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Bang Tango & Beautiful Creatures -Sunset Strip Rock, Then & Now© Marianne Moro
Dec 10, 2001
Bang Tango had the mixed blessing of being a band that came precariously close to the big time, played better than some of the guys who did, but got lost in the shuffle. Providing a variation on the long-haired, pretty boy theme, they looked more Goth and less glam. Singer Joe LeSte had the 2nd best hair in rock next to Ian Astbury, and his voice carried a soulful screech, not thin at all. Psycho Café , originally released on Mechanic Records in 1989, was their best album. Even the colorful stained glass window design of the CD cover caught your attention even before you listened to a note. Psycho Café featured the hit ballad. Someone Like You the kind of song that is only identifiable when you hear it. The title and even humming a few bars may not spark the memory banks. ( Someone Like You was on MTV's Top 10 request list for over 3 months in 1990). The low, whispering blatant blues of Wrap My Wings. The title sounds like a monster ballad but it's a crunchy piece 'o blues-rock. The upbeat Breakin Up A Heart Of Stone ("I'm breakin up a heart of stone/that left you alone) is a slice of memorable pop. It's clearly a winning entry in the hair metal genre, but cuts like Love Injection digress from the unspoken pop metal rules - like replacing the lighting fast verse to chorus hook with a longer two minutes set up before the chorus hooks in. Guitarists Mark Knight and Kyle Stevens knew how to mix up sleazy blues riffs with clear, distinct melodies. Alas, the group's exposure was short-lived. They continued to tour and released the album Dancin' On Coalsin 1991, followed by a few live albums. Dancin' On Coals, an attempt at sophisticated pop, didn't live up to the promise of Psycho Café and the band was dropped from MCA. In '97, they toured with Warrant and L.A. Guns. Their greatest hits CD Greatest Tricks was released by Cleopatra Records in 1999. Later in 1999, Bang Tango morphed into Beautiful Creatures.Joe LeSte is still the vocalist but the backing line-up has changed. DJ Ashba and Anthony Focx handle guitars, Kenny Kweens is the bassist, and Glenn Sobel mans the drums. The guitars are harsher, owing to the aggro-rock and rap-rock movements; the lyrics still sleazy but smarter. The whole presentation is streamlined , the Goth look (or as Goth as you can get on a buncha guys who are in their mid-30s) is still apparent. They toured with Ozzfest this year, with guitarist Anthony Focx writing a tour diary. (Tour diaries are big on rock band websites this year ). A racier version appeared on Playboy's http://www.sexnrocknroll.com The BC have already garnered a small but loyal fan base, but the album didn't do as well as expected despite lots of publicity.
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