Guitarist Mitch Perry has spent the last 25 years working alongside some of the most renowned and popular musicians in the world. Through his recording and touring experience with such popular and diverse acts ranging from the Michael Schenker Group to Cher, Mitch has accumulated a vast wealth of knowledge and experience that has inevitably led to him fronting his own projects.
Be it via his guitar playing or even when singing lead vocals, as he is finally doing on his third solo release (due out by the end of 2004), Mitch is poised to become a star in his own right. Mitch was flown out to Los Angeles at the tender age of 18 by virtuoso Weather Report and Santana bassist Alphonso Johnson in January of 1980. When finished with that project Mitch replaced Randy Rhoads of Quiet Riot in the renamed DuBrow, but quickly left that band when offered the chance to work with Deep Purple's Glenn Hughes.
After the Hughes affiliation Mitch replaced Yngwie Malmsteen in Steeler where bassist Billy Sheehan spotted him and subsequently asked him to record "Live Speed on Ice" with Talas. From there Mitch segued to CBS recording act Heaven where one of the highlights of that association was the recording of MTV favorite "Knocking on Heavens Door". The band also toured the U.S. and Canada exstensively in response to the massive airplay that the single recieved. During this period he also guested on albums by Faster Pussycat, Keel, Frankie Miller, and Graham Nash as well as adding keyboards to Aerosmith's "Classics Live" release. In 1987 Mitch was enlisted by Michael Schenker to share guitar duties on the landmark M.S.G. album "Perfect Timing". During his time with M.S.G. Mitch toured America, Japan and Europe along with major groups such as Def Leppard and Whitesnake. With his standout performances Mitch built quite a large following in his own right, eventually leading to him being invited on as special guest star for the 'Guitar Heroes' tour of Japan in 1989.
This inspired him to form his own group with Quiet Riot vocalist Paul Shortino in 1990, which they called Badd Boyz (This group also marked the beginning of his long association with bassist Sean McNabb). The band eventually put out one album in Japan in addition to playing wherever they could stateside. In between Badd Boys shows Mitch also toured the US, Europe and Australia with music and big screen icon Cher whenever his schedule allowed. He was also featured on a live ABC TV special with her (on a bill including Bette Midler, Robin Williams, and Olivia Newton-John amongst others) in addition to performing her hit 'If I Could Turn Back Time' at the MTV Video Awards as well. Mitch would also play the odd live show or two as a member of comedic genius Sam Kinison's band. Meanwhile, the Badd Boyz lineup was gradually evolving into the band 7% Solution as future LA Guns vocalist Ralph Saenz was called in to replace Shortino in the beginning of 1993. In 1994 Mitch joined up with Edgar Winter after following Carmine Appice into his lineup upon returning from the 'Super Rock Session' tour of Japan (that featured Mitch and Carmine along with Jimmy Page's bassist Tony Franklin). Thus begun a record setting stint as Edgar's guitarist that endured for over eight years, outlasting the tenures of both Rick Derringer and Ronnie Montrose combined. It resulted in three CD's - two of Edgar's solo releases including 'Winter Blues' which proved to be Edgar's most successful release since the days of 'Frankenstein', as well as Edgar's contributions to Mitch's first solo CD 'Wire To Wire' (released in Japan in 1996, it's still a fan favorite and sells briskly at Mitch's live shows today!).
They also recorded a new version of 'Free Ride' together for a national ad campaign for Buick that ran on TV for over a year. As they were perfoming as many as 150-200 shows each year they would hit everything from smokey bars to major concert venues such as the Montreaux Jazz Festival, where they appeared with the legendary B.B. King in 1999. That year also saw the release of Mitch's second solo CD, a compilation of unreleased tracks from 7% Solution and Badd Boys that recieved excellent reviews in addition to selling out of all it's pressings. The new millinium brought Mitch further recognition as 'Best Rock Guitarist' at the 2000 L.A Music Awards, where other winners that night included Steve Lukather and Jackson Browne. By the spring of 2001, however, as the constant touring as a sideman with Edgar was wearing out it's attraction, an opportunity to become professionally involved with Mitch's lifelong passion of racing cars presented itself. Shortly after a special appearance performing with Edgar at that years Grammy Awards, Mitch decided to leave the band and apart from playing guitar for himself and writing new songs when inspired, Mitch didn't perform or record for almost a year. Shortly after returning to the road for a brief Bulletboys tour in January of 2002, he was asked to assemble a band to perform in Tahiti later that summer.
This led to the formation of the band the Rhythm Junkies with whom he still performs today. He was also asked to contribute a musical track to the 9/11 tribute album 'Guitars For Freedom' alongside such guitar greats as Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, Steve Vai, Jose Feliciano, and Robin Trower. In addition to playing with the 'Junkies', 2003 was to see Mitch join XYZ for some live performances. While he is currently still hard at work on his upcoming CD (which includes fellow 'Junkies' Sean McNabb and Lenny Roberto), Mitch is also getting ready to go to Europe in the fall of 2004 with Dio and Dokken bassist Jeff Pilson's band War & Peace where they will be recording a live album at Liverpool's infamous Cavern Club, home of none other than The Beatles. After 25 years he's still going strong and who knows what else the future holds for Mitch Perry
01 - Straight To My Heart.
02 - No Time For Cryin'.
03 - Never Mind The Change.
04 - Hear Your Heartbreak.
05 - Witchdoctor.
06 - Leave It To The Law.
07 - Believing On A Lie.
08 - Let It Ride.
09 - Money.
10 - 45 Reasons.
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Mitch Perry Projects – Mitch Perry Projects (2005)
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