Foundation and full-length debut Soldiers of the Night (1979–1986) Guitarist and composer Thorpe began his musical career as a teenager in
Honolulu, Hawaii. He had set out to start forming the band in the San Francisco Bay Area during the summer of 1979. Other Bay Area-based bands like
Exodus,
Anvil Chorus,
Metallica, and
Death Angel were also starting out during that era. These bands were playing the same local venues and establishing the
Bay Area thrash metal scene—which in a few years would become very popular worldwide. While working towards a stable lineup, early incarnations of Vicious Rumors played live extensively within California's Bay Area between 1980 and 1985. Their first studio recordings appeared on compilations such as
KMEL's
New Oasis and
U.S. Metal vol. III and IV in 1982, 1983 and 1984. These recordings helped the band obtain their first record deal with the legendary
Shrapnel Records. The band's first full-length album
Soldiers of the Night was released in 1985, it featured Geoff Thorpe, Gary St. Pierre, Vinnie Moore, Dave Starr, and Larry Howe. It quickly began to establish VR's worldwide reputation. This release is classed as a milestone and a classic in
power metal. The lineup at that time included a young guitarist named
Vinnie Moore. (Vinnie originally lived in Delaware, but was recommended to the band by Shrapnel Records founder
Mike Varney).
The classic Vicious Rumors: from Digital Dictator to Word of Mouth (1987–1994) Late 1986 saw bassist Dave Starr bring in vocalist
Carl Albert (Villain, Ruffians) and guitarist Mark McGee (Overdrive, Starcastle, and later with
Gregg Allman) to replace St. Pierre and Moore respectively—prior to the recording of the band's second album,
Digital Dictator. This release with Shrapnel Records helped define Vicious Rumors' classic US power metal sound.
Digital Dictator was the year's No. 1 album in one of Europe's top metal magazines, RockHard. The album sold well in Japan, the US, and the rest of Europe. and shot their first official video, "Don't Wait for Me", directed by
Gore Verbinski. This tour was quickly placed in rotation on MTV's
Headbangers Ball. 1991 saw the release of Vicious Rumors' fourth album,
Welcome to the Ball. This recording received
Bay Area Music Awards nominations for "Best New Metal Album" and "Outstanding Metal Album" (other nominees included Metallica and
Tesla). Their second MTV video, "Children", went beyond the exposure normally limited to metal bands on
Headbangers Ball. It received regular daytime air play. The band finished the year with a one-month European tour—with
Savatage—and four months worth of live US performance dates. After a 1992 tour with label-mates Savatage and the release of the
live album Plug In and Hang On: Live in Tokyo, guitarist Thorpe was diagnosed with
carpal tunnel syndrome. He was forced to undergo surgery. During the year-long hiatus for Vicious Rumors, the band parted company with both Atlantic Records and bassist Dave Starr. The CD included the song "Thunder and Rain" (parts 1 and 2), which was dedicated to the memory of
Criss Oliva of Savatage. Sales of "Word of Mouth" were strong, the reception was positive, and the band resumed touring to support the release. Vicious Rumors were now becoming increasingly popular in Europe; they were invited back to the Dynamo Open Air Festival in the Netherlands. They also joined forces with
Accept for several summer festival dates. Around the same time, Mark McGee left the band.
Steve Smyth (future member of
Nevermore,
Testament and
Forbidden) was recruited as his replacement. The band decided not to replace Albert at that time, and Thorpe assumed the role of vocalist for the band's next album:
Something Burning. This album was released in 1996 on the
Massacre Records label. The song "Perpetual", included on the album, was the last track written with Albert. The resulting reviews of the new release were favorable,) and drummer Tim Kelliher (of
Randy Hansen's Machine Gun), for their
The Lake of Memory album (released on the Big Island Sounds label in 2007). Several tracks prominently featured Thorpe, and the album enjoyed a great deal of worldwide radio airplay.
Return to a traditional sound (2004–2012) From 2004, in order to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the band's "Word of Mouth" release, there were some reunions (Thorpe, Howe, Sisco, plus McGee and Ira Black alternating on guitar and O'Connor on vocals). 2005 saw the release of the band's
Crushing the World DVD, which featured both current and historical Vicious Rumors lineups, The album
Warball (co-produced by Juan Urteaga) was recorded and released on the
Mascot Records label in early 2006. Members Cornbread and O'Connor left the band prior to its recording, but original members Dave Starr (bass) and Larry Howe (drums) returned. Vocalist
James Rivera (Helstar) and guitarists
Brad Gillis (
Night Ranger,
Ozzy Osbourne) and Thaen Rasmussen (Heathen, Anvil Chorus) contributed to the recordings of the new album. Worldwide sales were excellent and reviewers universally saw the
Warball album as a genuine "return to form" of a more traditional Vicious Rumors sound after the more experimental releases of the post-Carl Albert incarnations of the band. 2007 Stephen Goodwin stepped in to serve as bassist, and the band played several dates in Europe, including shows with
Agent Steel,
HammerFall,
Girlschool,
Nazareth, and
Heaven & Hell. Upon the band's return to the US, Ronnie Stixx (Divine Ruins, Blood Redskies,
Shadowkeep) took over as an interim replacement for the a departing Rivera. Rasmussen was replaced by Kiyoshi Morgan as second guitarist. Stixx was eventually replaced by Brian Allen (Last Empire, Wild Dogs). In 2009, Thorpe and Howe (alongside Allen, Goodwin and Morgan) acknowledged the 30th Anniversary of the inception of Vicious Rumors, by performing songs from their debut album,
Soldiers of the Night, with former singer Gary St. Pierre. at the Headbangers Open Air Festival. In 2011, Mark McGee, Tommy Sisco and Kevin Albert (the son of late vocalist Carl Albert) sat in with the band for their performance at the Keep It True Festival, also in Germany.
Rotating more members and recent events (2013–present) A new studio album,
Electric Punishment, was recorded and released on the SPV label in 2013. For their subsequent European tour, James Rivera returned temporarily to replace vocalist Allen. The Slovenian instrumentalist Tilen Hudrap took over for the departing Stephen Goodwin on bass and became the first European member of Vicious Rumors. The band continued touring into 2014: again playing the 70000 Tons of Metal cruise (playing their
Digital Dictator album in its entirety for the first time); as well as several big European summer festivals (headlining in Belgium, Croatia, Holland, Slovenia, Hungary, Germany, Italy, Czech Republic) and numerous live club dates. was released in June 2014, the first official release by the new VR lineup with European members Hudrap and Holleman. According to the band's web site, their first live dates in South America took place in December 2014. The band played in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Negrinho, Buenos Aires, and Curitiba. The band embarked in new American and European Tours. In Germany, at Keep It True Festival, Vicious Rumors are once again joined onstage by Keven Albert. Pre-production for the 12th studio album,
Concussion Protocol, began in late 2014. It was released August 2016 on
SPV/Steamhammer, followed by the singles "Chasing the Priest" and "Take It or Leave It", and a full-scale tour of Europe in November. This lineup of Vicious Rumors performed several live dates in Europe, as well as the US (California) in the summer of 2017. In 2018 and 2019, the band celebrated the 30th anniversary of
Digital Dictator with a world tour and a new line up. Nick Courtney was announced as replacement for the again departing Brian Allen on vocals, and Cody Green stepped in on bass for Tilen Hudrap. The touring is intense in US and Europe. In spring 2019, again at Keep It True Festival, Vicious Rumors held a special set with guest Kevin Albert on vocals. In 2020, a new album,
Celebration Decay, was released which saw the studio debut of both DuGrey and Courtney. Guests on the record are
Greg Christian on bass and Cody Green on guitars, while the band's new live bassist was the Swedish Robin Utbult. In July 2022, the band announced that former
Metal Church vocalist
Ronny Munroe had joined the band. On July 24, 2023, Munroe announced his departure for medical reasons. He would be replaced with Brian Allen once again. The band tours once again worldwide, including the long awaited return to Japan. Longest standing member beside Geoff Thorpe, drummer Larry Howe, suddenly announces his departure from the band in May, 2024. For the following gigs is replaced by Gunnar Coston from the band Wicked. One month later also singer Brian Allen and guitarist Gunnar DuGrey step out from Vicious Rumors. Larry Howe anyway returns behind the drumkit very soon, while a new guitarist is found in Denver Cooper. Brian "Chalice" Betterton is announced as new vocalist. Vicious Rumors' first studio album in five years, ''The Devil's Asylum'', was released on August 29, 2025. On April 20, 2025, Howe exited the band. == Band members ==