TKO (band)
| TKO | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Seattle, Washington |
| Genres | hard rock, heavy metal |
| Years active |
1977–1986 (Reunions: 1997, 2001) |
| Associated acts | American Standard, Angels Of Dresden, The Bang Gang, Adam Bomb, The Blues Feedback, Culprit, The McClellans, Mojo Hand, Nightshade, Q5, Suicide Squad, War Babies, Water Closet, Ze Whiz Kidz |
| Members | Brad Sinsel Kjartan Kristoffersen Scott Earl Ken Mary Adam 'Bomb' Brenner Gary Thompson Evan Sheeley Bill Durham Tony Bortko (deceased) Rick Pierce Mark Seidenverg Darryl Siguenza |
| Past members | Michael Alexich (deceased) |
1977–1986
TKO was a hard rock and heavy metal band from Seattle, Washington, which was active between 1977-1986. The group's lead vocalist and only consistent member was Brad Sinsel.
Sinsel, a native of Yakima, Washington, got his start in rock in the early 1970s in Ze Whiz Kidz, a flamboyant, influential glam rock band that opened a Seattle show by the New York Dolls in 1974. Eventually, he joined a reformed version of the band Mojo Hand [1] which featured co-founding members Mark Seidenverg (bass) and Darryl Siguenza (drums), along with former Whiz Kidz guitarist Rick Pierce. With the addition of Sinsel and Tony Bortko (guitar, keyboards) the band became TKO. Represented by managers who also worked with platinum sellers Heart, the band signed a major label recording contract in 1977, though it would be more than a year before the first album would appear.
The group released their Mike Flicker produced debut Let It Roll on the Infinity Records division of MCA Records in early 1979; it went on to sell roughly 150,000 copies. During this time the group had a type of glam rock image and fans compared their music favorably with The Who. TKO toured the U.S. extensively, including shows with the Kinks, Cheap Trick, AC/DC, Van Halen as well as Heart and made their way to Japan where they appeared at Japan Jam in 1979, with new rhythm section Evan Sheeley (bass) and Bill Durham (drums), both formerly with Yakima act Water Closet, in tow. TKO was unable to deliver a planned second album when Infinity went out of business and was absorbed by MCA in the spring of 1980.
By 1980, the line-up consisted of Sinsel, Sheeley, new drummer Gary Thompson and 17-year-old hot shot guitar player Adam Brenner, brought into the fold by Tony Bortko, who left shortly thereafter. Thompson and Brenner came from a local cover band named Tyrant which also featured future Queensrÿche vocalist Geoff Tate and bassist Scott Earl. Brenner quickly became a driving force and co-wrote most of the new material with Sinsel. Boasting a much grittier, more heavy metal oriented sound, the band would record their sophomore album, In Your Face, in 1981 with producer Rick Keefer at Sea West Studios in Oahu, HI but could not get signed to a record label. Brenner left in 1982 in order to pursue a solo career, surfacing as Adam Bomb and signed to Geffen Records for his 1984 debut Fatal Attraction. Pierce, Sheeley, and Thompson all left to join guitarist Floyd Rose and vocalist Scott Palmerton, aka Jonathan K., in Q5, releasing the much lauded Steel The Light album in 1984.
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