Don’t think I’ve written about Tokyo Blade here yet. So here we go – a bit of a potted history of another NWOBHM-era band which has come and gone and (September2015) still active. This history goes back to the late 1970s and their original band name of Killer. That was changed to Genghis Khan with the importation of a new vocalist before even more early line-up changes saw yet another name change – this time to Tokyo Blade. Still with me so far?
Indeed. Line-up changes would come thick and fast. I couldn’t possibly keep up. Suffice it to say however, a few early singles would emerge soon attracting more mainstream record company attention as the band’s reputation grew. A self-titled debut album would follow in 1983 which was well received by the industry press. Various dates with various other NWOBHM bands would see the band attempting to drive home the album’s tasty reviews.
The touring appeared to work and they would graduate to a bona-fide headline act in their own right becoming particularly popular in France as I recall. That early success wouldn’t last. Despite more well-received album output, tours with the likes of the Blue Oyster Cult and high-profile festival shows the all too common scenario of iffy record company backing would see Tokyo Blade splitting around 1985 or so.
They had the chops back then. A sort of cross between Iron Maiden and a bit of hair metal. Have a look at them performing Night of the Blade live.
But as we know, you can’t keep a good New Wave of British Heavy Metal band down. Main man and founding member Andy Boulton is nothing if not a persistent chap and the Blade reformed with the reunion including other original members. Albums and tours have followed and it’s been just like old times with the numerous line-up changes never too far away. An example being the return of former vocalist Chris Gillen earlier this year.
The debut album is perhaps the best place to start. It is something of a NWOBHM classic. It’s been given the remastering treatment and available as a double-CD with all sorts of extra track. Great!
>> TOKYO BLADE REMASTERED AND EXTRA TRACKS <<
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