Tangier (band)

Tangier

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1984
Defunct	1992
Headquarters	Philadelphia , United States
Products	Studio albums, singles

Tangier was a Philadelphia-based American hard rock ensemble active between 1984 and 1992.

Biography

The band Tangier originated through the efforts of guitarist and songwriter Doug Gordon, who initially gained recognition by supporting acts such as Cinderella during their second significant tour.

The founding roster included Bill Mattson on vocals, Doug Gordon and Rocco Mazzella on guitars and songwriting duties, Mike Kost handling bass, and Mark Hopkins on drums. After achieving modest regional attention, Gordon revamped the group’s lineup, keeping only Mattson and Adam F Ferraioli from the original members. Following Ferraioli’s exit to join Britny Fox, Gordon brought in Jimmy Drnec (drums), Garry Nutt (bass), and Gari Saint (guitar). Gordon’s guitar work received acclaim in the 1989 issue of Guitar World magazine, particularly for his solo on "Sweet Surrender." Under management by Larry Mazer, the band secured a contract with Derek Schulman at the revived Atco Records. Their album Four Winds, produced by veteran Andy Johns, featured popular tracks including "On The Line" and "Southbound Train." Before recording, drummer Bobby Bender joined the lineup.

For their sophomore major-label release Stranded, Tangier introduced Mike LeCompt as lead vocalist and guitarist, replacing Mattson and Saint. The album contained the notable single "Stranded," whose music video starred Pamela Anderson. The group ultimately dissolved in 1992.

Following Tangier’s breakup, Gordon, LeCompt, and Nutt continued their musical pursuits. LeCompt leads a band performing locally around Philadelphia. Nutt has worked with artists such as Arcade and Cinderella, as well as touring alongside Chubby Checker. Gordon shifted focus to production and songwriting, contributing to Myles Goodwyn’s solo project, Linear’s 1992 release Caught in the Middle, Mojo’s Not for Nothin' , Bakers Pink’s 1993 album, and co-writing tracks on Tom Keifer’s 2013 solo effort That The Way Life Goes.

Former members

• Doug Gordon – guitar, backing vocals (1985–1992)
• Bill Mattson – lead vocals (1985–1990)
• Adam F Ferraioli – drums (1985–1987)
• Rocco Mazzella – guitar, backing vocals (1985–1986)
• Mike Kost – bass guitar, backing vocals (1985–1986)
• Mark Hopkins – drums (1985)
• Garry Nutt – bass guitar, backing vocals (1986–1992)
• Gari Saint – guitar, backing vocals (1986–1990) (deceased 2021)
• Jim Drnec – drums (1987–1988)
• Bobby Bender – drums (1989–1992)
• Michael "Mike" LeCompt – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards (1991–1992)

Studio albums

Title	Release date	Label	Chart position
Tangier	1985	Wolfe Records
Four Winds	1989	Atco	91 U.S.
Stranded	1991		187 U.S.

Singles

• "On The Line" – 1989 No. 67 US Hot 100
• "Southbound Train" – 1989
• "Stranded" – 1991

External links

• Official Tangier website