Lion (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1983 in Los Angeles, United States |
| Founder | Kal Swan, Tony Smith, Alex Campbell, Mark Edwards |
| Defunct | 1989 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles, soundtracks |
Lion was a rock group from the United States, best known for performing the theme song of The Transformers: The Movie (1986), their initial single "Love Is a Lie" featured in Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984), as well as the tracks "Never Surrender" and "Power Love" included in The Wraith (1986).
Formation
The band, initially called "Lyon," came together in Los Angeles in 1983 when former Tytan frontman Kal Swan (Norman Swan) and ex-Lone Star guitarist Tony Smith relocated from the UK. They were joined by bassist Alex Campbell and drummer Mark Edwards, who had previously played with Steeler alongside Yngwie Malmsteen and Third Stage Alert. After beginning work on a demo, Swan and Edwards recruited guitarist Doug Aldrich and bassist Jerry Best, both formerly of Mansfield, thus finalizing Lion's lineup.
Early releases
Lion made their debut in 1984 with the track "Love Is A Lie," which appeared on the soundtrack for Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter. In 1985, they issued Power Love, an EP containing six songs released exclusively in Japan; this EP was later re-released on CD in 1992 together with Mark Edwards' solo EP titled Code of Honor.
Following their contribution of the theme for the Transformers movie, Lion signed a deal with Scotti Brothers and launched their first full-length album, Dangerous Attraction, in 1987. Their subsequent album, Trouble in Angel City, released in 1989 under Grand Slamm Records, featured re-recordings of songs from Power Love, a cover version of Slade's "Lock Up Your Daughters", alongside new compositions.
Break-up
In September 1989, drummer Mark Edwards sustained a severe neck injury after falling off a cliff during a motorcycle event. The band dissolved shortly thereafter, within a month.
Following Lion's disbandment, Swan and Aldrich became members of Bad Moon Rising, alongside Jackie Ramos and Ian Mayo from Hericane Alice. Aldrich also contributed to recordings with Hurricane, House of Lords, Burning Rain, Dio, and Whitesnake. Meanwhile, Jerry Best joined Freak of Nature, which included former White Lion vocalist Mike Tramp, and briefly toured with Dio during the late 1990s.
Timeline
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Studio Albums
- Dangerous Attraction (1987)
- Trouble in Angel City (1989)
Extended Plays
- Power Love (1986)
Soundtrack Contributions
- Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)
- The Wraith – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1986)
- The Transformers The Movie: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1986)