ARTISTS

    Jesse Damon

    Jesse Damon’s musical journey began with inspiration from the greats of the classic / hard rock scene of the 60’s and 70’s. Learning and improving his craft during the late 70s and early 80’s in popular local bands, Jesse started his professional career as a musician during the heyday of the memorable 80’s Sunset metal scene in Los Angeles as the lead singer and guitarist for the band Silent Rage. 

    Silent Rage was first signed to Chameleon / Capital Records in 1987. The Paul Sabu produced album Shattered Hearts was the label’s best selling “out-of-the-box” album to date. With the success of the independent label release, a copy of the album landed in the hands of none other than Gene Simmons of KISS. He loved the band and in 1989 he signed them to his label, Simmons / RCA Records.  The release of their sophomore effort, entitled Don’t Touch Me There, achieved critical acclaim and rave reviews. It landed at # 1 on Kerrang Magazine’s best seller’s list. The band was also featured in a multi-page article shortly afterwards. They also hit the top spot on many other European hard rock and metal album charts and reader’s polls.

    A video for the album’s lead single, Rebel With a Cause, was featured on MTV and ended up on heavy rotation on the network’s popular series Headbanger’s Ball. This led to the band earning the opening act slot for Black Sabbath on their 1989 Headless Cross North American Tour. During this time Jesse formed a lifelong friendship with Gene Simmons. They began co-writing songs together and one of those songs, the heavy hitting Thou Shalt Not landed on the fan-favorite KISS album Revenge. This earned Jesse a certified RIAA gold album award. 

    Jesse recorded yet another Simmons / Damon co-written song in 2002 called Everybody Needs Somebody. It appeared on his debut solo album called The Hand That Rocks, released later in that same year. Also in 2002 Silent Rage was reactivated after a long hiatus.  This resulted in the Bob Ezrin produced album Still Alive. Again, the album was well received by music scribes and fans alike. Four Letter Word, the fourth Silent Ragealbum was released in 2008. Produced by Gilby Clarke (Guns n Roses), the album featured special guest artists Bruce Kulick (Kiss / Grand Funk Railroad) and Bobby Blotzer (Ratt). 

    Since the launch of his solo career, Jesse has now released six solo albums, all of them receiving favorable reviews. He has carved out his niche in the international AOR and melodic hard rock community and has developed an extensive fan base. He’s back for another go in 2020 with his brand new  album Damon’s Rage.  Partnering once again with his longtime collaborator Paul Sabu, Jesse hopes fans enjoy the new music as much as the duo enjoyed making it.

    Damon’s Rage is a gift of love and appreciation from Jesse to YOU, the fans

    MANDA MOSHER

    PRESS: For press inquiries, please contact SRO PR Mitch Schneider / mschneider@msopr.com Kelly Walsh / kwalsh@msopr.com
    LABEL: Eric Craig eric@blackbirdrecordlabel.com
    LICENSING: Katy Mcllvaine SUGAROO! katy@sugaroo.com

    Neil Turbin

    DINO MADDALONE
    ​A local South Bay based producer and a two-time recipient of the Los Angeles Music Awards producer of the year, he also hosts the cable access show “Ask Dino” on Time Warner Cable. His guests have included artists such as Chuck Negron, formerly of Three Dog Night, David Paich of Toto, Skeelo and Greg Phillinganes, known for his work with Michael Jackson. The show won the 2013 South Bay Music Awards Creative Achievement honor. He is also a composer and as a drummer has appeared on thousands of recordings for records, television, films and other media. He is the owner od his own recording studio based in Torrance and has owned three other South Bay based studios in his twenty year tenure in the industry. Lately Dino appears in the cast of the web series “Caribe Road” which won the Imagen Awards Best Drama honor in 2013. He will soon be acting with Eric Roberts in the upcoming independent film “Don’t Shoot! I’m the Guitar Man” on Prodigy Entertainment.

    ROBERT CUTARELLA

    Robert began his career as a writer/artist/producer. He produced albums for Mercury, A&M, Columbia and Buddah before beginning a six-year tenure as Director of Talent Acqusition for Chappell Music, where he worked with Eric Clapton, the Bee Gees, Pink Floyd, the Police, Elton John, R.E.M., Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne, Doc Pomus, Thom Bell, and Linda Creed. Eventually in 1985, he opened his own company, which produced worldwide hits with Celine Dion, Alice Cooper, Jennifer Rush, .38 Special, Deep Purple and more. With over 2000 recorded songs to his name and constant new discoveries, Robert is an established and dynamic force in today’s popular music business.

    Click Here to visit Robert Cutarella’s publishing company, Imagine All Music.

    NEIL TURBIN

    Neil Turbin is an American thrash metal vocalist best known for being the original vocalist for American band Anthrax, appearing on their debut album Fistful of Metal. He is currently the lead vocalist and songwriter of the heavy metal band DeathRiders. DeathRiders was formed in 2001 to support Neil’s solo album Threatcon Delta and was named after the song Deathrideroff Anthrax’s debut album which Neil wrote in his time as the lead singer of the band. In 2013 the band released the acclaimed album The Metal Beast and has performed with the likes of Michael Angelo Batio, Faster Pussycat, and Phil Lewis of LA Guns. They have also taken part in all-star jams with members of Queensryche, Dio Disciples, Racer X, The Iron Maidens, Michael Schenker Group, Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force, Lizzy Borden, Angra, Hangar, Ring Of Fire, Hurricane, Hellion, Mayday, Anthrax, Badlands and Lita Ford.

    Glenda Benevides

    Bio: Award winning Grammy considered artist and author is tireless when it comes to inspiring others to embrace their strength, listen to their heart, chart their course, feel inspired and dive into musical emotion. Like a wild tent revival preacher, Glenda’s sermon is empowerment, enlightenment and building bridges of understanding, all wrapped in powerful self-expression and freedom, that moves you from the head to the feet!

    SOCIAL

    Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/glendabenevidesmusic

    LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/glendabenevides

    FB:https://www.facebook.com/glendabenevide

    Pete Hopkins

    Pete’s music has been played on programs and podcasts around the world including KISS FM, KLOS FM, BBC Radio (UK) KMTT FM “The Mountain Seattle”. Recently, while touring Pete was a special guest and featured artist on the Bob Rivers Radio Show (102.5 KZOK) and performed four new songs from his latest recording project. He also performed live on SMI Radio’s ‘Critical Sun Sessions’ with Greg Roth.

    He was the Grand Prize winner of the world-wide competition “CODE BLUE” – Search for the Next Great Artist, sponsored by Fleetwood Mac Producer Ken Caillat’s label Immergent Records and Producer Mikal Blue (One Republic, Colbie Caillat, Toad the Wet Sprocket). Pete recorded with Mikal at Revolver Studios in California and continues to collaborate with Immergent’s roster of artists.

    Pete Hopkins won the international band search sponsored by the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame “Rock with the Legends”. The opportunity of a lifetime, he shared the stage with some of rock’s most legendary performers such as Cream, Yes, Tower of Power, and Deep Purple. Pete took full advantage of this opportunity and has developed long standing relationships with some of rock royalty’s most prestigious recording artists. In 2013, he was invited back to the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame to perform with Roger Fisher for Heart’s induction into the Hall of Fame. Pete was a top 5 Finalist on NBC’s “Star Tomorrow” with renowned Producer David Foster and was a featured artist on the VH1-sponsored promotion “Rock Across America”.

    Pete currently lives in Los Angeles, California and is recording music for his next release. He continues to produce and write songs for and with other artists as well as composing for TV and film. Hopkins loves to perform live and does so to capacity crowds at venues in Southern California including The Viper Room, the world famous Whiskey-A-Go-Go, and the House of Blues. Around the holidays, you can sometimes catch him rockin’ out live somewhere in his hometown of Seattle, WA.

    CHAS WEST

    Chas West is a world class singer who first came to worldwide attention as lead vocalist for the hard rock outfit Bonham, the band formed by Jason Bonham, the son of the late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham. The band's 1989 debut album, The Disregard For Timekeeping, spawned the Top 40 hit Wait For You and was a main staple on MTV. Since that time Chas has been associated with several other projects, most notably as lead vocalist for Foreigner, the NWOBHM band Diamond Head, Lynch Mob (led by former Dokken guitarist George Lynch), 3 Legged Dogg, Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience and most recently the all-star Led Zeppelin Tribute band The Moby Dicks.

    Mitch Perry

    Guitarist Mitch Perry has spent more than 25 tears working alongside some of the most renowned and popular musicians in the world. Through his recording and touring experience with such popular and diverse acts ranging from the Michael Schenker Group to Cher, Mitch has accumulated a vast wealth of knowledge and experience that has inevitably led him to fronting his own projects. Besides the aforementioned artists, Mitch has recorded or played live with the likes of  Lita Ford, Talas, Steeler, Heaven,  War and Peace,  Edgar Winter and so many others.

    Ninth Circle

    Dennis began his musical journey at the age of 9 in San Pedro, CA, by taking piano lessons at the local community college. After taking the beginning and intermediate lessons, it was time to step it up a notch and take private lessons. Dennis had the unfortunate experience of having a teacher who was “all work and no play”. Less than six months in, Dennis didn’t want anything to do with private lessons. “The teacher that I had completely ruined my desire to learn. Even at a young age, I kept thinking to myself, ‘why is this feeling more and more like school?’. I was verbally disciplined each time I hit a wrong note and playing newly learned compositions seemed like taking a test. I was better off at that age playing for fun at my leisure.”

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    As Dennis ended his formal training for piano he went on to do the things that most kids do. After hearing Van Halen for the first time in an Audio store, that all changed. It was 1982 and Van Halen was blaring through the stores’ stereos in unison. “The sound of Eddie’s guitar just hit me like a punch in the gut. I was told the music I was hearing was Van Halen”. Between 1982 and the end of 1983, Dennis made sure to get each of the five Van Halen cassettes available. During those years, Dennis enrolled at the same junior college for guitar lessons that he had for piano lessons years earlier. The difference was that when private lessons began, there was no end in sight! His teacher would encourage Dennis to bring tapes of things which he wanted to learn as the 2nd part of each lesson. By that time it was 1984-1985 so bringing cassettes of Van Halen, Scorpions, Dokken, and Iron Maiden was a must.

    Frank and Dennis met in high school and as the story goes, they formed their first band over a discussion with friends right there at school. This led to their first full-on “garage band”. “We had something to aim for though”, Dennis recalls. “High School parties!”. “We were having a blast as a band unit!” It was a reminder of why Dennis started playing music in the first place. “We all attended our first concerts together. That was some serious motivation!” Frank and Dennis got more opportunities to play in front of big crowds including High School lunch concerts, a talent show and yes, more high school parties.

    Dennis went to Junior college before heading off to the local university and to his delight, the others did too, meaning the band was still intact. “We started to get attention because we still looked young enough that people were surprised when we could play our instruments. We were lucky to play in Hollywood while the music scene was thriving and KNAC 105.5 was on the air”. Growing up in San Pedro, California, Dennis remembers the bi-monthly trip over the Vincent Thomas Bridge to see his favorite bands at the Long Beach Arena. “Frank and I still dug all the same bands we had listened to in high school. It was uncanny how similar our musical tastes were from the start.

    The last several years put Dennis in the position of being the lead singer as well as guitarist of Ninth Circle. “The ongoing theme of having fun playing music has continued. Being a three-piece allows us to do what we want to do and not worry if our lead singer will show up to practice … or even to the gig for that matter! 3 cd’s later and another one on the way in 2019, the formula seems to be working.

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    Richie “Captain Black” Brooks is a multi-instrumentalist who’s been playing drums and bass since the age of 7 and 8 respectively. Richie plays drums, bass, guitar, vocals and keyboards. Richie grew up around his musical brother and sister. His older brother, who was in a band at the time with current Warrant guitarist, Joey Allen, helped him learn to play the bass via the guitar. In 7th grade he met current No Doubt guitarist, Tom Dumont and started a band playing mostly Rush and Judas Priest while playing bass. They would play gigs around the Irvine area including middle school, high school and dances. Over the years Richie has played in several different bands in California and in Colorado. Richie also currently plays guitar in the So Cal band, Chain Web who he was an original member playing bass and left for almost 20 years. He also plays drums and bass in the internet project, Mental Vudu.

    Frank goes on, “obviously we’ve known Richie for a while and as soon as I mentioned his name to Dennis it was a serious no brainer! He always have a good time hanging with Richie and n. w that he’s in the band I can’t think of better fit; he’s a great fun guy to hang with and he’s an incredible drummer! We’re stoked to have him as part of the Ninth Circle family!”

    “I’m not exactly sure when the first time I saw Ninth Circle play but there was such a great professionalism and feel about the band. It just drew me to them. Great vocals, bass, guitar, drums, it had it all for me. Then the next time I saw them, I bought The Power of One and Legions of the Brave. I was just as blown away as I was when I first saw them!! From then on I started to go to more shows and wanted to get to know the guys. I was ‘jonesing’ to jam with them in ANY capacity. On several occasions I suggested we get together and jam. Then during their recording process of this upcoming CD, I didn’t hear from them in while. Then out of the blue I got the Facebook message that would change my life! They were looking for a new drummer!! Funny story- even after hanging out and talking music and helping them set up and tear down, I guess I never let them know what instrument(s) I play…..”

    I’m absolutely humbled and stoked to begin playing with these guys and grow Ninth Circle!!

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    For Frank Forray, coming of age in the early ’80s set the foundation of what was to become a life-long infatuation and love affair with heavy metal music. It was 1982, the year of “Number of the Beast”, “Screaming for Vengeance”, “Diver Down” and “Speak of the Devil” albums which all left a lasting impression of the type of music that would capture the imagination of a curious 10-year-old for years to come.

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    Frank was always musically curious, he played violin between the ages of 8 and 12 until the program he was involved with went away. According to Frank, “I think playing the violin was my parent’s way of hoping that my Hungarian heritage would find me musically and that somehow I could channel the spirit of Franz Liszt. No luck, I had more Maiden than Liszt in my blood”.

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    As he got older and more infatuated with heavy metal, and as its popularity grew in the early ’80s, he knew he had to be involved in it someway. “I had converted my Pancho Gonzales tennis racquet into a guitar, complete with strings made by tying rubber bands together, so that I could jam along with Def Leppard’s “High ‘n Dry” cassette which was my ritual before my Saturday morning soccer games. Of course, the ‘racquet’ coming out of my ‘guitar’ was nonexistent”, notes Frank.

    1986 was the year that it all changed. It was Frank’s freshman year of high school and this is where he met Dennis; as Frank puts it, “two good Catholic kids in Catholic school listening to the “Devil’s music”. He was the first person I ever knew who had an electric guitar, so an idea ran through my head…we should start a band! Instantly our curious friends jumped in; one said he would sing, another said he would play drums and another said he would play rhythm guitar. So it was set, the band was my idea and I was out of it before it started. So I turned to Dennis and he said, “Why don’t you play bass?” With a puzzled response of, ‘huh?’ that was my introduction to bass guitar.”

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    So to be in the band Frank had to buy a bass guitar. He cut his neighbor’s lawn twice a month for $12 and saved every dollar so that he could buy a Sear’s Roebuck bass guitar. He still has it hanging on the wall of his studio. And from there started his bass playing quest and he never looked back.

    Frank predominantly plays Fender precision bass guitars. He figured if they were good enough for Steve Harris, they were good enough for him to play as he was learning… and they were. Over the years he has tried other styles and makes of bass guitars, but he always comes back to Fender p-basses. “They just fit my physical attack-like style of playing”, says Frank.

    Writing music came naturally to Frank, “I write the type of music I hear in my head and what I think Dennis would enjoy playing. I don’t have any formal training in playing bass or writing, so I’m pretty much self-taught. I predominantly write by myself; the music first, bass second and then lyrics. I write everything on my classical guitar and then translate it to electric guitar and bass. Dennis and I have a pretty good system; if I struggle with lyrics for a song I tell him to write something. This was the case with ‘Our Last Days’ and ‘Prisoner of the World’. Sometimes he writes a song around a really killer riff and that will inspire me to write lyrics such was the case with ‘Hour 21’ and ‘If It Bleeds'”.

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    Frank’s main influences are Steve Harris, Phil Lynott, Billy Sheehan, Cliff Burton, and Yngwie J. Malmsteen. His style of play is Steve Harris and Phil Lynott. His stage presence comes from Steve Harris, Cliff Burton, and Billy Sheehan. Billy inspires him to adlib and takes chances musically. And his composing and recording influences come from Steve Harris and Yngwie.

    For someone who had no clue what bass guitar was, Frank absolutely loves playing bass and has so much fun that he couldn’t see himself playing another instrument in a band. And as for the type of music he plays, “heavy metal is it! No matter how unpopular or un-cool it may have been over my 20 years of playing in a heavy metal band, it’s in my blood”, Frank proudly states.

    “It can never be too much metal!”