Virgin Steele

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ounded in the early 1980s Virgin Steele opened up shop with David DeFeis (vocals/keyboards), Jack Starr (guitar), Joe O'Reilly (bass) and Joey Ayvazian (drums) at the helm to showcase their typically '80's Metal sound on their 1983 debut self-titled on 'Megaforce'. Guardians Of The Flame flowed by later that same year, but shortly after internal squabbling saw Starr leave with Edward Pursine hired as his replacement. Starr's departure upset the chemistry and it was never the same since for after Noble Savage (1986) and the long awaited The Age Of Consent in 1989, the act split.

Virgin Steele would reform in 1994 to release a set of albums, The Marriage Of Heaven And Hell Part I (1994), The Marriage Of Heaven And Hell Part II (1995), Invictus (1998), The House Of Atreus Act I (1999), and The House Of Atreus Act II (2000), The Book Of Burning (2002), and Hymns To Victory "best of..." compilation (2002) but none met the acclaim as the first two since the chemistry was still not there. During this period the membership fluxed, most especially the bass slot with Teddy Cook (bass; 1992), Rob DeMartino (bass; 1993-2000), Jeff Beavers (bass; 2000) and Frank Gilchriest (drums; 1995-2015). Josh Block would assume bass in 2001.