» Edit Band Information
» Edit Albums
» Add a Review
» Add an Album
» Add News | Exxplorer
Exxplorer was formed over 25 years ago in West Keansburg New Jersey. The band has been regarded as one of the most original heavy metal bands of the 80's, 90's and now in the new millennium. For those of you unfamiliar with the band, please exxplore the sights, sounds, and history of this European cult favorite.
Their first album, Symphonies of Steel, has been recognized for well over 20 years as one of the most innovative heavy metal albums of all time. The album topped the charts in several countries for overall import sales, and appeared at the top of hundreds of radio play lists thro ...read more
Exxplorer was formed over 25 years ago in West Keansburg New Jersey. The band has been regarded as one of the most original heavy metal bands of the 80's, 90's and now in the new millennium. For those of you unfamiliar with the band, please exxplore the sights, sounds, and history of this European cult favorite.
Their first album, Symphonies of Steel, has been recognized for well over 20 years as one of the most innovative heavy metal albums of all time. The album topped the charts in several countries for overall import sales, and appeared at the top of hundreds of radio play lists throughout Europe, and in many then still communist countries. During this period of time, Exxplorer continued to be one of the tri-state area’s favorite heavy metal bands, appearing in concert with an elaborate stage show, and the powerful momentum generated from their European success.
The band's second album, A Recipe for Power, was released in 1994. Although a long time had passed between the first and second albums, the fans loved A Recipe for Power for its blend of eighties progressive power metal and an up-to-date nineties feel. These were the songs that the band honed during the period of time when they were going through numerous management and personal trials.
Soon after the release of A Recipe for Power, Exxplorer had major personnel changes. Vocalist Lennie Rizzo, bassist Jimmy Gardner, and guitarist Kevin Kennedy left the band for personal reasons. Jay MaCaffrey took over as the new bassist, Barry Hocking Jr. took control of vocals, and Fred Gorhau took over as the new guitarist. The new lineup spent 1997 recording coldblackugly with Atlantic Records producer Bruce Buchanan. Due to creative and directional differences this version of the band split in 1999.
In 1999, Mike Moyer and Ed La Volpe started working on new material. At the same time, Ed ran into Kevin Kennedy around Keyport NJ, where they both now live. In passing, the subject of re-uniting the band came up on several occasions. Soon afterwards Ed, Kevin and Lennie had an impromptu jam at a local club. inspired by the audiences response, the members of the band sought to work out any past issues and proceed with the future of Exxplorer.... starting in October of 1999, the original Symphonies of Steel members reunited and began writing new material.
In the fall of 2000, the band signed a new deal with Underground Symphony Records to re-release Symphonies of Steel. The label and the band decided it would be best to include some bonus tracks for the fans, so the decision was made to record 4 new songs. Unfortunately, once the band started recording the new songs, Lennie Rizzo and the rest of the band decided to move forward in different directions. For the reissue bonus tracks the band used Connecticut vocalist Jim Abbiati.
In 2009 a version of Exxplorer with original members, Rizzo, Sakowski and LaVolpe played at both the KIT and HOA festivals. In late 2009 Kevin Kennedy rejoined the band on the recommendations of Ed La Volpe. In early 2010 Ed La Volpe quit the band due to directional differences. There is currenlty a version of Exxplorer that is writing new material. « hide |
Contributors: Eclecticist,
|
