Bang Tango

Initially the band was founded by guitarist Mark Knight and bassist Kyle Kyle in 1988. Knight wanted a second guitarist and recruited Kyle Stevens. At the suggestion of Rough Cutt's Amir Derakh, vocalist Joe Leste' joined the band as its frontman which led to Leste's childhood friend, Tigg Ketler, completing the 5 piece line up as Bang Tango's drummer.

The band then began to play shows and would gain a following on the sunset strip scene in Hollywood, packing all the popular clubs and venues at the time, which led to a bidding war with many major labels. Bang Tango were then signed to MCA Records.

Their first release — the Live Injection EP — came out in early 1989, in advance of their Howard Benson-produced debut album, Psycho Café, which reached number 58 on the Billboard top 200 chart. The music video for the single "Someone Like You" was a popular staple on early 1990s MTV programming such as Dial MTV and Headbangers Ball. A video was also made for the single "Breaking Up a Heart of Stone". The band toured extensively during this period with the likes of Cheap Trick, LA Guns, Ratt, and Bulletboys.

Their second album, the John Jansen-produced Dancin' on Coals (1991), failed to match the success of their debut. A music video was shot for the single "Untied and True" and the album peaked on the Billboard Top 200 at number 113. The band then released a second live EP, Ain't No Jive...Live! in 1992.

In 1993, after Dancin' On Coals proved to be not the success MCA had hoped for, the band's label still honored Bang Tango's record contract with a third LP. Hoping to recapture the success of their first album, the band decided to re-team with Psycho Cafe' producer Howard Benson for Love After Death. The album ended up being shelved by MCA due to the label feeling a return would not be possible with how much was already invested monetarily for the recording. After recording was complete, guitarist Kyle Stevens made the decision to leave the band. The album would see a release in the UK and Japan through the Music For Nations label. Though to this day the band still perform songs from this album during their live set, Love After Death has yet to see a release in the U.S.[1][2][3]

The break up of the original line up of Bang Tango occurred in 1995 after returning from a European tour in support of Love After Death.

Frontman Joe Leste' and bassist Kyle Kyle would then reform the band in 1996 with a revolving door of musicians.

In 1997, Leste' and Kyle Kyle formed the alternative rock band Eating Crow as a side project. Though no recordings were ever officially released and only a handful of shows were played, the song So Abused was featured in the Wes Craven film Wishmaster but not released on its soundtrack. With the band being a side project of then current members of Bang Tango, So Abused was featured heavily in Bang Tango's live set list in the late 1990s.[4]

In 1998 the band released the live album, simply titled Live.

In 1999 the band released Greatest Tricks, which was a compilation of the band's most well known songs re-recorded with Bang Tango's current line up at the time.

The Joe Leste' and Kyle Kyle version of the band continued to tour under the Bang Tango name until dissipating 1999.[2]

Frontman Joe Leste' would go on to sign a record deal with Warner Bros. and form the hard rock band Beautiful Creatures in 2001.

In 2003 Joe Leste' would once again reform the band, this time as its sole original member, and released the Ready to Go album.

One reunion show with all original members of Bang Tango occurred in 2006. The whole show can be viewed on YouTube but is mislabeled as being from 2015.[5]

2006 saw the release of the From The Hip album and 2011 saw the release of Pistol Whipped in the Bible Belt.[2]

In 2010 the original lineup minus frontman Joe Leste' would reform with a different vocalist and perform 2 shows as Bang Tango Redux.[6]

In 2014 Bang Tango recruited former Dio guitarist Rowan Robertson.[7]

Shortly after completing and screening Attack of Life: The Bang Tango Movie, director Drew Fortier would go on to join Bang Tango as their second guitarist in 2015.[8]

Bang Tango has reportedly been working on a new album.[9]

In November 2019 it was announced that the original Bang Tango line up consisting of Joe Leste, Mark Knight, Kyle Kyle, Kyle Stevens, and Tigg Ketler would be reuniting to tour in 2020.[10]

Original Bang Tango guitarist Mark Knight went on to form Mark Knight & the Unsung Heroes which features appearances from former Bang Tango bandmates Tigg Ketler and Kyle Stevens.[11]

Original Bang Tango bassist Kyle Kyle went on to form Mona Lisa Overdrive.[12]

• Joe Lesté – lead vocals (1988-1995; 1996-1999; 2003-present)
• Mark Knight - guitar (1988-1995; 2019-present)
• Kyle Kyle – bass guitar (1988-1995; 1996-1999; 2019–present)
• Kyle Stevens – guitar (1988-1993; 2019-present)
• Tigg Ketler - drums (1988-1995; 2019-present)

(This is a partial list. It does not include all of the members who have toured with the band.)

• Rob Jones (1996-1997)
• Ray Luzier (1997)
• Michael Licata (1997-1998)
• Danny Parker (1998)
• Walter Earl (1999)
• Bobby "Tango" Gibb (2003)
• Glen Sobel (2003)
• Matt Starr (born Matt Franklin) (2003-2005)
• Jason Hugie (2005)
• Troy Patrick Farrell (2009)
• Trent Anderson (2009-2013)
• Timmy Russell (2004-2009; 2013–2019)

• Matt Price (1993)
• Mark Tremalgia (1993-1999)
• Mattie B (1998-1999)
• Anthony Focx (2003-2004; 2008-2009; 2009–2010)
• Michael Thomas (2003; 2005; 2007-2008)
• Ryan Seelbach (2007-2008)
• Dave Henzerling (2008)
• Mark Simpson (2005-2007)
• Alex Grossi (2003-2005; 2008-2010)
• Scott LaFlamme (2010-2014)
• Rowan Robertson (2014–2018)
• Drew Fortier (2015–2017)
• Steve Favela (2018-2019)

• Brian Saunders (2003)
• Curtis Roach (born Chris Roach) (2003-2005)
• Mike Howells (2005)
• Jamie Zimlin (2005)
• Lance Eric (2005-2019)