Shadow and The Thrill

Tony Cardenas-Montana joined Capitol artist Great White in 1987 and toured extensively with the band through ‘92. As a full member of the band, he recorded and co-wrote with them on the RIAA gold and multi-platinum selling and Grammy nominated “...Twice Shy”, and the RIAA Gold “Hooked” albums. These yielded Billboard charting writing credits for him on two singles (fan favorites “Mista Bone” and “Call it Rock ‘n’ Roll”).

In 1992, he took a hiatus from performing in order to pursue other interests in the Internet and eCommerce world. In 2002, he co-founded www.diskfaktory.com, which would become an INC 500 Fastest Growing Company in 2005. Around this time, he also released his first solo album, “Tombstone Shuffle”, to Japan, Europe and the US (subsequently re-released by Cleopatra Records).

In 2008 Tony conceived, launched, and produced “Monster Circus” – a precedent setting stage show at the Las Vegas Hilton, set in the theater made famous by Elvis. The elaborate stage show featured a host of rock star friends: Dee Snider (Twisted Sister), Fred Coury (Cinderella), Bruce Kulick (Kiss), John Corabi (Motley Crue) and Rudy Sarzo (Whitesnake, Ozzy, Quiet Riot), with dancers and acrobats.

In 2010, he got the call to join Slash's touring band filling in for a band regular for the Asia/Australia/New Zealand leg of Slash’s tour. The end of that tour culminated in a live in studio recording at East/West Studios of “Slash – the iTunes Sessions” covering original Slash, Velvet Revolver, and Guns ‘n Roses classics which was released on iTunes.

In 2019, Tony released, “Sugarbowl”, as Shadow & The Thrill through Deko Entertainment distributed through Universal Music Group. “Sugarbowl” has been featured multiple times in Classic Rock Magazine and his blues cover of the Gnarls Barkley “Crazy” has been glowingly reviewed by Guitar World where his playing is described as “six-string heroics” and “slow-burning blues guitar jams.”

He is a long-time touring member of Jack Russell’s Great White, re-joining his original Great White singer in 2013. His talents covering guitar, keyboards, and harmonica duties have expanded the band’s reach and impact. His last collaboration with Jack and the band yielded the two debut singles - “Hard Habit” and “Sign of the Times” and an acoustic re-make of the “Once Bitten” album.

Currently, Tony fills his schedule with recording and live dates for Jack Russell’s Great White, Shadow & The Thrill, and his Journey tribute band - JourneyUSA.