Bio

LAAZ ROCKIT is:
Aaron Jellum - Guitar
Phil Kettner - Guitars
Michael Coons - Vocals
Sky Harris - Drums
Willy Lange - Bass

Laaz Rockit Bio/Press Release 2008

Formed in 1982 Berkeley, California, LAAZ ROCKIT is considered to be one the founders of the genre of Thrash Metal unique to the Bay Area music scene. The band's new style of metal helped start a huge fan base, with their high energy live performances becoming their signature trademark. Sold out performances in the burgeoning club scene soon gave Laaz Rockit label attention, and the Indie label Target Entertainment inked the band for their debut album in 1984, "City's Gonna Burn". Viewed as a classic "blue-print" in the beginning of Thrash Metal, "City's Gonna Burn" placed Laaz Rockit into the arena with other powerhouse metal band's Metallica, Slayer, Testament, Exodus, and Anthrax. A new sound was created by these pioneers that continues to inspire many bands to this day.

Laaz Rockit would release five more full length albums/CD's and an EP over the next eight years, with 1987's "Know Your Enemy" and 1989's "Annihilation Principle" securing both fan and critical acclaim worldwide. The band toured throughout North America, Europe, and Japan in this period, raising the bar for metal acts to follow with their unique live performance and rapport with fans at every gig along the way.

The band broke up in 1993, though the members continued their strong bond of friendship outside of music. Their sense of kinship and brotherhood often raised the question of performing together again at some point in time, and in 2005 the perfect opportunity presented itself.

The 2005 Dynamo Open Air Festival in the Netherlands was a celebration of 80's Thrash Metal bands, and Laaz Rockit was billed for the main stage along with Anthrax and Testament. This show, along with a club appearance with Testament, would be Laaz's first appearances live since Tokyo in 1992. After enjoying the fun and success of playing live again, the band appeared at The San Francisco Thrash Against Cancer Benefit in July of 2005, and travelled to Japan with their brothers Testament for the two night sold out Thrash Domination Festival, with Kreator and Destruction also on the bill. A headline appearance at Germany's "Keep It True" festival with Diamond Head and Sabbat, and two shows in the Netherlands and Belgium in spring of 2007 were the only gigs of 2007, as the band brought along new drummer Sky Harris.

In August 2006, Laaz Rockit released "LIVE UNTOLD", a DVD that encapsulates the story of Laaz with clips of concert scenes, photos, and interviews that chronicle the band from its inception to the present day. It is a classic, detailing the band in a unique fashion, and showcasing their brotherhood throughout their lives.

Due to the fans overwhelming response, Laaz Rockit's back catalogue is being re-mastered and re-released on OLD SCHOOL METAL RECORDS, also home to the "LIVE UNTOLD" DVD. "City's Gonna Burn" was released in 2007, complete with photos of the era and updated production. The rest of the back catalogue is also slated for release soon.

After the success of the reunion shows, the band realized it was not finished with what they had to offer musically. The band returned to the studio in 2008 for the first time in 15 years, and recently completed the perfect follow-up to where they left off in 1993 with the aptly titled "LEFT FOR DEAD". Enlisting co-producers Juan Urteaga and former Laaz member Scott Sargeant (who also makes a guest appearance), the flow and direction of "LEFT FOR DEAD" is the most mature sound and well thought offering the band has ever released.

"LEFT FOR DEAD" is set for a July 25th release in Europe on MASSACRE RECORDS. On June 1st, a limited edition signed CD will become available in the U.S. for a limited time only on the band's MySpace page and/or official website.

This highly anticipated release has already garnished praise from some of Metal's Famous Performers:

"The best LAAZ ROCKIT ever made!!"
- Chuck Billy, TESTAMENT

"Blistering aggression! Thrash Metal the way it should be... straight up, and in your face, from the band that helped define the genre!"
- Steve "Zetro" Souza, former EXODUS & LEGACY

"How is it that in 2008 the old thrash metal guard has come back heavier and thrashier than ever. First Exodus, then Death Angel, then Testament and now Laaz Rockit. A thrashing throwback to wreck your neck!"
- Rick Ernst, GET THRASHED DIRECTOR/PRODUCER

"One of the pioneers of Bay Area metal, coming back with a crushing new album. One of the best guitar teams i have ever heard, Jellum, Kettner and the boys are on fire!
- Steev Esquivel, SKINLAB/DEFIANCE