Artist History My life began in Zagreb, Croatia in 1964. I lived in a small town outside the city with my grandparents where my older brother and I lived until the age of six. It didn't take long to discover the beautiful gift God had given me. At the age of five I would sing as loud as I could with all my heart to the radio, along with the folk and country songs my family was so fond of. At that time my parents were off in America trying to find a home. In 1970 my parents came to Croatia and took us to America to live with them. We lived in Mount Kisko, NY, in an apartment above a doctor's office. My Dad worked across the street wiring the electricity for a new hospital. My brother and I used to play outside in the front yard while our father checked up on us from the hospital windows while he worked. At the age of seven, we moved to Greenwich, Connecticut, into the ugliest house on the street. Shortly after our arrival my brother John decided to learn to play guitar, and I was right next to him belting out all that I had inside of me. We played country music because that was the music my father liked. We were convinced everyone in America listened only to country music. We became pretty good, and it wasn't long before our father started taking us to all the Polish, Jewish, and Veterans' clubs that he could find, to have us perform. At the age of nine I started singing in the church choir. Then, at the age of eleven I discovered Led Zeppelin and my whole life changed. Life became increasingly difficult. My brother and I loved this kind of music, but our father would not tolerate it. There was a constant battle for the freedom to pursue our own destiny. At the age of thirteen we formed a band called "Teazer" and performed Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath as well as original songs. It wasn't long before a producer named Morgan Walker showed interest in us. Before we knew what was going on, we were rehearsing in New York City, working on songs to make our first record. However it fell apart before our dream was realized. At the age of fifteen, I joined a band called "The Mission" with the leader of the band named Elliot Lewis, (who later became a member of "The Average White Band"). I left that band with studio and writing experience under my belt. Shortly after, I received a phone call from a gentleman named Don Stroh. Don was the owner of Showcase Studios, a rehearsal complex in Norwalk, CT. He had seen me perform in a night club with "The Mission'. He told me that he strongly believed I belonged with one of the bands that rehearsed in his studio. I agreed to check them out. At the age of sixteen I joined up with James Ward, Chris Risola, and Jack Wilkinson - "Red Alert" was formed. Eight years later Jack was replaced by John Fowler. We also added a rhythm guitar player, Frank DeCostanzo, to form a five-piece. It wasn't long until MCA signed us, and we made our debut record "Steelheart." The album sold a million copies worldwide. We toured the world and then went on to record a second album, "Tangled in Reins." Then after successful tours of Asia and Europe, the band flew home to tour the U.S.A in support of the band "Great White." On the last leg of the tour we were invited to perform one last show as the opening act for the band "Slaughter" at McNichol's Arena in Denver, Colorado, on Halloween night. That night was the beginning of a long spiritual journey for me. While performing the song "Dancing in the Fire," I climbed a lighting trust not knowing it was improperly secured. I tried to evade the falling rig, but it struck me on the back of my head just before I could get out of its way, crushing me to the stage face first. I broke my nose, cheekbone, and jaw and received 28 stitches in the back of the head; my spine was also twisted. I do not know how or where my strength came from, but I stood up in front of 18,000 people and walked off stage. I was immediately taken to the hospital. My manager put me on a plane the next day. Not only should I have died that night when the 1000-pound rig smashed me to the floor, but my brain should have exploded from my being 30,000 feet up in the airplane. It wasn't until I got home and in bed that the real pain from the accident became apparent. For months the pain was so excruciating that the slightest movement of my head was maddening. "Steelheart" was over. Precious memory was lost, and I found myself in a continuous daze for three years after the accident, sometimes finding myself driving in the middle of the night two hours away from my home not realizing what I was doing. I was in a dream but no one realized it; everyone thought I was fine. The many doctors I visited told me the same thing - there was nothing wrong with me. It wasn't until I met a neuro psychologist who explained to me that I had "TBI", Traumatic Brain Injury. It took two years of continuous concentration and focus to relearn and reprogram my mind. Throughout this struggle I was never reimbursed nor granted any financial compensation. I had lost my family, my home, and my money, but I had found myself. In 1995, at the age of thirty-one, I put together a band, consisting of Kenny Kinowski, Vincent Melle, and Alex Macarovich. We recorded an album in England called "Wait." I must say it was the most difficult album to make. I was still somewhat in a daze during the recording. We called the album "Wait" because it took so damn long to win my freedom from the record company as well as from my manager, who was taking more than what belonged to him. After paying a large sum of money to both of them, I was finally able to move on with my career and release the record two years later. During the mixing of the album "Wait" I had an "awakening". Sitting back in a chair, with my feet on the recording console and with closed eyes, I was fully relaxing. All of a sudden, something went right through me. Looking over to my producer Kit Woolven, he asked me what was wrong. I could only reply with, "I just woke up." The next chapter of my life had begun. We went on a promotional tour of Asia for the release of "Wait", 28 shows in 32 days in 13 different countries. The tour made a powerful impact with the title song "Wait" reaching number 1 in many Asian countries. We later proceeded back to Korea to perform two more shows. At that point I asked my former band mate, Jimmy Ward, to come and perform with us at Olympic Stadium in Seoul, and at Kojo Hall in Pusan. The tour was a great success. However the album never reached America or Europe because of legalities. Now, six years later I am proud to say that I have started my own record company called StillHard Records, and the album "Wait" is available for you here at Steelheart.com. After returning home from the Asian tour, my mother passed away at the age of 56, after a long battle with Leukemia. A year later my friend Frankie Daniels, whom I call my brother, passed away from the same disease. They left me with an overwhelming amount of love, as well as sending me a beautiful blue-eyed angel whom I love and hold very dear - a true Hollywood romance to be told at a later date. Shortly after Frankie's death, I received a phone call from an old friend and producer of my second album, Tom Werman. He asked me if I would be interested in performing the vocals for the movie "Metal God" which was later retitled "Rock Star." I became the voice of Mark Wahlberg. I sang eight songs for the movie, one of which was "We All Die Young", which was off the "Wait" album. After completing this project I ventured into Europe for three months to pursue my interest in the electronic techno-trance world and to gain a better appreciation and understanding of the life behind the music, from the Love Parade in Berlin, to the beautiful island of Ibiza, to the Smokies of Amsterdam. For three months I traveled, studied, observed, and of course, enjoyed everything around me. I will incorporate these thoughts and experiences into my next album. After my European adventure, I returned to the U.S, exhausted. So, for one year I hibernated in the hills of Virginia. During this time I had the opportunity to gather my strength physically, mentally, and spiritually. As I am writing this I am in the living room of a Virginia home. A week from today I will be leaving here to return to all of you. It is time for a new beginning. From anger to peace, through pain to understanding, with patience to victory, I stand before you. SteelHeart

Albums Wait

Location LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - USA

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