# Impellitteri > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Impellitteri > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Impellitteri.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impellitteri > Source revision: 1351753008 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) American heavy metal band For the mayor of New York City, see [Vincent R. Impellitteri](/source/Vincent_R._Impellitteri). This article needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Impellitteri" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (September 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Impellitteri Impellitteri performing in 2016 Background information Origin Los Angeles, California, U.S. Genres Heavy metal speed metal neoclassical metal Years active 1987–1990, 1992–present Labels Relativity|Sony, JVC, Frontiers Members Chris Impellitteri Rob Rock James Amelio Pulli Paul Bostaph Website impellitteri.net **Impellitteri** is an American [heavy metal](/source/Heavy_metal_music) band from Los Angeles formed and led by guitarist [Chris Impellitteri](/source/Chris_Impellitteri), singer [Rob Rock](/source/Rob_Rock), and bassist James Amelio Pulli. The band has sold over two million albums worldwide.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ## History [Chris Impellitteri](/source/Chris_Impellitteri) formed Impellitteri together with vocalist Rob Rock in Los Angeles, California.[*[when?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style/Dates_and_numbers#Chronological_items)*] They first released an [EP](/source/Extended_play) simply titled *Impellitteri* in 1987. The EP features heavy metal with classically influenced shredding [guitar solos](/source/Guitar_solos), screaming vocals, [speed metal](/source/Speed_metal) drumming and aggressive bass. It features songs like "Lost in the Rain" and "Burning" of which quickly gained the attention of heavy metal fans and musicians around the world. During the release of the EP, many major media outlets began to cover Impellitteri in their magazines including *[Kerrang!](/source/Kerrang!)*, *[Guitar World](/source/Guitar_World)*, *[Circus](/source/Circus_(magazine))*, and *[Burrn!](/source/Burrn!)*. After the release of the EP, Impellitteri regrouped, this time with British vocalist [Graham Bonnet](/source/Graham_Bonnet) as lead singer, and released an album titled *[Stand in Line](/source/Stand_in_Line)* in 1988. [MTV](/source/MTV) played Impellitteri's music video for "Stand in Line" in its rotation, and Chris Impellitteri was a guest host on MTV's *[Headbangers Ball](/source/Headbangers_Ball)*. Fans voted Impellitteri a "Smash" on MTV's *Smash or Trash* show. The album charted in [Billboards](/source/Billboard_200) Top 100 and remained there for over five months. To date, the song "Stand in Line" has become a fan favorite globally. After touring in support of the *Impellitteri* EP and "Stand in Line", the band returned to the studio and reunited with original vocalist Rob Rock. They then recorded and released their first full-length album with Rob Rock titled “Grin And Bear It” (1992) which was quickly followed up by another EP titled *Victim of the System* (1993), which was produced by Mike Tacci who was the assistant engineer on [Metallica](/source/Metallica)'s [Black Album](/source/Metallica_(album)) (1991). *Victim of the System* was highly influenced by the band [Queen](/source/Queen_(band)). Following *Victim of the System*, they released *[Answer to the Master](/source/Answer_to_the_Master)* in late 1994. To date, this album features many fan-favorite songs like "Warrior", "Fly Away", and the album title track "Answer to the Master". In 1996, Impellitteri released *Screaming Symphony*, with Chris Impellitteri winning the *[Burrn!](/source/Burrn!)* magazine Readers Poll Award for "Best Rock Guitarist". The record was mixed by [Michael Wagener](/source/Michael_Wagener) who had produced Metallica and [Ozzy Osbourne](/source/Ozzy_Osbourne) before. The *Screaming Symphony* features songs such as "Rat Race" and "17th Century Chicken Pickin", which are played frequently during live concerts. In 2000, Impellitteri released the album *Crunch*. *Crunch* was the first record where the band started to occasionally use [drop tunings](/source/Drop_tunings) in combination with their brand of shred metal. The album featured songs like "Beware of the Devil", "Slay the Dragon", and "Speed Demon". In addition, the band recorded a ballad titled "Forever Yours". Shortly after *Crunch*, Rob Rock decided to pursue a solo career. Impellitteri again recruited [Graham Bonnet](/source/Graham_Bonnet) and began working on their next album titled *System X*, released in 2002. The album was mixed by [Andrew Murdock](/source/Andrew_Murdock). That year they also released a compilation of hits called *The Very Best of Impellitteri: Faster Than the Speed of Light* (2002). In May 2008, it was announced that Rob Rock was, once again, back with Impellitteri. They collaborated on a new album called *[Wicked Maiden](/source/Wicked_Maiden)* (2009) with a working title of *Good and Evil*. *Wicked Maiden* was released in Japan and Europe on February 24, 2009, with the intent of releasing the new album in the United States in 2011, followed by the Impellitteri Shredfest tour.[1] Impellitteri performing in 2016 In 2015, Impellitteri recorded, released, and toured behind their next album *[Venom](/source/Venom_(Impellitteri_album))*. They performed on the headlining stage at Rock Fest Barcelona alongside bands such as [Iron Maiden](/source/Iron_Maiden). They also headlined shows such as the Busan Rock Festival in South Korea. In 2018/2019, Impellitteri released *The Nature of the Beast*. The album features songs like "Run for Your Life", "Masquerade", and "Wonderworld", as well as two cover songs ([Black Sabbath](/source/Black_Sabbath)'s "Symptom of the Universe" and [Andrew Lloyd Webber](/source/Andrew_Lloyd_Webber)'s "[The Phantom of the Opera](/source/The_Phantom_of_the_Opera_(song))"). In 2024, the band released a new full-length album, *War Machine*. ## Beliefs As far as [Christian metal](/source/Christian_metal) ties, Impellitteri (the band) does not consider themselves to be a [Christian](/source/Christianity) band. Rob Rock said the following in an interview: "Chris and I and Ken Mary are all Christians, but James and Ed and Glen, our touring drummer, don't necessarily proclaim themselves as Christians, so it's not a Christian band."[2] — Rob Rock ## Band members **Current** - [Chris Impellitteri](/source/Chris_Impellitteri) – guitars (1987–90, 1992–present), bass (1987) - James Amelio Pulli – bass (1992–present) - [Rob Rock](/source/Rob_Rock) – lead vocals (1987–1988, 1992–2000, 2008–present) - [Paul Bostaph](/source/Paul_Bostaph) – drums (2024–present) **Former** - [Graham Bonnet](/source/Graham_Bonnet) – lead vocals (1988–1990, 2000–2002) - Mark Weitz – lead vocals (1990) - Curtis Skelton – lead vocals (2003–2008) - Ted Days – bass (1987–1988) - [Chuck Wright](/source/Chuck_Wright) – bass (1988, 1992) - [Dave Spitz](/source/Dave_Spitz) – bass (1988–1990) - Loni Silva – drums (1987–1988) - [Pat Torpey](/source/Pat_Torpey) – drums (1988) (died 2018) - [Stet Howland](/source/Stet_Howland) – drums (1988–1990) - [Ken Mary](/source/Ken_Mary) – drums (1992, 1994–1999) - Mark Bistany – drums (1992–1994) - Phil Wolfe – keyboards (1988–1990) - [Claude Schnell](/source/Claude_Schnell) – keyboards (1990, 1993) - Ed Roth – keyboards (1995–2007) - [Glen Sobel](/source/Glen_Sobel) – drums (1999–2009) - Brandon Wild – drums (2009–2012) - [Jon Dette](/source/Jon_Dette) – drums (2012–2018) - Patrick Johansson – drums (2018–2024; touring 2016) **Timeline** ## Discography Year Title Type 1987 Impellitteri EP 1988 Stand in Line Studio 1992 Grin and Bear It Studio 1993 Victim of the System EP 1994 Answer to the Master Studio 1996 Screaming Symphony Studio 1997 Fuel for the Fire EP 1997 Eye of the Hurricane Studio 1998 Live! Fast! Loud! Live 2000 Crunch Studio 2002 System X Studio 2002 The Very Best of Impellitteri: Faster Than the Speed of Light Compilation 2004 Pedal to the Metal Studio 2009 Wicked Maiden Studio 2015 Venom Studio 2018 The Nature of the Beast Studio 2022 Wake the Beast Compilation 2023 The Complete Beast 1987-2009 Compilation 2024 War Machine Studio ## References - Hale, Mark (1993). "1409". *Headbangers* (First edition, second printing ed.). [Ann Arbor](/source/Ann_Arbor%2C_Michigan), [Michigan](/source/Michigan): Popular Culture, Ink. p. 160. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-56075-029-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-56075-029-4). - Powell, Mark Allan (2002). ["Impellitteri"](https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofco00mark/page/431). *Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music* (First printing ed.). [Peabody](/source/Peabody%2C_Massachusetts), [Massachusetts](/source/Massachusetts): Hendrickson Publishers. p. 431. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-56563-679-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-56563-679-1). ## Footnotes 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Impellitteri's official fansite"](https://web.archive.org/web/20111221003648/http://www.impellitterifanclub.info/). *Impellitterifanclub.info*. December 9, 2008. Archived from [the original](http://www.impellitterifanclub.info) on December 21, 2011. Retrieved December 9, 2008. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Stöver, Frank. ["ROB ROCK-1999 interview w/ "Take It" web-zine"](https://web.archive.org/web/20071113100452/http://www.rapture.net/impellitteri/takit.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.rapture.net/impellitteri/takit.htm) on November 13, 2007. Retrieved May 13, 2008. ## External links - [Impellitteri biography by Steve Huey, discography, album reviews, credits & releases](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/impellitteri-p13267) at [AllMusic.com](/source/AllMusic.com) - [Impellitteri discography, album releases & credits](https://www.discogs.com/artist/1822209-Impellitteri) at [Discogs.com](/source/Discogs.com) - [Impellitteri albums to be listened](https://play.spotify.com/artist/5z1vzTURV3bwwXqxkjy47W) as stream at [Play.Spotify.com](/source/Spotify) v t e Impellitteri Chris Impellitteri Rob Rock James Amelio Pulli Jon Dette Graham Bonnet Mark Weitz Curtis Skelton Ted Days Chuck Wright Dave Spitz Loni Silva Pat Torpey Stet Howland Ken Mary Mark Bistany Glen Sobel Phil Wolfe Claude Schnell Ed Roth Studio albums Stand in Line Answer to the Master Related articles Animetal USA Magdallan Giuffria House of Lords Mr. Big Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND National United States France BnF data Norway Artists MusicBrainz Other IdRef --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Impellitteri](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impellitteri) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impellitteri?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.