Contraband (band)
Short-lived supergroup from 1991 with one album.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Contraband was a short-lived supergroup/side project formed in the early 1990s, comprising members of several notable 1980s rock bands: Shark Island, McAuley Schenker Group, Ratt, L.A. Guns, and Vixen. The band originated after an unplugged session on MTV featuring members of Vixen and Ratt. They released only one self-titled album in 1991, which received mediocre reviews and was a commercial failure, leading to their disbandment shortly after while touring with Ratt.
- field
- Glam metal / hard rock
- known_for
- Self-titled album (1991) and cover of 'All the Way from Memphis'
- members
- Richard Black, Michael Schenker, Tracii Guns, Share Pedersen, Bobby Blotzer
Lore & Background
Contraband came together after a Vixen and Ratt unplugged session on MTV, which inspired the formation of this side project. The band featured Richard Black on vocals, Michael Schenker and Tracii Guns on guitars, Share Pedersen on bass, and Bobby Blotzer on drums. They released their sole self-titled album in 1991, which charted at number 187 in the US. The song 'Loud Guitars, Fast Cars & Wild, Wild Livin'' was included in the soundtrack of the film *If Looks Could Kill*. Their cover of 'All the Way from Memphis' appeared on the UK record chart in July 1991.
Reader's Guide
Contraband represents a brief convergence of prominent figures from the 1980s glam metal and hard rock scene, yet their impact was limited. The band's only album received mediocre reviews and failed commercially, charting low in the US. Despite its short lifespan, the project produced a cover that charted in the UK and a song featured in a film soundtrack. The band's legacy is primarily as a footnote in the careers of its members, illustrating the trend of supergroups formed from MTV-era collaborations. Their cover of 'All the Way from Memphis' and the later cover of 'Loud Guitars, Fast Cars & Wild, Wild Livin'' by Blue Tears show a modest cultural ripple.
Did You Know?
- Contraband formed after a Vixen and Ratt unplugged session on MTV.
- Their only album charted at number 187 in the US.
- The song 'Loud Guitars, Fast Cars & Wild, Wild Livin'' was included in the movie *If Looks Could Kill* soundtrack.
- Their cover of 'All the Way from Memphis' appeared on the UK record chart in July 1991.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Contraband (band)?
Contraband was a brief American glam metal supergroup that existed only in 1991, assembled from members of several well-known 1980s hard rock acts. The project lasted just long enough to record and tour behind a single self-titled album before dissolving.
Who were the members of Contraband (band)?
The five-piece lineup brought together Richard Black (Shark Island), Michael Schenker (McAuley Schenker Group), Tracii Guns (L.A. Guns), Share Pedersen (Vixen), and Bobby Blotzer (Ratt). Each musician carried a recognizable name from the late-'80s rock scene, which is what gave the project its supergroup label.
How did Contraband (band) get started?
The idea sprang from an unplugged session on MTV that paired members of Vixen and Ratt in a casual televised jam. That spontaneous performance inspired the group to expand the concept into a full band, eventually adding players from Shark Island, McAuley Schenker Group, and L.A. Guns.
What is Contraband (band)'s only album?
Their sole release was the self-titled record Contraband, dropped in 1991. The tracklist included a cover of 'All the Way from Memphis,' but the album drew largely mediocre reviews and never found a meaningful commercial audience.
Why did Contraband (band) break up?
The project effectively ended once the 1991 album failed to gain traction either critically or on the sales charts. The band was on tour in support of Ratt when they called it quits, and no follow-up material was ever recorded.
More in American heavy metal supergroups 1-24
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