Mandy Lion Biography.

The History of The Beast
MANDY LION-WWIII

At the tender age of eleven, the young boy started to pursue his music skills as a vocalist, and by the time he was 13-years old, the young teen was lead singer and songwriter in several popular bands in his home country. Sometime later, the teen finally put together his own band, enhancing his prowling vocal abilities further. Known for their raw, intensifying, and heavily sensual performances it wasn't long before they became quite the rage! After a few years, with the blessings from his mother, the teen Mandy Lion decided to venture from his home country of Germany bringing his unique musical style to the USA. It was then that he embraced America as his new home -- arriving on the Los Angeles scene in mid 1986.

Only 16-years old and quite bold, the teenager worked diligently in the field he so loved and had chosen. By the end of 1986/early 1987, Mandy Lion, founder, leader, and frontman, formed World War III. With his new band of haunting demolition metal on your love senses, the young Lion took his Band WWIII to the streets of LA and within no time was playing sold out Venues!!! The success continued even though WWIII had gone through various line-up changes during the years 1986-1989. How many bands and groups experience similar situations as this? Unlike many, the teen Lion remained steadfast and true in the music field he had chosen! Mandy Lion, founder, leader and frontman of WWIII, established and launched his professional music career by setting a root foundation to a new style of vocalizing, adding to the music industry field, and inspiring many other artists to mimick his irreplaceable style!

The Lion and his band WWIII were a mighty force on the LA Hollywood Strip. They demolished places like Gazzari's, famous since the 1960's, where WWIII rocked down the house and broke Van Halen's attendance record! They putting on electrifying concert sets with songs like Rock & Roll Machine, Go Down, and Call Me Devil (Go Down and Call Me Devil that were recorded on the S/T Debut are different from the list here).

The Lion's popularity grew and caught the attention of legendary manager Don Arden -- Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osborne, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Air Supply, etc. - who made several attempts to see Mandy Lion and his WWIII shows but could not get in!!! As quoted by The Beast in a September 2000 interview on Jake E. Lee's site (www.JakeELee.com), "My future manager Don Arden had trouble getting in to see me and when he finally did he saw, liked, and took me under his wings."
Don Arden signed Mandy Lion immediately to a management contract after seeing Mandy's live performance! Then, within months, Mandy Lion was signed to Hollywood Records and with the help of Don Arden started auditioning celebrity players to create the amazing line-up of the infamous World War III.
The chosen line-up was Jimmy Bain of Rainbow and DIO, Vinny Appice of Black Sabbath and DIO, and Joe Floyd of Warrior. Unfortunately, at that time, Joe Floyd was unable to fully give WWIII the attention that Mandy Lion needed, due to the fact that Joe Floyd was just starting his now legendary Silver Cloud Recording Studio. At that point, further auditioning took place for a few unknown players and Tracy G., an unknown at that time, was picked and made a name for himself by Mandy choosing him to see if he could fill in for Joe Floyd. In 1990 WWIII released their S/T Debut Album/CD on the Hollywood Records label and soon thereafter WWIII began an extensive tour. They opened for famous bands like Iron Maiden and at times did the headlining themselves! WWIII toured huge arenas and many famous clubs like Whiskey A Go Go, thundering down the house there in January 1991. They also made two classic metal music videos for Love You to Death and Time for Terror, both of which were from their classic metal debut album/CD on the Hollywood Records label.

Things were going along smoothly even though changes would occur once and again. Vinny Appice was replaced with James Kottack of the Scorpions and Kingdom Come. Later, James Kottack was replaced by Mikkey Dee of Moterhead. Trouble and disaster came with the conniving schemes of Steve Jones, A&R Director for WWIII, who tried to depict a false image on the band as Nazi's and this later caused label failure. Deeply hurt, betrayed and outraged with this harmful negative image of his band WWIII, Mandy Lion stood up for himself and his band member's rights. Fighting to not be portrayed in a negative light for that is NOT what WWIII represents!

As if this cruel scheme wasn't enough for Mandy, heavy friction and disagreements between band members began when Mandy started a side project with George Lynch of Dokken and Lynchmob. These problems weighed heavily on Mandy and eventually caused The Lion to step back and put WWIII on hold. Mandy wasted no time, and in 1994 began a New Project and set out on the road to tour with Jake E. Lee of Ozzy Osbourne and Badlands as the phenomenal Wicked Alliance!! After some odd years on the back burner, Wicked Alliance has a record label that represents them! The Wicked Alliance Twisted Beauty album/CD that Lee and Lion worked on will finally come to the Light in late 2002 or early 2003 on The Pony Canyon record label.

Besides working on his solo project doing the producing, writing and arranging, Mandy Lion has resurfaced his Band WWIII to the forefront! WWIII has recently signed on the Sony label and Mandy and his WWIII (Joe Floyd, Geezer, and Ducey) will be releasing their new CD When God Turned Away this Year!

The vocals, guitars, and rhythm sections are solid to the core and the new WWIII will take their demolition war groove to the next level…the Battlefield!! It's gonna be brutal with the mammoth grooves appealing to both old and new metal fans alike, and it will be heavier then ever!!

Always true to his fans, The Beast never left the music scene, he has always been there working! Mandy Lion's most recent showcases where he performed at such classic clubs like The Black Lodge and The New Century Club in Los Angeles, received excellent reviews!!

By Sharon a/k/a Shadow