Original line up 20 year reunion show @ Nite Cap 6/6/2009
Diamond Rexx - 20 year reunion show at Nite Cap 6/6/2009 - Kick in Your Face
The band was formed in Chicago, Illinois by vocalist Nasty Habits and guitarist S. St. Lust in mid 1986. Four short months after their first live show the band got signed to Island records, and with the addition of bassist Andre and drummer Johnny Cottone they unleashed the debut platter Land Of The Damned.
Diamond Rexx is the creation of Nasti Habits, a colorful, Chicago-based heavy metal/hard rock/pop-metal singer whose influences have included Alice Cooper, Mötley Crüe, Kiss, Judas Priest and W.A.S.P. (among others). Over the years, the band has had different lineups, but the constant has always been Habits, who is to Diamond Rexx what Courtney Love is to Hole and Bono is to U2. In other words, Habits is Diamond Rexx--the Midwestern combo never would have existed without him. Habits formed Diamond Rexx's original four-man lineup in 1985, when he recruited guitarist S. St. Lust (who was subsequently replaced by Johnny L. Angel), bassist Chrissy Salem and drummer Johnny Cottone. The lead vocals were always handled by Habits, while the other members contributed background vocals. The original Diamond Rexx quickly became a fixture on the Chicago rock scene, and they created enough of a local buzz to attract the attention of Island Records.
Four short months after their first live show the band got signed to Island records, and with the addition of bassist Dave Andre and drummer Johnny Cottone they unleashed the debut platter Land Of The Damned.
Land of the Damned was released by Island in 1986, but things didn't work out with Island--and a few years later, Diamond Rexx signed with Red Light Records, a small heavy metal/hard rock-oriented label that was based in the Chicago suburb of Des Plaines, IL. Diamond Rexx recorded a few CDs for Red Light, including 1989's Rated Rexx (their second album) and the 1991 EP Golden Gates. After that, Diamond Rexx and similar bands were dealt an unkind blow when ‘80s-style metal/hard rock went out of fashion. From gothic fantasy metal to Sunset Strip hair bands, a lot of ‘80s-style headbangers had the rug pulled out from under them when Nirvana, Pearl Jam and their grunge colleagues exploded commercially in 1992 and 1993. Diamond Rexx ended up going on hiatus in the ‘90s, but that wasn't the end of Habits' band. In February 2001, the Chicagoan decided to resurrect Diamond Rexx; the new lineup consisted of Habits on lead vocals, S.S. on guitar, Basil Cooper on bass and background vocals and Billy Nychay on drums. Some of Habits' fans might have been hoping for some pop-metal and hair band nostalgia, but the new Diamond Rexx that he unveiled in 2001 was far from a carbon copy of the outfit that he led in the ‘80s and early ‘90s. Though Habits' lead vocals still underscored his appreciation of Alice Cooper, the revamped Diamond Rexx had a strong alternative metal influence and indicated that he had been paying close attention to Pantera, White Zombie, Soundgarden and post-‘80s Metallica. And the revamped Diamond Rexx had a new look to go with their new sound; instead of looking like an ‘80s hair band, they looked like a 21st Century alternative metal band. In 2001, Diamond Rexx's new Habits/S.S./Basil Cooper/Nychay lineup recorded the comeback album Rexx Erected for the Diamond label. After that release, Basil Cooper left the band and was replaced by Tommy Hanus; in 2002, the Habits/S.S./Hanus/Nychay lineup recorded The Evil for producer Mark Nawara's Crash Music (an independent, metal-oriented label based in Phoenix, AZ).
The band has remained quiet during the last few years, but the world had not seen the end of Diamond Rexx. The band returned to the Chicago music scene in 2006 adding bassist Tommy Evans. The following year, original drummer Johnny Cottone returned behind the drums. Diamond Rex continues to please crowds with their glam alternative metal sound.
Hi from Junkyard Dogz, Telford, West Midlandz, UK! Please check out our rough demo! We are currently looking for a drummer, hence the programmed drums. We are also on Facebook, so please join our group there, but careful... another band called Junkyard Dogz has appeared in the West Midlandz on facebook, we are the ones with the mirrored guitar image, not the band photo.
CHANGE IS IN THE AIR!! Check us out!! New paint job, biggest beer garden in Northern IL, volleyball, girls in chaps, all the best bands you could ever want...
• TUESDAY: Karaoke still going strong!
• WEDNESDAY: Co-ed sand VOLLEYBALL! And as always OPEN MIC!
• THURSDAY: Dj Rob plays your favorites and hosts karaoke.
• FRIDAY:Sing With The Band..ANYTHING YOU WANT
• SATURDAY: U KNOW WHO Packs the house!
SUNDAY: We're now open on Sundays. Come in and unwind among friends.
Live music, daily drink specials, awesome food, and great people make Chubby Rain the areas #1 place to party. See YOU there!
Wassup you gnarley fucks! Wish I could have made the show but prior engagements didn't allow it. Maybe next time. It's hard when you live in the middle of nowhere McHenry County. Anyway, rock on!
THOSE OF YOU THAT COULDN'T MAKE THE SHOW SATURDAY NIGHT... MISSED A GREAT FUCKIN SHOW!!! WELL WORTH THE 5 HOUR DRIVE. IT WAS GREAT MEETING ALL YOU GUYS. LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN. KEEP IT LOUD AND HEAVY!!
diamond rexx has rocked for a long fuckin' time! keep on going. one of these days we'd absolutely dig doing a show with you guys! i wish i was rich, rock gun, damn guys. its been awesome! great to see you back!
The show photos by the Rock Goddezz look great! I told ya she would do a kickass job. I'll be back shooting stills and video at the next show. We will tag team shoot ya! Love, Goldie
