café, produced by Howard Benson. The album climbed to number 58 on the Billboard rankings. The track "Someone Like You" gained extensive rotation on MTV programs such as Dial MTV and Headbangers Ball. Additionally, a music video was created for "Breaking Up a Heart of Stone". During this timeframe, Bang Tango embarked on extensive tours alongside bands like Cheap Trick, L.A. Guns, Ratt, and BulletBoys.
Dancin' on Coals Period (1991–1992)
Their sophomore album, Dancin' on Coals (1991), produced by John Jansen, failed to match the commercial performance of their debut, peaking at number 113 on the Billboard Top 200 chart. A promotional video was released for the single "Untied and True". In 1992, they issued a second live EP entitled Ain't No Jive...Live!.
Love After Death Phase (1993–1995)
Following the underwhelming sales of Dancin' on Coals, MCA Records fulfilled their contractual obligation by commissioning a third album in 1993. Returning to collaborate once more with producer Howard Benson, Bang Tango recorded Love After Death. Despite completion, MCA opted not to release it domestically due to concerns over profitability given prior financial commitments. During this period, guitarist Kyle Stevens departed from the band. The album eventually saw release exclusively in the UK and Japan through Music For Nations. Nevertheless, Bang Tango has continued to include songs from Love After Death in their live performances.
Disbandment (1996–2002)
After concluding a European tour supporting Love After Death in 1995, the original lineup of Bang Tango disbanded. Subsequently, frontman Joe Lesté and bassist Kyle Kyle reassembled the group in 1996 with various rotating musicians.
In 1997, Lesté and Kyle initiated an alternative rock side project named Eating Crow. Although no formal recordings were issued, their track So Abused appeared in the Wes Craven film Wishmaster, albeit omitted from its official soundtrack. This song later became part of Bang Tango’s live setlist during the late 1990s.
The band released a live album titled Live in 1998 and followed with a compilation called Greatest Tricks in 1999 that featured re-recorded versions of their hits performed by the then-current lineup. The Lesté-Kyle iteration of Bang Tango continued touring until dissolving again in 1999.
Afterwards, Joe Lesté signed with Warner Bros. and launched the hard rock band Beautiful Creatures in 2001.
Reunion (2002–present)
In 2002, Joe Lesté revived Bang Tango as the only remaining original member and released the album Ready to Go.
A full reunion concert featuring all the founding members occurred in 2006; although the complete show is accessible on YouTube, it is incorrectly dated as being from 2015.
The group issued From The Hip in 2006, followed by Pistol Whipped in the Bible Belt in 2011.
In 2010, the initial lineup, excluding Lesté, reunited with a different vocalist for two performances under the name Bang Tango Redux.
Rowan Robertson, previously guitarist for Dio, joined Bang Tango in 2014. After completing and premiering Attack of Life: The Bang Tango Movie, its director Drew Fortier became the band's second guitarist in 2015.
Since at least 2012, Bang Tango has been developing new songs.
Reunion of original members (2019–2021)
In November 2019, the founding lineup—Joe Lesté, Mark Knight, Kyle Kyle, Kyle Stevens, and Tigg Ketler—publicly announced plans for a reunion tour scheduled for 2020.
Side ventures
Mark Knight, the original guitarist, established Mark Knight & the Unsung Heroes, which included former bandmates Tigg Ketler and Kyle Stevens.
Original bassist Kyle Kyle created the band Mona Lisa Overdrive.
Attack of Life: The Bang Tango Movie
In June 2011, the band connected with Drew Fortier to document their studio sessions during the making of Pistol Whipped in the Bible Belt. This endeavor expanded when Fortier reached out to both former and founding members, growing over four years into the full-length documentary Attack of Life: The Bang Tango Movie. The film features interviews with both original and later members of the band.
Though produced on a limited budget, the documentary earned praise from music critics for its impartial and artistic presentation that resonates beyond just fans of Bang Tango or their genre. Due to licensing restrictions with UMG concerning song clearances, it has not received an official release; however, Fortier made it available free on YouTube.
Recognition and influence
Bang Tango's album Psycho Cafe' secured the No. 37 spot on Rolling Stone's list of 50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums of All Time.
The band was ranked No. 36 on VH1's The Hair Metal 100, which lists the top hair metal acts from the 1980s.
Their track Someone Like You was placed at No. 9 on LA Weekly's list titled The 10 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the Hair Metal Era.
Corey Taylor, lead vocalist of Slipknot and Stone Sour, included Someone Like You in his Ultimate 80s Rock Mixtape featured on Teamrock.
LA Weekly honored Bang Tango’s former lineup with a No. 4 ranking on their 10 Best Hair Metal Shows of 2017, recognizing their performance at Backyard Bash at the Rainbow, alongside groups such as Enuff Z'Nuff, Dokken, and Bow Wow Wow.
Current
- Joe Lesté – lead vocals (1988–1995; 1996–1999; 2002–present)
- Kyle Kyle – bass guitar (1988–1995; 1996–1999; 2019–present)
- Jason Walker – guitar (2022–present)
- Rowan Robertson – guitar (2014–2018; 2022–present)
- Jeff Tortora – drums (2022–present)
Former
(This list is partial and does not include certain touring musicians.)
Drummers
- Rob Jones (1996–1997)
- Ray Luzier (1997)
- Michael Licata (1997–1998)
- Danny Parker (1998)
- Walter Earl (1999)
- Bobby "Tango" Gibb (2003)
- Matt Starr (born Matt Franklin) (2003–2005)
- Troy Patrick Farrell (2009)
- Trent Anderson (2009–2013)
- Timmy Russell (2004–2009; 2013–2019)
- Tigg Ketler (1988–1995; 2019–2021)
Guitar
- Mark Knight (1988–1995; 2019–2021)
- Kyle Stevens (1988–1993; 2019–2021)
- Matt Price (1993)
- Mark Tremalgia (1993–1999)
- Dan Aon (1996–1997)
- Mattie B (1998–1999)
- Anthony Focx (2003–2004; 2008–2010)
- Michael Thomas (2003; 2005; 2007–2008)
- Ryan Seelbach (2007–2008)
- Dave Henzerling (2008)
- Mark Simpson (2005–2007)
- Alex Grossi (2003–2005; 2008–2010)
- Scott LaFlamme (2010–2014)
- Drew Fortier (2015–2017)
- Steve Favela (2018–2019)
Bass guitar
- Brian Saunders (2003)
- Curtis Roach (born Chris Roach) (2003–2005)
- Jamie Zimlin (2005)
- Lance Eric (2006–2019)
Studio albums
| Year | Title | Label | US Billboard peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Psycho Café | MCA | 58 |
| 1991 | Dancin' on Coals | 113 | |
| 1994 | Love After Death | Music for Nations | - |
| September 14, 2004 | Ready to Go | Shrapnel | - |
| May 9, 2006 | From the Hip | Perris | - |
| September 27, 2011 | Pistol Whipped in the Bible Belt | 78 Productions | - |
Live and compilation albums
| Year | Title | Label | US Billboard peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Live Injection (live) | World of Hurt | - |
| 1992 | Ain't No Jive...Live! (live) | MCA | - |
| November 10, 1998 | Live (live) | Cleopatra | - |
| May 25, 1999 | Untied & Live (live) | Import | - |
| November 23, 1999 | Greatest Tricks (compilation) | Cleopatra | - |
| August 24, 2004 | "The Ultimate Bang Tango: Rockers and Thieves" (compilation) | "Lemon" | - |
| "April 16, 2019" | "Rock and Roll Est. 1988" (compilation) | "Deadline" |
Singles
1989 "Attack of Life" "" "" "" "" "Someone Like You" "" "" "" "" "Breaking Up a Heart of Stone" "" "" "" "" 1990 "Love Injection" "" "" "" "" "Dancing on Coals" "" "" "" "" 1991 "Soul to Soul" "" "" "" "" "Midnight Struck" "" "" "" "" "Untied and True" "" "" "" ""See also
External links
| Year | Title | US | UK |
|---|
- Articles with short description
- American funk metal musical groups
- Glam metal musical groups from California
- Hard rock musical groups from California
- Heavy metal musical groups from California
- Musical groups from Los Angeles
- Musical groups established in 1988
- Musical groups disestablished in 1995
- Musical groups reestablished in 1996
- Musical groups disestablished in 1999
- Musical groups reestablished in 2002
- MCA Records artists
- Music for Nations artists
- Shrapnel Records artists
- 1988 establishments in California