Intro (Edit)

D-ZIRE was formed in Los Angeles in the summer of 1995, by founding members Byron Bahan (Bass) and Tomo Nishimura (Lead Guitar). Orange County drummer Stell Steel and Hollywood vocalist Toney Richards rounded out the original line-up. In March of 1998, Stell Steel was replaced by ex. Rockin’ Horse drummer Billy Miller. D-ZIRE was labeled a Glam Metal band but were also referred to as a Glam Rock and a Hard Rock act. It was ironic though that a local Hollywood Rock publication (Rock City News) nominated D-ZIRE in the Best Metal Band category two years in a row (2000 & 2001). They did appear on Rock City Records Compilation #3 “Marking New Territory” when they submitted a special version of their catchy song: “Chance On Love” in the summer of 2000. It was followed up by a CD release party at the Coconut Teaszer.

There were many different acts on the compilation that covered different genres of music. D-ZIRE was representing the Glam community at a time when people were putting Glam down in the States. This was sort of odd in Hollywood- the birth of L.A. Glam Metal. The hardcore acts were getting most of the recognition and notoriety but D-ZIRE managed to earn the respect of the crowd and win over some new fans. Their success would not stop there.  Lead Vocalist Toney Richards who was a veteran of the Hollywood club circuit, came in contact with Donna and Brett Bartlet who were heads of the KISS fan club in Brisbane, Australia. The fan club had a quarterly publication (Radioactive magazine) that featured articles on KISS and the whole KISS community around the world. It was because of Donna and an interview that she did with Richards entitled: The Kiss of Desire, that the whole world would learn about the L.A. based underground Glam Band.

The band was featured in many European and American e-zines which further enhanced their popularity. They opened up for many major acts such as: Saxon, Babylon AD, Lizzy Borden, Gilby Clarke, L.A. Guns, Phil Lewis (solo project), Pretty Boy Floyd, Rik Emmet (Triumph), etc. They were regulars at the Coconut Teaszer jamming at the Glitter Glam Fests with former London guitarist Lizzie Grey’s band Spiders & Snakes. They were featured on FM 95.5 KLOS( The Local Licks Show) and were also played on KNAC online as well as numerous college radio stations.

Their full length debut effort “The Awakening” was released on October 16, 2002 on KiK O’ Rama Records. They opened up for Rik Emmet of Triumph fame on his solo tour at Paladino’s in Tarzana, California. There were many other dates that were scheduled to support the new release but tensions between band members had hit an all time high, that all of the dates had to be cancelled and the band broke up with each band member going their own way. It was very unfortunate because “The Awakening” sold over 10,000 copies worldwide without any major promotion behind it. It was voted Album of the Year by Metal Easteen e-zine in Indonesia for 2003 and they were artist of the month for January of 2003 on Maddog Radio in Hawaii. Martini Shot Films payed for the rights to use one of their songs-”Amanda Mae” for a party scene in their annual skydiving convention video, which was titled: Rantoul 2002. Who knows what other opportunties could have manifested from all of this?

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History (Edit)

They did their best to keep the genre alive in the U.S. at a time when it was being labeled as “dated”- yet they still garnered enough critical acclaim to be noticed.   “The Awakening” is a good solid effort with lots of fun, catchty tunes that will immediately put you in a good mood. There are political overtones because of the 9-11 incident and the band’s need to address that issue but music is music and the songs are the main focus.

D-ZIRE let the world know that good American Glam Rock was still alive in the late 90’s and early 2000’s and “The Awakening” was proof that it definitely ROCKED. Bands like Guttersluts, Mother Mercy, Peppermint Creeps, Spiders & Snakes, Deadgirl, Revlon Red and D-ZIRE were letting the world know that the underground Glam Scene in Hollywood was still alive. It has now switched over to bands like Veins of Jenna and Dirty Penny to represent the Glam scene in L.A.

Of the four band members, drummer Billy Miller and vocalist Toney Richards have managed to keep busy. Miller is playing in a cover band but no longer is involved in the Hollywood Glam Scene. Richards has worked with Michael Wilton from Queensryche on a song he wrote about the 9-11 incident called: “No More Cryin”. He also was working with guitarist Derek Frigo of Enuff Z’ Nuff before his untimely death due to a drug overdose. He then put together a project with ex. Suicide Alley guitarist Ashlyn Childs and world renown drummer David Raven to form Wikkid Starr. They wrote the the theme song Zombie TV for the horror-comedy that will be released later this year as well as the comical Feed Me. Veteran South Bay producer (Bullet Boys, Dokken, Great White, Gilby Clarke) Bill Krodel was the engineer on the project. Unfortunately, Bill passed away on August of 2007 and will be sadly missed.  Richards has promised to put D-ZIRE back together with a new potent line-up and continue in the Glam genre but nothing has materialized as of yet because of other projects and committments. I guess we’ll have to wait and see what transpires.

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