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Whiplash (band)

{{Short description|American thrash metal band}}

{{About|the American thrash metal band|other uses|Whiplash (disambiguation)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2019}}

{{more citations needed|date=March 2025}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Whiplash

| image = Whiplash – Headbangers Open Air 2014 06.jpg

| caption = Whiplash at the Headbangers Open Air 2014

| image_upright = 1.25

| origin = Passaic, New Jersey, U.S.

| genre = {{flatlist|

}}

| years_active = {{flatlist|

  • 1984–1990
  • 1995–1999
  • 2007–present}}

| label = {{flatlist|

}}

| website = {{URL|officialwhiplash.com}}

| current_members = Tony Portaro
Will Winton
Ron Lipnicki

| past_members = See below

}}

Whiplash is an American thrash metal band formed in 1984 in Passaic, New Jersey. They have been centered around guitarist and vocalist Tony Portaro, who is the only remaining original member of the band. Despite never achieving major success, Whiplash has been recognized as one of the first East Coast thrash metal bands in the 1980s,{{cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-story-of-thrash-metal-part-one-the-birth-of-a-genre|title=The Story of Thrash Metal Part One: The birth of a genre|publisher=Loudersound|date=September 27, 2019|access-date=August 3, 2020}} and they are also notable for featuring drummer Tony Scaglione, who had been in and out of Whiplash since its inception and was a temporary fill-in for Dave Lombardo in Slayer on the latter's Reign in Blood tour.{{cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/slayer-we-do-not-agree-with-dave-lombardo-s-substance-or-timeline-of-events/|title=SLAYER: We Do Not Agree With DAVE LOMBARDO's Substance Or Timeline Of Events|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|date=February 21, 2013|access-date=August 3, 2020}}

History

The original lineup of Tony Portaro, Tony Scaglione and Tony Bono recorded their debut album Power and Pain for Roadrunner Records in 1985. Joe Cangelosi replaced Scaglione that same year when the latter left for a seven-week tour with Slayer. Cangelosi recorded Ticket to Mayhem in 1987 with the two Tonys. In 1989, Glenn Hansen joined the band as the new singer for the album titled Insult to Injury. The band split up due to business reasons, but reunited in 1995 after Portaro and Scaglione joined forces in a revamped lineup of Billy Milano's M.O.D. for a European tour. Whiplash released two further albums, Cult of One (1996) and Sit Stand Kneel Prey (1997), before the three Tonys recorded a final album together, Thrashback (1998), and then the band once again broke up in 1999.

Bassist Tony Bono died in 2002 after suffering a heart attack, at the age of 38.

In 2009, founding member Tony Portaro and Joe Cangelosi reformed the band, adding bassist Rich Day, and recorded Unborn Again, released in September 2009. Whiplash played many festivals in Europe that year including Wacken Open Air in Germany,{{cite web|url=http://www.metaltraveller.com/en/gigs/whiplash/wacken_2009.html |title=Whiplash live at Wacken |publisher=Metaltraveller.com |date=July 31, 2009 |access-date=June 8, 2012}} Jalometalli festival in Finland and shows in Italy, Norway, Mexico and Colombia.

In 2010, the band took a limited break due to personal legal reasons. In early December 2010, Tony Portaro announced the return of their original drummer, Tony Scaglione, to the band.{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=150280 |title=WHIPLASH/Bio |publisher=Roadrunnerrecords.com |date=December 2, 2010 |access-date=July 31, 2012}} They recruited New York bassist David DeLong, a Pennsylvania-Dutch native, with music influences from the 1980s New York metal/hardcore/punk scene.{{cite web|url=http://www.reverbnation.com/artist/bio/artist_1140602 |title=WHIPLASH Rejoined By Drummer TONY SCAGLIONE |publisher=officialwhiplash.com |date=July 30, 2012 |access-date=July 31, 2012}} However, after two weeks, Tony Scaglione announced personal scheduling issues became his priority. With the help of Ben Ward of Orange Goblin and Nathan Perrier of Alabaster Suns, Labrat and Capricorns, Dan "Loord" Foord (SikTh) entered into the band.{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=151917 |title=WHIPLASH Parts Ways With Drummer TONY SCAGLIONE, Recruits SIKTH's DAN FOORD |publisher=Roadrunnerrecords.com |date=January 6, 2011 |access-date=July 31, 2012}}

File:Whiplash @ 70000 tons of metal 2015 01.jpg in 2015]]

Whiplash launched their Power and Pain 2011 tour with dates in Greece and Italy in April 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.myspace.com/whiplashusa |title=WHIPLASH BIO |publisher=officialwhiplash.com |date=July 30, 2012 |access-date=July 31, 2012}} Following performances at Hellfest (France) and Portaro's hometown of Clifton, New Jersey, Whiplash headlined at the San Francisco festival Slaughter by the Water 2. After returning from California, they began writing new material, and held another New Jersey performance before finishing their tour with three shows in Chile. In January 2012, Whiplash headlined thrash metal shows in Philadelphia and New Jersey before embarking on the heavy metal cruise 70000 Tons of Metal aboard the Royal Caribbean ship Majesty of the Seas. In March and April, Whiplash performed at shows in the Netherlands, and at the Keep It True festival in Germany and the SWR Barroselas Metalfest in Portugal. The band also headlined at the Convivencia Rock festival in Pereira, Colombia in July 2012.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/WhiplashPage/info |publisher=reverbnation.com/whiplashusa |title=Status |date=July 26, 2012 |access-date=July 31, 2012}}

On October 10, 2015, Whiplash announced they were reuniting with original drummer Tony Scaglione.{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/whiplash-rejoined-by-original-drummer-tony-scaglione/ |title=WHIPLASH Rejoined By Original Drummer TONY SCAGLIONE |publisher=Blabbermouth.net |date=October 10, 2015 |access-date=October 10, 2015}} However, this reunion did not last for long, and the band replaced him with Tom Tierney,{{cite web|url=https://whiplashmusic.wixsite.com/officialwhiplash/tom-tierney|title=Official Whiplash Tony Portaro Bio|publisher=whiplashmusic.wixsite.com|access-date=July 29, 2020}} who was later replaced by former Overkill drummer Ron Lipnicki.{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/whiplash-signs-with-metal-blade-records-new-album-due-in-early-2019/|title=WHIPLASH Signs With METAL BLADE RECORDS; New Album Due In Early 2019|date=July 18, 2018|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=July 18, 2018}}

In July 2018, Whiplash signed with Metal Blade Records, and their eighth studio album Old School American Way has been in production for years, leaving it with an indefinite release date.{{cite web|url=https://metalstorm.net/events/news_comments.php?news_id=45760|title=Whiplash - New Studio Album Nearly Finished|publisher=Metal Storm|access-date=April 15, 2022|date=April 15, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://metalstorm.net/events/news_comments.php?news_id=53231|title=Whiplash - Announce 40th Anniversary European Tour|publisher=Metal Storm|access-date=March 9, 2024|date=March 9, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://thisdayinmetal.com/news/story/whiplash-tour/|title=Whiplash Announce 40th Anniversary Tour|website=thisdayinmetal.com|access-date=March 9, 2024|date=March 9, 2024}}

Band members

File:Whiplash – Headbangers Open Air 2014 04.jpg

Current members

  • Tony Portaro – guitars, lead vocals (1984–1999, 2007–present)
  • Will Winton – bass, backing vocals (2022–present)
  • Ron Lipnicki – drums (2018–present)

Former members

  • Rich Day – bass, backing vocals (2007–2011)
  • Tony Bono – bass, backing vocals (1984–1990, 1993, 1998–1999; died 2002)
  • Joe Cangelosi – drums (1987–1990, 2007–2010)
  • Pat Burns – bass (1984)
  • Mike Orosz – lead vocals (1984)
  • Glenn Hansen – lead vocals (1989–1990)
  • Rob Gonzo – lead vocals (1995–1997)
  • Rob Harding – bass (1984)
  • James Preziosa – bass (1995–1998)
  • Warren Conditi – guitars (1995–1998), lead vocals (1997–1998)
  • Henry Veggian – lead vocals (1993)
  • Dave Jengo – guitars (1993)
  • Bob Candella – drums (1997–1998)
  • Dan Foord – drums (2011–2014)
  • Charlie Zeleny – drums (2014–2015)
  • Tony Scaglione – drums (1984–1987, 1993, 1996–1997, 1998–1999, 2010–2011, 2015–2016)
  • Tom Tierney – drums (2016–2018)
  • David DeLong – bass, backing vocals (2011–2022)

Timeline{{#tag:timeline|ImageSize=width:850 height:auto barincrement:20

PlotArea = left:100 bottom:100 top:10 right:0

Alignbars = justify

DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy

Period = from:01/01/1984 till:{{#time: m/d/Y}}

TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy

Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:3

ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1984

ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1984

Colors =

id:Vocals value:red legend:Lead_vocals

id:Guitars value:green legend:Guitars

id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass

id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums

id:studio value:black legend:Studio_album

LineData =

layer:back

at:03/01/1986 color:studio

at:10/02/1987 color:studio

at:08/14/1989 color:studio

at:03/26/1996 color:studio

at:12/08/1997 color:studio

at:10/05/1998 color:studio

at:09/08/2009 color:studio

BarData =

bar:Orosz text:"Mike Orosz"

bar:Hansen text:"Glenn Hansen"

bar:Gonzo text:"Rob Gonzo"

bar:Portaro text:"Tony Portaro"

bar:Conditi text:"Warren Conditi"

bar:Burns text:"Pat Burns"

bar:Harding text:"Rob Harding"

bar:Bono text:"Tony Bono"

bar:Preziosa text:"James Preziosa"

bar:Day text:"Rich Day"

bar:DeLong text:"David DeLong"

bar:Winton text:"Will Winton"

bar:Scaglione text:"Tony Scaglione"

bar:Cangelosi text:"Joe Cangelosi"

bar:Candella text:"Bob Candella"

bar:Foord text:"Dan Foord"

bar:Zeleny text:"Charlie Zeleny"

bar:Tierny text:"Tom Tierny"

bar:Lipnicki text:"Ron Lipnicki"

PlotData =

width:11

bar:Portaro from:07/01/1984 till:01/01/1989 color:Vocals width:3

bar:Portaro from:01/01/1998 till:01/01/1999 color:Vocals width:3

bar:Portaro from:01/01/2009 till:end color:Vocals width:3

bar:Orosz from:01/01/1984 till:07/01/1984 color:Vocals

bar:Hansen from:01/01/1989 till:01/01/1991 color:Vocals

bar:Gonzo from:01/01/1995 till:01/01/1997 color:Vocals

bar:Conditi from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/1998 color:Vocals width:3

bar:Portaro from:01/01/1984 till:01/01/1991 color:Guitars

bar:Portaro from:01/01/1995 till:01/01/1999 color:Guitars

bar:Conditi from:01/01/1995 till:01/01/1998 color:Guitars

bar:Portaro from:01/01/2009 till:end color:Guitars

bar:Burns from:01/01/1984 till:03/01/1984 color:Bass

bar:Harding from:03/01/1984 till:07/01/1984 color:Bass

bar:Bono from:07/01/1984 till:01/01/1991 color:Bass

bar:Bono from:01/01/1998 till:01/01/1999 color:Bass

bar:Preziosa from:01/01/1995 till:01/01/1998 color:Bass

bar:Day from:01/01/2009 till:01/01/2011 color:Bass

bar:DeLong from:01/01/2011 till:11/01/2022 color:Bass

bar:Winton from:11/01/2022 till:end color:Bass

bar:Scaglione from:01/01/1984 till:01/01/1987 color:Drums

bar:Scaglione from:01/01/1996 till:01/01/1997 color:Drums

bar:Scaglione from:01/01/1998 till:01/01/1999 color:Drums

bar:Scaglione from:12/01/2010 till:01/06/2011 color:Drums

bar:Scaglione from:10/10/2015 till:01/01/2016 color:Drums

bar:Cangelosi from:01/01/1987 till:01/01/1991 color:Drums

bar:Cangelosi from:01/01/2009 till:12/01/2010 color:Drums

bar:Candella from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/1998 color:Drums

bar:Foord from:01/06/2011 till:06/03/2014 color:Drums

bar:Zeleny from:06/03/2014 till:10/10/2015 color:Drums

bar:Tierny from:01/01/2016 till:01/01/2018 color:Drums

bar:Lipnicki from:01/01/2018 till:end color:Drums}}

Discography

=Albums=

=Demos=

  • Fire Away (1984)
  • Thunderstruk (1984)
  • Looking Death in the Face (1985)
  • Untitled 3-track demo (1985)

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{commons category}}

  • {{allmusic}}
  • {{discogs artist}}

{{Whiplash}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Whiplash}}

Category:1984 establishments in New Jersey

Category:American musical trios

Category:American thrash metal musical groups

Category:American speed metal musical groups

Category:Heavy metal musical groups from New Jersey

Category:Musical groups established in 1984

Category:Musical groups from Passaic County, New Jersey