{"artistName":"Axe","artistId":90085,"artistDefaultImage":"https://artist99.cdn107.com/c50/c5052ae97ad35ed7a2c6071d2744e553_xl.jpg","srcset":"https://artist99.cdn107.com/c50/c5052ae97ad35ed7a2c6071d2744e553_sm.jpg 50w,https://artist99.cdn107.com/c50/c5052ae97ad35ed7a2c6071d2744e553_md.jpg 80w,https://artist99.cdn107.com/c50/c5052ae97ad35ed7a2c6071d2744e553_lg.jpg 200w,https://artist99.cdn107.com/c50/c5052ae97ad35ed7a2c6071d2744e553_xl.jpg 340w","artistBio":"\u003cp\u003eAxe is a hard rock band from Florida, USA, formed in 1979. Not to be confused with Chicago based AXE the band consisting of Rick Turco, Ron Sammons, Roger Turco and Alfredo. Previously known as Babyface with a line-up of vocalist Edgar Riley, guitarist Bobby Barth, bassist Mike Turpin and drummer Teddy Mueller, the group adopted the new title of Axe in 1979 when the band added second guitarist Michael Osborne. Signing with major label MCA Records,by manager Lou Manganiello, Axe released their self-titled debut in 1979 and immediately gained attention with a melodic Rock sound comprising heavy guitars mixed with keyboards. Band leader Bobby Barth had first picked up a guitar in 1965, encouraged by his father who was already an accomplished player, although Bobby's first interest had been in the drums. As a drummer Barth had made his first public appearance in 1963, but wouldn't play in front of an audience in his new vocation until 1967 at a college gig in Colorado. Barth claims to have no recollections of the bands whose singles he played on early in his professional career, although does recall that his first vinyl appearance was covering a Rolling Stones song, before later forming Babyface.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe band was notable for being photographed on their first LP all sporting B. C. Rich Guitars, one of the first bands to use them exclusively.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFollowing Axe with 1980's Living On The Edge the group switched labels to Atco in 1982 for third album Offering, an album that included the hit anthem Rock n' Roll Party In The Streets and a cover of Montrose's I Got The Fire. The album marked the addition of new bassist Wayne Haner to the ranks and AXE got to tour with the likes of the Scorpions, Judas Priest, Ozzy Osbourne and ZZ Top. The band also played in Britain during 1983 opening for Iron Maiden.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFollowing the arrival of the band's fourth album Nemesis and touring with Mötley Crüe in 1984, AXE were dealt a fatal blow when guitarist Michael Osborne was killed in an auto crash in which a badly injured Bobby Barth was lucky enough to escape with his life. The band, however, promptly dissolved following the tragedy.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBarth, once recovered, joined Blackfoot, replacing the seasoned Ken Hensley for the 1984 album Vertical Smiles and subsequent touring. The tenure was short lived however and Barth subsequently released a well crafted solo album Two Hearts, One Beat on Atco Records in 1986. In an attempt in 1989 at reforming AXE, including UFO drummer Andy Parker, was made but petered out, with Barth going to Australia in order to work with ex-Rose Tattoo frontman Angry Anderson.\u003c/p\u003e","musicPath":"/music/Axe","playStationPath":"/stations/272352550/play","stationId":272352550,"bioPath":"/music/Axe/_full_bio","similars":[{"musicPath":"/music/Russ+Ballard","artistDefaultImage":"https://artist99.cdn107.com/f3f/f3f034861b7b6b05540ec123c8d7b354_md.jpg","artistName":"Russ Ballard","artistId":103984,"station_id":287828615},{"musicPath":"/music/Revolution+Saints","artistDefaultImage":"https://artist99.cdn107.com/797/79799e97b301c70ad96b696213ad4790_md.jpg","artistName":"Revolution Saints","artistId":433966,"station_id":400688511},{"musicPath":"/music/Aldo+Nova","artistDefaultImage":"https://artist99.cdn107.com/5a1/5a180fd43a521188c6b9d495666e98fb_md.jpg","artistName":"Aldo Nova","artistId":82917,"station_id":270711609},{"musicPath":"/music/TNT","artistDefaultImage":"https://artist99.cdn107.com/c62/c62b36a6effa890387f8c2b7530c7eaa_md.jpg","artistName":"TNT","artistId":383662,"station_id":396662100},{"musicPath":"/music/Place+Vendome","artistDefaultImage":"https://artist99.cdn107.com/65e/65e340b72ad51ca7a1d30116363cf6ad_md.jpg","artistName":"Place Vendome","artistId":335215,"station_id":389222956},{"musicPath":"/music/Fastway","artistDefaultImage":"https://artist99.cdn107.com/089/089dbec07ff0c6058b0c08983af7c59d_md.jpg","artistName":"Fastway","artistId":12155,"station_id":113512809},{"musicPath":"/music/AGE+OF+REFLECTION","artistDefaultImage":"https://artist99.cdn107.com/731/7310fa6f7cabf21b1ec017e838a1bb08_md.jpg","artistName":"AGE OF REFLECTION","artistId":335200,"station_id":389225233},{"musicPath":"/music/Thunder","artistDefaultImage":"https://artist99.cdn107.com/29b/29b4e54960c517d833513f87631e0b8e_md.jpg","artistName":"Thunder","artistId":12294,"station_id":113862268},{"musicPath":"/music/H+E+A+T","artistDefaultImage":"https://artist99.cdn107.com/d24/d241cec5b0fbb7b3dadb478e4dbbeb43_md.jpg","artistName":"H.E.A.T","artistId":356293,"station_id":393291443},{"musicPath":"/music/King+Kobra","artistDefaultImage":"https://artist99.cdn107.com/509/509be66376fd6b6857543befff282678_md.jpg","artistName":"King Kobra","artistId":108397,"station_id":281862941},{"musicPath":"/music/Firehouse","artistDefaultImage":"https://artist99.cdn107.com/00d/00de82edb23013b59e235a210d1d6c7f_md.jpg","artistName":"Firehouse","artistId":8491,"station_id":113276923},{"musicPath":"/music/W+A+S+P+","artistDefaultImage":"https://artist99.cdn107.com/af6/af6c45f0ab76b628b204b1896ca46ed7_md.jpg","artistName":"W.A.S.P.","artistId":1707,"station_id":113267144},{"musicPath":"/music/L+A+Guns","artistDefaultImage":"https://artist99.cdn107.com/1fd/1fd7a4e15ea391d81cdd49349ce916b2_md.jpg","artistName":"L.A. 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