Vicious Rumors and Hammer King

Formed in 1980 in Santa Rosa, CA, power metal band Vicious Rumors, led by Geoff Thorpe, is known for albums like Digital Dictator and Soldiers of the Night. They gained fame through Metal Mondays at Old Waldorf, contributing to the Bay Area metal scene's rise. Their evolving lineup saw collaborations with artists like Vinnie Moore. They released notable albums on Atlantic Records and toured extensively, despite genre declines. After vocalist Carl Albert's death, they continued with hits like Warball and Razorback Killers, maintaining strong European and Japanese followings.