Black Widow USA - Biography
This band's profile is 'invisible', meaning that it's much less prominent on the site - either because it's incomplete, or maybe doesn't entirely fit MS format.
Logos
2007-
1997-2003
Biography
Black Widow was formed in 1997 by Tommy (drums), Neal Vaught (bass), Johnny (guitar) and Cat (vocals). Their intention was to perform at local venues as an 80's traditional metal cover band, doing Judas Priest, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Dio, etc. With the addition of their own powerful originals, their local success led them to several high-profile gigs, opening for such bands as Saxon, Ratt, Slaughter, Jackyl, Udo, Quiet Riot, Great White, and Y&T. After several bass lineups, including Michael Francis, Tom Davis, Barry Novisel, Dean Meredith, and Chip Tackett, we've finally got Lucky # 7 - Wayne Turpin - the fourth set of legs needed to move the Metal Spider, known as "Black Widow U.S.A.".
In 1999, they were selected from thousands of entries to participate in a national/international CD project from Versailles Records. Their contribution, Dokken's "When Heaven Comes Down," can be heard on "The Second Coming: A Millennium Tribute to Hard Rock/Heavy Metal of the 80's." The CD is still in distribution and sound bites can be heard on VersaillesRecords.com. Martin Popoff wrote: "Swear to Roth, this is the first Dokken cover ever to grace my tunes-addled ears. Black Widow adds a compressed, dense rumble to "When Heaven Comes Down," one of those essential, almost haughty Dokken riffsters from the golden Lynch-shredded era of the band." Tommy Azzinaro, drummer, has been in bands in the Washington, D.C. - Baltimore area of Maryland, USA since the heyday of the 80's. His vintage Rogers double-kick kit can handle the attack with which he performs. His style is fashioned after John Bonham and Tommy Aldridge, with additional influences from newer players, such as Jimmy DeGrasso of Megadeth and Klaus Sperling of Primal Fear. Tommy believes in only two kinds of music - Heavy and Metal. Wayne Turpin, bassist, recently joined to add his intensity to compliment Tommy's pounding rhythms and Johnny's shredding guitar. Wayne's previous bands include Eighth Day Morning, Dusk, and Ten Lashes. His influences are Chris Squire, Geddy Lee, and Steve Harris. John Anthony, "Johnny, "guitarist and pianist, is the major writing force for Black Widow. He "cut his teeth" in the fiercely competitive 80's Los Angeles, California, USA music scene. His former band, "Sinister," achieved popular status on the West Coast. A move to Baltimore, Maryland, in the mid-90s, led to the formation of Black Widow. His passion for music is recognized by the power and energy he displays in his performances. His shredding guitars (B.C.Rich and Jackson) give Black Widow their sound and driving strength. "Cat" combines the melody and fire that ignite the blazing vocals of Black Widow. Also playing in the MD-DC-VA area for many years, in metal cover bands "Shock" and "Steelwynch". A multi-octave range enables her to give justice to the music of her heart. Her lyrical contributions pay homage to Johnny, Tommy and Wayne's musical compositions. Cat's inimitable, seductive performance will entice you to "come out and play". In July of 2003, Black Widow released their debut CD, "Satan's Playground". It reflects their European metal influences as well as their own American-made power tunes.
In 2004 they performed at the premier Sun N'Steel Metalfest, Tampa, Florida, The March Metal Meltdown in Irvington, New Jersey, The Classic Chicago Metalfest in Lansing, Illinois, the Milwaukee Metalfest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and The Metal Nation Northern Aggression I in Manchester, New Hampshire, USA. They are currently receiving radio air play in Greece, Chile, Bosnia, Argentina, France, and various Internet sites.
2005 begins in February at the Winterfest, "To Hell and Back", in Greensboro, NC and an appearance with the legendary Jack Frost's "Seven Witches" in Springfield, VA. A CD, from Versailles Records' branch, "Nu-Metal, "The Very Best of Millennium Metal, Volumes 1 and 2", was released with "Satan's Playground" as Black Widow's contribution to this worldwide compilation. April will see "Heavy Metal Mania" in Raleigh, NC with King Fowley's "Deceased". In May, for a return engagement, at the Chicago Classic Metalfest. In September, they will open for the Finnish PowerMetal band, Stratovarius. November will see them opening (for the third time!) for the legendary Saxon; both shows in Springfield, VA. Black Widow is setting their sights on Europe and completing their second CD.
2006 begins in January opening for Michael Schenker and Leslie West. With a return to Dean on bass, Black Widow appears with W.A.S.P. and friends, Seven Witches, both shows in Springfield, VA. As fate would have it, Black Widow has finally found the answer to their search for a permanent bassist in Wayne Turpin, who joined the web in June. They are currently working in Wayne and concentrating on writing for their follow-up CD, setting their sights on procuring label interest, and performing in Europe.
Most of 2007 was spent in the basement with the end result being their proudest moment yet - "Soldiers From Hell" is finished and now available. While rooted in the early years of Metal, their new sound (already likened to such bands as Primal Fear) takes them to a new height and direction. After working with Kevin 131 and Ben McCall of Assembly Line Studios, Black Widow U.S.A. has finally got the cd they were meant to do...and you were meant to hear it...
In 2008, with the release of "Soldiers From Hell", they have already secured German, Japanese and National/International distribution. They are currently seeking label support...the "road" is looking closer than ever before.
In 1999, they were selected from thousands of entries to participate in a national/international CD project from Versailles Records. Their contribution, Dokken's "When Heaven Comes Down," can be heard on "The Second Coming: A Millennium Tribute to Hard Rock/Heavy Metal of the 80's." The CD is still in distribution and sound bites can be heard on VersaillesRecords.com. Martin Popoff wrote: "Swear to Roth, this is the first Dokken cover ever to grace my tunes-addled ears. Black Widow adds a compressed, dense rumble to "When Heaven Comes Down," one of those essential, almost haughty Dokken riffsters from the golden Lynch-shredded era of the band." Tommy Azzinaro, drummer, has been in bands in the Washington, D.C. - Baltimore area of Maryland, USA since the heyday of the 80's. His vintage Rogers double-kick kit can handle the attack with which he performs. His style is fashioned after John Bonham and Tommy Aldridge, with additional influences from newer players, such as Jimmy DeGrasso of Megadeth and Klaus Sperling of Primal Fear. Tommy believes in only two kinds of music - Heavy and Metal. Wayne Turpin, bassist, recently joined to add his intensity to compliment Tommy's pounding rhythms and Johnny's shredding guitar. Wayne's previous bands include Eighth Day Morning, Dusk, and Ten Lashes. His influences are Chris Squire, Geddy Lee, and Steve Harris. John Anthony, "Johnny, "guitarist and pianist, is the major writing force for Black Widow. He "cut his teeth" in the fiercely competitive 80's Los Angeles, California, USA music scene. His former band, "Sinister," achieved popular status on the West Coast. A move to Baltimore, Maryland, in the mid-90s, led to the formation of Black Widow. His passion for music is recognized by the power and energy he displays in his performances. His shredding guitars (B.C.Rich and Jackson) give Black Widow their sound and driving strength. "Cat" combines the melody and fire that ignite the blazing vocals of Black Widow. Also playing in the MD-DC-VA area for many years, in metal cover bands "Shock" and "Steelwynch". A multi-octave range enables her to give justice to the music of her heart. Her lyrical contributions pay homage to Johnny, Tommy and Wayne's musical compositions. Cat's inimitable, seductive performance will entice you to "come out and play". In July of 2003, Black Widow released their debut CD, "Satan's Playground". It reflects their European metal influences as well as their own American-made power tunes.
In 2004 they performed at the premier Sun N'Steel Metalfest, Tampa, Florida, The March Metal Meltdown in Irvington, New Jersey, The Classic Chicago Metalfest in Lansing, Illinois, the Milwaukee Metalfest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and The Metal Nation Northern Aggression I in Manchester, New Hampshire, USA. They are currently receiving radio air play in Greece, Chile, Bosnia, Argentina, France, and various Internet sites.
2005 begins in February at the Winterfest, "To Hell and Back", in Greensboro, NC and an appearance with the legendary Jack Frost's "Seven Witches" in Springfield, VA. A CD, from Versailles Records' branch, "Nu-Metal, "The Very Best of Millennium Metal, Volumes 1 and 2", was released with "Satan's Playground" as Black Widow's contribution to this worldwide compilation. April will see "Heavy Metal Mania" in Raleigh, NC with King Fowley's "Deceased". In May, for a return engagement, at the Chicago Classic Metalfest. In September, they will open for the Finnish PowerMetal band, Stratovarius. November will see them opening (for the third time!) for the legendary Saxon; both shows in Springfield, VA. Black Widow is setting their sights on Europe and completing their second CD.
2006 begins in January opening for Michael Schenker and Leslie West. With a return to Dean on bass, Black Widow appears with W.A.S.P. and friends, Seven Witches, both shows in Springfield, VA. As fate would have it, Black Widow has finally found the answer to their search for a permanent bassist in Wayne Turpin, who joined the web in June. They are currently working in Wayne and concentrating on writing for their follow-up CD, setting their sights on procuring label interest, and performing in Europe.
Most of 2007 was spent in the basement with the end result being their proudest moment yet - "Soldiers From Hell" is finished and now available. While rooted in the early years of Metal, their new sound (already likened to such bands as Primal Fear) takes them to a new height and direction. After working with Kevin 131 and Ben McCall of Assembly Line Studios, Black Widow U.S.A. has finally got the cd they were meant to do...and you were meant to hear it...
In 2008, with the release of "Soldiers From Hell", they have already secured German, Japanese and National/International distribution. They are currently seeking label support...the "road" is looking closer than ever before.