Early years (1973–1985)

Heavy Metal Kids were formed in 1972 by the merger of two previous bands: Heaven and Biggles.^[1] They took their name from a gang of street kids, featured in the novel Nova Express by William S. Burroughs.

The initial, pre-recording line-up consisted of Mickey Waller (guitar), Ronnie Thomas (bass, backing vocals), Gary Holton (lead vocals), Keith Boyce (drums) and Cosmo (guitar).^[1] They were the first signing by Atlantic Records' new London offices, having been spotted by their A&R man, Dave Dee.^[2] In 1973, they were joined by keyboard player Danny Peyronel. In January 1974, they recorded their first, self-titled album,^[1] produced by Dave Dee and engineered by Phil Chapman.

Waller left the band shortly before they went in to Island Studios, to record the follow-up album Anvil Chorus, in January 1975,^[1] which was produced by Andy Johns. At this point Danny Peyronel left to join UFO and was replaced by John Sinclair. Shortly after, Cosmo was replaced by Barry Paul, and the band moved to Mickie Most's RAK Records where they recorded Kitsch, which was produced by Most.^[1]

John Sinclair left to join Uriah Heep and was replaced by Jay Williams.^[2][3]

Keith Boyce left and was replaced by Ricky Squires, previously of the dEAd ENd KIdS.

Reunion (2002–present)

After Holton's death in 1985, the band went into a long hiatus until, in 2002, they recorded a new album, Hit the Right Button, released in 2003 and featuring Peyronel, now on lead vocals and keyboards, Ronnie Thomas, Keith Boyce, Marco Barusso (guitars, backing vocals) and Marco Guarnerio (guitars, backing vocals). The album was produced by Barusso.^[3]

Hit The Right Button enjoyed critical success. The 'twentieth century' Heavy Metal Kids embarked on a series of tours of the UK and Europe. In early 2008, a 'special edition' of the album was released by Angel Air Records. Under the name Hit The Right Button Plus, the CD featured four of their songs performed live in London and Milan between 2003 and 2005 as bonus tracks, as well as fully re-designed artwork.

In October 2008, and now featuring Matteo Salvadori replacing Guarnerio, Heavy Metal Kids went into Massive Arts Studio in Milan, where initial recordings were made. Barusso worked for nearly two years with Salvadori and Peyronel trying to finish the album but it was never completed.

On 8 August 2010, Peyronel left the band and shortly after this, the actor John Altman was unveiled as the new lead singer. Altman was a friend of the original frontman, Holton, and he appeared with him in Quadrophenia.

In October 2010, Heavy Metal Kids embarked on a tour with the new line-up featuring John Altman (lead vocals), Ronnie Thomas (bass, backing vocals), Cosmo (guitar), Keith Boyce (drums) and Justin McConville (guitar, keyboards, backing vocals). They have been working on their album to be titled 'Uncontrollable!'. A single of the same title has been released.

In early 2011, John Altman announced he was leaving the band to focus on his other commitments. L.A. Guns frontman Phil Lewis joined the band for a couple of gigs and would return to the band for some performances later in the year. The band then performed as a four-piece with Justin McConville taking on lead vocal duties.^[4]

In October 2011, Ronnie Thomas appeared in the Identity Parade round of Never Mind the Buzzcocks, preceded by video clip of the Top of the Pops recording of "She's No Angel". In 2012, Thomas left the band and was replaced by Ronnie Garrity until August 2015 when PJ Phillips was recruited for bass and backing vocal duties.^[3]

Current members

• Keith Boyce – drums (1973–1978, 1982–1985, 2002–present)
• Cosimo "Cosmo" Verrico – guitar (1974–1975, 2010–present)
• PJ Phillips – bass guitar, backing vocals (2015–2019, 2021–present)
• Simon Gordon – lead vocals (2022–present)
• Andy Fuller – keyboards (2022–present)

Former members

• Gary Holton – lead vocals (1972–1978, 1983–1985; his death)
• Mickey Waller – guitars (1972–1974; died 2013)
• Ronnie Thomas – bass guitar, backing vocals (1972–1978, 1983–1985, 2002–2011)
• Danny Peyronel – keyboards, lead and backing vocals (1973–1975, 2002–2010)
• Barry Paul – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1975–1978, 1983–1985)
• John Sinclair – keyboards, backing vocals (1975–1976)
• Jay Williams – lead guitar (1976–1978, 1983–1985)
• Ricky Squires – drums (1983–1985)
• Marco Guarnerio – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2002–2010)
• Marco Barusso – lead guitar, backing vocals (2002–2010)
• John Altman – lead vocals (2010)
• Phil Lewis – lead vocals (2010–2011)
• Ronnie Garrity – bass guitar, backing vocals (2012–2015)
• Justin McConville – rhythm guitar, bass guitar, lead and backing vocals (2010–2019)
• Paul Manzi – lead vocals (2015–2016, 2020–2021)

Timeline