Scandal (American Band)
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Scandal is an American
rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
band from the 1980s fronted by
Patty Smyth Patricia Smyth (born June 26, 1957) is an American singer and songwriter. She first came into national attention with the rock band Scandal and went on to record and perform as a solo artist. Her distinctive voice and new wave image gained br ...
. The band scored a hit in the United States with the song " The Warrior", which peaked at No. 7 in 1984. Other hits were " Goodbye to You" (1982 – No. 65 US), "Love's Got a Line on You" (1983 – No. 59 US), "Hands Tied" (1984 – No. 41 US), and "Beat of a Heart" (1985 – No. 41 US).


History

Scandal was formed in New York City in 1981 by guitarist Zack Smith. The other initial members included: bassist Ivan Elias (1950–1995), guitarist Keith Mack, keyboardist Benjy King (1953–2012), drummer
Frankie LaRocka Frankie LaRocka (April 17, 1954 – May 12, 2005), born Frank LaRocca, was an American rock musician and producer. He was a member of Scandal, playing drums on their debut EP, and, at various stages, played the drums with Bon Jovi, David Johans ...
(1954–2005) (later replaced by Thommy Price), and singer
Patty Smyth Patricia Smyth (born June 26, 1957) is an American singer and songwriter. She first came into national attention with the rock band Scandal and went on to record and perform as a solo artist. Her distinctive voice and new wave image gained br ...
. Bon Jovi lead singer Jon Bon Jovi also briefly played guitar for the band in 1983. The band had much success early on but due to struggles within the group and their record company, it slowly dissolved—losing member after member. By the time "The Warrior" tour hit the road in 1984, all that remained of the original lineup were Smyth and Mack. Scandal broke up shortly after the tour ended. The group (minus Ivan Elias, who died of cancer in June 1995; replaced by
Kasim Sulton Kasim Sulton (born December 8, 1955) is an American bass guitarist, keyboardist and vocalist. Best known for his work with Utopia, Sulton sang lead on 1980's "Set Me Free," Utopia's only top 40 hit in the United States. As a solo artist, Sulton ...
) reunited in 2004 for VH1's '' Bands Reunited'' show and did a string of concerts on the United States East Coast culminating in a show at
Irving Plaza Irving Plaza (known through sponsorship as Irving Plaza, powered by Klipsch and formerly known as the Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza) is a ballroom-style music venue located within the Union Square neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. ...
in their home city (New York) on February 9, 2005. During the summer of 2006, the band (excluding Price and Sulton) reunited again for VH1's "We Are the '80s" tour, playing a string of large – mainly outdoor – venues and earning critical acclaim. During the summer and fall of 2007, they toured again (this time without Zack Smith). In July 2008, ''Billboard'' reported the upcoming release of new music by Patty Smyth and Scandal (featuring original members Keith Mack and Benjy King). At a performance in Dewey Beach, Delaware on August 3, 2008, Smyth indicated Scandal would be releasing a new five song EP in the near future. Scandal also performed one of their new songs, "Trust in Me". Other new titles include "Make It Hard" and "End of the Girl". Patty Smyth & Scandal debuted their first single as a band ("Hard for You to Love Me", also referred to as "Make It Hard") in over 24 years on January 17, 2009 in Ridgefield, Connecticut to a standing ovation. Smyth stated the song will be available to purchase digitally in February 2009, with the new EP to follow shortly. However, the single has been indefinitely delayed as the EP will be expanded to a full-length album, according to Smyth's blog in May 2009. As of December 2011, the only new music released was "
Silent Night "Silent Night" (german: "Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht", links=no, italic=no) is a popular Christmas carol, composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohr in the small town of Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria. It was declared an ...
", their cover of the Christmas classic, which was featured in the '' NCIS'' Season 9 Christmas episode, "Newborn King" and subsequently available for purchase on the band's official website. Original drummer Frankie LaRocka died in 2005 after undergoing surgery. Original keyboardist Benjy King died on September 20, 2012, from injuries sustained in an accident.


Band members

;Current members *
Patty Smyth Patricia Smyth (born June 26, 1957) is an American singer and songwriter. She first came into national attention with the rock band Scandal and went on to record and perform as a solo artist. Her distinctive voice and new wave image gained br ...
– lead vocals (1981–1985, 2004–present) * Keith Mack – guitar (1981–1985, 2004–present) * Tom Welsch – bass (2006–present) * Eran Asias – drums (2006–present) ;Former members * Benjy King – keyboards, guitar (1981–1984, 2004–2012; died 2012) * Zack Smith – guitar (1981–1984, 2004–2006) * Ivan Elias – bass (1981–1984; died 1995) *
Frankie LaRocka Frankie LaRocka (April 17, 1954 – May 12, 2005), born Frank LaRocca, was an American rock musician and producer. He was a member of Scandal, playing drums on their debut EP, and, at various stages, played the drums with Bon Jovi, David Johans ...
– drums (1981–1982; died 2005) * Thommy Price – drums (1982–1984, 2004–2006) *
Kasim Sulton Kasim Sulton (born December 8, 1955) is an American bass guitarist, keyboardist and vocalist. Best known for his work with Utopia, Sulton sang lead on 1980's "Set Me Free," Utopia's only top 40 hit in the United States. As a solo artist, Sulton ...
– bass (2004–2006)


Discography


Albums


Compilations

* ''Scandalous'' (1992) * ''We Are the '80s'' (2006)


Live albums

*''Goodbye to You! Best of the 80's Live'' (2018)


Singles


Music videos

Scandal has music videos for the following songs: * "Goodbye to You" * "Love's Got a Line on You" * "The Warrior" * "Beat of a Heart" * "Hands Tied"


See also

*
List of 1980s one-hit wonders in the United States A one-hit wonder is a musical artist who is successful with one hit song, but without a comparable subsequent hit. The term may also be applied to an artist who is remembered for only one hit despite other successes (such as "Take On Me, Take on ...


References


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Scandal (American band) American pop rock music groups Rock music groups from New York (state) Musical groups established in 1981 Musical groups disestablished in 1985 Musical groups reestablished in 2004 Musical groups from New York City Female-fronted musical groups