AXE

Previously known as Babyface, the group adopted the new title of Axe in 1979. Signing with major label MCA Records,by manager Lou Manganiello, Axe released their self-titled debut in 1979 and immediately gained attention with a melodic Rock sound comprising heavy guitars mixed with keyboards. Following Axe with 1980's Living On The Edge the group switched labels to Atco in 1982 for third album Offering, an album that included the hit anthem Rock n' Roll Party In The Streets and a cover of Montrose's I Got The Fire. The album marked the addition of new bassist Wayne Haner to the ranks and AXE got to tour with the likes of the Scorpions, Judas Priest, Ozzy Osbourne and ZZ Top. In 1983 the band opened for Iron Maiden. Following the arrival of the band's fourth album Nemesis, AXE were dealt a fatal blow when guitarist Michael Osborne was killed in an auto crash in which a badly injured Bobby Barth was lucky enough to escape with his life. The band, however, promptly dissolved following the tragedy. Barth, once recovered, joined Blackfoot, replacing Ken Hensley for the 1984 album Vertical Smiles and subsequent touring. In 1989, an attempt was made to reform AXE, without success, with Barth going to Australia in order to work with ex-Rose Tattoo front man Angry Anderson. Due to Barth's connections with the Japanese label Zero and German company MTM Music, Bobby felt there was sufficient interest in AXE to make a renewed effort to put the group back together with a revised line-up, and the release of a brand new album, aptly titled Five. A brand new AXE album, Axe (Twenty Years From Home) was released in September 1997 featuring re-recorded versions of choice tracks from each of the first four AXE albums, plus two from the recently released V record. In 2000, AXE released "The Crown".

Houston, TX