Roy - HardRock / Salsa / Latin

The Tribe Of Gypsies

From:	California, US
Label:	Unsigned

A half century after the legendary Ritchie Valens made his mark as the original Latino rock'n'roll pioneer, Pacoima, California is once again Ground Zero for another Latin rock volcano. Led by guitarist/songwriter/producer Roy Z, who grew up on those same East San Fernando Valley streets, comes the multi-cultural sonic experience that is the TRIBE OF GYPSIES, ready to ignite the world with their passionate mix of traditional Latin rhythms, glorious rock swagger, and pop sensibilities. Introducing powerhouse vocalist Chas West, who first came to international attention fronting the Jason Bonham Band, multi-faceted drummer Dave Moreno, and Swiss-born guitarist Christian Byrne, the TRIBE OF GYPSIES are hitting new creative peaks with their soon-to-be released fourth full-length album, 'Dweller On The Threshold.' Co-produced and mixed by the legendary team of Ritchie Podolor and Bill Cooper (Steppenwolf, Michelle Branch, Halford), the TRIBE demonstrate a tremendous stylistic vocabulary, with songs ranging from the hard rockin' double whammy of 'Ride On' and 'Desolate Chile', to the infectious, acoustic driven 'After the Summer', all-instrumental Latin stunner, 'Flying Tigers, Crying Dragons', and the fiery epic 'Hands to Eternity', the album's Flamenco-flavored climax. Elsewhere the band delve into U2-ish rock/gospel territory ('Halos'), pour it on thick and funky with the anthemic 'Stop Bombing Each Other!', an impassioned plea for peace and sanity in the world, pull off a daring cover of the Van Halen classic 'Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love', deliver pop deluxe in the form of 'Never Will Be Mine', and unleash the torrent Spanish vocal tour-de-force, 'La Hora', highlighted by Roy Z's burning, Miles Davis-inspired lead guitar free-for-all. The roots of the TRIBE OF GYPSIES go back to the early 90's when Roy Z, disenchanted with the stagnating local L.A. scene, decided to form a new band that would reflect his Hispanic heritage while at the same time retaining a universal appeal. An initial 8-track home demo quickly found its way into the hands of a German indie record label exec who inked the fledgling group to a deal. But it a was chance encounter with Bruce Dickinson, vocalist for British heavy metal icons Iron Maiden, who fell in love with the band's ethnic sound while working at the same L.A. studio, that proved most fateful. Not only would the TRIBE soon find themselves in a London, England studio working with Dickinson on his acclaimed 1994 solo effort 'Balls to Picasso' - a liaison that has lasted to this day with a string of stunning albums such as 'The Chemical Wedding' ('98) and 'Tyranny of Souls' ('05) - the band also joined the prestigious Sanctuary Management roster and landed a worldwide deal with Mercury/PolyGram. However, internal changes at the label and a hostile musical climate soon left the TRIBE out in the cold. Catching the eyes and ears of the powers-that-be at JVC/Victor Japan, the TRIBE OF GYPSIES would release two records in short succession, 'Tribe Of Gypsies' ('96) and 'Nothing Lasts Forever' ('97), whose soulful, highly energetic mix of melodic heavy rock and Latin elements met with tremendous response, resulting in rave reviews around the globe. British scribe Tom Coyne proclaimed: "After listening to tens of thousands of records over the last 25 odd years, I rarely get my doors blown off, but by golly, I'm legitimately floored by these guys. Every damn track is tremendous." A very successful tour of Japan alongside Bruce Dickinson followed, with Elvis Balladares and Ray Rodriguez taking over on percussion and keyboards, respectively. New Mexico-based Native American artist Gregg Analla would slide into the vacant lead vocalist spot in time for 1998's captivating 'Revolucion 13', a 60-plus minute epic steeped in cultural symbolism going back to Aztec times. Hitting full stride, the band quickly went to work on another record, with East L.A.-bred bassist Juan Perez joining the fold. Ringing in the new millennium with a January 1, 2000 bang, the TRIBE emerged with 'Standing On The Shoulders of Giants' (re-titled 'Tribe of Gypsies III' in Europe), which showcased a lighter, more accessible side of the group's sound - described by one reviewer as something akin to "Santana and Thin Lizzy taking a Caribbean vacation." The year was further highlighted by a successful trek opening up for Latin rock patron saint Carlos Santana on part of his 'Supernatural' U.S. tour, culminating in two memorable shows in San Francisco, CA and a backstage meeting with the master himself who gave the band his blessings. A full decade into their recording history, a re-charged TRIBE OF GYPSIES are about to open a new and exciting band chapter with 'Dweller On The Threshold.' "We can't wait to take this baby 'out of the garage' and get in front of people and tear it up live", enthuses mainman Roy Z, excited about the band's upcoming activities. "Making this album was a painstaking process and at the same time an absolute labor of love, with all the contractions you could ever possibly imagine along the way. But, it was worth it - I think we've come up with possibly the most well rounded TRIBE album to date. We didn't set out to cover all the bases when we first started on 'Dweller' but it's sort of turned out that way - there is something for everyone on this record. We will rock you, we will soothe you, and we will funk you up but good!" The TRIBE OF GYPSIES are fueled by the positive spirit of humanity and musicianship that spreads from horizon to horizon and all points in between. While their Latin roots will likely be most recognizable, the TRIBE have the ability to be soulful, heavy, danceable, rocking, profound, heavy as a knockout punch, or as soft as a kiss but it's always unmistakably 'Tribal.