Backstage (White Lion – There Is Life, Even After A Broken Heart)

Welcome Backstage, I’m Damian DeadLove. Tonights band is the one and only, White Lion. This is a phenomenal group in my opinion, very underrated as musicians and songwriters. 

You have to understand something. One of the heaviest guys I know, J.J. Burton, who played in thrash and death metal bands and is a life long brother of mine. He digs, White Lion. Shout out to J.J.

There were some bands out there that did the glam thing because it’s what was hot at the moment. Guns and Roses, comes to mind. Tesla was another band. Look at the first album photo of the bands. They look kinda glam. 

A piece down the road they’re ditching it, because they were a rock band underneath it all. They wasn’t about the fad of it all. I consider White Lion to be in that ilk.

White Lion, formed in 1983 in, New York City. The band was founded by Danish vocalist: Mike Tramp, & Guitarist: Vito Bratta, who hails from Staten Island. 

Right off the bat the duo has a hard time finding a rhythm section that was stable. Eventually, they recruited drummer: Nicki Capozzi, & bassist: Felix Robinson. 

From the beginning, Tramp & Bratta, were the songwriters in the group. In 1984 the band was signed by Elektra Records. They recorded their debut album: Fight To Survive, with the label. 

However the execs weren’t happy with the recording, and wouldn’t release it, worse than that they terminated their contract with the band.

The, Fight To Survive album was eventually released by JVC Records out of Japan in 1985. Grand Slamm records out of Philadelphia, bought the album from Elektra and released it in America, the following year. 

It charted on the Billboard 200, at number 151, powered by the debut single/video, Broken Heart. A few months after release the record label went bankrupt.

After the whole Elektra deal went up in flames, bassist, Felix Robinson left the band. He was replaced by, Dave Spitz (who happens to be the brother of former Anthrax: Lead Guitarist – Dan Spitz.)

Personally, I think “Fight To Survive” was a great rock record. One of the things I liked about the band from the get go was, Mike Tramp’s lyrics. He wrote about things going on in the world like hunger, war, political issues etc. 

Sure their were some power ballads, love songs as well. Bratta, is a musical maestro with great riffs, and an brilliant lead player. Great songs like: Cherokee, Kid Of 1000 Faces, In The City, All Burn In Hell, El Salvador, as well as Broken Heart and the title track. Great Debut.

Every song on the record is great, even the ones I didn’t mention. Tramp, Bratta, Capozzi, & Spitz, recorded some demos for a possible second album as well as continuing to play live around New York.

It was this lineup of the group that got hired to play a fictional band in the movie, The Money Pit. Which starred: Tom Hanks and Shelley Long. 

The band is credited on the song “Web Of Desire” though it wasn’t released on the soundtrack, the boys themselves were in two clips of the movie performing the song.

Capozzi, was fired in September 85. And was replaced by former Anthrax drummer Greg D’Angelo.

Spitz, left in early 86 to join Black Sabbath. Bassist James LoMenzo joined in March of that same year. The band’s classic lineup was complete.

Early in 1987 the band was signed by Atlantic Records. It took the guys only six weeks to knock out recording the next record. On June 21st, they released the album: Pride. 

The first single was: Wait. Though it was released on, June 1st, it took seven months to reach the charts. They started the tour for, Pride, in July of 87. 

They opened for Aerosmith, and Kiss to name a few. Then in 1988, the band landed the opening slot for, AC/DC on their Blow Up Your Video American tour.

It was while on that tour that the single, “Wait” finally charted at no. 8 in the singles chart and the album Pride charted at no. 11 the albums chart. 

It remained there for a year, going Double Platinum, folks. It was also because of MTV airing the music video for, “Wait” that the band was finally starting to get over.

In August of 88, the band released their second single, “Tell Me.” charting at no. 58. Also, around this time White Lion played live at, The Ritz club in NYC. It was filmed and aired on MTV. 

Pride’s 3rd single the power ballad, “When The Children Cry,” reached no. 3 in the charts with help from MTV playing the songs video in heavy rotation. 

Pride sold two million copies. And was by far the bands best selling album. Vito Bratta’s talent didn’t go unnoticed he won best new guitar player in a couple of well known guitar magazines.

“All You Need Is Rock ’n’ Roll” was the final single released. I mean this whole album is incredible. With deep cuts like: “Hungry”, “Lonely Nights”, “All Join Our Hands”, and “Don’t Give Up” to name a few

But the gem of the bunch has to be, “Lady Of The Valley”, a live cut and a powerhouse of a song. At the end of 1988 they had finished touring, and went straight to working on the next album.

In August of 89, they released their third album: Big Game. It was eclectic in it’s musical layers, and songwriting. The first single was: “Little Fighter” (Which peaked at no. 52 in the charts), it was in memory of The Rainbow Warrior, a Greenpeace boat which was destroyed by the French.

The second single released was a cover of the, Golden Earring song: “Radar Love” (which peaked at no 59) I personally dig White Lion’s version a little more than the original. I don’t say that often about covers.

“Cry For Freedom” was the third single. Another powerful political song about apartheid in South Africa. This was a band that was not afraid of making their opinions known. 

“Going Home Tonight” was the final song released off the album. The deep cuts include: “Dirty Woman”, “Let’s Get Crazy”, “Living On The Edge”, “Don’t Say It’s Over”, & my personal favorite, “If My Mind Is Evil.”

Another great album in my opinion. It quickly went Gold and peaked at no. 19 in the charts. Then they toured continuously in support of the record. Though successful the album got mixed reviews.

The band took time off to regroup and work on new material for the next album. In the autumn of 1990 the band entered the studio with a new producer to record.

In April of 1991, the band released their fourth album: Mane Attraction. I remember because I couldn’t wait to get the album. 

It featured the singles: “Love Don’t Come Easy” which peaked at no. 24 on the rock charts, “Lights and Thunder”, which is an eight minute masterpiece of rock power with a complex structure which was inspired by, “Achilles Last Stand” by Led Zeppelin. 

They also re-recorded their debut single, “Broken Heart” all these singles were featured in music videos. “Out With The Boys” and “You’re All That I Need” were released as promo singles. 

“Blue Monday” was the only instrumental ever recorded by White Lion. Vito Bratta, composed the track as a tribute to, Stevie Ray Vaughan, who had died while they were writing the album. To me it’s phenomenal, Vito really captured Vaughan’s vibe, and sprinkled a little of his own style in their as well.

This record also had deep cuts like, “Warsong”, “It’s Over”, “She’s Got Everything”, “Leave Me Alone”, and “Till Death Do Us Part” to name a few. 

After a European tour, James LoMenzo and Greg D’Angelo, left the band in June of 91 siting “musical differences.” White Lion, moved forward with a brief tour supporting Mane Attraction. Bringing in Tommy T-Bone Caradonna on Bass and Jimmy DeGrasso on Drums.

Tramp & Bratta, disbanded the group soon after. In September of 91 they played their last show in Boston. A year later a best of album was released.

In later interviews, Tramp claimed the band split due to lack of interest from the record company, bad management, and Grunge music didn’t help.

Tramp, has a solo career as well as his version of White Lion. Bratta, on the other hand left the music business. I’ve read his father was ill and required constant care, and Vito cared for him till he passed. 

I’ve never listened to Tramp’s version of the group. Because to this fan there is no White Lion without Vito. Just my opinion, folks.

In closing this band will always be special to me. For that matter the song, “Broken Heart” holds a place dear to my heart.

I mentioned my brother, J.J. Burton, at the beginning of this story. We formed a band called, DeadLove, when we were both about seventeen years old.

One evening at his parents house he put me on the spot to sing something for his parents. That song was: “Broken Heart.” 

That’s our show for tonight. Remember music is the soundtrack of our lives. Peace, Love, & Lennon. I’m Damian DeadLove.