Black 'n Blue
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | November 1981 |
| Founder | Jaime St. James, Tommy Thayer |
| Headquarters | Portland, Oregon , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Jaime St. James (lead vocals), Patrick Young (bass), Pete Holmes (drums), Brandon Cook (guitar), Mick Caldwell (guitar) |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
Black 'N Blue is a glam metal group originating from Portland, Oregon, USA. The ensemble presently features lead singer Jaime St. James, bassist Patrick Young, drummer Pete Holmes, and guitarists Brandon Cook and Mick Caldwell. They are primarily recognized for their popular track "Hold On to 18," which appeared on their debut record, Black 'n Blue, released in August 1984.
History
The band was founded in November 1981 by high school classmates Jaime St. James and Tommy Thayer in Portland, Oregon. Initially performing under the name Movie Star, they later adopted the moniker Black 'N Blue to embody their dynamic musical style and signature denim-and-leather aesthetic. Their significant break occurred in 1982 when Brian Slagel, editor of a heavy metal fanzine, featured their demo "Chains Around Heaven" on the inaugural Metal Massacre compilation—a notable independent release that also introduced bands such as Metallica, Ratt, and Malice.
Early success
Relocating to Los Angeles in 1982, Black 'N Blue quickly made a name for themselves within the Hollywood club circuit. Within half a year, they secured an international recording deal with Geffen Records and launched their first album, Black 'N Blue, in August 1984. The album was produced by Dieter Dierks and included the track "Hold On to 18," which enjoyed moderate airplay on radio and MTV, driving album sales upward. Their next release, Without Love in 1985, marked a transition from a rawer sound to a more refined metal approach. The single "Miss Mystery" received radio attention, and the band supported the album with a tour alongside KISS. Furthermore, their song "Nature of the Beach" was featured in the movie Vision Quest and served as a B-side to Madonna's "Gambler," though it was excluded from the film’s official soundtrack.
Later years and solo careers
In 1986, Black 'N Blue caught the interest of Kiss bassist Gene Simmons, who took on production duties for their subsequent two albums. Released through Geffen Records, Nasty Nasty (1986) and In Heat (1988) aimed to revive the band's initial gritty sound. While songs like "Nasty Nasty" and "Rock On" achieved minor chart success, neither record fully recaptured their early momentum, culminating in the group’s dissolution in 1989.
Following the split, members engaged in various musical ventures. Jaime St. James formed Freight Train Jane, which produced one moderately successful album. Guitarist Jeff "Woop" Warner partnered with former Rough Cutt guitarist Chris Hagar in Woop & the Count before joining NYC. Guitarist Tommy Thayer contributed to Harlow’s only 1990 album and Doro’s 1990 release prior to his involvement with Shake The Faith on America The Violent (1994). Both Thayer and St. James participated in Cold Gin, an L.A.-based Kiss tribute act. Transitioning into management roles, Thayer became Gene Simmons’ assistant and Kiss tour manager before stepping into the role of Kiss lead guitarist in 2002, succeeding Ace Frehley. His debut album with Kiss was Sonic Boom (2009), followed by Monster in 2012. Drummer Pete Holmes joined several groups including Malice, The Black Symphony, and Mandy Lion’s WWIII, sharing stages with artists such as Michael Schenker, Uli Jon Roth, Peter Gabriel, and Ted Nugent.
Reunions and Compilations
In 1997, Black 'N Blue's original five members came together for a sold-out Halloween concert, which was recorded and later released as the live album One Night Only: Live through Eon Records. The band did not embark on any further tours afterward. In 2001, following the release of their Greatest Hits collection titled The Ultimate Collection, they issued The Demos Remastered: Anthology 1 on Crazy Planet. This compilation included demo versions of well-known tracks, five previously unreleased songs, and a live rendition of "Autoblast."
The group reunited once more in 2003 to tour and produce the album Hell Yeah!, this time without Tommy Thayer, who was then active with Kiss. New lead guitarist Shawn Sonnenschein joined for this project. However, the album's release encountered several delays.
Hiatus
During this interval, Black 'N Blue released an album named Rarities, which primarily consisted of unreleased demos and re-recorded versions of hits that were not part of the earlier anthology.
In 2004, Jaime St. James took over as lead vocalist for Warrant, succeeding Jani Lane. Under Cleopatra Records, Warrant produced and released Born Again in 2006 to favorable reviews, accompanied by a DVD featuring music videos and behind-the-scenes footage. St. James performed with Warrant at Rocklahoma in 2007 before departing in 2008 when Lane returned.
Subsequent Reunions
In December 2007, Black 'N Blue, including Tommy Thayer, reunited for a benefit show in Portland. They officially regrouped in summer 2008 to perform at Rocklahoma with guitarist Shawn Sonnenschein.
Although initially slated for a 2008 release, Hell Yeah! was ultimately launched in 2011 under Frontiers Records, with staggered release dates across Japan (April), Europe (May), and the United States (May). The album garnered generally positive critical reception. The band remains actively touring.
In 2013, Black 'N Blue played five concerts featuring new guitarist Brandon Cook, who replaced Jeff "Woop" Warner. Shawn Sonnenschein left the band in 2017 and was succeeded by Bobby Capka, formerly of Vicious Rumors.
Doug Rappoport made his debut as guitarist at the Monsters on the Mountain Rock festival (October 2021), The Kiss Kruise (October 2021), and the Monsters of Rock cruise (February 2022). After Rappoport's departure, Mick Caldwell joined as a second guitarist. This lineup has performed in Winchester, Virginia, and is booked for the Monsters of Rock Cruise 2024 and Rocktember 2024 in Hinckley, Minnesota.
Black 'N Blue frequently appears at prominent U.S. rock festivals and rock cruises.
Band members
- Current members
- Jaime St. James – lead vocals (1981–present); drums (session 2003–2010)
- Patrick Young – bass guitar, backing vocals (1981–present)
- Pete Holmes – drums (1981–present)
- Brandon Cook – guitar, backing vocals (2013–present)
- Mick Caldwell – guitar, backing vocals (2023–present)
- Touring substitutes
- Mick Shrimpton – drums (2012)
- Jimmy D'Anda – drums (2019)
- Xavier Muriel – drums (2019–2020)
- Former members
- Tommy Thayer – lead guitar, backing vocals, keyboards (1981–1997; touring guest 2007, 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021)
- Virgil Ripper (Barry Pendergrass) – rhythm guitar (1981–1982)
- Jeff "Woop" Warner – guitar, backing vocals, keyboards (1982–1988, 1997–2013)
- Jeff LaBansky – guitar (1988–1989)
- Shawn Sonnenschein – lead guitar, backing vocals (2001–2017)
- Bobby Capka – guitar, backing vocals (2017–2021)
- Doug Rappoport – guitar, backing vocals (2021–2023)
Studio albums
| Album Title | Release Details | Highest Chart Positions |
|---|---|---|
| US | ||
| Black 'n Blue |
|
129 |
| Without Love |
|
— |
| Nasty Nasty |
|
110 |
| In Heat |
|
133 |
| Hell Yeah! |
|
— |
Live albums
- One Night Only: Live (1998)
- Live in Detroit – 1984 (2002)
Compilation albums
- The Demos Remastered: Anthology 1 (2001)
- Ultimate Collection (2001)
- Rarities (2007)
Box sets
- Collected (2005)
Singles
| Single Title | Year Released | Highest Chart Positions | Associated Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Rock | |||
| "School of Hard Knocks" | 1984 | — | Black 'n Blue |
| "Hold On to 18" | 50 | ||
| "Miss Mystery" | 1985 | — | Without Love |
| "Swing Time" | — | ||
| "I'll Be There for You" | 1986 | — | Nasty Nasty |
| "I Want It All (I Want It Now)" | — | ||
| "Live It Up" | 1988 | — | In Heat |
Soundtrack appearances
| Song Title | Year Featured | Film Soundtrack |
|---|---|---|
| "Nature of the Beach" | 1986 | Vision Quest |
| "I'll Be There for You" | Out of Bounds |
Music videos
- "Hold On to 18" (1984)
- "Miss Mystery" (1985)
- "I'll Be There for You" (1986)