AMBUSH Band History Page 2

We continued to play every club we could for the next two years. In that time, the band signed with a Management company in Los Angeles and they felt it was better for the band to move to L.A. But, Billy felt that it was better for the band to go on with out him. He felt that he had enough and didn't want to do it any longer. "That was a very sad time for us, We had been through a lot together", He was like a brother. After a few calls, Steve was introduced to Blake Edwards, A Bass player from a local band called Jinxx. We had a few things in comon with him, The local club scene, Grew up on KISS, And I had even dated the same girl he did, Steve said. After playing shows for 8 months together, the Band moved to Los Angeles in August of 1992. Two weeks after moving to L.A., Blake and the band parted ways. "It just didn't work", Steve said. He had different ideas then we did. And it sucked, that we discovered this after we moved 3000 miles away. But life goes on! And after auditions with a few local L.A. Bass players, More calls were made back to New Jersey, And Sal located an old friend that knew named Billy Adams who had played in a few local N.J. bands. Billy came out to audition the following weekend and he never went back! Two months later the band played their first gig in Los Angeles and over the next year, the band began to build a large following. After playing a sold out show at the Roxy with the L.A. Band "Pretty Boy Floyd" near the end of 1993, It would be the last show Robby would play with the band and it would be the first of several painful blows the band would experience in the next two years. First came the Northridge Earthquake that brought severe damage to the house the band was living and rehearsing in. The band was forced to look for new places to live and rehearse. At that time Robby felt he had enough of L.A. and decided to move back to New Jersey, which the band took hard. We hated to see him leave, Sal said, We had been through so much together, But it wasn't time to quit! .

We found a new rehearsal place and started running adds for a new guitarist. No sooner then the band moved into their new rehearsal hall, someone broke in and stole everything. "It was a hard time for us but life goes on and so do we", Steve said. The band auditioned several guitarist in 1995 and came across a talented young man named Jeff "Spike" Wong, who came from the same musical back ground as Steve and Sal. He also grew up listening to KISS and Van Halen and AC/DC. At this point, with a new guitarist and a heavier sound the band decided to change their look also. Sal had a great idea to wear mask and go for a more futuristic look, like we were from space. We could say, The band got a makeover! We always hated bands that looked like they just finished working on their car. We wanted to stand out. The more Bizarre the better!! The band released their second album in 1996 called "King Of The Dogs." We went back to our roots on this one", Steve said. It's much heavier and darker! We had been through a lot in those two years since Robby had left and the music reflected that. The band received lots of press in America and European Magazines. Including Kerrang, Hit Parader, The L.A. Times, RIP, Music Connection and many more T.V. and Radio Shows.

After 2 years with the band, Jeff and the band parted ways. "He was a great guy but he wanted to go in a different direction", Steve said. There is nothing worst than replacing people every few years, But if you belive in something you stick with it, No matter what! Once again, calls were made and in November of 1997 the band brought in a guitarist from the L.A. club scene...Tony Rodd. He had made a name for himself playing with a band called Blood and Bullets and we had played a show with them the year before. "I remember telling Billy and Sal, That guy (Tony) kicks major ass! After playing the clubs for the next two years, the band released it's third CD, Infestation. I think it was the best music we ever put out, Steve said. It has a hard edge but with extremely catchy hooks. We've always put out music that we like and never gave a shit what anyone else thought! And sometimes that's all that matters. The band continued to play packed shows at the L.A. clubs including the Roxy, Billboard Live and The Whisky, along with other clubs in the L.A. area. After 16 years, the band decided to take a break in 2000, To work on other projects. "We had worked together 7 Days a week for 16 years straight, and I think we needed some time to chill out, "Steve said". We all thought that we had enough. We were burnt out! So could this be the end of the band that had been through so much? " I don't think so", Steve said! This band is like a cat, we have nine lives and we haven't used all of them up yet! Then, On May the 8th 2004, The original members of AMBUSH, Steve Russo, Sal Flamma, Robby and Billy Millard reunited for the first time in 12 years at the Bonnie's Roxx Reunion show in Pennsauken N.J. to a sold out crowd of 800 people! And in late 2005, AMBUSH will release their Fourth CD called "Out Of The Black" and DVD of Live Footage and TV appearances of the band over the past 16 years. And yes, the story continues.....