Kings of the Sun (band)

As The Young Lions (1982-1985)

The band was first formed in Sydney in 1983 by drummer Clifford Hoad. Initially titled The Young Lions, the band included seasoned guitarist Bob Spencer (Finch, Skyhooks), Hoad's younger brother Jeffrey, who took lead vocals & guitar duties, and bass player Marlon Holden. They scored support slots for The Angels and INXS the same year.

The band dissolved around 1986 after Spencer left to join The Angels and the remaining members renamed themselves "Kings of the Sun", after the Yul Brynner film of the same name.

First single & contract with RCA

In 1986 the band was signed to Mushroom Records, where they recorded their first single. During this time both Tommy Poulter and John McKinnon left the band and Anthony Ragg was brought in to take McKinnon's place. Their debut single, "Bottom of My Heart", was released in 1986 with "Bad Love" as its B-side. After its release "Bottom of My Heart" charted in the National Australian Top 20. Both songs would later be re-recorded for their 1988 debut album, Kings of the Sun.

The band was signed to RCA Records after the RCA executive Simon Lowe saw them perform in Sydney and the band traveled to New York City to work on their first album. Bandmate Ron Thiessen did not accompany them, as he left prior to the band being signed, and he was replaced by Anthony Ragg.

Kings of the Sun album

In 1988 the band released their self-titled debut album Kings of the Sun, which was produced by Eddie Kramer and mixed by Dave Thoener.

A single from the album, "Serpentine", placed on the 19th position of the U.S. music charts and in Austalia, made it to position 48. The album's second single, "Black Leather", made the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at 98th position.

After the album released Glenn Morris joined the band to play lead guitar and the group toured the United States and Europe. They returned to Australia in 1988 to open for Guns N' Roses, but were kicked out of the tour after Clifford Hoad "dropped his pants in front of the audience and bad-mouthed Guns N' Roses publicly". There had also been tension due to a remark Hoad made in an interview for the Australian On the Street magazine, where he claimed that Guns N' Roses took much of their image from Rose Tattoo. Years later Hoad responded to this by stating "When I said those things, I meant them. It wasn’t necessarily aimed at Guns N’Roses. It was aimed at the Australian press and public. ‘OK, make a fuss over Guns N’Roses but at least know that Rose Tattoo exists.”

More lineup changes occurred in 1986 after Morris left the band to join The Screaming Tribesmen, although he rejoined KOTS after the band released their second album, Full Frontal Attack in 1990.

Full Frontal Attack album

Full Frontal Attack was released in August 1990 and was produced by William Wittman. Dave Thoener returned to mix the album. The album's first single, "Drop the Gun", received a positive reception and reached the 30th position in the Billboard charts. Other singles released include "Haunt You Baby" and "I Get Lonely". After the album's release Kings of the Sun toured with The Screaming Jets in 1991.

Full Frontal Attack was the last album the band released through RCA Records and Morris and Ragg left the band in 1992.

Resurrection album

The band's third album Resurrection was released in 1993 through Mushroom Records. It was recorded at A&M Studios and Paramount Studios and was mastered at Precision Mastering. Phil Soussan and Brad Spurr both contributed to the record and Spurr joined the band after its release.

Kings Of The Sun self-produced the album except for two tracks by mixer Mark Dearnley, "First Thing About Rock'n'Roll (I Remember)" and "Fuzz". Two singles were released from the album, "Trapped Inside Your Heart" and "Road to Nowhere", and the band supported Jimmy Barnes on his Australian tour during 1993.

Bombs Away single

Spurr left the band around 1995 and was replaced by Dean Turner on bass. The single was independently released in 1995.

Daddy Was a Hobo Man album

The band recorded their album Daddy Was A Hobo Man!! in 1997 and was not released until 2011, when it was made available as an independent release. Of the album, Clifford Hoad stated that they did not want to release an album similar to their prior releases and that "This album, we wanted to record with no commercial pressure what so ever, also, at the time we wanted to record as a 3 piece and live in the studio, this is what you’re hearing."

In 1998 the band supported Sammy Hagar's Australian tour. Kings of the Sun officially disbanded in 2001.

The Rich & Famous (2001-2009)

Shortly after the Kings of the Sun disbanded in 2001 the Hoads began releasing work under the new name "The Rich & Famous". The group independently released the album, Like A Superstar, in 2006 and former bandmate Dean Turner joined the album on bass. Turner would later join with the band and tour with them. Like A Superstar was followed up with the 2007 album Stand Back Prepare To Be Amazed !!!.

The Rich & Famous broke up in 2009.

Clifford Hoad's Kings of the Sun (2010-present)

In 2010 Clifford Hoad began with the composition of songs for the new album and formation of a new Kings of the Sun lineup – this time without his younger brother Jeffrey, who decided to leave behind his music career.

2011 saw release of the last Rich & Famous material – album called Airborn Love Spirits. It includes 3 tracks recorded in 2001 (2 previously unreleased) plus complete Resurrection album, which has been long out of print.

In March 2013, new KOTS lineup entered Govinda Doyle’s private studio to record Cliff Hoad’s latest compositions. Quentin Elliott returned to play lead guitar and Dave Talon (Rollerball) joined on rhythm guitar. Drummer Cliff Hoad also took charge of singing, as he sang backing vocals on all previous albums and lead vocals on 2 tracks (shared with Jeff on Shot Me an Arrow & lead on I Wanna Rock). Bass tracks were recorded by Govinda Doyle who also engineered and produced the album with co-production by Clifford Hoad. Mixing was done by Govinda & Clifford.

New album entitled Rock Til Ya Die was released on 5 September 2013 via band's website and is return to classic Australian rock sound. 5 promo videos were shot by Dan Jensen and Trudy Martin of Darklight Studios, combining music clip with documentary style interviews with Cliff Hoad, who tells a story behind each song.

Touring lineup will comprise 2nd drummer Baron von Berg and Darren Marlow taking bass guitar & backing vocals duties.

Clifford has just released his 9th solid album called RAZED ON ROCK on 20 October 2016, following up on his groundbreaking 8th album ROCK TIL YA DIE (2013). Again uniquely playing double duty as lead vocalist and drummer. Rock Til ya Die was claimed by many to be Kings Of The Sun's best yet but now, here comes RAZED ON ROCK!

Current members

Past members

Session musicians

Kings of the Sun

The Rich & Famous

Clifford Hoad's Kings of the Sun

Kings of the Sun