Warrior

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n 1984 Warrior was started by Parramore McCarty (vocals), Tommy Asakawa (guitar), Joe Floyd (guitar), Bruce Turgon (ex-Black Sheep; bass) and Tommy Volpe (drums) who managed to luck out in the name department when their name failed to conflict with the UK group of the same name who had recently demised and left it vacant again. This incarnation of the Warrior name was a stereotypical heavy metal band complete with armor clad bombast and cliched lyrics, much like their soon-to-be label mates Manowar. Signing to the 'Virgin' subsidiary '10' on the strength of their demo tape, Demo 1984 (1984), Warrior finally debuted in 1985 with Fighting for the Earth ('MCA' - later re-issued by 'Metal Blade'), an album that was considered a cult classic by fans but was universally, and many argue fairly, blasted by the media who dismissed them as chainmailed hacks even though they received heavy airplay, in some areas being compared to Florida's Savatage. The act even managed to get an opening slot on the west coast leg of Iron Maiden's World Slavery Tour. The title-track appeared on the Kerrang! Compilation shortly later, but the band soon after fell victim to a changing music industry, especially MTV's anti-heavy metal stance, so they split in 1986. McCarty went on to play with Steve Steven's Atomic Playboys, while Turgon rejoined old buddy Lou Gramm in Shadow King, and Joe Floyd opened his Silver Cloud studio. The studio would be made famous by its work on acts like Rob Halford's return Resurrection, and Bruce Dickinson's Accident At Birth and The Chemical Wedding.