Hitting the skids...Its SKID ROW

Lots of people lump Skid Row from Noo Joisey into the hair metal genre, I think its fair to say that if you say that to Rachel Bolan or Snake, even today, your gonna get abused something chronic....I wouldnt even put them in the same area as Bon Jovi, who they were mates with...Skid Row had their own sound...AND WHAT A SOUND.

I did see them in Sydney when they were supporting Gunners, when they were at the height of their powers with Baz on vocals....speaking of Mr Bach, I did go to see him at a couple of Sydney venues when he toured solo, sadly he pulled the pin early both times..I'm over it now, at  the time I was annoyed....but not now.

Skid Row were one of the very last metal bands to hit mainstream before grunge ( and the dreanged record execs there in) stuffed everything in the early '90s. While the band's self-titled debut employed standard pop-metal riffs and generic lyrics ( to great success I might add), 1991's Slave to the Grind and 1995's Subhuman Race broke away from the pop-metal mold with  hard, thrash guitar riffs and unique songwriting techniques. Though personal differences and changing trends would eventually tear the core lineup apart by 1996, Skid Row showed tremendous promise during their short time in the spotlight.

Skid Row were formed in 1986 by bassist Rachel Bolan and former Bon Jovi guitarist Dave "The Snake" Sabo. The pair added guitarist Scott Hill, drummer Rob Affuso, and a larger than life vocalist named Sebastian Bach to the lineup by early 1987, and the band spent the next year and a half playing a series of local clubs in the eastern U.S. Having remained in contact with Jon Bon Jovi, Sabo convinced the established rock star to land Skid Row a record deal with Atlantic Records. In 1989, the band released its first album, Skid Row, which went multi-platinum on the strength of the Top 40 singles "18 and Life" and "I Remember You." Success came with a backlash, however -- the band members had unknowingly signed away much of their royalties, and Sebastian Bach's wild behavior landed the group in additional trouble. During the subsequent tour, Bach garnered harsh criticism for a T-shirt he publicly sported displaying the message "AIDS KILLS FAGS DEAD." Suits were also filed against Bach after a concert during the supporting tour, where the singer allegedly threw a glass bottle into the crowd and injured a young female fan.

Nonetheless, Skid Row's muscular songcraft retained a devoted audience. Released in 1991, Slave to the Grind debuted at number one on the Billboard chart, an unprecedented accomplishment for a metal band. While the album did not chart any real radio hits, Grind received stronger critical praise and eventually reached platinum status. However, like so many of their peers, Skid Row lost much of their fan base during the grunge invasion of the '90s. As Nirvana stormed the scene in 1992, Skid Row took a hiatus, waiting out the grunge period and pondering breakups (ironically, Nirvana had once gone under the name Skid Row in the '80s). Skid Row returned in 1995 with Subhuman Race, which surprisingly charted in the Top 40 but otherwise did not attract any real attention.

Forty Seasons: The Best of Skid Row During the supporting tour, tensions between the group members ran high and Skid Row disbanded shortly afterward. Bach went on to form the Last Hard Men with Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, but the group broke up after recording a cover of Alice Cooper's "School's Out" for the Scream soundtrack in 1996. 

Plans to record new songs for the Skid Row greatest-hits album, 1998's Forty Seasons, fell through, and Bach went on to form a solo project and portray the title role in the Broadway musical Jeckyll and Hyde. In mid-2000, 

Skid Row re-formed in 1999 with new lead vocalist Johnny Solinger, formerly of Solinger, and drummer Charlie Mills. Mills soon left the band and was replaced by Phil Varone (formerly of Saigon Kick). After re-forming, they opened for KISS on their farewell tour, and have also played with other 1980s metal bands such as Poison. They have been on tour every summer. In 2002 they were part of the Rock Never Stops Tour. The new lineup has shared the stage with such acts as Aerosmith, Kid Rock, Def Leppard, Sammy Hagar, as well as many others from their genre.

Skid Row released their fourth full-length studio album, Thickskin, in 2003, which was their first album to feature Solinger and their first studio album in 8 years. In 2004, Dave Gara came on as drummer

Skid Row on a reunion with Bach
Dave Sabo: "Basically, in all honesty, it just didn't work out anymore. It worked for awhile, and then it didn't work. I've always said this: he's a great singer, a great frontman. The two of us, or maybe all of us, stopped getting along. I've always been the one, personally, that I live my life a certain way where if it's not fun anymore and not enjoyable, I have to get away from it. Life is too short — I want positivity in my life — and I'm sure he felt the same way. I think that we just got to a point where we did what we would do up until that particular point and it was time to go different ways. I have no animosity towards him whatsoever, I wish him all the best, I hope he does wonderful things; he's done well for himself. But, for me, my main focus is right now, with SKID ROW. I have a relationship with the other four members in my band that I'm really proud of and really happy of, and I'm happy to be creating new music and promoting it.

Rachel Bolan: "I honestly feel that questions about him are so far off now, because Johnny is our singer and he has been in the band for 14 years. So answering a question like that is kind of a waste of time. I hope you understand."...."I'd really rather not talk about him – but I can say I think everybody has a beef with him, honestly."

Live in 2012

Sebastian Bach: "Rachel Bolan doesn't like me – but I would work with him any time, because the result of that dynamic is really good music. Nothing good comes easy. When I read interviews with my old band and they say, 'We get along great with our new singer – we have barbecues and drink tequila together,' You know what? I don't give a fuck about barbecues. You don't hear Mick Jagger saying he loves working with Keith Richards and that they have barbecues together. You hear Mick saying that he hates working with Richards. I don't think you have to be best friends with everybody to work with them." Bach's most recent outburst against his former colleagues came when he accused them of being "allergic to cash" in regard to a classic lineup reunion.

"I wouldn't be doing a reunion for the sound of the band. It's more like a stunt, like, people don't care about the sound of the band really. They would like to see the five guys together in a reunion it doesn't matter how we play, hehehe. Doesn't make any difference at all, that's popular culture. The public likes that kind of thing, I don't know why really but that's the way it is."

Current members

Rachel Bolan – bass, backing vocals (1986–present)

Dave "The Snake" Sabo – rhythm & lead guitars, backing vocals (1986–present)

Scotti Hill – lead & rhythm guitars backing vocals (1987–present)

Johnny Solinger – lead vocals (1999–present)

Rob Hammersmith – drums (2010–present)

Former members

Matt Fallon – lead vocals (1986–1987)

Cody Howell – bass (1986)

Steve Brotherton – guitar (1986, 2005)

Kurtis Jackson – guitar (1986, 2005)

John Ratkowski Jr. – drums (1986–1987)

Jim Yuhas – rhythm guitar (1986–1987)

Rob Affuso – drums (1987–1998, 2002)

Sebastian Bach – lead vocals (1987–1996)

Sean McCabe (Shawn Mars) – lead vocals (1997–1998)

Charlie Mills – drums (1999–2000)

Phil Varone – drums (1999–2004)

Timothy DiDuro – drums (2004)

Dave Gara – drums (2004–2010)

Studio albums

Skid Row (1989) 

Slave to the Grind (1991) 

Subhuman Race (1995) 

Thickskin (2003) 

Revolutions per Minute (2006)

EP's and Live albums

B-Side Ourselves (1992) 

Subhuman Beings on Tour (1995)

 United World Rebellion: Chapter One (2013)

Compilations

40 Seasons: The Best of Skid Row (1998)

Videos

Oh Say Can You Scream (1990) 

No Frills Video (1993) Road Kill (1993) 

Under the Skin (2003)

Singles

"Youth Gone Wild" "18 and Life" "I Remember You" "Piece of Me" "Monkey Business" "Slave to the Grind" "Wasted Time" "In a Darkened Room" "Quicksand Jesus" "Youth Gone Wild / Delivering the Goods" "My Enemy" "Breakin' Down" "Into Another" "Ghost" "New Generation" "I Remember You Two" "Shut Up Baby, I Love You" "Strength"

There you go...Catch ya

They pack a sting alrighty...its WASP

I was on holidays in the States many yonks ago..and the hotel I was in in L.A had MTV on its tv..I luckily enough caught a sequence of "metal" videos and one of these videos was "I Wanna Be Somebody" by WASP...and being a fan of Alice Cooper and acts that obviously came from that angle, I became a WASP fan BUT more importantly became a fan of that completely under rated rock genius, Blackie Lawless

One of the heavier bands to come out of the early-'80s L.A. metal scene, W.A.S.P. quickly rose to national infamy thanks to their shock rock image, lyrics, and live concerts. Unfortunately, once the novelty and scandal began to wear off, the band found it difficult to expand, or even maintain, their audience by relying only on their music.

Leader Blackie Lawless (bass/vocals) was already a rock & roll veteran when he relocated to the West Coast and founded W.A.S.P. with guitarists Chris Holmes and Randy Piper and drummer Tony Richards. The band soon established a reputation as a ferocious live act, thanks in large part to Lawless' habits of tying a semi-naked model to a torture rack and throwing raw meat into the audience. And with the release of their self-explanatory independent EP, Animal (F**k Like a Beast), W.A.S.P. became impossible to ignore.

They signed to Capitol Records, and with songs like "I Wanna Be Somebody" (an absolute anthem to blind ambition) and "L.O.V.E. Machine" leading the way, their self-titled 1984 debut was an instant success. W.A.S.P. took their horror show on the road, and their momentum continued to build with the following year's The Last Command, which featured new drummer Steven Riley and the band's biggest hit, "Blind in Texas." Later that year, the band gained even more prominence as one of the biggest targets of Tipper Gore and the P.M.R.C. (Parents' Music Resource Center), a group of Washington housewives leading a crusade against violent, sexist song lyrics. 

Though the incident (which included Senate hearings on the issue with guest speakers as disparate as Frank Zappa, John Denver, and Dee Snider from Twisted Sister) would cause more publicity than actual results, it served to make W.A.S.P. a household name -- for good and for worse.

 Ironically, the band toned down their act for 1986's Inside the Electric Circus, a lackluster, repetitive album which saw Lawless switch to guitar (replacing the departed Piper) and the hiring of bassist Johnny Rod. The blood and guts were largely gone (as were the good songs), and despite releasing a strong live album entitled Live...In the Raw the following year, the band's popularity began to plummet. The all-time low arrived with the release of Penelope Spheeris' heavy metal "rockumentary" The Decline of Western Civilization 2: The Metal Years. An expose about the L.A. metal scene, the film's most dramatic and depressing sequence showed an inebriated Chris Holmes drinking himself into a stupor in full stage gear while lying on a float in his mom's swimming pool. In a movie filled with debauchery and decadence, this scene was by far the scariest.

1989's Headless Children (featuring ex-Quiet Riot sticksman Frankie Banali) was a return to form, but it couldn't revert the band's slump and W.A.S.P. disbanded soon after. Lawless eventually returned as a one-man show for 1993's The Crimson Idol, an ambitious rock opera/concept album billed as Blackie Lawless & W.A.S.P. Resurrecting the band's old shock rock antics, but alas, not fame and fortune, the album flopped, and the following year's greatest-hits set, First Blood...Last Cuts, seemed like their last chapter.

But the resilient Lawless returned once again, luring guitarist Chris Holmes back into the fold and recruiting bassist Mike Duda and drummer Stet Howland for 1996's Still Not Black Enough. This lineup has continued to tour and record for a number of independent labels, with their albums including 1997's K.F.D., 1999's Helldorado, and 2001's Unholy Terror. The band released Dying for the World in 2002, an exceptional collection of unusually serious material inspired by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. It was followed in 2004 by the conceptual Neon God, Pt. 1 and Pt. 2, with Dominator arriving in 2006.

1984 -  W.A.S.P.

1985 -  The Last Command

1986 -  Inside the Electric Circus

1989  - The Headless Children

1992 -  The Crimson Idol

1995 - Still Not Black Enough

1997 - Kill Fuck Die

1999 - Helldorado

2001 - Unholy Terror

2002 - Dying for the World

2004 - The Neon God: Part 1 – The Rise

The Neon God: Part 2 – The Demise

2007 - Dominator

2009 - Babylon

Live albums

Live...In the Raw (November 27, 1987)

Live...Animal (EP) (November 27, 1987)

Double Live Assassins (1998)

The Sting (2000)

Members

Current members

Blackie Lawless – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, bass, drums, keyboards (1982–present)

Doug Blair – lead guitar, backing vocals (1992, 2001, 2006–present)

Mike Duda – bass, backing vocals (1997–present)

Mike Dupke – drums (2006–present)

Former members

Randy Piper – guitar (1982–1986)

Tony Richards – drums (1982–1984)

Rik Fox – bass (1982)

Chris Holmes – guitar (1983–1990, 1996–2001)

Steve Riley – drums (1984–1987)

Johnny Rod – bass (1986–1989, 1992–1993)

Chad Nelson - drums (1987)

Glen Soderling - drums (1987)

Kelly Martella - drums (1988–1989)

Frankie Banali – drums & percussion (1989–1990, 1992, 1995, 2001, 2004)

Stet Howland – drums (1991–2005)

Bob Kulick – lead guitar (1991–1995) (live performer and guest on The Crimson Idol and Still Not Black Enough)

Lita Ford - guitar (1993)

Darrell Roberts – guitar (2001–2006)

Jeremy Spencer - drums (2005)

Mark Zavon – guitar (2006)

Guest musicians

Valentina – vocals on Unholy Terror

Roy Z – additional lead guitar on Unholy Terror

Mark Josephson – violin on Still Not Black Enough

Lita Ford – lead guitar on "Sunset And Babylon" and backing vocals on "Thunderhead"

Ken Hensley – keyboards on The Headless Children

Philip Wolfe – keyboards

Nate "Diggs" Jones - Scatman (1986)

Patrick Johansson – live drums (2006)

so there you have it , a fairly concise Waspism

A stack of STYX

I must of been 12 maybe...so not last week, when a cousin gave me a copy of  the Styx debut album, probably around '74...and while I must admit to being thoroughly annoyed and turned off  during that stupid Mr Roboto crap,  I still had a greatest hits album(or c.d) in the collection....I followed Tommy over to the Damn Yankees as well...still think that group shoulda made it huge...ANYWAY....

They started out all artsy fartsy, proggy rock band( not that theres anything wrong with that), Styx would eventually transform into the virtual arena rock prototype by the late '70s and early '80s, due to a fondness for bombastic rockers and soaring power ballads. 

The seeds for the band were planted in another Chicago band during the late '60s, the Tradewinds, which featured brothers Chuck and John Panozzo (who played bass and drums, respectively), as well as acquaintance Dennis DeYoung (vocals, keyboards). By the dawn of the '70s, the group had changed its name to TW4, and welcomed aboard a pair of guitarists/vocalists, James "JY" Young and John Curulewski -- securing a recording contract in 1972 with Wooden Nickel Records (a subsidiary of RCA). Soon after, the group opted to change its name once more, this time to Styx, named after a river from Greek mythology that ran through "the land of the dead" in the underworld.

Early on, Styx's music reflected such then-current prog rockers as Emerson, Lake & Palmer and the Moody Blues, as evidenced by such releases as 1972's self-titled debut, 1973's Styx II, 1974's The Serpent Is Rising, and 1975's Man of Miracles. While the albums (as well as nonstop touring) helped the group build a substantial following locally, Styx failed to break through to the mainstream, until the track "Lady," originally from their second album, started to get substantial airplay in late 1974 on Chicago radio station WLS-FM. The song was soon issued as a single nationwide, and quickly shot to number six on the singles chart, as Styx II was certified gold. By this time, however, the group had grown disenchanted with its record label, and opted to sign on with A&M for their fifth release overall, 1975's Equinox (the band's former label would issue countless compilations over the years, culled from tracks off their early releases).

 On the eve of the tour in support of the album, Curulewski abruptly left the band, and was replaced by Tommy Shaw (sadly, Curulewski would pass away from an aneurysm in 1988). Shaw proved to be the missing piece of the puzzle for Styx, as most of their subsequent releases throughout the late '70s earned at least platinum certification (1976's Crystal Ball, 1977's The Grand Illusion, 1978's Pieces of Eight, and 1979's Cornerstone), and spawned such hit singles and classic rock radio standards as "Come Sail Away," "Renegade," "Blue Collar Man," "Fooling Yourself," and the power ballad "Babe."

Despite the enormous success of "Babe," it caused tension within the group -- specifically between Shaw and DeYoung (the latter of whom was the song's author), as the guitarist wanted Styx to continue in a more hard rock-based direction, while DeYoung sought to pursue more melodic and theatrically based works. This led to DeYoung's brief ouster from the group (although it was kept completely hush-hush at the time), before a reconciliation occurred. 

The bandmembers decided that their first release of the '80s would be a concept album, 1981's Paradise Theater, which was loosely based on the rise and fall of a once beautiful theater (which was supposedly used as a metaphor for the state of the U.S. at the time -- the Iranian hostage situation, the Cold War, Reagan, etc.). Paradise Theater became Styx's biggest hit of their career (selling over three million copies in a three-year period), as they became one of the U.S. top rock acts due to such big hit singles as "Too Much Time on My Hands" and "The Best of Times." 

But the behind-the-scenes bickering only intensified in the wake of the album's success, as DeYoung was now convinced that a more theatrical approach was the future direction for Styx. Shaw and the rest of the group begrudgingly went along, and while the resulting follow-up was another hit, 1983's sci-fi-based Kilroy Was Here (almost a carbon copy of the story line of Rush's 2112), the album would eventually lead to the group's breakup, I know it turned me off 'em

A forgettable live album, Caught in the Act, was issued in 1984, before Styx went on hiatus, and the majority of the bandmembers pursued solo projects throughout the remainder of the decade. DeYoung issued 1984's Desert Moon (which spawned a moderate hit single with its reflective title track), 1986's Back to the World, and 1988's Boomchild, Young released 1986's City Slicker, while Shaw put forth several solo sets -- 1984's Girls with Guns, 1985's What If?, 1986's Live in Japan, and 1987's Ambition. Shaw then formed Damn Yankees along with former Night Ranger bassist/singer Jack Blades, guitarist Ted Nugent, and drummer Michael Cartellone, a group that enjoyed commercial success right off the bat with its self-titled debut in 1990 (due to the hit power ballad "High Enough"), before issuing an unsuccessful sophomore effort two years later, Don't Tread. 

During Shaw's tenure with Damn Yankees, Styx had re-formed with newcomer Glen Burtnik taking the place of Shaw -- issuing a new studio album in 1990, Edge of the Century, which spawned yet another hit power ballad, "Show Me the Way." But the Styx reunion was a fleeting one, as the group's members went their separate ways shortly thereafter -- with DeYoung going on to play Pontius Pilate in a revival of Jesus Christ Superstar (and issuing an album of Broadway show tunes, 1994's 10 on Broadway), while Young issued a pair of solo discs (1994's Out on a Day Pass and 1995's Raised by Wolves), and Shaw teamed up with Jack Blades for the short-lived outfit Shaw Blades (issuing a lone recording in 1995, Hallucination).

A re-recording of their early hit "Lady" (titled "Lady '95") for a Greatest Hits compilation finally united Shaw with his former Styx bandmates, which led to a full-on reunion tour in 1996. But drummer John Panozzo fell seriously ill at the time (due to a long struggle with alcoholism), which prevented him from joining the proceedings -- and he passed away in July of the same year. Although grief-stricken, Styx persevered with new drummer Todd Sucherman taking the place of Panozzo, as the Styx reunion tour became a surprise sold-out success, resulting in the release of a live album/video, 1997's Return to Paradise, while a whole new generation of rock fans was introduced to the grandiose sounds of Styx via a humorous car ad which used the track "Mr. Roboto," as well as songs used in such TV shows as South Park and Freaks & Geeks. The group even stuck around long enough to issue a new studio album, 1999's Brave New World, before friction within the band set in once again.

With the other Styx members wanting to soldier on with further albums and tours, DeYoung was forced to take a break when he developed an uncommon viral ailment, which made the singer extremely sensitive to light. DeYoung was able to eventually overcome his disorder, but not before Shaw and Young opted to enlist new singer Lawrence Gowan and issued a pair of live releases in the early 21st century -- 2000's Arch Allies: Live at Riverport (split 50-50 between Styx and REO Speedwagon) and 2001's Styx World: Live 2001. DeYoung began touring as a solo artist at the same time, and eventually attempted to sue Shaw and Young over the use of the name Styx (the lawsuit was eventually settled in late 2001). Around the same time, Chuck Panozzo confirmed rumors that he had contracted AIDS (but was battling the virus successfully), while the turbulent career of Styx was told in an entertaining episode of VH1's Behind the Music.

 In the spring of 2003, a new studio album featuring Gowan arrived in stores. For Cyclorama, Styx consisted of Shaw, Young, Burtnik, Sucherman, and Gowan. The album also featured guest appearances from John Waite, Brian Wilson, and actor Billy Bob Thornton. By the end of the year, Burtnik was out of the band and replaced by former Bad English and Babys member Ricky Phillips, although Panozzo did play with the group on selected live dates. The two-CD Come Sail Away: The Styx Anthology from 2004 did an excellent job representing the band's career, while 2005's double-disc The Complete Wooden Nickel Recordings collected the band's first four albums. That same year, Styx released the cover version-filled Big Bang Theory, featuring some of their favorite picks from "the Great Rock Songbook."

so there ya go

time for some Monsterous Rock...its LORDI

SO...there I was watching Eurovision a couple of years ago, just in case I saw a song I needed to hunt down you understand AND lo and behold five people in monster suits belted out a damn fine peice of rock n  roll...and thus my likedom of Lordi had begun.

You might have figured out by now that I like a bit of flash with my riffs and anybody that goes to  any great length to put on a show (musical quality must be up there) ussually gets my thumbs up...and Lordi and his various backup guys definately get a thumbs up from me.

With their power metal vibe and monster-movie stage persona, Lordi seemed a most unlikely choice to represent their native Finland in the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest. So just imagine how many jaws hit the floor when the group not only claimed top honors, but also earned the most points in the venerable event's history. 

Vocalist Tomi Petteri Putaansuu, aka Mr. Lordi, assembled Lordi in 1996 in Stockholm, Sweden, following a concert headlined by his favorite band, Kiss. After recruiting guitarist Jussi Sydänmaa (known as Amen), bassist Magnum (real name unknown), former Children of Bodom keyboardist Erna Siikavirta (Enary), and drummer Sampsa Astala (Kita), he began writing songs as well as creating the elaborate foam-latex monster costumes and pyrotechnic effects that would become the hallmark of their theatrical live performances.

Get Heavy After a series of label auditions went nowhere, Lordi signed to Sony BMG's Finland branch and issued a debut LP, 2002's Get Heavy, which rose to the number three spot on the Finnish charts on the strength of the number one single "Would You Love a Monsterman?" Magnum left the group soon after, and with new bassist Pekka Tarvenen (Kalma), Lordi cut a sophomore album, 2004's The Monsterican Dream, which returned them to the Top 20 with "Blood Red Sandman." 

After touring in support of the LP, both Tarvenen and Siikavirta left the lineup, and with new bassist Samer el Nahhal (Ox) and keyboardist Leena Peisa (Awa) on board, Lordi released a third full-length, The Arockalypse. When the record's chart-topping lead single, "Hard Rock Hallelujah," was appointed Finland's official entry in the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest, some religious leaders criticized the move, charging the band with advocating Satanism (even in the face of their 2003 hit "The Devil Is a Loser").

Deadache Controversy notwithstanding, Lordi scored the most points in contest history with a total of 292, over 40 votes more than runner-up Dima Bilan of Russia. In the wake of Lordi's victory -- Finland's first in Eurovision competition -- tabloids from across Europe scrambled to publish photos of the band sans makeup, which earned criticism from fans and media rivals alike and forced public apologies from the offending parties. On May 26, 2006, Lordi celebrated their triumph with a free open-air performance in Helsinki's Market Square, playing to more than 80,000 fans. 

Finland president Tarja Halonen even took the stage to award the band for its global recognition. In 2007 the band performed at several American festivals, including Bamboozle and Ozzfest, before touring the States alongside Type O Negative. Lordi then returned to the studio in May 2008 to begin work on Deadache, the band's fourth studio effort. 

Released later that year, the album featured a stronger emphasis on keyboard parts and horror themes, as well as songwriting contributions from every member of the group. In 2010, the band released their first single, “This Is Heavy Metal”, from their fifth studio album Babez For Breakfast.

"THE RIFF" lyrics....potentially Lordis greatest song....in my humble

 It was during this year that drummer Kita left the band. His replacement was Otus but he sadly died, according to an announcement that the band had made on their Facebook page. In September 2012, they released a compilation CD/DVD entitled Scarachives Vol.1 and in 2012 they began recording their sixth album To Beast Or Not To Beast.

Although the band is often perceived by the media as a heavy metal band due to their monster costumes, their musical style has more characteristics of the hard rock genre. Over the years, the band's musical style has taken a very varied direction between hard rock and metal, with the pattern seeming as though it changes between the two with every album released. Their debut album, Get Heavy, represented a large part of traditional hard rock music, but by the release of their The Monsterican Dream album in 2004, the band had shifted considerably toward heavier music and horror effects were prominently displayed. 

However, in their 2006 album The Arockalypse, Lordi shifted back toward hard rock, eschewing horror themes and special effects. Their 2008 studio album, Deadache, included more typical horror elements, leaning once again toward the heavier side of the spectrum. Babez For Breakfast saw the band once again shift back to the traditional hard rock elements, with an even greater exposure to the 1980s than the band's previous albums.

Lordi members have stated that their costumes were inspired by Kiss and the horror genre. Mr. Lordi himself has said that without Kiss, Lordi probably would not exist.[3] The monster masks and costumes the band use are made of foam latex. The masks and costumes of Lordi are all and always made by Mr. Lordi himself. As a professional make-up artist and sculptor, Mr. Lordi has the necessary knowledge to produce those things easily. The band members do each other's makeup. The band updates their outfits and masks for each new album
It takes the other band members about one hour to put their masks and costumes on, though it takes Mr. Lordi two to three hours to put on his. He has also said that the suits cost them "a few hundred euros".

In a vein similar to the early days of KISS, the monster costumes are such an integral part of Lordi's publicity image that they refuse to be photographed or even interviewed without them, even if in some cases it leads to their own discomfort. Lordi has done interviews without their masks but the interviews are always filmed from the back so that their faces are not visible. Previously during interviews, Lordi members spoke only English to the cameras, not their native Finnish. In a brief segment on the BBC reporting about the band attending the Eurovision Song Contest 2006, they were shown lounging beside a pool in full sunlight, while wearing their monster costumes.

Monster's

Mr. Lordi - vocals (1992–present)

Amen - guitar (1996–present)

OX - bass (2005–present)

Mana - drums (2012–present)

Hella - keyboards, backing vocals (2012–present)

Former monsters

G-Stealer - bass (1996–1999)

Magnum - bass (1999–2002)

Enary - keyboards (1997–2005)

Kalma - bass (2002–2005)

Kita - drums, backing vocals (2000–2010)

Otus - drums (2010–2012)

Awa - keyboards (2005–2012)

Studio albums

Bend Over and Pray the Lord (1997)

Get Heavy (2002)

The Monsterican Dream (2004)

The Arockalypse (2006)

Deadache (2008)

Babez for Breakfast (2010)

To Beast or Not to Beast (2013)

Compilation albums

The Monster Show (2005)

Zombilation - The Greatest Cuts (2009)

Scarchives Vol. 1 (2012)

Singles

"Would You Love a Monsterman?" (2002)

"Devil Is a Loser" (2003)

"My Heaven Is Your Hell" (2004)

"Blood Red Sandman" (2004)

"Hard Rock Hallelujah" (2006)

"Who's Your Daddy?" (2006)

"It Snows In Hell" (2006)

"They Only Come Out At Night" (2007)

"Beast Loose in Paradise" (2008)

"Bite it Like a Bulldog" (2008)

"Deadache" (2008)

"This Is Heavy Metal" (2010)

"Rock Police" (2010)

"The Riff" (2013)

Music videos

"Would You Love a Monsterman?" (Directed by Pete Riski) (2002)

"Devil is a Loser" (Directed by Pete Riski) (2003)

"Blood Red Sandman" (Directed by Pete Riski) (2004)

"Hard Rock Hallelujah" (Directed by Pete Riski) (2006)

"Who's Your Daddy?" (Directed by Pete Riski) (2006)

"Would You Love A Monsterman 2006" (Directed by Pete Riski) (2006)

"It Snows In Hell" (Directed by Pete Riski) (2006)

"Hard Rock Hallelujah" Special Edition (Directed by Antti Jokinen) (2007)

"Bite It Like A Bulldog" (Directed by Limppu Lindberg) ( 2008)

"This Is Heavy Metal" (2010)

"The Riff" (Directed by Martin Muller) (2013)

DVDs

"Market Square Massacre" (2006)

"Bringing Back The Balls To Stockholm 2006 (2007)

"It Snows In Hell music video" (available from Finnish Posti outlets) (2007)

"Dark Floors" (Horror movie) (2008)

Other

"Napalm Market" (1993), unreleased demo album.

Cover songs

"Almost Human" - a song from the Bend Over and Pray the Lord album (original by Kiss)

"Midnight Mover", a live song from 2003 - released in the single "They Only Come Out at Night" (original by Accept)

"He's Back (The Man Behind the Mask)" - performed in concerts in 2003 (original by Alice Cooper)

"The House" - lyrics by Mr. Lordi, recorded for Dingo's tribute album (original by Dingo).

LORDI WEBSITE

LORDI FAN WEBSITE

So, there you go....my monstrous homage....hope you dug it