Artist description Guitar driven hard rock in a classic 80s vein.

Music Style Heavy Rock

Artist History Spawned in 1980, HARD BARGAIN (then known as CRISIS) was an anomaly. In the U.S. metal scene, circa early 80's, everyone seemed to emulate the polished Motley, Ratt, Quiet Riot style. CRISIS did not. Their sound was revved up, raw and noisy. A lot of press at the time accused them of sounding "punk" but actually the band's inspiration came from the likes of Rory Gallagher, Raven and Motorhead. It is no wonder that their biggest following was always in Europe. Their 1983 debut record Armed To The Teeth on England's Bullet Records received remarkable attention from the European press but was virtually ignored in the United States. Kerrang! magazine said CRISIS was better than anything coming out of Los Angeles at the time, and so they were.Their second album Kick It Out was scheduled for a late 1984 or early 1985 release but Bullet Records went bankrupt and a long international legal battle ensued before the band could retrieve their master tapes. Consequently the album's release was delayed until 1986. By that time CRISIS had lost much of its momentum and to complicate matters "Kick It Out" failed to secure European distribution and thus didn't reach the band's established fan base. These misfortunes proved to be the beginning of the end for the band, who still couldn't seem to build a following amongst the "hair spray and spandex" metal fans in the U.S.CRISIS struggled on for three more years surviving multiple personnel changes. They managed to record one more album called Rough Night that came out of the final mix so poorly that the band refused to release it except as a free gift to longtime fans. These "gifts" were nothing new for followers of CRISIS. A 7" single in 1985 was given away free to fans and a 1986 compilation album called Metal Warriors on Europe's Other Records was also freely distributed to fans by the band who had received several hundred copies from the label as payment for their contribution of the tune "Keep Fighting" to the record.In 1989, burned out and jaded, CRISIS threw in the towel having lived up to their name. Various members of the band went on to record solo projects most notably Jeff Cross who released a tidy collection of EPs and singles, both rockin' and mellow. But somehow the muses of rock ‘n roll kept bugging the members of CRISIS and in the mind 90's like a guitar slinging Phoenix, CRISIS rose from the cinders of their own flare out and with the addition of Dan James on second guitar all three original members, Jeff Cross (guitar), Bret Desmond (drums) and Dane Thomson (bass, vocals) changed their name to HARD BARGAIN and started from square one. The self titled debut CD from HARD BARGAIN is a fully independently produced and financed project and features 10 songs that are probably unlike anything that has come across your desk recently. The band have retained an umbilical to their hard driving past but have allowed the seasoning of 20 years of musical expression to influence their sound as well. Songs like "Independent", "Dodged Another Bullet" and "It Isn't Easy Being Me" are reminiscent of the band's classic hard rock roots, complete with blazing guitar solos and lyrics that alternate between defiance and mocking self depreciation. A heretofore unseen gentler side of the band is also evident on acoustic numbers like "Kicked Around", "Driving Rain" and the stunningly atypical "Guava and Palmetto". And just to make sure nobody gets the mistaken impression that after two decades of hard knocks (and hard bargains, of course) these guys are taking themselves too seriously, check out the fun filled instrumental "Sheraza", the most quirky thing you'll ever hear a guitar band do. HARD BARGAIN is currently seeking label support and distribution for their debut CD. Interested parties can contact the band directly at: hardbargain99@aol.com

Group Members Jeff Cross (Guitars), Dane Thomson (Bass, vocals), Bret Desmond (Drums), Dan James (Guitars, Keyboard, Vocals)

Instruments Guitar. Bass, Drums,Throat plus the odd keyboard

Albums "Armed To The Teeth" (as CRISIS) 1983, "Keep Fighting/Kick It Out" (as CRISIS) 7" single 1985, "Kick It Out" (as CRISIS) 1985, "Saved From Extinction" (as CRISIS) 1993, "Hard Bargain" (as HARD BARGAIN) 2000

Location Salt Lake City, Utah - USA

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