Formation and main career (1988–2001) Phantom Blue was formed in 1988 in Los Angeles by
Michelle Meldrum and Nicole Couch. Couch and Meldrum were students of
Paul Gilbert and
Bruce Bouillet of
Racer X. Michelle Meldrum had played with drummer
Linda McDonald in previous projects and together with vocalist Gigi Hangach and original bassist, Debra Armstrong. Armstrong left the band in June 1988, prior to the band signing with Shrapnel Records, in October 1988, and was replaced by
Kim Nielsen, a student of
John Alderete, bassist for Racer X and
The Mars Volta. Couch and Meldrum also co-wrote a track on the album with Marty Friedman. currently lives in
Sioux City, Iowa with her husband. She left the music industry soon after being replaced by Kim Nielsen in 1988, and went on to pursue a career in 3D modeling and engineering, working for clients such as
Disney Imagineering,
DARPA and others. Guitarist
Michelle Meldrum went on to form an international band called
Meldrum. The band has toured with
Zakk Wylde's
Black Label Society,
Motörhead,
Sepultura,
Nashville Pussy and
Danzig. They have released a live DVD,
Loaded Live, and two albums,
Loaded Mental Cannon and ''
Blowin' Up the Machine'', the latter featuring her former Phantom Blue bandmate, drummer Linda McDonald. On May 21, 2008, Meldrum died as a result of a cerebral hemorrhage. She left behind her husband
John Norum (of
Europe) and their son Jake. ==Discography==