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TKO (band)

From Alfawiki
TKO
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded1977
Defunct1986
Headquarters
Seattle, Washington
,
United States
ProductsAlbums, live performances
Websitehttps://bradsinsel.bandcamp.com/

TKO is a hard rock and heavy metal ensemble originating from Seattle, Washington, with primary activity spanning from 1977 until 1986. The band’s lead singer and only permanent member throughout its history is Brad Sinsel.

Since 1994, the group has reunited intermittently, most notably appearing at the Legions of Metal II event in Chicago and at the Headbangers Open Air festival in Germany in 2018, which marked their inaugural performance on European soil.

Biography

Brad Sinsel, who hails from Yakima, Washington, launched his musical journey in the early 1970s as part of the glam rock outfit Ze Whiz Kidz. He subsequently joined Mojo Hand alongside bassist Mark Seidenverg, drummer Darryl Siguenza, and guitarist Rick Pierce. With the addition of Tony Bortko on guitar and keyboards, and Sinsel’s involvement, the band transformed into TKO. Under management linked to the platinum-selling band Heart, TKO secured a major label contract in 1977 and issued their debut album Let It Roll through Infinity Records/MCA in 1979, achieving sales near 150,000 units. Their glam rock sound invited comparisons to The Who. The band toured extensively with prominent acts such as The Kinks, Cheap Trick, AC/DC, and Van Halen. In 1979, they performed at Japan Jam with new rhythm section members Evan Sheeley on bass and Bill Durham on drums. Plans for a second album were halted after Infinity was absorbed by MCA; those recordings surfaced posthumously in 2017 under the title "The Lost Demos."

By 1980, TKO’s lineup consisted of Sinsel, Sheeley, drummer Gary Thompson, and a young guitarist named Adam Brenner (aged 17), who was brought in by Bortko prior to his departure. Thompson and Brenner had previously played in the local band Tyrant alongside future Queensrÿche vocalist Geoff Tate and bassist Scott Earl. Brenner co-authored much of the material with Sinsel as the band transitioned toward a heavier metal style. In 1981, they recorded In Your Face with producer Rick Keefer but were unable to secure a record deal at that time. Brenner exited in 1982 to pursue a solo career under the name Adam Bomb with Geffen Records. Meanwhile, Pierce, Sheeley, and Thompson joined Floyd Rose’s group Q5, releasing Steel The Light in 1984.

Following a period of dormancy, Sinsel revived TKO by recruiting former members of Culprit—guitarist Kjartan Kristoffersen and bassist Scott Earl—alongside drummer Ken Mary from Strike. With assistance from Keefer, they landed a contract with Combat Records which released In Your Face in 1984. The song "End of the Line," featuring a classical music introduction, appeared on Shrapnel Records’ compilation US Metal Vol. IV. Within Seattle’s thriving metal scene that included Metal Church, Queensrÿche, Rail, and Culprit, TKO gained a dedicated heavy metal following.

In addition to his work with TKO, Sinsel lent his vocals to Thrasher’s 1985 project Burning at the Speed of Light, which featured notable musicians including Andy 'Duck' MacDonald and Billy Sheehan.

To support In Your Face, TKO toured alongside Foreigner, Ted Nugent, Robin Trower, and Dio before releasing their third studio album Below the Belt via Roadrunner Records in 1986. This lineup comprised Sinsel, Kristoffersen, Earl, and Mary (who departed shortly after to join Alice Cooper’s band). Critical reception was mixed for this release. Michael Alexich briefly filled in on drums before TKO’s final performance at Seattle’s Paramount Theater in 1986.

In 2016, a lineup featuring Sinsel recorded a digital rendition of Motörhead’s "Ace of Spades" as a tribute to Lemmy Kilmister; proceeds were donated to the Ronnie James Dio "Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund."

By 2018, TKO consisted of Sinsel, Sheeley, guitarist Kendall Bechtel (known for Fifth Angel/Q5), and drummer Jeffrey McCormack (Q5/Nightshade). This formation headlined Legions of Metal II in Chicago and delivered a live performance of their classic album In Your Face at Germany’s Headbangers Open Air festival.

Activities Following TKO's Disbandment

After TKO dissolved, Kristoffersen and Earl relocated to Los Angeles and established The Bang Gang, which released the album Love Sells in 1990, including the track "Young & the Restless." Meanwhile, Sinsel reunited with original TKO guitarist Rick Pierce to create Suicide Squad, with Richard Stuverud joining on drums. This group issued the EP Live It While You Can, engineered by Jack Endino, through Music For Nations in 1988.

Subsequently, Pierce formed Nightshade, releasing the album Dead of Night in 1991 under Music For Nations. At the same time, Sinsel became part of War Babies, a band that also briefly featured future Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament. War Babies produced a self-titled album on Columbia Records in 1992, accompanied by video singles for "Hang Me Up" and "Blue Tomorrow."

In 1994, Sinsel, Brenner, and Sheeley reunited for a TKO performance with drummer Bobby Chouinard. Another reunion took place in 1997 involving Sinsel, Sheeley, Pierce, and Scott Graham. An expanded lineup of TKO performed at the opening of Seattle’s Experience Music Project in 2001. During this period, Sinsel was also active with 10 North and collaborated with Brynn Arens from Flipp on a project that was later named American Standard.

American Standard released the single "Send Me An Angel" backed with "My Only Friend" in 2009 through Rock Steady Records. The recording sessions featured former TKO members Evan Sheeley and Michael Alexich. Later, Sinsel led The McClellans, an Americana band focusing on classic American tunes, performing at the Yakima Folklife Festival in both 2012 and 2013. Additionally, he played with the Randy Oxford Band, a six-piece blues ensemble.

In 2014, Sinsel initiated Angels Of Dresden and released the digital single "Doomday," which included a guest appearance by Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready. This was followed by a four-track EP issued in November 2016. McCready also joined Sinsel and Rick Pierce for a rendition of TKO's "Kill the Pain" during a benefit concert held at The Showbox in Seattle.

In 2013, original TKO rhythm section members Mark Seidenverg and Darryl Siguenza reunited with their late-1960s rock/blues outfit The Blues Feedback to celebrate their 45th anniversary.

Former TKO guitarist and keyboardist Tony Bortko passed away on December 4, 2006.

CD Reissues

In 2000, East Coast-based label Metal Mayhem Music collaborated with Adam 'Bomb' Brenner to release an unedited studio version of TKO's In Your Face, paired with a live recording from 1981 under the title In Your Face & Up Your Ass. The same label followed up by issuing Below The Belt on CD in 2001.

North Carolina’s Divebomb Records reissued both Let It Roll and In Your Face on CD in 2008 with full involvement from Brad Sinsel. These editions included bonus material as well as liner notes penned by Martin Popoff, editor-in-chief of Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. Due to the absence of master tapes for Let It Roll, both albums were remastered using cleaned vinyl sources. Bonus tracks on Let It Roll originated from a 1978 live studio broadcast on Seattle’s KZOK-FM; meanwhile, In Your Face featured a remix produced by Rick Keefer in 2001.

In October 2016, British label Rock Candy Records once again remastered and reissued Let It Roll, In Your Face, and Below the Belt.

Recent vinyl releases

In July 2017, Mike McCready, the guitarist for Pearl Jam and a dedicated admirer of the band, issued a red vinyl 7-inch single through his HockeyTalkter Records label. This release contained two previously unheard songs from the original Yakima lineup—Brad Sinsel, Rick Pierce, Tony Bortko, Evan Sheeley, and Bill Durham—titled "My Memory" and "Not a Kid Anymore."

This single served as a preview for the limited edition vinyl-only compilation Round Two – The Lost Demos, which NW Metalworx Music released in September 2017. These recordings date back to 1979 and were intended for a follow-up album under Infinity Records before the label ceased operations.

Albums

Title Release Year Label AllMusic Rating
Let It Roll 1979 Infinity Template:Rating
In Your Face 1984 Combat Template:Rating
Below the Belt 1986 Roadrunner Template:Rating

Compilation albums

  • US Metal Vol. IV (Shrapnel, 1984) featuring "End of the Line"
  • Welcome to the Metal Zone (Music For Nations, 1985) including "Run Out of Town"
  • Rock Classics: Rock the Night Volume 1 (Arcade, 1989) with "Rock and Roll Remains"

CD re-issues

  • In Your Face & Up Your Ass (Metal Mayhem, 2000)
  • Below the Belt (Metal Mayhem, 2001; Rock Candy, 2016)
  • Let It Roll (Divebomb, 2008; Rock Candy, 2016)
  • In Your Face (Divebomb, 2008; Rock Candy, 2016)

External links

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