Savage Grace is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981, the group originally consisted of vocalist Kelle Rhoads, guitarist Chris Logue, bassist Brian "Beast" East and drummer Steve Widdick. Logue is the only remaining original member of the band, which currently includes 2024 additions Tasos Lazaris (vocals), Dan Baune (guitar), Cristian Blade (bass) and Hugo Terva (drums).
History 1981–1992 Savage Grace was formed in July 1981 under the name Marquis de Sade by guitarist Chris Logue and bassist Brian "Beast" East. The original lineup featured Kelle Rhoads (brother of then-Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Randy Rhoads) on vocals and Steve Widdick (later Wittig) on drums. The group soon changed its name to Savage Grace, a moniker proposed by Rhoads, as Logue admits that "no one else liked" the original name. Widdick left after a few months and was replaced by Dan Finch III; and in March 1982, Rhoads was fired and replaced by Dwight Cliff. The new lineup recorded the band's first demo that year, one song from which was featured on the Metal Blade's Metal Massacre II, after which Cliff was replaced by John Birk and Kenny Powell joined as second guitarist in early 1983.
By early 1984, Birk had been fired due to creative differences, as well as turning up late for a show (forcing Logue to sing the first few songs of the set). Around the same time, Powell also left to form his own band, Omen. Birk and Powell were replaced by Mike Smith and Kurt Phillips, respectively, although by the time the band started recording its full-length debut album Master of Disguise, the latter had been dismissed. After recording the album as a four-piece, Savage Grace enlisted Mark Marshall of Agent Steel to replace Phillips. In June 1985, ahead of a European tour, Smith left the band and Logue took over vocal duties. East later claimed that Smith "wasn't very self-confident", had problems with "drinking and smoking" and "had a kind of death drive", all of which led to his departure.
After touring in the summer and fall, Finch was forced to leave the band in late 1985 due to "rheumatic problems". He was replaced early the next year by Marc Marcum. East left in the summer, with Logue claiming he was fired as he "wanted to incorporate dance moves into our stage act". He was replaced by Derek Peace from Heir Apparent, with the new lineup recording the EP Ride into the Night in early 1987. After Peace left in the summer of 1987, he was replaced by Neal Delaforce. Marcum was replaced by Marshall Lee Dickerson in 1988. In December 1989, the band relocated to New York, at which point Marshall left and Delaforce was replaced by Mike Breanning. After a string of temporary guitarists, Keith Alexander joined the band for several months in 1991. After recording a ten-track promotional demo, Alexander was replaced later that year by Gene Chapman. The group returned to Los Angeles in April 1992 for a final run of shows, before officially disbanding that September.
Since 2009 In January 2009, it was announced that Savage Grace would be returning for a performance at the Keep It True festival in 2010. The lineup was made up of members of another group, Roxxcalibur — namely, guitarists Kalli Coldsmith and Roger Dequis, bassist Mario Lang, and drummer Andreas "Neudi" Neuderth. The lineup parted ways after the shows. After a brief attempt to work with new musicians, Logue disbanded Savage Grace again. The former Roxxcalibur members subsequently reunited with their former vocalist Alexx Stahl under the name Masters of Disguise.
Logue announced a second reformation of Savage Grace in May 2020. In October, Brazilian guitarist Kiko Shred was confirmed as the first member of the new lineup. After a couple of years without an update, it was announced in October 2022 that Logue would in fact be working with guitarist David Sandoval instead. Prior to this, in July, Logue performed with members of local group Voltax at the Keepers of the Flame Metal Fest in Mexico. Around the same time as Sandoval's arrival, the band's lineup was completed with the additions of Gabriel Colón on vocals, Fabio Carito on bass and Marcus Dotta on drums. This lineup recorded the band's first album in over 35 years, Sign of the Cross, which was released in 2023 (although Sandoval is reportedly not featured on the recordings).
By February 2023, the lineup of Savage Grace had changed again, with Logue and Sandoval joined by new vocalist Michael Draveck and bassist Alfredo Hernández, the latter of whom had previously performed with the group as a member of Voltax in July 2022. When the band returned to performing live in April 2024, however, none of the lineup remained — instead, Logue was joined by vocalist Tasos Lazaris, guitarist Dan Baune, bassist Cristian Blade and drummer Hugo Terva.
Members Current Name Years active Instruments Release contributionsChris Logueall Savage Grace releasesTasos Lazaris2024–presentvocalsnone to dateDan BauneguitarCristian BladebassHugo Tervadrums
Former Name Years active Instruments Release contributionsBrian "Beast" East1981–1986bassKelle Rhoads1981–1982vocalsnoneSteve Widdick1981drumsDan Finch III1981–1985Dwight Cliff1982–1983vocalsuntitled demo (1982)Kenny Powell1983–1984guitarJohn BirkvocalsMike Smith1984–1985Master of Disguise (1985)Kurt Phillips1984guitarnoneMark Marshall1984–1989Marc Marcum1986–1988drumsDerek Peace1986–1987bassRide into the Night (1987)Neal Delaforce1987–1988noneMarshall Lee Dickerson1988–1992drumsuntitled promo (1991)Mike Breanning1989–1992bassKeith Alexander1991guitarGene Chapman1991–1992noneEric "Kalli" Coldsmith2009–2010Roger DequisMario LangbassAndreas "Neudi" NeuderthdrumsKiko Shred2020–2022guitarAlfredo HernándezbassDavid Sandoval2022–2024guitarGabriel Colón2022–2023vocalsSign of the Cross (2023)Fabio CaritobassMarcus DottadrumsMichael Draveck2023–2024vocalsnone
Stand-in Name Years active Instruments DetailsJerry Mauleón2022vocalsThe members of Voltax performed with Logue under the name Savage Grace at a Mexican festival in July 2022.Victor VulcanoguitarAndy RiosdrumsAndronikos Maltezos2024Maltezos filled in for new drummer Hugo Terva at one show in Oldenburg, Germany on May 3, 2024.
Timeline
Lineups PeriodMembersReleasesJuly–fall 1981Kelly Rhoads — vocals Chris Logue — guitar Brian East — bass Steve Widdick — drumsrowspan="2" Fall 1981–March 1982Kelly Rhoads — vocals Chris Logue — guitar Brian East — bass Dan Finch III — drumsMarch 1982–February 1983Dwight Cliff — vocals Chris Logue — guitar Brian East — bass Dan Finch III — drumsuntitled demo (1982)February 1983–early 1984John Birk — vocals Chris Logue — guitar Kenny Powell — guitar Brian East — bass Dan Finch III — drumsThe Dominatress (1983) The Lost Grace (2010)Spring–summer 1984Mike Smith — vocals Chris Logue — guitar Kurt Phillips — guitar Brian East — bass Dan Finch III — drumsSummer 1984Mike Smith — vocals Chris Logue — guitar Brian East — bass Dan Finch III — drumsMaster of Disguise (1985)Fall 1984–June 1985Mike Smith — vocals Chris Logue — guitar Mark Marshall — guitar Brian East — bass Dan Finch III — drumsrowspan="2" June–late 1985Chris Logue — vocals, guitar Mark Marshall — guitar Brian East — bass Dan Finch III — drumsEarly–summer 1986Chris Logue — vocals, guitar Mark Marshall — guitar Brian East — bass Marc Marcum — drumsAfter the Fall from Grace (1986)Summer 1986–summer 1987Chris Logue — vocals, guitar Mark Marshall — guitar Derek Pearce — bass Marc Marcum — drumsRide into the Night (1987)1987–1988Chris Logue — vocals, guitar Mark Marshall — guitar Neal Delaforce — bass Marc Marcum — drumsrowspan="3" 1988–December 1989Chris Logue — vocals, guitar Mark Marshall — guitar Neal Delaforce — bass Marshall Lee Dickerson — drumsDecember 1989–1991Chris Logue — vocals, guitar Various members — guitar Mike Breanning — bass Marshall Lee Dickerson — drums1991Chris Logue — vocals, guitar Keith Alexander — guitar Mike Breanning — bass Marshall Lee Dickerson — drumsuntitled promo (1991)1991–September 1992Chris Logue — vocals, guitar Gene Chapman — guitar Mike Breanning — bass Marshall Lee Dickerson — drumsBand inactive 1993–2008August 2009–September 2010Chris Logue — vocals Kalli Coldsmith — guitar Roger Dequis — guitar Mario Lang — bass Andreas "Neudi" Neuderth — drumsBand inactive 2011–2019October 2020–October 2022Chris Logue — guitar Kiko Shred — guitarrowspan="2" July 2022Jerry Mauleón — vocals Chris Logue — guitar Victor Vulcano — guitar Alfredo Hernández — bass Andy Rios — drumsOctober 2022–February 2023Gabriel Colón — vocals Chris Logue — guitar David Sandoval — guitar Fabio Carito — bass Marcus Dotta — drumsSign of the Cross (2023)February 2023–early 2024Michael Draveck — vocals Chris Logue — guitar David Sandoval — guitar Alfredo Hernández — bassSpring 2024–presentTasos Lazaris — vocals Chris Logue — guitar Dan Baune — guitar Cristian Blade — bass Hugo Terva — drumsnone to date
References
External links Savage Grace official website