History

Dateline...January ,1980- 16 year old Joe Leonard starts to write songs for his high school band "Exit" .
Later that year Joe comes up with the band name Frigid Bich (meaning "cold complaint") after viewing a 1960's
cult film called "Wild in the streets" . "Wild in the streets" was a fictional account of a hostile "youth" take over of the
United States government. Joe envisioned Frigid Bich as a band "by the people and of the people"...pure American
anarchy !

Dateline...September, 1980-The original line up of Joe Leonard (bass & vocal), Joe Melleby (guitar) and Al Michel (drums)
record their first demo tape . The two song demo "Savage lust" & "Reign of Steel" is a primitive and raw representation
of the groups young and innovative sound. As the New Wave of British Heavy Metal rages in London , a phenomenon is
in it's infancy in New York.

Dateline...December, 1980- Joe Leonard writes "Call us Robinhoods" and "Your no Loser" . After a practice two track
recording of the two songs the groups decides to record the tracks at Mastersound Studios on February 14th,1981.
The recording goes better than expected and the groups first commercial release is born . A 45 rpm single of the same
title is released on the Eclipse records label and is distributed to local record shops and at the groups shows.

Dateline...May, 1981- After positive reviews in local music papers and the New York Daily news, Frigid Bich decides to
add a new member to the line up. Henry Matthies joins the group and takes over bass guitar duties so Joe can concentrate
on his front man duties.

Dateline...July 1981- Frigid Bich enlists the help of a management company who shops the group to several major recording companies.
After hearing the "Call us Robinhoods" single ,A&M Records requests a new demo and a video performance of the young group.
A&M wants to expand it's rooster into Heavy Metal due to the new found success of a little known U.K. group called "Def Leppard". With an average age
of just 17 years old , Frigid Bich shows up on their radar screen. The group records "Jack the Ripper", "Lair" & "Teenage Rebels" .
The new songs are written in haste and do not pack the "punch" of the "Call us Robinhoods" session. A&M Records formally "passes" on the group
and sign San Francisco's Y & T instead. Frigid Bich fires their management.

Dateline...January 1982-Bass player Henry Matthies visits several New York record companies and gains the interest of Millenium Records owner
Jimmy Ienner. Millenium is an offshoot of Casablanca Records and shares offices with Casablanca as well. Ienner is impressed with the group and
plays the single for Bill Aucoin of Casablanca. Aucoin likes what he hears and suggests that Ienner get some more material from Frigid Bich.

Dateline...February 14th 1982- Frigid Bich enters Mastersound studios exactly one year to the day. Three new tracks are recorded. "Fight for
Rock and Roll", "Liar (reworked)" and an acoustic track "Poor mans fortune" .

Dateline...March 1982- Based on the groups recording company interest, Drummer Al Michel and Guitarist Joe Melleby meet with a private investor
to discuss the possibility of financing for Frigid Bich.

Dateline...April 1982-Casablanca Records begins to experience financial problems due to deluge of un-sold Disco records. Funding to Millenium
is held back and Millenium puts a hold on new talent.

Dateline...May 1982- Disappointed and frustrated the group begins "infighting" .

Dateline...August 1982- After a few months of local gigs the original line plays it's final concert at "Faces" in Amityville , NY.

Dateline...January 1983-Al Michel and Joe Melleby decide to take offer of financing and form a new group.

Dateline...February 1983- Joe and Henry reform Frigid Bich and with the addition's of Chris Meyer on Drums and Joe's brother Mike on
Bass , the group begins frantic rehearsal's and reinvention.

Dateline...June 1983- The new Frigid Bich line up plays it's first show, opening for an all girl Heavy Metal band called "Poison Dollies".
Armed only with cover material and one original song the group knows that in order to survive they needed to get exposure.
The show takes place at a local club called "Good Times" located in Massapequa, New York. In attendance that evening is Kick Ass
Monthly owner and editor Bob Muldowney. The groups performance is disastrous and is plagued with sound problems .
Mike and Chris are only 16 years old at the time and have to arrange false identification so they can perform. Joe is also suffering from
laryngitis as well. After the show is over the group is approached by Muldowney who admires the groups courage and is impressed
with the groups finale' "We rule the night" . After a brief conversation, Muldowney exchanges phone numbers with both Joe and Henry
and tells them to call him in few days.

Dateline...July 1983- Bob Muldowney takes an active role and begins to arrange shows for the group. The first show arranged is an opening slot
for "Monroe" at Cheer's , Deer Park, New York. Frigid Bich "blows the roof" off the place and Muldowney writes a gig review in an upcomming issue of
Kick Ass Monthly. Interest in the group grows immediately and Frigid Bich finds a home in the New York club scene following in the footsteps of
Twisted Sister. The group starts to build new repertoire

Dateline...August 1983-A series of shows with other tri-state Metal acts is put together and Frigid Bich hits the road with "Sneak Attack" and "Prey".
At "Dover Showplace" (New Jersey) the group plays in front of a packed house and the infamous "Old Bridge Militia" . After two minutes the "Milita"
responds with frantic "fist banging" and "head banging". The show includes more original material along with cover versions of Motorhead classics.
The show is ended with Henry smashing a "Flaming" guitar and diving into the crowd. Bob Muldowney receives reports of the extraordinary performance.

Dateline...December 1983-WBAB of New York's weekly Heavy Metal radio show begins a series of concerts at "Cheer's" (Deer Park, New York).
Disc Jockey "Fingers" contacts Bob Muldowney about local bands for the concerts. "Fingers" enlists Virgin Steele, OverKill, Takashi,Alien,Thor and a
little known group called Frigid Bich. Cheer's is now open it's doors to the new phenomena called "Heavy Metal" and giving it prime exposure.
Over the years only acts with huge followings like Twisted Sister, Zebra, Monroe and other well known artists were able to fill the hall and booked.
Aerosmith had played the famed club 2 nights in a row to sold out, S.R.O. crowds. The first show booked was "Virgin Steele and Thor" .
A last minute cancellation from Virgin Steele gave Frigid Bich the opportunity that they needed. After seeing Frigid Bich's sound check, Thor's
management felt it would be better to go on before the unknown group rather than after them. This put the Cheer's management into a panic due
to the fact it would be up to an unknown group to keep customers "drinking" after the midnight hour. Things changed for Frigid Bich that night.
Not only did they "blow the roof" off the place, they kept the customers "drinking" well past the midnight hour and to the delight of the club owners.
Cheer's becomes a regular show place for the group. Radio advertisements for the club feature Frigid Bich's name and run for months on local
stations.

Dateline...Febuary 1983- Rock City Records puts together a compilation record that is slated for 1984 release. The record, entitled New York Metal 84
was a spotlight on the burgeoning New York Heavy Metal scene. Overkill, Warhead, Cities, Virgin Steele and Frigid Bich. Frigid Bich would contribute
"We rule the night" to the album. Another track called "No Guts -No Glory" was also recorded at the session as well. When the album is released later
in the year , Frigid Bich receives rave reviews both stateside and abroad. "We rule the night" is clearly the "stand out" of the record.
Febuary 18,1983-Frigid Bich headlines it's first concert at the Rio Theatre- Valley Stream , New York. The group delivers it's best performance yet
in front of a cheering crowd. The show is opened with the new song "Kids are gonna fight" and is an instant hit with the crowd. Later on in the performance
the groups unveils the epic "Tyrants of a generation". The concert ends with the show stopping "We rule the night" and Henry's trademark "Flaming" and "Smashing"
guitar.

Dateline... March 1983-Frigid Bich begins to play regularly at the Cheer's club. They begin to build a large following. The group plays many
local clubs.

Dateline...December 1983- New York Metal 84 is released. Frigid Bich is featured in Kick Ass Monthly on a regular basis and is reviewed by Metal
Forces magazine as well.

Dateline...April 1984-Frigid Bich plays regularly at local clubs through out 1984.

Dateline...May 1984- A recorded band sound check at Cheers serves as a Demo tape for the group. The tape is a favorite amongst tape traders.
Metal Blade Records of Los Angeles, California offers the group it's first multi-album deal. The group decides to pass on the contract.

Dateline... August 1984-The group takes a break from playing clubs and starts to work on new material. Joe is hired by Combat Records in New York.

Dateline...Febuary 1985-Frigid Bich writes and records "Louder than Loud", it's last studio recording.

Dateline...November 1985-WBAB "Fingers" Metal Shop promotes a new line up of shows at a new club called "The Stage" . Frigid Bich opens the series.

Dateline...December 1985-Frigid Bich opens up for Nuclear Assault at Lamour Brooklyn, New York. This is the groups final show and the group is greated
to a thunderous reception.

Dateline...July 2001- Joe Leonard is contacted by Jim Cranford and John Haupt of OPM Records. OPM arranges to release the "Call us Robinhoods" era
material on a 10' vinyl collectors edition EP.

Dateline...September 2002- After locating original master recordings, the tapes are "restored" by the AMPEX tape company of New Jersey.

Dateline...November 2001- Joe Leonard, Henry Matthies & Chris Meyer enter Cippone Recording studio's and re-master the original recordings.
"Encore", a "new" recording is also recorded as well and chronicle's the groups encore's and introduction's.

Dateline...Febuary 2003- OPM Records plans to release Frigid Bich "Anger. Attitude. Anarchy" on or about Febuary,14th...ironically

The story continues...stay tuned