In 1988, a Los Angeles based band called Kingdom Come achieved the nearly impossible test of shipping gold in the U.S. for sales of over 500,000 copies BEFORE the release of their self-entitled debut album.
This was the result of their first single "Get It On" making its way to the top of the playlists across the country before it was even being released commercially.
The band who pulled off this sensational coup was comprised of fourAmerican musicians and a remarkable lead singer who was a native of Hamburg, Germany. Lenny Wolf not only gave Kingdom Come its distinctive voice, but was also its main writer and co-produced the debut album with the renowned Bob Rock (best known for his work with Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Loverboy, and Metallica).
The first album went on to sell over 1.3 million copies worldwide within one year after release, and Kingdom Come undertook a triumphant debut tour that ultimately included the U.S., U.K., and most of Europe and Japan. They appeared with Van Halen, the Scorpions, and Metallica on the Monsters of Rock tour in the U.S.,and with Bon Jovi and Ratt in Japan.
Going on non-stop after the tour, Kingdom Come released their second album, In Your Face (1989), once again co-produced by Lenny Wolf, this time around with Keith Olsen, famous for his work with the likes of Whitesnake, Fleetwood Mac, and Cheap Trick.
However, success had its price. After their first world tour,the original members parted, besieged by the pressure of instant acclaim and expectation so unique to the music business. For Lenny Wolf, however, a new chapter in the Kingdom Come story was just beginning.The split meant taking everything into his own hands. Though a challenge, he took it on with his usual confidence and enthusiasm.
Returning to Hamburg, he began writing all of the material for what was to become Kingdom Come's third album Hands of Time. Taking over full production responsibilities for the first time, he also contributed bass and guitar parts. Perhaps his most important role was his vocal performance, giving the album the unmistakable voice that had been so important in establishing Kingdom Come's phenomenal success.
Following the release of Hands of Time in 1991, Lenny continued to commute between Los Angeles and Hamburg, and came in contact with WEA Germany for the first time.He delivered an exciting batch of demos, and the relationship culminated in a WEA worldwide signing for Kingdom Come.
The album Bad Image was recorded in Los Angeles and Hamburg, with Lennyagain taking on the lion's share of esponsibilities.
After a long and frustrating period of business hassles, and the tragic death of Nigel Thomas, their manager, the band began work on their next album Twilight Cruiser.It represents another bold step for Kingdom Come as the band continues to cross the frontiers of rock, defying categorization. This is a powerful and passionate musical statement of intensely personal and yet universal emotions. This is music you cannot read about - you have to listen to it. Twilight Cruiser has been released in Europe and Japan, and will be released in the U.S. and Canada in January of '97.
The controversy that began when Kingdom Come was born will undoubtedly continue with a new label, new album, and new management.
