Lizzy Borden

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aking her name from the infamous Axe Murderess, L.A.'s Lizzy Borden (vocals) was backed by her brother Joey Scott Harges(drums), Tony Matuzak(guitar), Gene Allen (guitar) and Mike Davis(bass). After contributing a track to the Metal Massacre compilation they would sign to 'Metal Blade' with the 1984 mini set Give 'em the Axe. The debut was nothing more than schlock horror and cheap thrills low rent basic Metal, but true to form they varied little from their debut with the follow-up play on words, Love You to Pieces (1985), not to mention the efforts of Menace to Society (1986) and The Murderess Metal Roadshow (a live effort in 1986) that saw Alex Nelson replace Matuzak. Regardless of the recordings, the band were nonetheless a popular live attraction, at least in the L.A. area and the live album managed to express it adequately without stooping to the level of their studio recordings.

A mini-LP, Terror Rising (1987) followed, along with Visual Lies (1987) that saw J. Holmes take over from Allen, and Master of Disguise (1989) with David Michael Philips taking over from J. Holmes, and Ronnie Jude added as another guitarist. The band would then split leaving a 1994 "Best Of..." titled Best Of compilation posthumously, but reformed just prior to the turn of the century with Deal With The Devil (2000) featuring Dan Fitzgerald (guitar), Joey Vera (bass; by the release of the album replaced with Marten Andersson), Alex Neilson (guitar), Joey Scott Harges (drums) and herself.