Pre-Order: Bad Boys From East [CD]

Pharao was one of the most prolific metal bands of the late German Democratic Republic. It all began in 1984, when vocalist Jacky Lee Mann, guitarist Michael Jurischk, and drummer Franky Miller were playing together in their band, Countdown. In early 1985, guitarist Andy Schwendemann and bassist Christian Dallmann joined from Regenbogen. When Schwendemann left towards the end of the year, Pharao was born. In 1989, the Berlin Wall came down, and Pharao got the chance to record their first album, Bad Boys From East, for a small record company in Stuttgart. The line-up consisted of Jacky Lee Mann (vocals), Franky Miller (drums), Blacky Smith (guitar), and Thor (bass). "It was all very chaotic," recalls Jacky Lee Mann today. "The whole album was actually intended as a pre-production and was recorded in just two days. The record company released it on CD without ever asking us." In addition to the CD release, a very limited number of vinyl copies were pressed, and these now fetch exorbitant prices among collectors. These ten songs have stood the test of time and this reissue includes a selection of interesting bonus material, featuring contributions from high-profile guest musicians such as John Gallagher (Raven), Hermann Frank (Accept), and Doug Scarratt and Biff Byford (both of Saxon fame).