Icon (band)

Icon

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1981 in Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Founder	Dan Wexler, Stephen Clifford, Tracy Wallach
Defunct	1990
Fate	Disbanded in 1990; reunited in 2008
Headquarters	Phoenix , United States
Area served	United States
Key people	Dan Wexler, Stephen Clifford, John Aquilino, Tracy Wallach, Pat Dixon
Products	Studio albums, live albums, music videos

Icon is a rock ensemble from the United States, originally formed in 1979, disbanded in 1990, and reunited in 2008. As of 2024, the group features founding members Dan Wexler (guitar), Stephen Clifford (lead vocals), John Aquilino (guitar), Tracy Wallach (bass), and Pat Dixon (drums).

Formation

Founded in 1981 in Phoenix, Arizona, Icon began as a collaboration among high school friends Dan Wexler (guitar), Stephen Clifford (lead vocals), and Tracy Wallach (bass). Prior to Icon, these musicians performed together since 1973 in a local cover band named Ice.

By 1979, the band had rebranded as Schoolboys, incorporating guitarist Dave Henzerling and drummer John Covington from the group Driver. Schoolboys independently issued the EP Singin' Shoutin' in 1980 and appeared on regional compilation albums. This EP caught the attention of Mike Varney from Shrapnel Records, who reached out to Wexler in 1982 regarding a potential album recording. Approaching September 1983, while still operating under the name Schoolboys, they prepared to record their first album in San Francisco with Varney as producer.

With Varney’s backing, the band secured a contract with Capitol Records in 1984 and transitioned their name first to Martial Arts before settling on Icon. At this stage, Henzerling and Covington exited, making way for John Aquilino (guitar) and Pat Dixon (drums), both formerly members of Loosely Tight.

Background

Icon’s self-titled debut was released in 1984, having been recorded during the summer of 1983 under producer Mike Varney of Shrapnel Records. The subsequent tour showcased new material alongside covers of songs by Deep Purple and Judas Priest.

Their sophomore album, Night of the Crime, arrived in 1985 with production by Eddie Kramer and mixing by Ron Nevison; Bob Halligan Jr. contributed to songwriting. During the mixing phase, lead vocalist Stephen Clifford departed. After experimenting with different singers and losing their record deal, Icon issued a locally distributed cassette titled More Perfect Union, which featured a refined pop-rock style with new vocalist Jerry Harrison and keyboardist Kevin Stoller. Despite limited distribution, this release rekindled interest from major labels.

In 1989, Right Between the Eyes was launched through Atlantic/Megaforce Records with Harrison on vocals and Drew Bollmann added as second guitarist. The music video for "Taking My Breath Away" was broadcast on MTV's Headbangers' Ball. Following tours across the US supporting Ace Frehley and in the UK opening for King's X—with David Lauser substituting Pat Dixon on drums—Icon dissolved.

A remastered CD version of A More Perfect Union, expanded as (An Even) More Perfect Union, was released in 1994 containing tracks initially intended for Right Between the Eyes. A live concert from 1984 was issued in 1999 under the title Icon - 1984: Live Bootleg. Both original studio albums underwent remastering and re-release by AxeKiller Records in 2000; Night of the Crime received an additional remastering by Rock Candy Records in 2009.

Reunion

In August 2008, Icon regrouped coinciding with a reissue of their 1984 Bootleg Concert DVD. Founding members Wexler, Aquilino, and Dixon reunited alongside former member Dave Henzerling and introduced new vocalist Scott Hammons to work on forthcoming recordings.

On November 29, 2008, Icon opened for Tesla at Phoenix’s Dodge Theatre to positive acclaim. They sold signed DVDs and promised upcoming releases. Despite limited radio exposure, local station 93.3 KDKB offered support.

By May 2009, Hammons departed to pursue solo endeavors and was replaced by Sheldon Tarsha, previously of Adler's Appetite. The band performed at Rocklahoma and supported Queensrÿche in 2010. Tarsha later left, leading to original vocalist Stephen Clifford’s return in 2011.

As of 2025, Icon continues actively with the lineup from their initial two albums—Clifford (vocals), Wexler and Aquilino (guitars), Tracy Wallach (bass), and Pat Dixon (drums)—and is engaged in producing new material.

Side projects

After Icon’s breakup, Wexler collaborated on songwriting with Alice Cooper, contributed guitar parts to Stephen Christian’s self-titled album, and released an album with Thieves in the Temple. Harrison recorded an album with Harlequin. Henzerling played guitar for Carmine Appice's King Kobra, contributed to Lizzy Borden’s Master of Disguise, and joined Wexler and Dixon within Tomcats. Several members also supported Arizona singer Lydian on her 1990 release With a Vengeance.

Covington worked alongside early Mötley Crüe and Dokken guitarist Greg Leon within Greg Leon Invasion before joining Henzerling’s band Big Cock, which produced three albums between 2005 and 2007.

Icon additionally collaborated with Randy Baker of Strange Daze for a four-track demo and live shows; Baker clarified he was never officially part of Icon.

Clifford independently released Search for the Truth in 1994 featuring performances by Wexler, Aquilino, and Dixon.

Members

Current

• Dan Wexler – guitar, backing vocals (1979–1990, 2008–present)
• Stephen Clifford – lead vocals (1979–1985, 2010–present)
• Tracy Wallach – bass, backing vocals (1979–1990, 2024–present)
• John Aquilino – guitar, backing vocals (1981–1987, 2008–present)
• Pat Dixon – drums (1981–1989, 2008–2010, 2024-present)

Former

• Dave Henzerling – guitar, backing vocals (1979–1981); bass, backing vocals (2008–2024)
• John Covington – drums (1979–1981)
• Jerry Harrison – lead vocals (1985–1990)
• Kevin Stoller – keyboards (1987–1989)
• Drew Bollmann – guitar, backing vocals (1989–1990)
• David Lauser – drums (1989–1990)
• Scott Hammons – lead vocals (2008–2009)
• Sheldon Tarsha – lead vocals (2009–2010)
• Gary Bruzzese – drums (2010–2024)

Session

• Mark Prentice – keyboards on More Perfect Union (1987); keyboards on "Forever Young" from Right Between the Eyes (1989)
• Mark Seagraves – keyboard programming on More Perfect Union (1987)
• John Aquilino – guitar on More Perfect Union (1987)
• Alice Cooper – vocals on "Two for the Road" and featured character on "Holy Man's War" from Right Between the Eyes (1989)
• Kevin Stoller – keyboards on Right Between the Eyes (1989)

Timeline

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Colors =

 id:vocals    value:red            legend:Lead_vocals
 id:guitar    value:green          legend:Guitars
 id:bass      value:blue           legend:Bass
 id:drums     value:orange         legend:Drums
 id:keys      value:purple         legend:Keyboards
 id:Lines     value:black          legend:Studio_album

LineData =

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 at:09/20/1985 color:black layer:back
 at:10/07/1987 color:black layer:back
 at:08/24/1989 color:black layer:back

BarData =

 bar:SC  text:"Stephen Clifford"
 bar:JH  text:"Jerry Harrison"
 bar:SH      text:"Scott Hammons"
 bar:ST   text:"Sheldon Tarsha"
 bar:DW    text:"Dan Wexler"
 bar:DH     text:"Dave Henzerling"
 bar:JA    text:"John Aquilino"
 bar:DB   text:"Drew Bollmann"
 bar:TW     text:"Tracy Wallach"
 bar:JC   text:"John Covington"
 bar:PD       text:"Pat Dixon"
 bar:DL   text:"David Lauser"
 bar:GB   text:"Gary Bruzzese"
 bar:KS   text:"Kevin Stoller"

PlotData=

 width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(11,-4)
 bar:SC from:start till:11/01/1985    color:vocals
 bar:SC from:11/01/2010 till:end    color:vocals
 bar:JH from:11/01/1985 till:11/01/1990    color:vocals
 bar:SH from:11/01/2008 till:11/01/2009    color:vocals
 bar:ST from:11/01/2009 till:11/01/2010    color:vocals
 bar:DW from:start till:11/01/1990    color:guitar
 bar:DW from:11/01/2008 till:end    color:guitar
 bar:DH  from:start till:07/01/1981 color:guitar
 bar:DH  from:11/01/2008 till:04/01/2024 color:bass
 bar:JA   from:07/01/1981 till:02/01/1987 color:guitar
 bar:JA from:11/01/2008 till:end  color:guitar
 bar:KS from:02/01/1987 till:08/25/1989 color:keys
 bar:DB  from:02/01/1989 till:11/01/1990  color:guitar
 bar:TW from:start till:11/01/1990 color:bass
 bar:TW from:04/01/2024 till:end color:bass
 bar:JC  from:start till:07/01/1981 color:drums
 bar:PD from:07/01/1981 till:08/25/1989    color:drums
 bar:PD from:11/01/2008 till:11/01/2010 color:drums
 bar:PD from:04/01/2024 till:end color:drums
 bar:GB from:11/01/2010 till:04/01/2024 color:drums
 bar:DL from:08/25/1989 till:11/01/1990 color:drums

</timeline>

Discography

Studio albums

• Icon (1984)
• Night of the Crime (1985)
• More Perfect Union (1987)
• Right Between the Eyes (1989)

Live albums

• 1984 : Live Bootleg CD and VHS (1999) – recorded by Paul Gasparola

Compilation albums

• An Even More Perfect Union (1995)

Music videos

• On Your Feet (1984)
• Taking My Breath Away (1989)

External links

• Myspace page: https://myspace.com/iconnation
• Profile on AllMusic
• Profile on IMDb