Simon Rushworth
As Mike Tramp hits the road across the UK this month what better time to celebrate White Lion’s often overlooked debut Fight To Survive?
The 1985 release heralded the dawn of a new era in classy hard rock courtesy of frontman Tramp and sidekick Vito Bratta.
And it was a partnership that would go on to spawn a series of hit singles as the band responsible for Wait and When The Children Cry took the US by storm.
Dane Tramp and US poster boy Bratta had the looks and the hooks but the aptly titled Fight To Survive was almost the album that never was.
Originally recorded as the first record in a multi-album deal with Elektra, it was inexplicably ditched by the label at the last minute.
Picked up by JVC in Japan – where White Lion and Tramp still have a fanatical following today – it eventually persuaded Atlantic Records to take a punt on the hair metal heroes.
And the rest – as they say – is history.
Featuring the brilliant Cherokee (not to be confused with Europe’s less affecting song of the same name), brash opener Broken Heart and the bullish All Burn In Hell there are enough polished tunes to detract from the occasional rough edge.
Tramp’s trademark pipes make an instant impression and Bratta shows the skills that would see him talked about in the same breath as Slash, Nuno Bettencourt et al.
Now Rock Candy have given White Lion’s debut a typically snazzy upgrade with a full remaster and new 3,000 word essay courtesy of Malcolm Dome.
Full track listing:
1.Broken Heart
2. Cherokee
3. Fight To Survive
4. Where Do We Run
5. In The City
6. All The Fallen Men
7. All Burn In Hell
8. Kid Of 1000 Faces
9. El Salvador
10. The Road To Valhalla
The band’s founder members may have split some time ago but Tramp’s White Lion released Return Of The Pride via Frontiers in 2008 and there is talk of a follow-up soon.
Tramp plays Glasgow tonight with dates across the UK this month. For more details of upcoming shows click here.
For details on the Rock Candy remaster of Fight To Survive click here.
Watch Broken Heart here