Steel Heart

Steelheart started off as a rock band called Red Alert[citation needed] whose members included James Ward (bass), Chris Risola (guitars), Jack Wilkenson (drums) and after auditioning, Miljenko Matijevic on vocals. Frank DiCostanzo joined as a second guitarist and John Fowler replaced Jack Wilkenson on drums, after leaving the band Rage of Angels. Recording a four-track demo tape, Matijevic managed to meet artist manager Stan Poses. Poses wasn't interested but the next day, after hearing the demo tape, called confirming that "Red Alert" had just been given a contract with MCA records. Realizing that the Red Alert name was already taken, the band settled on Steelheart allegedly because of their attitude after trying to get a record deal for so long.

Steelheart released their self-titled debut album in 1990. It sold 33,000 albums on its first day in Japan alone, and quickly hit platinum status. The ballad "She's Gone" which showcased Matijevic's wide vocal range hit No. 1 on the International Charts, staying there for 17 weeks.The ballad maintains its popularity in East Asian region through to today[citation needed]. It has been played by most of the cover bands those performing in the nightclubs in this region almost every night. The second single "I'll Never Let You Go (Angel Eyes)" reached No. 14 on the Billboard charts, and was MTV's 2nd most requested video. The album reached No. 40 on the Billboard charts. "Everybody Loves Eileen" and its accompanying video also garnered much success. The song "Can't Stop Me Lovin' You" further showcased Matijevic's vocal range, but this time, lead guitarist Risola's guitar skills were also noticed. The accompanying video was another of the band's hits. In the song "Love Ain't Easy", Matijevic hits his highest note of all three albums.

Steelheart's second album, "Tangled In Reins" with many songs containing sounds more like Guns N' Roses than its debut. Since the grunge invasion was taking force, the album only reached No. 144 on the Billboard charts. However the ballad "Mama Don't You Cry" charted No. 1 in many East Asian Countries, including Hong Kong, prompting their Asian tour in September, 1992. The MTV unplugged version in Hong Kong was a success, attracting an audience of over 10,000. After weeks of touring in Asia, Steelheart was later asked by the heavy metal band, Slaughter, to go on tour with them. Nearing the end of the tour, Slaughter asked Steelheart to perform one last show which would occur in Denver, Colorado. The show took place on Halloween night. While performing "Dancing in the Fire", a hit from the "Tangled in Reins" album, Matijevic decided to climb a lighting truss, which was improperly secured. Matijevic tried to dodge the massive rig, but without success. The 1000 pound truss hit Matijevic on the back of the head and he fell face first onto the stage, breaking his nose, cheekbone, and jaw, and twisting his spine. Matijevic managed to walk off the stage and he was immediately taken to a hospital.

Four years later, Matijevic formed a new version of Steelheart with Kenny Kanowski (guitars), Vincent Mele (bass) and Alex Makarovich (drums) to record and release the album "Wait". The album was very different from the previous two albums. The single "Wait" went No. 1 in many Asian countries, however that was the main area of the album's success, the grunge invasion causing the American European markets to be nearly closed to straight-ahead hard rock. Original member James Ward joined Steelheart on the tour supporting the album. Also on the "Wait" album, "We All Die Young", the first track, was in the motion picture, Rock Star, starring Mark Wahlberg. Matijevic stated that "Wait" was the choice of the title because it took a long time to gain freedom from the record company and his greedy manager, who was taking more than what was his.

In 2001, Matijevic provided some of the vocals for Mark Wahlberg's character in the movie, Rock Star[citation needed], a story about a music fan who gets to become the singer for his favorite band. The band itself was made up of Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne's former guitarist and frontman of Black Label Society), Jeff Pilson (Dokken) and Jason Bonham, son of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham. The film also featured a re-recording of the song "We All Die Young", from the Steelheart's third album Wait. Kenny Kanowski went on to record his new CD with Vincent Mele on bass, and various musicians from Los Angeles. His newest CD is entitled Yabble Diddy Woop Woop which has gotten rave reviews.

According to the Steelheart website, a new album Good 2b Alive was due out November 11. 2008. Currently, the Just a Taste is available to order from the website as well as being available live on their most recent tour of the same name[citation needed]. It features three tracks from the upcoming Good 2b Alive, "LOL (Laughing Out Loud)", "Twisted Future", and "Buried Unkind", as well as the previously released track "We All Die Young", from Steelheart's album Wait. The EP is also a preview of what the new players of the band (Mike Humbert on drums and Uros Raskovski on lead guitar have to offer). Steelheart's new sound is modern and edgy while still retaining overtones of Miijenko Matijevic's roots. The live Steelheart DVD is also available online.

Meanwhile, former drummer for Steelheart, John Fowler, was working on two new projects- the Voodoo Jets and Smoke before his death. He died on 3/21/08 after falling into a coma from suffering a brain aneurysm on 3/17/08. Chris Risola has a guitar studio and rejoined Steelheart for the Just a Taste tour and the touring circle for the album Good 2b Alive. Instrumental guitarist Bill Lonero joined SteelHeart for the Rocklahoma festival on July 13, 2008. He was replaced after Lonero left to pursue his band LoNero full-time. Uros Raskovski rejoined the band in early 2009. Uros worked with Miljenko on the new album Good 2B Alive. In 2010, Uros Raskovski left Steelheart once again and the band decided to continue on as a four piece. As of 2014 Chris Risola departed from Steelheart with Uros Raskvski replacing and returning to the lineup.

Band members

Current members

Miljenko Matijevic - lead vocals, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, piano (1990–1992, 1996, 2006–present)

Uros Raskovski - lead guitar (2006–2008, 2009–2010, 2014–present)

Rev Jones - bass (2007–present)

Mike Humbert - drums, percussion (2006–present)

Past members

Chris Risola - lead guitar (1990–1992, 2006–2014)

Frank DiCostanzo - rhythm guitar, keyboard, piano (1990–1992), Pimpinella

James Ward - bass (1990–1992, 1996)

John Fowler - drums (1990–1992)

Kenny Kanowski - lead guitar (1996)

Vincent Mele - bass (1996)

Alex Makarovich - drums (1996)

Bill Lonero - lead guitar (2008)

Jack Wilkenson - drums (1990)

I'll Never Let You Go

Angel eyes, you have angel eyes, such a smile that lights up my life

You're a dream come true, now I'm holding you

And I'll never, never let you go, I will never let you go!

First time I laid my eyes upon you, all my dreams were answered

First time I kissed your tender lips, my love to you I surrendered

I'll never let you go, you're always on my mind

You're the only one for me, you're all I need

And I'll never, never let you go

Angel eyes, my heart relies on the love you give to me

You never let me down, you're always by my side

And I'll never, never let you go, I will never let you go!

When my heart starts to crumble and the tears start to fall

You hold me close with tender lovin', and give me strength to carry on

I'll never let you go, you're always on my mind

You're the only one for me, you're all I need

And I'll never, never let you go

I'll never let you go, you're always on my mind

You're the only one for me, you're all I need

And I'll never, never let you go

And I'll never, never let you go

She's gone

She's gone out of my life

I was wrong, I'm to blame

I was so untrue

I can't live without her love

In my life, there's just an empty space

All my dreams are lost

I'm wasting away

Forgive me, girl

Lady, won't you save me?

My heart belongs to you

Lady, can you forgive me?

For all I've done to you, lady, oh, lady

She's gone out of my life

Oh, she's gone

I find it so hard to go on

I really miss that girl, my love

Come back into my arms

I'm so alone, I'm begging you

I'm down on my knees

Forgive me, girl

Lady, won't you save me?

My heart belongs to you

Lady, can you forgive me?

For all I've done to you, lady, oh, lady, oh, lady

Lady, won't you save me?

My heart belongs to you

Lady, can you forgive me?

For all I've done to you

Lady, oh, lady

My heart belongs to you

Lady, can you forgive me?

For all I've done to you

Can’t stop me loving you

I remember the days when our lives were so complete

We had each other, love was all we would need

But now you have changed since the first day that we met

You found a lover, it's me you want to forget

You tried to tell me our love was in vain

I'm a victim of your love babe, and you're to blame

You can't stop the rain from fallin'

You can't stop sun shining through

'Cause I'll be there forever holdin'

You can't stop me lovin' you

Now that you're gone, life is empty and cold

Oh how I miss having you to hold

My nights are sleepless, I'll never be the same

Living without you I'm going insane

And as I sit here wipin' tears from my eyes

How can I make you come to realize

You can't stop the rain from fallin'

You can't stop sun shining through

'Cause I'll be there forever holdin'

You can't stop me lovin' you

Well I'll be here, ready and waiting, waiting to love you

Everything that I do reminds me of you, you can't stop me from lovin' you

Can't stop the rain from fallin'

Can't stop sun shining through

'Cause I'll be there forever holdin'

You can't stop me lovin' you

Oh, you can't stop the rain from fallin'

You can't stop sun shining through

'Cause I'll be there forever holdin'

You can't stop me lovin' you.

Mama don't you cry

I fight the tears since you've been gone

And I stand in fear, can I make it on my own

Without your love to guide me thru my life

It's so cold at night without you here

And those gentle arms that held me close and dear

Oh we're all the same, we all live and die

You'll always be in my heart, oh Mama don't you cry

You'll always live in my dreams, oh Mama don't you cry

Every night when I close my eyes

I see a light and shadows of your face

It's always there like an angel over me

So many frozen years hangin' on my wall

A thousand words, I can hear them call

Oh I tried so hard but I could never say goodbye

You'll always be in my heart, oh Mama don't you cry

You'll always live in my dreams, oh Mama don't you cry

No one can kiss away the pain like you

No one like Mama, no one like you

You'll always be in my heart, oh Mama don't you cry

You'll always live in my dreams, oh Mama don't you cry

(You'll always be in my heart, oh Mama don't you cry - don't you cry)

(You'll always live in my dreams) in my dreams (Oh Mama don't you cry)

Oh Mama don't you cry.

We all die young

Risk my soul, test my life

For my bread

Spend my time, lost in space

Am I dead?

Let the river flow

Through my callused hands

And take me from my own

The eyes of the damned

It makes my stomach turn

And it tears my flesh from bone

How we turn a dream to stone

And we all die young

Tell me, I know

I lived so afraid

And still we cry alone

With words left unsaid

Yeah, it makes my stomach turn

And it tears my flesh from bone

How we turn a dream to stone

And we all die young

Yeah, we all die young

Yeah, we all die young

Yeah, we all die young

Yeah, we all die young

Yeah, we all die

Young

Young

Young

Young

Steelheart - Live in Osaka