Origin: Birmingham (England)
SHY
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| Roy Stephen Davis - Steve Harris - Tony Mills - Alan Kelly - Paddy McKenna |
Once bitten...twice shy - 1983 (with lyrics)
Brave the storm - 1985 (with lyrics)
Excess all areas - 1987 (with lyrics)Notes:
- A stylish, Birmingham based Melodic Rock band that received much praise for the debut independent album. First vinyl was the cut 'Tonight' on the Ebony Records compilation album 'Metal Warriors'. Despite constant touring throughout the eighties and signing to a series of major labels SHY, peaking with 1987's 'Excess All Areas' album and the spin off radio hit 'Break Down The Walls', found it tough going. In a more Metal incarnation SHY were previously known as TROJAN and the band were blessed with an extremely powerful vocalist in TONY MILLS and also had Steve Harris onboard as a much revered guitarist, although original bassist Mark Badrick was to be replaced by ex-TROUBLE man Roy Davies. As TROJAN, being founded in 1980, the band delivered much heavier material than they would subsequently find acclaim with, often including JUDAS PRIEST cover versions in their live set.
Tony Mills had only just been fortuitously sacked from his former band when SHY recorded their commercial debut, the song 'Tonight' included on the 'Metal Warriors' compilation through the Hull based Ebony label. The group's first album, 'Once Bitten...Twice Shy', also released on Ebony, would be produced in the most primitive of fashions by label boss Darryl Johnston. At this point Mills had a liking for the dramatic, painting his face in a manner that unfortunately brought him comparisons to MARILLION frontman FISH. The practice was soon dispensed with as SHY began to become a good deal more image conscious as the mid 80s kicked in. Further changes saw original bassist Mark Badrick substituted by former TROUBLE man Roy Davis.
Having left the confines of Ebony in rather controversial circumstances in order to sign with RCA Records, the group toured Britain supporting MAGNUM and TWELFTH NIGHT promoting their new 'Brave The Storm' major label debut. Produced by Tony Platt, the album notably included the URIAH HEEP pairing of John Sinclair and Pete Goalby on backing vocals. Further supports included UFO and TWISTED SISTER. Unfortunately a faux pas by the record company thwarted any hopes of lead single 'Hold On (To Your Love)' breaking into the charts when official statisticions Gallup disqualified the release due to its inclusion of a free T-shirt.
The subsequent 'Excess All Areas' album, issued in the Spring of 1987, was recorded in Holland with producer Neil Kernon although songwriting sessions had been conducted in Los Angeles. Album opener 'Emergency' was noteworthy for its Duane Hitchings / MICHAEL BOLTON composition credits but a rather awkward cover version of CLIFF RICHARD's 'Devil Woman' sat uneasily amongst the track listing.This record saw SHY touring extensively opening for MEAT LOAF, GARY MOORE and BON JOVI. The single lifted from the album, 'Break Down The Walls' co-written with DON DOKKEN, deservedly garnered SHY much valuable radio play.
However, following SHY's appearance at the 1987 Reading Festival the band were dropped by RCA in October, only to be picked up shortly after indie FM Revolver Records for the stop gap EP 'Just Love Me'. SHY performed a showcase gig at Edwards No. 8 club in Birmingham later in the year and were duly signed by MCA Records. The group's solitary MCA album 'Misspent Youth', was released in 1989 and was recorded in Los Angeles with production credited to Roy Thomas Baker. SHY promoted the album in North America with guest slots to ENUFF Z' NUFF and SLEEZE BEEZ. Returning to Europe the band opened for HUNTER/RONSON. Unfortunately, the group would part company with Tony Mills afterwards.
Following Mills's dismissal SHY added former XS and AFTER HOURS vocalist Jon Francis and for a short while billed themselves as BLACKCAT. The band later adopted the moniker CRAZY CRAZY for a solitary gig at London's Marquee club with the addition of former TROUBLE and SHAME vocalist John Ward, but soon opted to return to the more familiar SHY. Ward had recently returned from Los Angeles where he had fronted HURRICANE, LONDON and also occupied the vocalists role in MADAM X prior to a certain SEBASTIAN BACH.
The band self financed the 'Welcome To The Madhouse' album, which once more saw SHY gaining critical praise. The album saw a Japanese release through major label Phonogram. A short British club tour backed up it's release, but momentum soon slowed and SHYwere once more put on ice. Ward busied himself with a new outfit PSYCHO WARD, a unit created with ex-HANDSOME BEASTS members..
After his parting with SHY Tony Mills formed the much harder edged SIAM in 1992 with erstwhile BAJJON guitarist Chris Ward Evans, erstwhile MARSHALL LAW guitarist Darren Horton and former SHOCK TACTICS bassist Andy Faulkner releasing two albums to date. It's worth noting that, as a member of SHY, Mills was also engaged in a backing vocalist capacity and contributed not only to US act CINDERELLA's 'Night Songs' debut but also added his tonsils to the debut album by Liverpool outfit TORINO.
In 1996 BMG Victor in Japan re-issued 'Brave The Storm' on CD with no less than six extra tracks including remixs, extended versions and live takes of 'Two Hearts' and 'Behind Closed Doors'.
With the 1998 re-release of the debut album on Neat Metal Records it looked as though SHY's career was to be resurrected once more. Reuniting with Mills, Ward having jetted back to the states to work with ex-GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash and by early 2000 fronting OLIVER/DAWSON SAXON, the band cut the 'Let The Hammer Fall' album. It's release backed up with a live album made up of tapes recorded on their European support tour to GARY MOORE and 'Regeneration', a collection of demos.
SHY then announced that they had split away from Neat Metal signing to Z Records for a new album. The band were also scheduled to perform at the Z Rock 2001 festival put then pulled out the reason given being that work in the studio was taking priority and as such they had not rehearsed for the gig. SHY were concerned also that it would be impossible to play as they have not played a live concert for over 11 years. The album, then with a projected title of 'Skydiving', also had its due date shifted back to September.
SHY finally re-emerged with a mini album 'Breakaway'. This record saw the inclusion of two brand new songs alongside acoustic takes on classic material. The band, now including Bob Richards of ASIA repute on drums, would spend the best part of a year working on a full blown comeback album 'Unfinished Business'. Japanese editions of the record, released by the Avalon Marquee label, added two exclusive demo versions of 'Skydiving' and 'Breakaway'.
TONY MILLS issued his debut solo album 'Cruiser' in early 2002. SHY themselves looked set to return to the live stage, revealing a line up without the expected keyboard involvement but with new second guitarist Ian Richardson in place. In July of 2003 Roy Davies joined JT'S BUDGIE whilst ex-SHY singer Wardi was to be found leading IRON HORSE, a Leamington Spa based outfit comprising a cast of veritable NWoBHM veterans comprising guitarists Alan Nyland of HANDSOME BEASTS and Baz Eardley from CHEVY, bassist Toby Pelham of V8 and CHEVY drummer Ted Duggan.
SHY announced a return for February 2005, crafting a new album entitled 'Sunset And Vine' in the latter half of 2004. This album pulled in some much overdue praise and recognition for the band. Worth noting is that the album was produced by Mills' SIAM colleague Andy Faulkner and saw fellow erstwhile SIAM band mate Ian Richardson guesting on guitar. Mills would also feature as a guest artist on Norwegian guitarist Tor Talle's NORTHERN LIGHT project.
In January 2006 TONY MILLS joined the ranks of veteran Glam Rock band SWEET in the vocal / bass role. He relinquished this role after just a handful of gigs. June found the singer issuing an album billed 'Crank It Up' billed as the THE ANDERSSON MILLS PROJECT, a union with Swedish guitarist Linkan Andersson of PARALLEL UNIVERSE, LIVIN' PARAZITE and ZOODRIVE repute. In 2006 Mills also fronted up a Los Angeles Progressive Rock project CHINA BLUE involving ALIBI guitarist Michael Riesenbeck, bassist Rev Jones of BLACK SYMPHONY and the MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP, Eric Ragno of VOX TEMPUS and TAKARA on keyboards and drummer Zane Peterson of MALICIOUS and CONDITIONED RESPONSE. -
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