KVK is: Current Members: RICK CABRERA - BILLY CARDINALE - VINNIE RASCHELLA - AL ANZALONE - ALEX MAHONEY Past members: Dan Mills : Guitar Scott Pedersen : Guitar Joey Collura : Guitar Phil Clark : Guitar Al Anzalone : Guitar Alex Mahoney : Guitar, Saxophone Bill Pritchard : Bass Vin Raschella : Drums he band was officially formed in 1983, with Rick Cabrera on vocals/rhythm guitar, Billy Cardinale on bass, Vinnie Raschella on drums and Danny Mills on lead guitar. The lineup was completed shortly afterwards, by the addition of guitarist Scott Pedersen. Kill Van Kull went full throttle to take on the New York & New Jersey circuits and established themselves as a no-nonsense, take no prisoners, professional hard rock band. After numerous opening act appearances for top headliners at such world famous clubs as L’amours and CBGB’s, as well as shows throughout Staten Island, Manhattan, Brooklyn, & Queens, and many local Northern & Central New Jersey clubs, the band released in the winter of 1987, its debut 4 song EP “Eye Of The Storm”. After receiving strong airplay on WSIA (NY) and WSOU (NJ) and reviews by several newspapers and magazines (Kerrang 1988), Kill Van Kull contacted and promoted itself to several major labels throughout the US. In the fall of 1989, the band decided to “attack” both coasts by uprooting and heading west to Hollywood, CA. Unfortunately, illness and other life situations derailed the band’s momentum in southern California and the band members were now calling different states “home”. Though scattered throughout New York, California and Nevada, all members still remained in touch. The desire and dream of having Kill Van Kull return to the stage was not realized until the winter of 1993 when Rick, Billy and Vinnie with new guitar additions Joey Collura and Phil Clark returned to the NY & NJ scene and quickly reestablished themselves in the local area. With new demo recordings, press packages and music consultants & promoters working diligently in California and New York, the band was ready for their breakout year in 1995. During the winter of that year, those old acquaintances “other life situations”, threw the band into a very unwelcome “hiatus”. The future of Kill Van Kull was definitely uncertain, but the original members, particularly the trio of Rick, Billy and Vinnie continued to keep in touch, but recorded and performed with other various original acts and cover bands from the New York area. In 2004, the thoughts of ending the “hiatus” surfaced, and Kill Van Kull was reborn. With the help of guitarist Chris Cirrone, the band was now ready to record the new incarnation of Kill Van Kull in 2005. Their “Edge of Sunrise” CD was released in 2006 featuring Rick Cabrera on vocals, Billy Cardinale on bass, Vinnie Raschella on drums, acoustic guitar and percussion, as well as the additional talents of Chris Cirrone (lead/rhythm guitars and mandolin), Alex Mahoney (saxophone & rhythm guitar), Al Anzalone (lead/rhythm guitars), Mark Farley (lead/rhythm guitars), Mike Pignataro (keyboards), De Anna Eliot (violin) and Henry Falco (horn arrangements & percussion). The new sound of Kill Van Kull was created – hard rock with an infusion of blues and jazz. In 2008, Curt Giventer, joined KVK and added his intense, “no-holds-barred” high-energy attack to the lineup. The band continued it's journey through the beginning of 2012 together, but after performances at many East Coast venues and recording demo tracks, the band's momentum was stalled by personal and family tragedies. In late 2012, guitarist Al Anzalone, who displayed his incredible talents on the "Edge of Sunrise" CD, rejoined the band in Raleigh, North Carolina for an amazing show at The Lincoln Theatre. IT'S ALIVE! THE MONSTER LIVES! It is known as KILL VAN KULL. Rick Cabrera - Vocals Growing up on Staten Island, New York listening to his brother playing Beatles and Black Sabbath started Rick's journey but a chance gift from his uncle, Aerosmith "Rocks", sealed his fate. He studied with Don Lawrence, the legendary "vocal coach of the stars". Rick comments, "He brought me to the next level. A no nonsense, no excuses, get it done approach, which I put into every performance." His vocal influences are many, but they begin with Steven Tyler, Lennon & McCartney and Paul Rodgers. Billy Cardinale - Bass Not even aware of what a bass guitar was at 16 he was told he had to play it when 2 friends mentioned they were putting a band together and they were playing guitar & drums. 30 years and many, many live shows & recordings later the instrument has taken him from New York to Hollywood to Memphis to Las Vegas, Nevada. Whether studying under bass greats Jeff Berlin, Steve Bailey & Putter Smith at Musicians Institute of Los Angeles to performing with Sean Kennedy of Joan Jett fame, Aj Pero of Twisted Sister & Mike Orlando of Adrenaline Mob, Billy's playing is versatile enough he recorded the Spanish\English debut country album for gaucho Peter Castillo. He has supported artists such as John Sykes (Whitesnake), Ace Frehley (KISS), Noel Redding (Jimi Hendrix Experience) & Dee Snider (Twisted Sister) along with many others. "As my taste in music changes so go my influences but my main ones are Geezer Butler, James Jamerson, John Entwistle & Dee Dee Ramone. " Vin Raschella - Drums It was growing up in a house where music echoed throughout the halls that planted the ambition to play drums in Vinnie Raschella. When his Father gave him the offer to play an instrument as a young boy the word "Drums" was the only word spoken back. His influences make up some of the top professors in Rock drumming. Bill Ward, John Bonham, Ian Paice, Peter Criss & Carmine Appice. He uses the same rock and roll approach when writing or creating for Kill Van Kull. John Densmore Al Anzalone - Lead Guitar The vision was clear for guitarist Al Anzalone who received his first guitar as an 8 year old on Christmas Day. Exposed to to the sounds of funk & rock n roll by his father & uncle; music quickly became his love & passion. He recalls attending the recording of Kiss' Dressed To Kill album at Electric Lady Land as the guest of a relative. “Something other kids and fans could only dream of,” and pursue that dream is what he did as he became an accomplished guitarist who set out to create his own line of custom built instruments known as Dragon Breath Guitars. “My influences range from Ritchie Blackmore & John Patitucci to Yngwie Malmsteen , and unbeknownst to the KVK guys I was a fan of theirs from the early days. I was always lurking at the back of the venue.” Alex Mahoney - Saxophone A storied career for over 30 years, Alex has been performing with many New York CIty groups such as Billboards Award Winning Song Writer Guy Michetti, Kill Van Kull & Jerry Hattrick & the Flatliners amongst others. He studied with NY Jazz Sax great Grant Stewart for several years and has developed a unique twisted blend of hard bop with hard rock as a result of his affiliation and influences who range from John Coltrane and Dexter Gordon to Jimi Hendrix & Tony Iommi. Alex also stays busy fronting his own group "The Alex Mahoney Quartet."