Le Mans

Formed in 1981 in Chicago around a pair of talented young guitarists, Derek Frigo from Chicago and Josh Ramos from the Bay Area. Le Mans also included singer Peter Marrino, bassist Richard Burns and drummer Kenny Stavropoulos. The band signed to Shrapnel Records for the release of their first album 'On the Streets' in 1983, produced by Mike Varney. Unfortunately, like most Shrapnel albums, 'On the Streets' achieved nothing more than modest sales and limited support within the heavy metal community, leaving Le Mans on the sidelines until, three years later, the label secured an upstream distribution deal with Columbia Records. Ramos had already left and the band recruited a new guitarist, Johnny Johnson, for their second, self-titled album released in 1986 with replacement bassist Brett Bloomfield.