Little Caesar (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Founder | Ron Young |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Little Caesar is a hard rock group from the United States, best recognized for their 1990 charting single, a rendition of Aretha Franklin's "Chain of Fools", featured on their eponymous first album.
History
The band was established in the late 1980s by lead singer Ron Young, who had previously worked as a nightclub bouncer. Initially, they self-released an EP and contributed the track "Down to the Wire" to the 1989 Metal Blade compilation Street Survivors. This exposure secured them a deal with DGC Records, an imprint of Geffen Records, in 1989. Their debut album, produced by Bob Rock with A&R guidance from John Kalodner, was released in 1990 and garnered favorable critiques. Eduardo Rivadavia from AllMusic awarded it three out of five stars, describing it as "honest and consistently satisfying." The album peaked at number 139 on the US Billboard 200 chart, propelled by singles such as "Chain of Fools" and "In Your Arms". Additionally, Ron Young appeared briefly in James Cameron's film Terminator 2.
Although the band achieved some chart success, their limited rotation on MTV restricted broader recognition, partly due to their visual style. Their sophomore album, Influence (1992), was released without the involvement of Rock or Kalodner. During this period, guitarist Apache left and was succeeded by Earl Slick. Following the modest performance of Influence, the group disbanded as alternative rock gained prominence in the early 1990s, influencing DGC's artist lineup. Ron Young subsequently became a member of The Four Horsemen, Manic Eden, and Dirt.
Reuniting in 2001 for live performances, Little Caesar unveiled Redemption in 2009 featuring new guitarist Joey Brasler, known for his work with Etta James among others. After touring across the United States and Europe, they released their fourth studio album, American Dream, in May 2012 through Unison Music Group, with production by Bruce Witkin. This was followed by a European tour later that year.
On March 25, 2013, the band announced their participation at the Download Festival scheduled for June 16. Ron Young emphasized that their independent achievements—despite lacking major label or management support—were made possible through strong collaboration with partners and loyal fans.
Band members
- Current members
- Ron Young – lead vocals (1987–1992, 2001–present)
- Tom Morris – drums (1987–1992, 2001–present)
- Loren Molinare – guitar (1987–1992, 2001–present)
- Mark Tremalgia – guitar (2017–present)
- Pharoah Barrett – bass guitar (2015–present)
- Former members
- Jimmy Hayne (Apache) – guitar (1987–1991, 2008)
- Earl Slick – guitar (1991–1992)
- Marc Danzeisen – touring drums (1992 only)
- Joey Brasler – guitar (2009–2013)
- Joey Malone – guitar (2014–2015)
- Alex Kane – guitar (2015–2017)
- Fidel Paniagua – bass guitar (1987–1992, 2001–2015)
Studio albums
- Little Caesar (1990)
- Influence (1992)
- This Time It's Different (1998)
- Redemption (2009; reissued 2010; deluxe edition 2021)
- American Dream (2012; deluxe edition 2022)
- Eight (2018)
Live albums
- Brutally Honest Live from Holland (2015)
Extended plays
- Name Your Poison (1989)
Singles
| Title | Release | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US Mainstream Rock | |||
| "Chain of Fools" | 1990 | 88 | 17 | Little Caesar |
| "From the Start" | — | — | ||
| "In Your Arms" | 1991 | 79 | 35 | |
| "Slow Ride" | 1992 | — | — | Influence |
| "Stand Up" | — | — | ||
Soundtrack appearances
| Title | Year | Featured In |
|---|---|---|
| "Down to the Wire" | 1991 | Point Break |