White Lion

White Lion

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1983 in New York City, United States
Founder	Mike Tramp, Vito Bratta
Headquarters	New York City , United States
Products	Music albums, live performances

White Lion is a glam metal group from the United States, established in New York City in 1983 by Danish singer Mike Tramp and American guitarist Vito Bratta. Primarily active during the 1980s and early 1990s, their debut album was Fight to Survive (1985). Their major success arrived with the double platinum-certified Pride, which included the top 10 hit "Wait" and the top 3 single "When the Children Cry". Later releases featured the Gold-awarded Big Game and Mane Attraction, both supported by extensive touring. The band dissolved in 1991, soon after issuing their first greatest hits collection, The Best of White Lion.

Mike Tramp revived White Lion with an entirely new lineup in 1999 and again in 2004 following an unsuccessful attempt to reunite the original members. This version produced a live record, Rocking the USA, in 2005 and a studio album, Return of the Pride, in 2008.

Beginning in 2023, Tramp relaunched White Lion with a trilogy of albums that reimagine their classic tracks, collectively titled Songs of White Lion.

Formation and Fight to Survive (1982–1986)

After moving from Denmark to Spain and eventually New York City, vocalist Mike Tramp connected with Staten Island guitarist Vito Bratta toward the end of 1982. By March 1983, they had formed a band but initially faced difficulties securing a consistent rhythm section. Following several lineup changes, drummer Nicki Capozzi and bassist Felix Robinson (formerly of Angel) joined, finalizing the group under the name White Lion.

In 1984, they signed with Elektra Records and recorded their first album, Fight to Survive. However, Elektra chose not to release it and subsequently dropped the band. The album eventually came out in Japan through JVC Records in 1985 and later in the US via Grand Slamm Records in 1986, reaching number 151 on the Billboard 200 chart. Its lead single was "Broken Heart." Shortly thereafter, Grand Slamm Records went bankrupt.

Following Elektra's departure, Robinson exited and was succeeded by bassist Dave Spitz. The lineup of Tramp, Bratta, Capozzi, and Spitz recorded demos for their sophomore album and performed locally in New York while searching for a new record deal. They appeared as a fictional band in the movie The Money Pit, contributing the track "Web of Desire." Due to health concerns, Capozzi was replaced by former Anthrax drummer Greg D'Angelo in September 1985.

Spitz left early in 1986 to join Black Sabbath, temporarily replaced by Bruno Ravel who departed over creative disagreements. In March 1986, James LoMenzo joined on bass, completing what became the classic lineup.

Pride (1987–1988)

White Lion signed with Atlantic Records at the start of 1987. Their second album, Pride, was recorded within six weeks and released on June 21, 1987. The initial single "Wait" did not chart immediately but gained popularity nearly seven months after release.

The Pride tour kicked off in July 1987 as an opening act for Frehley's Comet. Over the following year and a half, White Lion supported prominent bands such as Aerosmith, Stryper, Kiss, and opened for AC/DC on their US tour.

MTV's frequent airplay of the "Wait" music video helped propel it to number 8 on the singles chart; meanwhile, Pride climbed to number 11 on the albums chart and remained on the Billboard 200 for an entire year. The album sold two million copies in the United States alone, earning double platinum certification.

In August 1988, their second single "Tell Me" reached number 58. Around this period, White Lion performed at New York’s Ritz club; this performance was broadcast on MTV. The third single, power ballad "When the Children Cry", achieved number 3 status aided by strong MTV rotation, further increasing sales of Pride beyond two million units.

Guitarist Vito Bratta received accolades as Best New Guitarist from both Guitar World and Guitar for the Practicing Musician magazines. The final single issued from Pride was "All You Need Is Rock 'n' Roll."

The tour supporting Pride wrapped up late in 1988 with video releases including Live at the Ritz and One Night in Tokyo, both available on VHS featuring full concert footage.

Work commenced immediately on their subsequent album.

Big Game and Mane Attraction Era (1989–1991)

In August 1989, White Lion unveiled their third studio effort, Big Game, which offered a varied progression from their previous album Pride. The record included the track "Little Fighter," a homage to the Greenpeace vessel Rainbow Warrior, which reached number 52 on the charts. Other singles featured were a rendition of Golden Earring's "Radar Love" peaking at number 59, and the politically charged "Cry for Freedom," addressing apartheid in South Africa. The album's last single was "Going Home Tonight." Achieving gold certification swiftly, the album climbed to number 19 on the charts. Its success was bolstered by extensive touring, including UK arena performances alongside Mötley Crüe and Skid Row, as well as shows with Ozzy Osbourne and Cinderella.

Following a series of mixed critical responses and underwhelming UK shows, the group paused to develop new songs. By late 1990, White Lion entered A&M studios with a fresh producer to record their fourth album. Released in March 1991, Mane Attraction featured singles such as "Love Don't Come Easy", which reached number 24 on the Mainstream Rock chart, along with "Lights and Thunder," an eight-minute hard rock track inspired by Led Zeppelin, and a newly recorded version of "Broken Heart." These singles were supported by music videos. Additional promotional efforts included the single "You're All I Need" and a video compilation titled "Farewell to You." The album also contained White Lion's only instrumental piece, "Blue Monday," dedicated to Stevie Ray Vaughan. Ballads like "You're All I Need" and "Till Death Do Us Part" received radio play in markets such as Indonesia and the Philippines.

In June 1991, after completing a European tour, bassist Greg D'Angelo and James LoMenzo departed from the band due to creative disagreements. White Lion continued with Tommy T-Bone Caradonna on bass and drummer Jimmy DeGrasso joining the lineup.

Disbandment Period (1991–1992)

Following a brief touring cycle for Mane Attraction, Mike Tramp and Vito Bratta decided to dissolve White Lion, culminating in their final performance at Boston's the Channel in September 1991. Approximately one year later, the band’s inaugural compilation album, The Best of White Lion, was issued.

Tramp later cited factors such as insufficient backing from their record label, managerial challenges, and the emergence of grunge music as primary reasons for the group's dissolution.

A video/DVD release entitled Escape from Brooklyn compiled live footage, interviews, and all official music videos from their catalog.

Regarding plans for a subsequent album, Tramp indicated it would have showcased artistic growth beyond their 1980s style but acknowledged Bratta’s hesitance to proceed. He commented:

Post-White Lion Careers

Following their departure from White Lion, James LoMenzo and Greg D'Angelo joined Zakk Wylde's project Lynyrd Skynhead, which later evolved into Pride & Glory after Brian Tichy replaced D'Angelo on drums. Pride & Glory released one self-titled album before LoMenzo exited. He subsequently collaborated with artists including David Lee Roth, Black Label Society, and Megadeth through recording sessions and tours.

Vito Bratta briefly remained affiliated with Atlantic Records producing an album for CPR and attempted to form a new band that ultimately did not come to fruition. Despite maintaining a devoted international fan base, he largely stayed out of public attention until an interview with Eddie Trunk in 2007. Bratta retains ownership of White Lion’s music catalog, holding legal rights and distribution control over all four original albums. These rights were licensed through his company Vavoom Music, Inc after Mike Tramp sold his share during the mid-1990s.

Mike Tramp went on to establish the alternative rock/heavy metal ensemble Freak of Nature, characterized by a heavier sound incorporating two guitarists and more intense songwriting. The group released three albums between 1992 and 1998—Freak of Nature, Gathering of Freaks, and Outcasts—and toured Europe alongside Helloween and Dio before disbanding in 1996.

Tramp then pursued a solo career beginning with his 1998 debut album Capricorn, featuring former Freak of Nature members Kenny Korade and Jerry Best. Ex-White Lion bassist James LoMenzo contributed backing vocals. The lead single "Better Off" marked Tramp’s first solo music video release, supported by additional singles like "Already Gone", "If I Live Tomorrow", and "Take a Little Time".

Revival of White Lion (1999–2006)

Mike Tramp embarked on his solo journey in 1999, releasing Remembering White Lion, an album featuring reimagined versions of White Lion's signature songs, which served as the initial step toward reassembling the band.

The momentum toward a reunion intensified with the 2000 releases of White Lion Hits and an updated collection titled The Essential White Lion. In 2002, while still aiming to revive White Lion, Tramp issued his second solo record, Recovering the Wasted Years.

Following his third solo release, More to Life Than This, in 2003, Tramp announced plans for a White Lion reunion but did not disclose the lineup. With Vito Bratta opting out, Tramp formed a "new White Lion" lineup including former members James LoMenzo, Jimmy DeGrasso, and Warren DeMartini from Ratt. However, legal complications regarding the band name led to the tour's cancellation, and Tramp conceded that a reunion featuring the original members was improbable.

Because of ongoing legal restrictions, Remembering White Lion was reissued in 2004 under the title Last Roar credited to Tramp's White Lion. That same year, Tramp assembled a mostly unknown group of musicians under the name Tramp's White Lion (TWL), continuing to perform and re-record White Lion material despite persistent legal challenges. TWL produced The Bootleg Series box set (2004) and released a live album titled Rocking the USA in 2005.

Late 2005 saw several TWL shows canceled due to legal threats, nearly causing Tramp to abandon the project. Nevertheless, he resumed touring in 2006 with a European itinerary that included Sweden, Norway, Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark.

In 2005, a Concert Anthology DVD was made available, followed by the 2006 release of Anthology, which contained previously unreleased tracks and demos from White Lion’s early albums.

Return of the Pride (2007–2008)

On February 16, 2007, Vito Bratta appeared on Eddie Trunk’s New York radio program and clarified that contrary to Mike Tramp's statements, he had not declined a White Lion reunion; his absence was due to his father's illness. Bratta indicated his willingness to reengage with the music scene. Eddie Trunk noted that Bratta’s participation had been eagerly anticipated since White Lion's 1991 dissolution. Bratta interacted with fans for nearly three hours during this appearance. On April 6 and 7, 2007, at New York’s L'Amours Reunion Shows, Bratta made his first public musical performances in over fifteen years.

Approximately three weeks later, Mike Tramp phoned into the same show from Australia to discuss Bratta’s involvement alongside updates on the band’s new album and touring plans confirmed by Tramp's White Lion. Tramp expressed appreciation for Bratta addressing fans directly and shared frustration over Bratta’s earlier withdrawal from music.

In 2007, White Lion released a compilation titled The Definitive Rock Collection and scheduled a summer tour supporting Poison and Ratt. However, they were removed from the tour after Bratta threatened legal action concerning use of the band name.

Tramp clarified that Live Nation’s decision stemmed from Bratta’s lawsuit threat rather than any dispute over Tramp’s legal rights to perform as White Lion. Although Live Nation considered the suit baseless and affirmed Tramp’s rights, they chose to avoid potential litigation expenses. Subsequent negotiations led Bratta to withdraw his threat of legal action; nevertheless, Live Nation did not reinstate White Lion on the tour. Tramp acknowledged fans’ disappointment regarding this outcome.

Despite being excluded from the Poison/Ratt tour dates, White Lion continued headlining U.S. shows between Poison’s appearances and performed at the Rocklahoma festival alongside bands such as Quiet Riot and Slaughter. Tramp confirmed completion of a new studio album titled Return of the Pride, which was mixed by Dennis Ward.

Released on March 14, 2008, Return of the Pride marked White Lion's comeback under their original moniker. The band supported this release with a global tour that included concerts in India before large crowds in Shillong and Dimapur. The invitation for these performances came from Maharaja Kirit Pradyot Deb Burman of Tripura. The album featured singles including "Dream" and "Live Your Life".

A live DVD entitled Bang Your Head Festival 2005 was issued on December 5, 2008.

Following Return of the Pride, Mike Tramp faced uncertainty about whether to continue focusing on his solo career or dedicate himself fully to White Lion. His 2009 solo album The Rock 'N' Roll Circuz was originally planned as a White Lion project but eventually became a solo release.

With White Lion activities paused once again, Tramp resumed his solo endeavors and in 2013 declared that no further reunions or projects involving White Lion would occur. He reaffirmed this stance in 2014.

Songs of White Lion (2023–present)

In 2023, Mike Tramp brought White Lion back to life with the launch of Songs of White Lion, released on April 14 through Frontiers Music Srl. This album presents reinterpreted versions of classic White Lion tracks, spotlighting a newly recorded "Cry for Freedom" as the leading single, followed by an updated rendition of "Little Fighter."

By August 2024, Songs of White Lion Volume 2 was unveiled, offering ten additional reworked White Lion songs. The release featured singles and videos for the refreshed "Lights and Thunder", "Lonely Nights," "Out with the Boys," "The Road to Valhalla," and "Till Death Do Us Part." To support this album, Tramp embarked on an extensive European and US tour starting mid-August 2024, with plans for Australian performances set for 2025.

The trilogy reached its conclusion in September 2025 with Songs of White Lion Vol. III, revisiting ten significant tracks from the band’s catalog. Singles from this volume include the re-recorded "Cherokee" and a reimagined "Fight to Survive," both accompanied by music videos. Additionally, the tribute single "All Burn in Hell," honoring Ozzy Osbourne, was released alongside a visualizer. To commemorate the album’s debut, Tramp also shared a visualizer for “Radar Love” and a Halloween-themed video for “If My Mind is Evil.”

Current

• Mike Tramp – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1983–1992, 1999–2009, 2023–present)
• Marcus Nand – lead guitar (2023–present)
• Claus Langeskov – bass (2004–2009, 2023–present)
• Kenni Andy – drums (2023–present)

Former

• Vito Bratta – lead guitar, backing vocals (1983–1992)
• Joe Hasselvander – drums (1983)
• Nicki Capozzi – drums (1983–1984)
• Felix Robinson – bass (1983–1984)
• Dave Spitz – bass (1984–1985)
• James LoMenzo – bass, backing vocals (1985–1991)
• Greg D'Angelo – drums (1984–1991)
• Jimmy DeGrasso – drums (1991–1992)
• Tommy T–Bone Caradonna – bass (1991–1992)
• Kasper Damgaard – lead guitar (1999–2003)
• Nils Kroyer – bass (1999–2003)
• Bjarne T. Holm – drums (1999–2003)
• Dan Hemmer – keyboards (1999–2003)
• Jamie Law – lead guitar (2004–2009)
• Troy Patrick Farrell – drums (2004–2009)
• Henning Wanner – keyboards (2004–2009)

Social issues

Distinct from many of their contemporaries in the genre, White Lion occasionally incorporated social and political themes into their music. Examples include addressing apartheid in "Cry for Freedom," highlighting the conflict in El Salvador through "El Salvador," and exploring the effects of divorce on children in "Broken Home." The song "Little Fighter" pays homage to the Rainbow Warrior, a Greenpeace vessel sabotaged by the French government.

Discography

Year	Title	Label
1985	Fight to Survive	Asylum Records
1987	Pride	Atlantic Records
1989	Big Game
1991	Mane Attraction
2008	Return of the Pride	Frontiers Records

External links

• Official Site of Mike Tramp