Ann Boleyn (singer)

Ann Boleyn is a recording artist and performer from the United States. Arguably she is responsible for coining the term speed metal.Fact|date=May 2008 She also is credited for developing the careers of many international recording artists through New Renaissance Records, the record label she founded.

Career

Boleyn began as a keyboard player in the early 1970s, specializing in the Hammond organ. According to an interview in Hit Parader Magazine, by the time she was 13, Boleyn was performing in nightclubs, often without the knowledge of her parents. At age 15, she had received offers to tour in several bands, one of which featured guitarist Tommy Bolin, but was forbidden to do so by her parents.

In 1976, while still a young teenager in school, she was spotted by producer Kim Fowley and recruited to join The Runaways as the bass player. According to the liner-notes of the "Queen of Hell" anthology album, after threatening to run away, Boleyn's parents finally allowed her to leave her home in Washington State and move to Hollywood.

Reportedly, she recorded piano tracks on the "Queens of Noise" album"Lady Rock Fanzine", Vol. 2 (1986).] but left soon after disagreements with Fowley. Currently, she is not officially counted as a member of the band [ [http://www.therunaways.com/members.php Runaways Members | TheRunaways.com | The Official Runaways Website ] ] and the credit for her parts was given to singer Cherie Currie. The nature of the disagreements remain obscure as neither Fowley nor Boleyn chose to comment, but drummer Sandy West has confirmed allegations that Ann Boleyn "was basically fired for not going along with Fowley's special needs" ["The Guardian, dated May 1987] , i.e. his sexual advances. Such advances were also alleged in the "Edgeplay" documentary by Boleyn's successor as bassist, Jackie Fox, and lead singer Cherie Currie as well the parents of Currie and West. Other accounts relate that guitarist Tommy Bolin convinced her not to join the band and that the verse "Just keep me out of L.A., things are crazy out there" from his song "Post Toastee" referred to Fowley's management of the all-female band.

Following her brief stay in The Runaways, Ann Boleyn was spotted by Hal Guthu, a modeling agent who had been the still photographer and cinematographer for Edward D. Wood, Jr. Though Hal Guthu rarely accepted brunettes, he made an exception with Boleyn, whom he said reminded him of Vampira when interviewed in the August 1984 Edition of CineBeat. Through Hal Guthu, Ann Boleyn became featured in a number of B-rate horror movies for which she used other names, allegedly to avoid embarrassment to her family. Some, have speculated that Boleyn was under-age at the time many of her movies were filmed. Ann Boleyn's music and screams also can be heard on various sound tracks, including The Return of the Living Dead, Part II.

By 1977, Ann Boleyn emerged as the midnight-to-six DJ at Los Angeles Radio Station KROQ, where she hosted a show that specialized in fast-paced metal and punk. By the time the station decided to alter its format to "the rock of the 80's", Boleyn's show had become as "Speed Metal Hell", a term Boleyn later used for the heavy metal compilations albums she would later produce.

In 1982, Ann Boleyn together with guitarist Ray Schenck, bassist Peyton Tuthill, and drummer Sean Kelley formed Hellion. The group released a series of albums which were met with varying success. They were signed to Music For Nations in England, Roadrunner Records in Europe, Pony Canyon Records in Japan, and New Renaissance Records in the USA.

In 1985 Ann Boleyn formed New Renaissance Records, which put out the first commercial recordings and helped develop the careers of then unknown bands such as Sepultura, Bathory, Flotsam & Jetsam, At War, Morbid Angel and Wehrmacht. Other label acts included Deadly Blessing, Amulance, Blood Feast, Necrophagia, Dream Death, Illwill, Indestroy, Sarcastic, Artillery, Mayhem, and more.

Boleyn left the music business in the late 1990s to obtain a degree from UCLA, where she specialized in the study of the Old Norse language. She obtained her law degree in 2007.

Boleyn is currently singing in Detente where she is filling in for the late Dawn Crosby who died in 1996.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.newrenaissancerecords.com New Renaissance Records]
* [http://www.bnrmetal.com/groups/heln.htm BNR Metal - Hellion]
* [http://www.sleazegrinder.com/flashmetalhellion.htm Flash metal hellion]