Lȧȧz Rockit

Biography

Lȧȧz Rockit was an American thrash metal band formed in San Francisco, California, in 1981. The band is most notable for its association with the Bay Area thrash metal scene of the 1980s.

Initial career and split (1981–1992)

Originally called Depth Charge, Lȧȧz Rockit was formed in 1981 in Berkeley, California, by vocalist Michael Coons and guitarist Aaron Jellum. Coons was 17, about to graduate high school, and Jellum was 18, busy attending college and riding motorcycles. They knew what musical direction they wanted to pursue. After performing with various members, Coons and Jellum came across guitarist Phil Kettner and drummer Victor Agnello in late 1982 or early 1983. By the time bassist Willy Lange joined in 1983 to complete the lineup of the band, Depth Charge had changed its name to Lȧȧz Rockit. Its first recording was the Prelude to Death demo, which was released that year. The band later signed with Target Records to release its debut album, City's Gonna Burn×City's Gonna Burn1984 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracksA1City's Gonna Burn4:18A2Caught in the Act3:18A3Take No Prisoners3:45A4Dead Man's Eyes3:35B1Forced to Fight3:55B2Silent Scream3:51B3Prelude3:58B4Something More2:52, in 1984, followed one year later by No Stranger to Danger×No Stranger to Danger1985 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Dreams Die Hard4:382I've Got the Time4:383Town to Town4:084Backbreaker3:435Stand Alone4:166Spared From the Fire4:307Off the Deep End3:358Tonight Alive3:389Wrecking Machine4:40. This period saw Lȧȧz Rockit play with a wide variety of bands, such as the "Big Four" of thrash metal—Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax—as well as Exodus, Ratt, W.A.S.P., Girlschool, Y&T, Leatherwolf, Kix, Dark Angel, Suicidal Tendencies, Stryper and Armored Saint. The band made its first appearance in Europe in 1986, supporting Motörhead. Its presence helped forge a new, heavier musical direction for the band and formed a unique relationship with European fans.
Lȧȧz Rockit released its next two albums, Know Your Enemy×Know Your Enemy31 December 1986 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Demolition1:162Last Breath4:373Euroshima3:564Most Dangerous Game6:105Shot to Hell3:566Say Goodbye M.F.4:177Self Destruct5:378Means to an End4:499I'm Electric3:0310Mad Axe Attack2:1811Shit's Ugly1:3712Euroshima (live)4:2513Spared From the Fire (live)6:06 in 1987 and Annihilation Principle×Annihilation Principle1989 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Fire in the Hole3:512Mob Justice5:033Chain of Fools4:194Shadow Company6:195Holiday in Cambodia (Digital mix)3:476Bad Blood4:377Chasin' Charlie4:468Mirror to Madness5:159The Omen6:3910Euroshima (live)4:2611Spared From the Fire (live)6:07 in 1989, under the labels Roadrunner/Enigma Records. Both albums were well-received by fans and critics. The band shared the stage with the likes of Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, Overkill, Testament, M.O.D., Celtic Frost, Kreator, Voivod, Nuclear Assault, Vio-lence, Forbidden, Metal Church, D.B.C., Suicidal Tendencies, the Cro-Mags, Faith No More and L.A. Guns. Later in 1989, Lange, Kettner and Agnello left the band for various reasons, leaving Coons and Jellum as the only remaining members. The two soon recruited guitarist Scott Sargeant, bassist Scott Dominguez and drummer Dave Chavarri. In 1991, the band's fifth album, Nothing's Sacred, was released. After touring in the United States and Europe from 1991 to 1992 and appearing in Japan in 1992, the band split up. Most of the members then formed the short-lived groove-oriented thrash metal band Gack, replacing Chavarri with Defiance drummer Matt Vander Ende.

Reunion (2005–present)

In 2005, Lȧȧz Rockit reformed with the original lineup, performing a return show at the Dynamo Open Air in May of that year. On July 9, 2005, the band teamed up with other bands to perform in San Francisco for a benefit concert dubbed Thrash Against Cancer. In September 2005, the band returned to Japan. Later, Lȧȧz Rockit announced that they would not record a new album. However, after the response to its shows in April 2007 and the sales of its Live Untold DVD, released in 2006, it was announced that the band would undertake a project intended to result in a new album for release in 2007 or early 2008. In 2007, new drummer Sky Harris joined the band. On May 27, 2008, Lȧȧz Rockit posted two new songs from its then-upcoming release Left for Dead on its official Myspace page. The album was released on July 25, 2008, on the German label Massacre Records. The band also announced that its back catalogue would be re-released and remastered; however, Nothing's Sacred was not mentioned for a re-release.
On December 9, 2011, the band opened for Metallica on the third concert of its 30th anniversary party at The Fillmore.
On June 1, 2014, drummer Victor Agnello died at the age of 50 after battling leukemia for over a year. On October 23, 2018, bassist Willy Lange died at the age of 57 from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident.
Although no official breakup or hiatus was announced, Lȧȧz Rockit has been inactive since opening for Metallica in 2011. By 2016, there were reports of the band writing a follow-up to 2008's Left for Dead. The band's official website had been defunct by March 2017.

Band members

Final lineup
Michael Coons – lead vocals (1981–1992, 2005–2011)
Aaron Jellum – guitars (1981–1992, 2005–2011)
Phil Kettner – guitars (1981–1989, 2005–2011)
Sky Harris – drums (2007–2011)
Past members
Scott Weller – guitars (1989–1990)
Scott Sargeant – guitars (1990–1992)
Dave Starr – bass (1981–1983)
Willy Lange – bass (1983–1989, 2005–2011; died 2018)
Jon Torres – bass (1989–1990; died 2013)
Scott Dominguez – bass (1991–1992)
Victor Agnello – drums (1983–1989, 2005–2006; died 2014)
Sven Soderlund – drums (1989–1990)
Dave Chavarri – drums (1990–1992)