Vain

This band was formed in San Francisco, USA, in 1985 by songwriter Davy Vain, with James Scott (lead guitar), Danny West (rhythm guitar), Ashley Mitchell (bass), and Tom Rickard (drums). Early shows with Poison and Guns N’Roses, before either was a major act, and a series of impressive demos aroused considerable interest before a contract with Island Records was signed. No Respect was crammed with atmospheric driving metal with its own particular ambience owing to the live-in-the-studio recording technique. While the lyrics were largely sexually orientated, Davy Vain eschewed the usual glam perspective by drawing inspiration from his own relationships. No Respect and attendant single, ‘Beat The Bullet’, did well, particularly in the UK, where Vain toured triumphantly with Skid Row. Davy Vain had by this time also been employed in the unlikely capacity of producer to San Francisco neighbours Death Angel on theirFrolic In The Park album in 1988. However, the band ran into problems when All Those Strangers was rejected after a management/ownership change at Island, and Vain were dropped. Davy Vain, Scott and Mitchell worked briefly with ex-Guns N’Roses drummer Steven Adler (b. 22 January 1965, Cleveland, Ohio, USA) in Road Crew, which fell apart during Adler’s divorce and litigation with his old band, before re-forming Vain with West and ex-Kill City Dragons drummer Danny Fury, making an impressive return with Move On It. The original band’s unreleased second album, its title now changed to Fade, was released in Japan in 1995, and internationally two years later. ~ Rovi