Wrathchild America

[@Larry_TheCableGuy]

I was at this show. I’ve seen these guys a lot when they played the Hagerstown and Martinsburg area. Great band and great guys!

[@1enormous]

the band was great. its a shame that they didn't get the recognition they deserved. very underrated.

[@melvinlewiswellsjr.2619]

they were awesome live and the album climbing the walls was great!😎

[@DevilDogRick]

I was part of the road crew for WrathChild when this clip was done. You can see me unloading the truck and hanging the lights. If I remember correctly Shannon was about 15, maybe 16 when this show was filmed. We had met Craig Leake while we were playing in upstate New York and he let us know that he wanted us to be on this segment about bands going from "Rags to Riches". Told us that the film crew would be in Martinsburg at Shannons house on the Monday right after we had gotten back home.

[@chrisgaskins3596]

This cool, I've heard a lot of stories from KK, a long time friend of 30yrs, wish, I was a few yrs older, could've had some fun, with them.

[@shugzkeckley1006]

Did you know Bob Butane Im from. Romney WV he was Freinds with them I partied with those guys what a trip

[@dragons_red]

The doc said he was 17 during the filming

[@themetalmaiden7462]

Damn, this takes me back. I remember seeing them at Hammerjacks and Network. Good times for sure. No Deposit, No Return was my absolute favorite song of theirs and it still gets cranked to 12 in my car.

[@RonGyver1337]

My old band Crystal Myth opened for them @ Hammerjacks, got to know these guys well. Those were the days!

[@JohannaMirthless]

Man, I watch this every now and then and it's been the hugest inspiration for me. I'm 18, almost 19, a female, and I barely know anyone where I live who likes metal. I own Climbin' the Walls on vinyl but I just can't stop thinking about how cool it would have been to actually be there, know them, and follow them on their musical journey. This video really shows how the youth is the primary harbinger of the music scene, so I really hope there are more people my age out there who love this music.

[@jimmythundarrsdrumcoverser492]

It WAS great growing up with them. I did...(Aside from the music scene, where I was another local struggling drummer) Jay and Shannon would come over and we'd go fishing a lot...Also me a Jay would play Nintendo Golf for hours while discussing the cover art being done for Wrathchilds peak album 3D...It all ended over night in the early 90's....We all still keep In touch...And a Wratchchid/ Souls at Zero reunion is being talked about....

[@chrisgaskins3596]

I'm friends with the bass player, they were a great local band along with Kix,

[@jimmythundarrsdrumcoverser492]

My band had the same booking agent in this video Rob Casey. We all knew the WC guys pretty good for many years...Today Shannon is of course drummer for Godsmack, Brad the singer/bass player is a HUGE soundman traveling the World mixing live shows for big acts. Guitarist Terry Carter plays in top notch tribute bands with his wife. and Jay is is also doing well in Florida. The 80s-early 90s was the peak of this kind of attitude and music. no big tech just balls out rock n roll!

[@brodriguez5057]

I moved from Utica NY to Martinsburg WV. It's crazy cuz while still in NY as a kid I was given the Climbing the walls CD by a griend and instantly recognized how talented these guys were. To know they started in Martinsburg WV is crazy. They were not just another band, these guys had serious talent. All of them.

[@customkramer]

I saw them one time when PANTERA, yes Pantera opened up for them at a place called Saratoga Winners near Albany, NY They were totally nuts. When they got done playing ALL of their material, they started playing shitloads of covers to keep the place rocking! Miss bands like that!

[@poisonfists]

Saw these guys waaayyyyy back at a now newly named club, then called JAXX in Springfield, VA. Great show.

[@sirlordford]

If it was Wrathchild, it probably was called the Copa or Wild West Club at that point. It was named Jaxx circa '92 and Zaxx just before that.

[@petebarbarino2590]

I watched this when it originally ran, and recorded it, I can't tell you how much I watched it.... I'm 52 now🤘😪😪

[@timcarter1164]

These guys just KILLED live. The BEST band to gett left behind when grunge took over. They should have been HUGE!! Hope they get together for at least a one off album and tour. I would pay BIG to see them again.

[@mtrich8113]

Remember spending time with this band and they were the hardest working band out there hands down.

[@alessandroarcuri209]

It's very strange they didn't achieve a well deserved success after their record "3-D". That CD was AMAZING!

[@dcyphrz8532]

Seriously underrated band and album

[@alessandroarcuri209]

@@dcyphrz8532 indeed! They were WAY ahead of their time.

[@chrisgaskins3596]

3D, wasn't that great, stuff they did, before Climbing the Walls, was awesome, but since ppl go by albums..

[@supernothing77]

@@chrisgaskins3596 well it was more experimental and explored more styles- not just old school thrash ( which I love)

[@zippydooda]

They changed their name to Souls At Zero. Although they didn't have great success they made awesome music.

[@melvinlewiswellsjr.2619]

so long ago yet seems like yesterday...LONG LIVE METAL!

[@screamingcheemie2338]

Souls at zero derived fro this band they were amazing !

[@Univox68]

love this video, thanks for sharing. These guys should have made it huge. They will always be a part of my younger years.

[@Darrylb500]

Wow, never knew they were a five piece at one time. They sure improved once they went thrashy and came out with their incredible debut, I must have listened to that for six MONTHS! R. I. P. W. America/Souls at Zero :(

[@999manman]

Oh my gosh!!! I saw this in the early 80's one Saturday afternoon.....never thought I'd see this again....where are they now?

[@williammussey1219]

Followed these guys 4 a long time!!! So very underrated it's a fkn crime!!!!!!! Would love 2 jam with Brad, Terry, Jay, & Shannon!!!!!! Love 2 jam with Jeremy Miller as well, gr8 drummer!!!!!

[@indianhead65]

I remember seeing these guys at Shiley acres in WV back in the 80s, these guys kicked ass. I dont remember much about it because I passed out...lol.Yea..it was the heat :-). Shannon was an egomaniac back then and I'm sure he always will be. Yes, I've met him a few times. I stood right beside Brad at a KIX concert a few years ago and didnt even recognize him until Steve Whitman called him up on the stage. Brad used to play guitar for KIX years ago.

[@williamgarber9509]

Hell yeah I was there great show great band they were innovators of metal

[@Grimior00]

Awesome Live Band. Saw them a bunch of times through out the 80's and 90's. I caught a show on new years eve 1990 at Swizzels in York. Shannon was simply incredable!

[@sirlordford]

Just saw that Brad Divens was the front house sound man at the Jane's Addiction New Year's Eve 2012 show in NY. Good to see he is keeping busy.

[@Krunch37]

Seeing this on West 57th Street changed my life. My Thanks to whoever posted it!

[@twilkesable]

I was fortunate to live with Wrathchild for awhile back in the early 80's and they were the nicest bunch of guys ever--I remember carving pumpkins on Halloween with Shannon and asking him if he was sure about dropping out of school (he was 16). I am glad he made it all the way. Good times.

[@jaymeadors5674]

They are one of the best bands that didn't get the recognition they deserved pending on what level they wanted as a thrash band they were one of the best they were heavy but not to heavy where you couldn't understand them but a good solid sound i wonder where they are now

[@evarojasbassist9271]

They totally made it!!! It's like one of them says. It doesn't matter what people say you should be doing when you are 50. It's how happy you are gonna be when you are 50 that matters.

[@Univox68]

i miss those guys. those days soooo much. So great. So much fun. It's just not like that anymore.

[@mrbeastie2011]

Seen these guys play in Raleigh a few times..Awesome Live band!!!!! should had broke big!!! Bought all your cd's though

[@robertaustin1945]

New york city Cafe in the 80s best band

[@bungle71]

you cant get more original than this! this is big time. shannon's teased hair!

[@FrizleFry00]

I hung out with them when they were Souls at Zero and Shannon was playing with Ugly kid joe (they toured together) in their hotel after the show Myself and 2 friends were only ones that knew SAZ at the show we had made WrathChild America t-shirts. They took us backstage where everyone was there except UKJs singer and then back to the hotel for drinks with Jay and Terry and Dave (guitarist from UKJ) I was 19 years old what a night!!

[@mickeymars8469]

Great Band...Shame they didn't get proper promotion and recognition

[@Kubacheski1]

I grew up in Jacksonville and have seen these guys several times at The Mad Monk in Wilmington, once when they were Wrathchild America and 4 or 5 times after they changed their name to Souls At Zero.. Really cool guys to hang out with. I don't know what the rest of them are doing these days but Shannon Larkin sure excelled in his career when he became the drummer for Godsmack.

[@jimmythundarrsdrumcoverser492]

Today Shannon is of course drummer for Godsmack, Brad the singer/bass player is a HUGE soundman traveling the World mixing live shows for big acts. Guitarist Terry Carter plays in top notch tribute bands with his wife. and Jay is is also doing well in Florida.

[@AdammTheDude]

Everytime I watch this video, my first thoughts are always these: a fuckin loss! When I first heard Surrounded by Idiots, it took me a fuckin week to stop listening it. I love that wicked shit. And then came Climbin the walls, and the 84' demo, and the other sweet 80's tasted noisy records. Well their stuff was more than enough to got me hooked on, I must say they were at the wrong place and wrong time.

[@plantguy666]

Shannon is getting close to 50 and still kickin ass with Godsmack, But man I have great memories of Wrathchild/Souls at Zero shows.

[@greengtrs]

@SilenceSyndicate The drummer is none other than Shannon Larkin! I used to go early enough to catch him sound-checking his drums...he was amazing even way back then!

[@HighToneRanger]

Hammerjacks and the seagull

[@shugzkeckley1006]

One of my favorite bands

[@Spockthinks]

Such a great band!!

[@bobvinson3601]

this band was amazing!

[@CBDM777]

Shannon dropped out of school and is now the drummer for Godsmack...

[@johnnieangel99]

there were 2 Wrathchilds, the glam band from U.K. and the one Here. these guys started kickin the local scene in the early 80's. went heavier in early 90's.

[@stubkar]

Climbing the Walls was flat out neglected. Like, Metal Church debut album neglected. 3D? Absolutely groundbreaking. It was up there with Faith No More's The Real Thing in that regard...

[@sirlordford]

@JohannaMirthless nice to see some younger people enjoying this music. You have quite the collection of older metal albums and artists in your profile and videos. I'm sure there is a decent metal scene up there in Rochester. There was a great band from Rochester in the late 80s and early 90s called Uncle Sam.

[@rocknrollxoxox]

ALL of you, are beautiful 🥁

[@jasonwilliams819]

Well Shannon Larkin did make it famous such a great drummer thanks godsmack

[@carvinblack]

The song is called Danger Us. I found it on a 98 rock hometapes volume 4 at a used record store. Pretty hard to find. Check ebay.

[@sirlordford]

Danger Us is now up as a track on their Myspace page.

[@greengtrs]

@JohannaMirthless I was there from the beginning pretty much and used to go see them all the time that I was not playing myself. I worked for the same agents (and Rob didn't tell you that his company got 15-20% of what they had on paper...who knows what they hid from us...and that his personal cut was 5 -10%), and we played the same clubs...we even opened shows for them (even Pantera opened for them back in the day) when we could...it was hard work and low pay but it was awesome! Great memories!

[@rattlurdamhed]

i remember when this originally aired. seemed like it was only a few years later i saw their 1st video for "climbin' the walls" on headbangers ball...

[@DJC3412]

seen them 50 or more times at Hammers & Steel Town !

[@timcarter1164]

Just Keep Playing out and send EVERYONE your music. If you have it, you will make it. Best of luck. Hope to see ya onstage soon.

[@WynterSong]

Well I just ran into one of the former members of this band at big lots in Greenville, NC. Never heard of them! But not every day that you run into a former rock star!

[@eplumeda]

this video is really nice. this band really kicked ass... is a shame the didn't continue same line

[@rtornellort]

...just having some fun. I generally don't go through all comments on a post. But thanks for the memories.

[@ssjones350]

Turners Skate Palace - still there! But,they haven't hosted a rock show in about four decades. I still say "danger me, danger you, danger us" occasionally, no one has an f-ing clue as to that reference.

[@sirlordford]

No, they played some covers throughout their career and probably quite a few early on, but they are known for their original music.

[@toddfauntleroy9279]

saw them at Hammerjacks and Rabbits Foot

[@rtornellort]

Touche,but ya gotta remember I'm using my 45yr old memory. I still have the cassette! LOL

[@ballen119]

ive herd of brad but who was that guy ive never herd his name before if eny one knows could you tell me thanks and the names of the songs too iv herd the late stof but not the early stof

[@mrv1967]

I had the chance to see these guys in Farmington WV at a place called the Meadowbrook, but I also had the chance to hook up with two girls - I missed Wrathchild, but had a HELL of a time!!! No lie.

[@heatherdetrick9750]

I have been listening to you since high school. You fucking roooool.

[@stevefaulk407]

Great band Great guys i still listen to them now

[@mightylittle729]

thanks for posting this

[@ericfresh]

that 2 tone hair is awesome haha wrathchild did kick ass in the day

[@sirlordford]

The video is from the first season of West 57th in the fall of 1985.

[@donman63]

I roadied for these guys in the 80's, at 11th frame The Old Mill, Hammerjacks, Mountianview and others. That was before Brad he was with Ratzalad. Sure is funny to see that garage and sure do miss Kevin. One reason I worked for them is because Shannon was not old enough to be out and I was 21. Babie sitting for Godsmack's drummer, Ha Ha just kidding Shannon miss you and Terry also.

[@DevilDogRick]

Funny part about it was that they did indeed show up on that Monday morning with a couple of tractor trailers with these huge CBS logos in the sides....and no one but Shannon was there and he was still in bed. Needless to say we really didn't believe they would show up. After Shannon got a hold of the guys and let them know that they had indeed shown up everyone slowly started to straggle in. Always thought that was kind of funny. Actually took years from the time it was shot until it aired.

[@Waycarmack]

Thanks for the info. Get in touch with any other details

[@chuckieg1000]

That was very cool.

[@dawnofpossesion]

Awesome.....I never seen this before

[@JozoScorpio]

Awesome

[@guillotinedeath]

THE TROOPER

[@stevieVantanna]

outstanding! musicians!

[@greengobie]

Brad ran sound a couple years ago for Cindy Lauper, Cher and Lincon Park. Shannon is the one that went to God Smack. He was also in ugly kid Joe foe a short period.

[@sirlordford]

The worst part is that Atlantic already had all of the artwork printed up and then had to destroy it and reprint with America added. I remember promo cassettes for Climbing the Walls that just had a few songs and Wrathchild only on them.

[@maxprdctns]

They were great as Wrathchild America and even greater as Souls At Zero. When is the reunion?

[@chrisgaskins3596]

Wanting to hear Dangerous and Reds and Blues.

[@Waycarmack]

Thanks man. What about the video. Do you know the year it was aired? I saw it around 1990, but I know that it was filmed before that.

[@sirlordford]

I think most people know as it was discussed earlier in the comments. The UK band fronted by Rocky Shades claimed to have the name first and Atlantic didn't want to expend the money to fight the claim so they forced the US band to add America.

[@sirlordford]

Of course that is Shannon Larkin on drums.

[@donman63]

Yes they were! The old mill was the best big hair good music it was our east coast sunset strip bar. You even look familiar. Terry Carter is messing around with country now which is pretty cool because brad paisley plays very difficult stuff. I sure would like to see some of them again. Where is Kevin?

[@Locoandchooch]

And now Shannon plays with Godsmack.

[@rattlurdamhed]

those were the days before phil

[@AdammTheDude]

What is that song 5:03? Is there a demo or studio recording of that?

[@Wendy_Blank]

Holy fuck. I remember this.. ha, ha ha.. Good times man.. good freaking times

[@Waycarmack]

Does anyone know what happened to the bass player? By the time they started recording they were a 4-piece.

[@innerstrengtha.d.3611]

soo cool to see this!!!

[@rtornellort]

...cause their was a WRATHCHILD in Britain that sued. They called it a split & the British band became WRATHCHILD UK!

[@elizabethchamblin382]

How many times at Hammerjacks?

[@sirlordford]

I can't find any info on the guy. From the photos I see on the internet, it doesn't look like he was even in the band past '85 or '86.

[@Pantera95ify]

that looked like shannon larkin from godsmack on the drums look real closely at him when he is playin

[@Holschdaddy]

I wouldn't have called them Glam metal when they started out, just good jamming rock. AC/DC, Maiden, Motorhead, Aerosmith, even the Angels, along with originals. Used to hear them at the Rabbits Foot and Turner's Skate Palace. They went thrash when hair metal started to decline.

[@samadhiy2k5]

Yes, these guys rocked! Isn't Brad a producer now? He's hot!!

[@zvanigno]

the best!!!

[@WynterSong]

Thats what Im trying to figure out lol I don't know. I had never even heard of the band until he told me about them. He said I looked like someone he used to play in a band with and he said the name of the band was WA. I didn't get a name which I should have. He was kinda thin with gray hair (some missing I think) and he had on glasses.

[@alswrangler]

awesome band!!!!!!!where did the good music go?

[@999manman]

@herbiedrumr369 Thanks for the update!!!

[@sirlordford]

The British Wrathchild? Not sure when Rocky Shades formed that version but it couldn't have been much earlier than this one. Most would say the glam UK version was much more geigh.

[@anthonydaro4134]

Silent darkness is there best song

[@leonardbateman8602]

And the drummer went on to play in what band........?

[@DJC3412]

GODSMACK !

[@dickwhiskey8041]

Lol Ugly Kid Joe!