Devil City Angels

Nobody plays rock ‘n’ roll quite like the pros do. Devil City Angels definitely has no shortage of professionals in its ranks—namely Tracii Guns of L.A. Guns on guitar, drummer, Rikki Rocket of Poison, Rudy Sarzo of Quiet Riot and Ozzy Osbourne on bass, and singer Brandon Gibbs of The Gibbs Brothers and Cheap Thrill. With upwards of 100 millions units sold and countless packed arena and stadium gigs worldwide between them, these cats have certainly seen their fair share of rockstar excess and success, and now they’ve bonded together under one banner with a singular goal—to make kickass music. They accomplish that mission tenfold with their self-titled full-length debut for Century Media Records. In 2014, longtime buddies Tracii and Rikki jammed at a Keith Moon and Jon Entwistle tribute show together with Devil City Angels’ first bassist Eric Brittingham of Cinderella. Rocking on stage felt so good that they collectively agreed, “Let’s start a band.” So, Rikki rang Brandon with whom he’d built a relationship after producing music for him ten years prior. It was that simple. “When we decided to look for a singer, we wanted somebody with fresh energy, like real new blood,” says Rikki. “We didn’t want to simply play each other’s songs. Brandon’s got an incredible voice, and he enabled us to move forward with a fresh sound that’s still rooted in the styles of the members.” “We had such a relaxed attitude because we’re all friends,” adds Tracii. “Obviously, Rikki and I have known each other forever. It was just a couple of pals putting a band together. We could focus on letting things happen organically instead of overthinking anything. It’s the least self-indulgent band I’ve been in,” he laughs. The four musicians holed up in Southern California’s Patagonia Studios within a month of that impromptu first gig. The five-acre ranch allowed for a level of comfortable isolation, encouraging complete focus. As a result, they quickly conjured up a sound of their own. “I call it four corners, covering the spectrum of what we do” continues Tracii. “It’s in the boundaries of late seventies and early eighties rock ‘n’ roll. At the same time, there’s an element pop. It can be bluesy. It can be loud. It’s straightforward though and a different pace for all of us.” Brandon sums it up, “We’re writing something new, but we’re incorporating those classic elements.” The first track, “All My People” speaks to that approach with a rollicking and raucous bluesy riff, boisterous drumming, and powerhouse vocals. “I originally worked on that song with The Gibbs Brothers at Rikki’s,” remembers Brandon. “We decided to jam on it, and it became the first song we recorded.” Rikki smiles, “When Devil City Angels got a hold of that one, the blues and rock at its core got fuel-injected.” The first single “Boneyard” merges a smooth and swaggering riff with soulful vocals. As soon as Brandon demands,“Crank it up,” you obey! Meanwhile, “No Angels” begins with a lumbering groove that drips into a heavenly and hypnotic hook. Brandon goes on, “That came from a really authentic writing session. We were all sitting cross-legged in the living room.Tracii jammed on some chords, and away we went. The subject matter is very visual too, capturing that feeling.” Whether it’s the walloping backbeat and brooding bass of “Bad Decisions” or the slamming invitation of “Ride With me,” each element converges into one diverse, deep, and dynamic introductory statement. After recording the album with Brittingham, the bassist amicably split with the guys. Rudy stepped into the fold in the spring of 2015 and the band couldn’t be stronger. “Our chemistry goes really deep,” he says. “We grew up on the same styles of music, and we’re all children of the Sunset Strip. Tracii and I had the same path musically, and we connected. It’s the same with the other guys. We don’t want to lose sight of that legacy, but we want to do something new too. I call it ‘Modern Vintage Rock!’” They know how to do that better than anybody, and they deliver with Devil City Angels. “There aren’t enough straight-ahead rock ‘n’ roll bands,” concludes Rikki. “We’re proud of the work and believe in this. We’re bringing it because there’s a void.” “I hope people listen and feel enthused,” Brandon leaves off. “There’s a lot of lighthearted, heavyhearted, rip your-face-off, fall-in-love,break your heart, chill out, and go-crazy in here. It’s truly something for everyone.” Meet DEVIL CITY ANGELS: Rikki Rockett (Drums) - best known as founding member and drummer of Poison for almost 30 years, selling over 20 millions records. In 2007, Rikki created the company Rockett Drum Works because, as a drummer himself, he understood how a beneficial a custom kit would be to other artists. Since then, the company has taken off to be a thriving business endorsing some of the best drummers in the music industry. Tracii Guns (Lead Guitar) - most notably credited as founding member and lead guitarist for L.A. Guns, as well as the following: Hall of Famers Guns N Roses, all star band Contraband and Brides of Destruction. Throughout his career, he has sold over 7 million records. Brandon Gibbs (Lead Vocals/Guitar) - the powerhouse voice, songwriter and guitar player who started his career at the age of 14, with his twin brother in a band called Gibbs Brothers. During his tenure with Gibbs Brothers, a friendship formed with Rikki Rockett leading to Rockett producing the bands CD. (Brothers N Arms) Brandon was content to be the blues/rock guitar player who captivated the audience with his mesmerizing, beyond his years guitar playing. In late 2010, Brandon took his guitar on the road for a one-man acoustic show, where he connected with the voice he had never unleashed. He began recording songs and by August, 2012, his song "This Town", was on ESPN2 and NHRA season. Brandon teamed up with Cinderella bassist, Eric Brittingham, and started touring as an acoustic duo. They later added guitarist Jeff LaBar (Cinderella) and drums to create Cheap Thrill, which toured for almost 2 years, and appeared on the Monsters of Rock, Cruise to the Edge and Moody Blues Cruises in 2013 & 2014. He has stunned audiences with his tireless performance and unique stage presence. Brandon is the front man that people are going to want to see again and again. Rudy Sarzo (Bass) - Rudy has been a professional recording and performing artist worldwide for over 25 years. As a member of Ozzy Osbourne’s band, from March 1981 to September 1982, he toured the world in support of the “Blizzard of Ozz” and “Diary Of a Madman” records. His bass playing can be heard on Ozzy’s multimillion selling CD “Tribute” and “Speak of the Devil” CD and DVD. As a member of Quiet Riot, from September 1982 to January 1985, Rudy recorded the multi-platinum albums “Metal Health” (the first Heavy Metal debut to reach #1 on the Billboard charts) and “Condition Critical”. As a member of Whitesnake, from April 1987 to September 1994, Rudy recorded the multi-platinum album “Slip of the Tongue”. Since then, he has joined a re-united Quiet Riot, Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force, Dio, and Blue Oyster Cult to tour across the world. Rudy is also currently a member of Animetal USA and TRED.