BulletBoys: The Volatile History of the Band Behind Smooth Up In Ya/For The Love of Money

[@k.s.7104]

Loved the Bullet Boys, especially when the original lineup was firing on all cylinders. First saw them on the Cinderella, Winger, and Bullet Boys tour. That was an amazing triple bill rock show.

[@thumperthummper9030]

Wow. U must b 50. 😅😅😅 The bullit bugs wasn't that gr8

[@gordocarbo]

@@thumperthummper9030Dude you cant even spell out a word. They rocked hard back then and yeah most of us are about 50ish now. Yourself?

[@Malama_Ki]

And they really played their instruments! No dj, no sampling, no computers or cell phones. Just plug and play rock and roll. Nevermind the troll on here, I half expect a boomer comment lol. Imagine this younger generation looking back… lol nothing of substance to see.

[@Plisken65]

​@thumperthummper9030 you must be 12

[@stephanieespinosa8709]

I saw the line up.too 1989 Knoxville Tn...I was "only 17"..I'm 52 now and still rockin' this

[@LonniDelane]

I clicked immediately. I love Bullet Boys. Marq's voice is fantastic. Smooth Up is one of my hard rock all time favorites. 🤩🤩🤩

[@thumperthummper9030]

An Kermit the frog sounds better then he 😊😊😊😊😊

[@gordocarbo]

@@thumperthummper9030 Go watch your cartoons then. Unless you can do better can it Nobody likes a trash talker of others.

[@JayART71]

He sucked And looked like a little girl The music was lame

[@jasonbastian9901]

I bet you left prom w a different guy than u went with😂

[@LonniDelane]

@@jasonbastian9901 I was that kind of girl. No cap. 😂😂😂

[@bobthebear1246]

Well, that's certainly an interesting story. 😄 Thank you for filling us in on literally the last 33 years of BulletBoys' history, lol. I heard that Marq Torien was pretty-much a train-wreck to deal with, and your comprehensive, detailed video certainly proves that. He was an incredible screamer but it's no surprise that he lost that fairly early on. I mean, he *REALLY* screamed like no other. Sounded great, but a voice like that can't last. "Smooth Up In Ya" is such a great song, easily one of the Top 10 late-80s Metal tracks, and their cover of The O'Jays' classic "For The Love of Money" was 🔥 and nearly as great as the original, although being VERY different. The BulletBoys really made that song their own. Too bad they just didn't have the staying power to be a successful band.

[@alexguitar841]

I got to play with Jimmy Deanda in a Thin Lizzy tribute band in the early to mid 2000's and he was such an amazing drummer and overall really cool dude.

[@jasonbastian9901]

So... He was playing in a COVER BAND!!! 😅😂🤣 HELL, it's actually got more integrity than Bullet Boys!!😂 I guess he wasn't good enough for a SLAUGHTER tribute band😂🤣

[@nathanwalsh3028]

I agree he's a very nice guy and killer drummer Me as a drummer too I've always thought he's a hell of a showman too!!

[@GerhardGeficky-jg4ok]

​@@jasonbastian9901what are you a hater of Marc Torien?

[@johndenson3107]

Loved them dudes! Especially the self titled debut...🔥

[@bangslamwham88]

The song title "Smooth Up In Ya" always makes me chuckle.

[@gordocarbo]

Definitely an 80s phrase. Played a ton at strip clubs haha

[@Plisken65]

Nowhere near as classy as "W.A.P." from 2023, right?😂

[@SacTownLions0]

Sing the song, "smooth o-pin-ion." You'll never get that out of your head.

[@lCdGarcia]

Thanks😂😂😂

[@nategurule3680]

🎵Who's opinion!!🎵 😂

[@skepchica]

Soo many people thought those were the lyrics. I remember radio DJs calling it this. 😂

[@steviec67]

Saw them in a small club in NYC back in the day . Boys tore it up as did we , what a night in the city 🌆 😁

[@davidswords8616]

I saw them when they were the opening band with Winger, White Lion, Tesla and Poison. I had never heard of them before that concert. They were awesome. Marq was running all over the stage and never once was winded or lost his voice.

[@vinskeeter]

I thought this band would be bigger. I saw them in Denver in 1989. I loved the bluesy metal sound and Torien's vocals were fantastic.

[@Joe-wo7rg]

Saw them twice back in the day. Great show

[@digitalhunter42]

As a teen I saw them in concert. The loudest band I have ever seen live.

[@dmitrivlad8538]

Badass🔥

[@gordocarbo]

Parents would smash every record I took home back then....going to a concert never happened

[@grahamjarman]

​@gordocarbo 😆

[@chasing_dragons]

Thank you for this. I'm hoping Marq will release more than of their concert video.

[@peepawghost]

Always been a fan. The current lineup is awesome.

[@timfoley3189]

They rocked! Smooth up in ya was just such a great song! And to tell you the truth, ZaZa is a really good album. I listen to it all the time, one of my top ten for sure. The depth these guys have just gets passed on buy dj's, it's a shame!

[@jonspeas1506]

I saw them with Winger and Cinderella...great time!... we missed most of Winger... Bullet Boys were good.. Cinderella blew out my eardrums(course I was standing next to their amps at the front)- loudest concert I've heard at 18 years old... worth the hearing loss!- 😁

[@mikehunt3559]

Loved the song smooth up in ya. Great guitar too. I was a budding guitar player in 80s and was in a band. I knew a couple of guys in other bands that released albums and toured. I remember talking to them and they both said they hated it after awhile. They both said pretty much the same thing. It was fun for the 1st few months and then it got old quick. They were both broke all the time and contracted STDs. I think at times they were so broke they had to sleep in their van. My band never toured. Probably because we sucked.

[@thumperthummper9030]

In truth. They suck. ..your band is probably better then them. You your band probably had more heart. They had nothing Not even music if u want to call it that. Today. They really not that gr8 they granpas not originals 😊😊😊

[@robaxl3088]

I was 14 when I first heard them. It was the 80’s and I was watching MTV…all of a sudden a world premiere video notice pops up on the screen..:the video Smooth Up In Ya comes on….I was hooked and one of the reasons I started to learn guitar. I still play guitar to this very day

[@jamesmoss3424]

I like bullet boys I got their first album on CD 💿 .😀👍🤘🎸

[@jasonbastian9901]

I bet you lost yr virginity at 34

[@enriquegilmour]

I saw them on June 25, 1989 in Birmingham Alabama when I was 17. They were the first act with Winger and Cinderella. I don't remember much about them. I was there to see Cinderella.

[@craigrock8444]

I've been waiting for this one!! SMOOTH UP IN YA!!

[@glenncunningham2262]

You know they have more than one song or album?

[@craigrock8444]

@@glenncunningham2262 I sure do! But I like the song!

[@buckster2575]

I've always liked these guys 👍.

[@joshuaDstarks]

I’ve only ever heard of these guys through ads in my dad’s comics.

[@NITE_SHIFTING]

🪰

[@SeaOfMadness]

Was really into them when they first hit. Remember getting my album signed by them all (which I still have) when they did an in-store at Shades in London. Then saw them live - Very cool.

[@wadepitre579]

Love all their stuff 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@steventalavera2381]

When I first heard the debut album I thought, This is Van Halen 2.0. It kicked so much ass. Then never to be.

[@jasonbastian9901]

So.. not as good as Sammy Van Halen? 🤣😂😅

[@floydsemlow8253]

​@@jasonbastian9901😂😂

[@steventalavera2381]

@@jasonbastian9901 Still 10 times better than Spammy vh

[@David-o9y9e]

Jimmy use to practice at bassist Freddie Bernal's garage in El Sereno, Los Angeles when they were in a band called FatCat. We were only 14 years old or so at the time. They were already playing small gigs at the Troubadour and the entire family would go, even grandma.

[@user-sk8xb9dc5b]

He was great at M3 Festival. They were also great when they played at the Cellblock in Bensalem,Pa great Show 🤘🏽❤️😊

[@danielmankowski922]

THC Groove!!! ……TEA TIME ! 😎

[@gordocarbo]

Familiar story. It was about impossible to get signed as a metal band back in the same time. Crazy competition and metal was on its way out. Got lucky myself due to our drummers connection but it was short lived. Drugs...OD death and egos, done before it got started lol Love the tune talk to your daughter, simple yet done so right

[@v2vroth]

Wow great band and story🎸🎶

[@duanewright1412]

I was fortunate enough to see Bullet Boys with Winger and Cinderella. GREAT show. As a musician myself, its SO hard to blend the personalities of 4-5 people for a long period of time, especially if there's a diva or a chemically dependent person. Love the early BB stuff. CHEERS to ALL

[@Scottocaster6668]

Say what you will about Bulletßoys, those first two albums are Great! Mick Sweda is an awesome guitarist. I still play them regularly. God I hate that label "Hair metal" donned from corporate scumbags.

[@gordocarbo]

Agree, incredible talent. Wore all my tapes out back in the day with greats like these guys. Was so sad when rock in general disappeared from the air waves. Good memories, great times.

[@glenncunningham2262]

Hair Metal is a fake term since 1998,by the site Metal Sludge. The correct industry term is Pop Metal or Glam Metal.

[@rodedawg77]

​@@glenncunningham2262 It was called cock rock back then.

[@IRNHYD]

Or in the case of Ratt, melodic metal.

[@Scottocaster6668]

​@@IRNHYDthat too.

[@smitty7592]

Pretty obscure band from the tail end of the glam/hair metal era. If only these bands knew about the grunge train about to run them over. They did make a little splash and interesting to know what happened.

[@Poppaea-Sabina]

Kind of a one album wonder.

[@gordocarbo]

Yep tail end, same time I got signed, we went nowhere quick The grunge era sucked big time! Rock was dead far as I was concerned. COuldnt get into that dark depressing poor me crap. THanks for killing metal reagan Look at the garbage being played over the airwaves today its a joke

[@NeilStuhlmiller]

Grunge sucks. Metal music was about good times and that's what music was about. There's enough depression in this world.

[@Plisken65]

Not enough space here to list all the grunge one-hit "wonders"...

[@robertauclair2278]

Every era comes to an end. Did people really think hair metal was going to be popular forever? By 1990 it was on its last legs and the bands were getting stale and boring. It needed to be put out of its misery.

[@lorddrac_dontaskmetodance]

Even as a young metal fan, I do like BulletBoys. They were the first band I've ever heard use the lyrics "1, 2, f-ck you" in their song "Hell On My Heels", so that's enough to earn my respect.

[@riproar11]

Really?

[@PaulSmoker420]

How many other songs have you heard with the lyric "1,2, f*ck you"? 🤔😄

[@riproar11]

@@PaulSmoker420 I don't and have never listened to music dumb enough to have such lyrics. When we were little kids we sang nursery rhymes with lyrics like, "1, 2, buckle my shoe. 3, 4, knock at the door. Five, six, pick up sticks", but we grew out of those during early elementary school.

[@lorddrac_dontaskmetodance]

​@@PaulSmoker420 •BulletBoys - Hell On My Heels •Psychostick - Cockblock •Some band I saw in a "band fails" compilation.

[@lorddrac_dontaskmetodance]

​@@riproar11 I personally like dumb music under the notion that it's not annoying.

[@glenncunningham2262]

Great underrated band.

[@Poppaea-Sabina]

Loved Bulletboys!

[@selfdiscardedkingofruin7291]

Saw them in 1989 open for Winger, Cinderella and Bon Jovi. Great show. Full stadium. Front row.

[@nwerd7584]

I think all those bands are far superior. lol

[@Plisken65]

Well, yeah. That's why they were the openers...

[@ColeBolchoz]

Great job on the Band and well reearched, keep going.

[@ProvocativeSloth]

I remember their cover of Rock Candy from the Wayne's World soundtrack album. I had it on cassette when I was an 8 year old little girl. 👧🏻🤘🏻

[@thumperthummper9030]

A 8yr old. Listening to that. Sad. ... Way better bands then they lol.. At age 8 I was learning music I play a few instruments percussionist..an other. My hair is thicker then them. An longer lol..I'm 33. Lol

[@gordocarbo]

@@thumperthummper9030 You sound like youre 13 nobody cares what you did anyways.

[@gordocarbo]

They do killer cover songs, Rock Candy was outstanding .Hard to top the original but they did.

[@TheDieselndust]

@@thumperthummper9030cool starry brah

[@theheavymetalkitchen7607]

Although I’m a huge fan of Freakshow, The BulletBoys are one of the very few bands getting better with age and killing it with their best new lineup yet.. ❤🎸😎👍🏻

[@PinkyJujubean]

They were second wave. The last wave was bands like Steelheart, Roxy Blue, Mr Big, White Trash, and Firehouse. Bulletboys were part of the wave that followed in the wake of the original hair bands. The wave that produced Skid Row, Winger, Stryper, and Tesla.

[@clovers-zi5fe]

Good point, especially about the 3rd wave.

[@PinkyJujubean]

@@clovers-zi5fe I think the second wave started following the release of Metal Health by Quiet Riot. From 84 to 90. That was the peak period. Bulletboys were at the tail end of the second wave

[@LuchaLibertaria]

They were 2nd wave, you are right. First wave was Glam Metal, which evolved into Sleaze Rock/Metal ( La Guns, GnR) and Pop-Metal ( Commercial Hard Rock). Bulletboys is one of those late 80smcommercial Hard Rock bands. The 3rd and last wave is: Firehouse, Love/Hate, Steelheart, Wildside etc

[@LuchaLibertaria]

Btw, Tesla has a classic Hard Rock style, they don't belong to any Glam wave imho

[@PinkyJujubean]

@@LuchaLibertaria you are correct, however they get lumped into that because they toured with those bands and came from the same time and place

[@dsanchez9703]

Bullet Boys Rocked!

[@gordocarbo]

Simple fun music that rocked all night. Era gone forever

[@SonnyGTA]

Marq has an amazing voice. They were set up to be the next VH.....

[@bobdooggie]

I tell you what. When Bulletboys first came out I wasn’t that crazy about them and there were so many metals bands in the late 80s. ❤But over time I realized that if you want to rock the Bulletboys will never let you down 🙂. So turn me up !!

[@gloriahufnagel5556]

I ALWAYS chuckle, when I hear the song “ Smooth up in ya” , as an adult 😂😂. That’s a hell of a way to ask for sex .. but what a great song! Catchy and I still enjoy it, to this day..

[@monugian312]

😂😂😂

[@TheLithGH]

I was sooo excited about the reunion in 2019!! And then super bummed it collapsed shortly after that... I still love that band after all these 40 something years!! The 1st 2 albums, that is...

[@LuchaLibertaria]

Nice informative video. Obviously you put a lot of effort & research in making this. The thing I wanna add: Bulletboys belongs to the 2nd wave of Glam Metal (1986-89). The last wave would be 1990-92. Describing them as Glam or commercial Hard Rock is more accurate. Anyway thnx for the video!🍻🍻👍👍

[@EdwardPigg-ji4yy]

The first Bulletboys album is a hard rock classic.

[@TTGTO288]

I bought their album back in '87 and Smooth Up In Ya was the only good song on it. I can't believe they stuck around and released all the albums they did. I always thought the first album was their "one hit wonder" and they disappeared after that ...

[@warmonger8799]

Awesome 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@davidpaul6656]

They were a great band with lots of potential, too bad egos got in the way

[@Buckseed]

I saw the with Bang Tango and SeaHags is Sacramento's Crest Theater..1989ish. 😂

[@madarab37]

The bus driver for the Bullet Boys hid a big gun they didn't know about. Oh the irony.

[@randywatson4341]

Seen them with Quite Riot They Really Tanked on that concert!

[@kellybrincks]

First 2 albums are gems

[@thebeastieboys2900]

Bullet Boys Use To Kick Ass And Take Names.....💪...🤟

[@allanvanuga9196]

Great video.

[@sadlerisgod1]

dude what do you think about a vid about Wrathchild America / Souls at Zero? I worked two shows that they played and they were awesome man. Cheers dude!

[@jaysonraphaelmurdock8812]

That first SAZ album smoked

[@jamie_dlux]

My band SharkLegs got into a fight with them (well Marq). Look it up if interested. SharkLegs VS Bulletboys. There’s a video of him trying to kick us out. There were some articles about it too. I think its called Bulletboys get into altercation at the Soundgarden, Myrtle Beach, SC. It was Feb 2008

[@darkstitches7712]

A friend of mine toured with them one time and had to share a bus with BB and Marq was a total piece of work. My friend ultimately had to sue them.... now I can't think of this band without getting tge "ick" when I think of Marq....

[@theariesexperiment4642]

Smooth Up In'ya was a great track. They're sound was different at the time. A little older vintage than other hair metal acts. Great musicians.

[@jefferysteen1041]

Good video

[@ivi13]

ZaZa!! When pigs fly ! Cross tops.bunch of great tunes

[@blainerudy2255]

Igot this cd cause I liked Bullet Boys. This put me off of them!

[@surrealcereal603]

Weird that I just bid on a vinyl copy of their debut album about an hour before this video dropped. Hmmm….

[@MikeR-c5j]

one of the great debut albums. Not a bad track on the entire record and smooth up still holds up today. Shame they flamed out like they did..

[@bobslenker27]

SMOOTH UP IN YA!!

[@TheJoeyG88]

Johnny G' was their best drummer.. Rest Easy G'. Best of Luck Bullet Boys..

[@Malama_Ki]

Mexican DLR with his producer and ego…. what could go wrong?🤷🏼‍♂️

[@gordocarbo]

Egos....biggest problem with bands at least then. Our group got chit canned shortly after signing due to the same. FIrst contract they are gonna say what gets changed how etc, guys just couldnt roll with it. Thankfully I had a day job still.

[@chriscollis7712]

He looks like Eric Estrada in a wig

[@careful...Icarus]

Marq was lead guitarist in the band Kagny and the Dirty Rats,who put out an lp on Motown pre Bulletboys. If you can find it its a pretty good lp. There I've done a little work for this channel.

[@rnrtruestories]

Haha thanks

[@roosternm6830]

Great songs with too much drama

[@mr.timebombman2230]

Of course Ted Templeman wanted to do "For the Love of Money" when he heard Mick's demo. Ted loves bands doing covers. That's why VH had done quite a bit especially on Diver Down.

[@darthlazlo]

You forgot Marc Torien sang on the Rocky IV soundtrack with the band Touch. The song was The Sweetest Victory.

[@tommytacoma8247]

Great tight band! I just couldn't take all the Air Humping!!

[@tonyfix7986]

Say your prayers!!!! And Laughing with the dead Turn it up and fucking rock!!!

[@Azazel2024]

Fk what anyone says playing this song really loud at 7 am when I get up

[@cindivankirk8391]

What about drummer Joaquin Revuelta? I didn’t catch him being mentioned here.

[@leightnite3056]

The solo in Smooth up, my GOD!

[@danedenmusic]

I told Mick that it was one of the best solos of the late 80’s or the best or most memorable or something I forget- either way- he thanked me! He has a KZbin page.

[@ibrockin4u]

what book are you reading from? OMG

[@j-sin3344]

Love Smooth up in ya, but when they were on MTV I remember the name was changed to Smooth Opinion. Its been 35 years so maybe Im misremembering but its wasnt Up in YA

[@gordocarbo]

That was the dawn of the pc hurt feelings culture its only gotten worse since then. That period of time late 70s-80s rock was incredible..and pretty much vanished.

[@crswro1690]

honestly have not heard any other song they did beside smooth up in ya. and even then, that was the perfect time to go take a piss.

[@DT-wy1wp]

Are you normally dishonest that you feel the need to announce when you are being honest?

[@lorddrac_dontaskmetodance]

Just like a lot of bands, they are more than that.

[@crswro1690]

@@lorddrac_dontaskmetodance was just odd to see them on HBB. they seemed like much more of a band whose videos would play throughout the day rather that get mixed in with the heavier stuff. they just werent my thing.

[@arthurrimbaud7287]

These guys along with the likes of Bang Tango, Britney Fox, and Trixter were really the bottom of the barrel of the hair metal era.

[@rogerwalker2224]

@@DT-wy1wp hahahahaha

[@danedenmusic]

Some cool facts missed - Ted Templeman agreed to produce them cause of Torien’s voice. Mick hated his sound on the album but became a guitar legend anyway. The live Philadelphia show where the Ozzy fans give them hell. Lonnie Mack telling people to give up their rock dreams as advice in Hit Parader magazine and the mag printing a fan rebuttal calling him a bubblegum bass player. That first album is the best album out of 88. I’m looking forward to hearing what was better!

[@tonyponchopeters]

..and Justice for all, Operation Mindcrime, Jane's Addiction 'Nothings Shocking'. I have more tbh.

[@beandipcartography]

Dude allsome

[@johnargow3739]

I use to be roommates with Lonnie in 2006. We had some good times together!

[@paulmorvantjr.8072]

Love The BulletBoys! Too bad that they didn't make it as big as they could, or should, have.

[@gordocarbo]

Came out too late thats all, metal era was being canned by gov and the media. God forbid songs were about getting out, having fun partying or getting laid. Oooh so bad!

[@brucelacy4098]

My old band opened for The Bullet Boys at a festival in 2019. Never got to meet them but their driver sent their associate to get weed from my bass player 😂 🤘🏻

[@gordocarbo]

What was your band name?

[@jamesbedford3774]

Weird band. I've heard a few contradictory stories about them getting together and the first album. 'For the Love of Money' does nothing for me, but 'Smooth Up In Ya' and 'Hard as a Rock' kick arse. The production on their debut is right up my street (similar to Vain's 'No Respect'), nice and raw. Oh, and 'Za-Za' is better than you might think.

[@gordocarbo]

Hang on St Christopher has some hook to it also. Lots of good hits so to speak just came late in the game. Had a guy working for me (had pool routes) back then he looked exactly like this guy....or David Lee Roth Nice guy good worker, dumb as a bag of hammers but the ladies loved him .lol

[@stuperprohero]

Would really like to see Jimmy D'Anda get in a solid band. I hope either him or Zoltan Cheney are with Lynch Mopb when I see them.

[@bobdooggie]

I just seen him a few months ago with Lynchmob

[@flowerchild89]

I remember this band. However, I don't remember any of their songs.

[@gordocarbo]

Memory loss... same here had too much fun in those days...til it wasnt fun anymore

[@mackenzie9865]

SMOOOTH UP IN YAAA!!!

[@beezlebub3955]

This is the first time I’ve ever heard of these guys. Not a huge fan of hair metal, but 🤷‍♂️

[@frustrateduser9933]

5:18 "Smooth Up IN Ya" not "Smooth UPPIN Ya" 🙂

[@boopah4365]

Was gonna say that..Makes me think he's never even heard it.

[@ashesantics]

❤❤

[@jamesmoss3424]

Do one on the time that megadeth guess star on a episode of the cartoon show Duck Dodgers. 😀👍🤘🎸

[@riproar11]

The giant spaceship shaped like a saxophone, orbiting Earth while piping out lite jazz was hilarious.!

[@jamesmoss3424]

@@riproar11 yes it was very funny. 🤣👍

[@barnabyjones5161]

Always viewed these guys as just a one-hit wonder.

[@goodmorningsundaymorning4533]

Barely that.

[@Poppaea-Sabina]

Two hit wonder

[@gordocarbo]

Back then yes but they had a number of good hits, they just came in as that type of music was being phased out.

[@princegroove]

They’re inherently legendary just for having a song called “Smooth Up in Ya.”😂

[@thumperthummper9030]

That's the only song. An its just barlie a hit. It was pushed. 😊😊😊

[@princegroove]

@@thumperthummper9030 Yeah, I’m not a fan of it.

[@MrTaxiRob]

Cinderella, at peak form, selling $17 tickets...

[@LordVikingLive]

I always hoped Eddie Van Halen would ask Marq to join Van Halen, he had that DLR look, but a hell of a better voice.

[@jaysonraphaelmurdock8812]

But just as much of a headache

[@71kevman]

Marq also hoped that EVH would call him and give him the VH gig.

[@KrazyRedjoints]

what no Charlie Wayne Morell??

[@BangkokPaul]

Great band always loved them Sounds like the drama could be coming from bad karma from band members previous life