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Dangerous Toys
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| Dangerous Toys | ||
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| Background information | ||
| Origin | Austin, Texas, USA | |
| Genre(s) | Hard Rock, Sleaze Metal | |
| Years active | 1987-1996 (Reunions: 2003, 2005, 2006) |
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| Website | Official Website | |
| Members | ||
| Jason McMaster - Vocals Paul Lidel - Guitar Scott Dalhover - Guitar Mike Watson - Bass Mark Geary - Drums |
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| Former members | ||
| Tim Trembley - guitar Danny Aaron - guitar Kevin Fowler - guitar |
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Dangerous Toys are an Austin, Texas-based hard rock band with a rough sound and often humorous lyrics. Their music can be categorized as sleaze metal, along side bands like L.A. Guns, Roxx Gang, and Guns N' Roses. Founded in 1987, Dangerous Toys put out four full-length albums and one live album before unofficially disbanding at the turn of the millennium.
Their major label debut, the Gold-certified Dangerous Toys featured the singles "Teas N' Pleas N' " and "Scared", both of which are still staples on specialty and satellite radio and VH1. In 2006 "Teas N' Pleas N' " was covered by Shadows Fall (Atlantic Records) on their B-Sides LP Fallout From The War, featuring guest vocals from Toys' vocalist Jason McMaster.
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Dangerous Toys was formed in October of 1987. Jason McMaster, singer for Watchtower, was invited by Tim Trembley to join his band Onyx as singer. Onyx included Scott Dalhover (guitar), Mike Geary (drums) and Mike Watson (bass). In 1988, now calling themselves Dangerous Toys, the band ws signed to Columbia Records. Soon afterwards Tim Trembley left the band, and they were without a second guitarist. On their eponymous debut album, produced by Max Norman (Megadeth, Ozzy Osbourne) Scott Dalhover played all the guitar tracks. Shortly before its release, Danny Aaron joined. Though he did not play on the album, he appears on the back cover.
In 1991, the second album, Hellacious Acres, was released, featuring the hits "Sticks And Stones" and "Line 'Em Up." The album was produced by Roy Thomas Baker, who had produced albums for several major rock artists (The Cars, Queen, Journey). Despite strong highlights, it is the weakest DT album, in singer Jason McMasters' opinion.
In 1992, Danny Aaron left the band. Kevin Fowler replaced him. Fowler never played on a Dangerous Toys album, but played some 200 gigs with them in 1993. In January of 1994, Paul Lidel replaced Fowler.
The sound of the first two Dangerous Toys albums were in the vein of the pop-hair metal of the late eighties, albeit slightly heavier. They were also one of the few mainstream 80s hair bands with a guitarist that could shred. By 1991, the grunge movement was fast making the hair metal sound out of date, and Hellacious Acres sold less than their debut.
The third Dangerous Toys album, Pissed, reflected this change. In attitude, the band reflected tougher metal values and a bigger attitude. Songs on this record reflect a slight turn for the times.
In the next year the band went through another change in style. Their popularity was waning and Mike Watson left. Jason McMaster now played bass as well as sang lead vocals. The band considered changing their name, but eventually stuck with Dangerous Toys, and even poked fun at it on the title of their next album. The R-tist 4-merly Known as Dangerous Toys. In fan opinion, it was their least popular record.
A live album followed, Vitamins and Crashhelmets Tour-Live Greatest Hits, but afterwards band activity slowed. In 2001, they played a few shows, in their hometown of Austin, Texas and Tokyo, Japan, with Mike Watson back in the band. Afterwards the band was together irregularly, but managing to play at least one gig every year.
Most of the original members of Dangerous Toys re-united for Austin, Texas shows in February, 2003, May, 2005, and at Bat Fest (an anuual Austin event) with Rhino Bucket in September, 2006. Portions of the show were recorded and will be released as as XX, a 20 year career retrospective CD/DVD. Most of the XX material was recorded at the band's 18 Year Anniversary Show, in 2005. XX is to be released Spring 2007 by Corporate Punishment Records, and will feature extensive packaging artwork from longtime Toys' artist, Tommy Pons.
Singer Jason McMaster also performs in various other Austin-based projects including Gahdzilla Motor Company, and Broken Teeth (his current project). Both of these bands are also slated to issue upcoming albums on Corporate Punishment.
Tour guitarist Kevin Fowler has become a well-known Texas country music artist.
- Dangerous Toys (1989 Columbia)
- Hellacious Acres (1991 Columbia)
- Pissed (1994 Antone's/DMZ)
- The R*tist 4*merly Known as Dangerous Toys (1995 Cleopatra)
- Vitamins and Crash Helmets Tour - Greatest Hits Live (1999 Cleopatra)
- XX (2007 Corporate Punishment)
- The Ultimate Dangerous Toys - Sleaze Metal Kings from Texas (2004 Deadline)
- Dangerous Toys Domain
- ToyBox, some info on the band
- Allmusic Entry
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