Bride (band)

History

The band began in 1983 when brothers Dale and Troy Thompson started writing music and recording demos under the name Matrix. They sold four demos at concerts and through magazines. In 1986, they opened for the Canadian group Daniel Band in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, which led to a signing with Pure Metal Records, a new metal-oriented label under Refuge Records. At that time, the lineup consisted of vocalist Dale Thompson, bassist Troy Thompson, guitarist William Sutherland, and drummer Stephen Rolland; Troy sometimes played guitar while Dale played bass. The group changed its name to Bride and recorded Show No Mercy. Bassist Frank Partipilo joined in 1988, and with him they recorded Live to Die and Silence Is Madness (1989). As their Pure Metal contract ended, Bride released End of the Age in 1990, a compilation with two new songs—Everybody Knows My Name and Same Ol' Sinner—that marked a shift toward a Guns N' Roses-influenced hard rock sound. In 1991, Rick Foley (bass) and Jerry McBroom (drums) joined, and the band signed with Star Song Records to release Kinetic Faith. Dale Thompson was announced to leave for Stryper in 1992 but never did. The band followed with Snakes in the Playground (1992) and Scarecrow Messiah (1994), then released another compilation, Shotgun Wedding: 11 No. 1 Hits and Mrs., and left Starsong in 1995. That year, they signed a one-record deal with Rugged Records, welcomed bassist Steve Curtsinger, and released Drop (1995), which featured banjo and mandolin.