Harry Slash & The Slashtones

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The Slashtones
The Slashtones! 2007
The Slashtones! 2007
Background information
Origin New York City
Genre(s) Heavy Metal
Satire
Hard Rock
Years active 1993 - present
Label(s) Various
Website http://www.slashtones.com
Members
Harry Slash
Mark Hitt
Arno Hecht
Tony Moore
Steve Werner
Felix Hanemann
Former members
Lisa Anselmo
Steve Bondy
Scott DeBoys
Butch Garcia
Chuck Hancock
Roderick Kohn
Mike Lawler
Mickey Leigh
Rawn Randell
Brad Rosen
Paul Sheehan
Even Steven Levee
Amy Wagman
Lez Warner
Notable instrument(s)
Cowbell, Guitar, Saxophone, Bass, Drums, Keyboards, Trumpet, Trombone, Kazoo, Bouzouki, Vocals

The Slashtones (A/K/A "Harry Slash & The Slashtones") are an American musical group, formed in 1993 by New York native Harry Slash under the name "Harry & The Slashtones". Harry would later change the band's name many times, from "The Slashtones", to "Life?!","Not The Slashtones" and then to "Harry Slash & The Slashtones" during the era that Harry Slash produced music for Extreme Championship Wrestling. Their best known songs are the ECW theme ("This Is Extreme!"), Taz's theme ("Survive! (If I Let You)") and Sabu's theme ("Huka Blues"). After Extreme Championship Wrestling went bankrupt in 2001, Harry Slash continued to record and perform with the band after changing its name back to "The Slashtones".

Contents

[edit] Band history

  • 1993 - The original lineup as “Harry & The Slashtones” consisted of Harry Slash (vocals), Steve Bondy (guitar), Roderick Kohn (guitar), Even Steven (bass), Paul Sheehan (drums) and Brad Rosen (harmonica). This was originally supposed to be a “One Night Only” joke band.
  • 1994 - The band is reformed as “The Slashtones”. Added Chuck Hancock (saxophone) and Lez Warner (drums) as regular drummer Paul Sheehan switched to percussion as he recouped his injured knee. Mike Lawler (guitar) replaced Roderick Kohn.
  • 1994 - Added Amy Wagman (vocals) and Butch Garcia (harmonica). Lez Warner left and Paul Sheehan went back to playing drums. Roderick Kohn (guitar) returned.
  • 1994 - Brad Rosen left. Lisa Anselmo (vocals) replaced Amy Wagman.
  • 1994 - Arno Hecht (saxophone) replaced Chuck Hancock.
  • 1995 - “The Slashtones” released a very limited edition EP titled “Episode One”. Featured on the EP are most that had been in the band at that point including Harry Slash, Lisa Anselmo, Amy Wagman Steve Bondy, Roderick Kohn, Mike Lawler, Arno Hecht, Chuck Hancock, Even Steven, and Paul Sheehan. Also featured was special guest Joe Lynn Turner (vocals).
  • 1995 - Lisa Anselmo left. Butch Garcia left and joined Reckless Fortune.
  • 1995 - Chuck Hancock (saxophone) briefly returned.
  • 1995 - Chuck Hancock (saxophone) left.
  • 1995 - Lez Warner (drums) replaced Paul Sheehan.
  • 1995 - Mike Lawler left.
  • 1995 - The Slashtones go on hiatus when Even Steven needed to have back surgery.
  • 1995 - Harry Slash forms the short lived band “Life?!” with Scott Duboys (Drums), Tony Moore (bass), Roderick Kohn (guitar) and for a short time, Chris Carter (guitar)
  • 1995 - Chris Carter (guitar) leaves.
  • 1996 - “Life?!” performes it's one and only show in New York City.
  • 1996 - Scott Duboys (Drums) leaves.
  • 1996 - “Life?!” disbands.
  • 1996 - Harry Slash reforms “The Slashtones” (as “The Slashtones II”) to fulfill show obligations booked for "Life?!". This Slashtones lineup consisted of Harry Slash (vocals), Arno Hecht (saxophone) Steve Bondy (guitar), Roderick Kohn (guitar), and Lez Warner (drums). Lisa Anselmo (vocals) returned, Tony Moore (bass) replaced Even Steven.
  • 1996 - Lisa Anselmo left.
  • 1996 - “The Slashtones II” are disbanded when Harry Slash takes a sabbatical away from music.
  • 1997 - Harry Slash reforms “Life?!” as a studio band that would record songs for Extreme Championship Wrestling. This lineup consisted of Steve “Budgie” Werner (drums), Ritchie Scarlet (guitar & bass), Andy Abbene (guitar & bass) and Harry Slash (guitar). This lineup lasted for less than a month as only Harry Slash and Steve “Budgie” Werner would remain.
  • 1997 - Arno Hecht (saxophone) and Roderick Kohn (guitar) are brought into the “Life?!” recording project that would also include appearances by many other former members of “The Slashtones” including Tony Moore (vocals), Even Steven (bass), Mike Lawler (vocals) and Steve Bondy (guitar). Other musicians that recorded on this project included: Mickey Leigh (guitar), Garry Sullivan (drums), Frank Sannuto (drums & Keyboards), Frank Fortune (vocals), Joe Lynn Turner (vocals) and Pro-Wrestlers Tazz (vocals) and Francine (vocals).
  • 1997 - Harry Slash reforms “The Slashtones” as a live acoustic side project called “(Not) The Slashtones”. This lineup consisted of Harry Slash (vocals), Arno Hecht (saxophone) Steve Bondy (guitar), Roderick Kohn (guitar), Even Steven (bass) and Steve “Budgie” Werner (drums).
  • 1998 - “(Not) The Slashtones” are disbanded after a very dismal live performance.
  • 1998 - “Life?!” is renamed “Harry Slash and The Slashtones” with the lineup of Harry Slash (vocals & bass) Arno Hecht (saxophone) Roderick Kohn (guitar, bass, keyboards) and Steve “Budgie” Werner (drums).
  • 1998 - “Harry Slash and The Slashtones" released two songs on the compilation CD “ECW Extreme Music”.
  • 1999 - Mickey Leigh (guitar) replaced Roderick Kohn.
  • 2000 - Roderick Kohn (guitar) replaced Mickey Leigh.
  • 2000 - “Harry Slash & The Slashtones” released a very limited edition EP titled “Freedom Of Speech”.
  • 2000 - Harry Slash, Tony Moore and Roderick Kohn record material under the pseudonym "Johnny Soul and his West Coast Wranglers".
  • 2000 - Harry Slash reforms “The Slashtones” as a live version of “Harry Slash & The Slashtones”. This lineup consisted of Harry Slash (vocals), Arno Hecht (saxophone) Roderick Kohn (guitar) and Steve “Budgie” Werner (drums). Added Rawn Randell (bass). Mickey Leigh (guitar) returned.
  • 2001 - “Harry Slash & The Slashtones” are disbanded when Harry Slash takes another long sabbatical away from music.
  • 2002 - Harry Slash attempted to reform “The Slashtones” as “Slashtones 10” to perform during the band's 10 year anniversary in 2003. This core lineup consisted of Harry Slash (vocals), Arno Hecht (saxophone) Roderick Kohn (guitar) and Steve “Budgie” Werner (drums). Tony Moore (bass) returned replacing Rawn Randell. Other former Slashtones that would have appeared included Even Steve (bass), Chuck Hancock (saxophone), Mickey Leigh (guitar) and Mike Lawler (guitar). The core band of five rehearsed a few times, but the project was shelved when Arno Hecht went on tour with George Thorogood and the Destroyers, and Harry Slash became involved with another project in 2003.
  • 2004 - Harry Slash reforms “The Slashtones” as “The (“New Original”) Slashtones”. This lineup consisted of Harry Slash (vocals), Arno Hecht (saxophone), Roderick Kohn (guitar), Tony Moore (bass), and Steve “Budgie” Werner (drums).
  • 2005 - “The (“New Original”) Slashtones" are featured on a David Lee Roth tribute CD.
  • 2006 - “The (“New Original”) Slashtones" are featured on a Guns -N- Roses tribute CD.
  • 2006 - Added Felix Hanemann (keyboards), temporally replacing Arno Hecht, who was on tour with Dion.
  • 2006 - Arno Hecht (saxophone) returned.
  • 2006 - Mark Hitt (guitar) replaced Roderick Kohn.
  • 2006 - “The (“New Original”) Slashtones” are renamed “The Slashtones!”, going in a slightly different musical direction.
  • 2006 - “The Slashtones!” are featured as guest artists on the Reckless Fortune version of “Rock Candy” released on a Sammy Hagar tribute CD.
  • 2006 - “The Slashtones!” are featured on a Van Halen tribute CD.
  • 2007 - Members of “The Slashtones!” are featured as guest artists on a Mötley Crüe tribute CD.
  • 2008 - “The Slashtones!” with Joe Lynn Turner released a cover of 'Detroit Rock City on a KISS tribute CD.

[edit] Band members

[edit] Current band

  • Harry Slash: Vocals. 1993 - Present
  • Arno Hecht: Saxophone. 1994 - Present (The Uptown Horns, Buster Poindexter)
  • Tony Moore: Bass & Vocals. 1995 - 1997, 2000, 2002 - Present (Riot)
  • Steve "Budgie" Werner: Drums. 1997 - Present (Ace Frehley Band)
  • Felix Hanemann: Keyboards. 2006 - Present (Zebra)
  • Mark Hitt: Guitar. 2006 - Present (Rat Race Choir, John Entwistle)

[edit] Honorary members

The Slashtones also record with:

  • Gregg Gerson: Flute. 1995 - Present (Billy Idol Band)
  • Mac Gollehon: Trumpet & Trumbone. 2006 - Present
  • Taso Karras: Bouzouki & Baglama. 2008 - Present
  • Joe Lynn Turner: Vocals. 1994 - Present (Deep Purple, Rainbow)

[edit] Former band members

  • Lisa Anselmo: Vocals. 1994, 1996
  • Steve Bondy: Guitar. 1993 - 1998 (RadioActive) ([[1]])
  • Chris Carter: Guitar. 1995 (Ya Mutha)
  • Scott DeBoys: Drums. 1995 - 1996 (Warrior Soul, Cycle Sluts From Hell, Nuclear Assault)
  • Butch Garcia: Harmonica. 1994 (Reckless Fortune)
  • Chuck Hancock: Saxophone. 1994 - 1995 (Murphy's Law)
  • Roderick Kohn: Guitar. 1993, 1994 - 1999, 2000 - 2006
  • Mike Lawler: Guitar. 1994 - 1995
  • Mickey Leigh: Guitar. 1999 - 2001 (The Rattlers)
  • Even Steven Levee: Bass. 1993 - 1995, 1997 - 1998 (Brad Factor:10)
  • Rawn Randell: Bass. 2001 (James Chance and the Contortions)
  • Brad Rosen Esq.: Harmonica. 1993 - 1994
  • Paul Sheehan: Drums. 1993 - 1995 (Raging Slab)
  • Amy Wagman: Vocals. 1994
  • Lez Warner: Drums. 1994, 1995 - 1997 (The Cult) ([[2]])

[edit] Others

The Slashtones have recorded with:

  • Andy Abbene: Guitar. 1997 (Soulcrush)
  • Frank Fortune: Vocals. 1998 - 2008 (Reckless Fortune)
  • Joey Fortune: Guitar. 2005 - 2008 (Reckless Fortune)
  • Francine Fournier: Vocals. 1997.
  • Mike Lewis: Trumpet. 2005 (Buddy Rich Band)
  • Frank Sannutto: Drums. 1999 (Reckless Fortune)
  • Ritchie Scarlet: Guitar & Bass. 1997 (Ace Frehley Band)
  • Garry Sullivan: Drums. 1998 (The B-52's)
  • Tazz: Vocals. 1998.

[edit] Discography

  • Episode One (EP), The Slashtones, Studio D (Out Of Print), 1995
  • ECW: Extreme Music, Various Artists, Concrete/Slab, 1998
  • Freedom Of Speech (EP), Harry Slash & The Slashtones, MP3.com (Out Of Print), 2000
  • Fire Woman, A Tribute to The Cult, Various Artists, Versaille, 2000
  • "PAIN" (Movie Soundtrack), The Slashtones and Die Nicht, Endstop (Out Of Print.), 2003
  • Just Like Paradise, A Tribute to David Lee Roth, Various Artists, Versaille, 2005
  • It's So Easy, A Tribute to Guns N' Roses, Various Artists, Versaille, 2006
  • Three Lock Box, A Tribute to Sammy Hagar, Various Artists, Versaille, 2006
  • Panama, A Tribute to Van Halen, Various Artists, Versaille, 2006
  • Too Fast For Love, A Tribute to Mötley Crüe, Various Artists, Versaille, 2007
  • Lick It Up, A Tribute to KISS, Various Artists, Versaille, 2008