Where Are They Now? (as of March 2003)
Some of this you may know, some you may not. The original Bang Tango lineup (minus Kyle Stevens) released Love After Death in Japan in 1993. LAD contained some promising tunes but the band was dropped from MCA Records shortly after the release. In 1994, Music For Nations licensed it for the United Kingdom albiet with stripped down artwork and liner notes. There was a European tour to support LAD and then Bang Tango parted ways.

Joe LeSté kept the Bang Tango name alive in southern California. He continued to play shows using the Bang Tango name even though, at one point, he was the only original member. In the late 90's bassist Kyle Kyle re-joined Joe and they did a short-lived US tour opening for L.A. Guns and Warrant in 1996.

Joe and Kyle continued to play in southern California. Dan Aon and Mark Tremaglia filled the guitar slots and they went through several drummers. In 1998 the band recorded their first major Hollywood show in years. This show was released by Deadline Records in the form of the CD Live. The album was licensed to Axe Killer in France, a bonus track was added and it was released there as Untied And Live. Finally, Joe and Kyle re-recorded several of their hits plus some new songs they were working on and this became Greatest Tricks. The last official release by any incarnation of the band.

So where are they now? Well, all of the guys live in southern California. Joe made the biggest post-BT headlines when his band Beautiful Creatures inked a deal with Warner Brothers in 2001. Everyone had high hopes for the band but their debut CD and subsequent tour did not produce the results to keep Waner happy and the label did not option a second album.

Mark Knight got back to his roots after leaving Bang Tango. He lived in Malibu for a while and initially played coffee shops and such. He then plugged back in and formed Tomcat Knights and then later Worry Beads, a band in which he did double duty as lead guitarist and vocalist. Tigg Ketler played drums and later Kyle Stevens took over as the second guitarist. So when you think about it, Worry Beads where 3/5 Bang Tango :) Anyway, if you like bluesy stuff like Tom Petty or Stones, check out their MP3's.

Another of great post Bang Tango band were the original Newlydeads. Formed by Taime Downe and Kyle Kyle, ND was (and is) a great hybrid of industrial rock and pop. Think Marilyn Manson only better song writing and catchier hooks! Kyle only appears on the debut CD. And unfortunately this first incarnation of Newlydeads met with a couple fatal blows. Guitarist Todd Miller was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and then Kyle Kyle was involved in a near fatal car accident. This all happened just as the band was gearing up for a US tour. The tour never materialized, Kyle and Todd departed and The Newlydeads lost a lot of their forward momentum.

Kyle Kyle is currently rehearsing with a new group of musicians (and he also has his own web and graphic design business). The band is yet unnamed and as of May 2002 they are producing approximately four songs to demo.

Mark Knight has formed a new called Gravy that includes Mark Tremeglia. They are currently recording 11 tracks for an early 2003 release. Gravy plays rock with a very liberal coat of blues and funk. I saw them live in May and they kick! If you're in Southern Cal, check Malibu and Los Angeles show listings--you won't be disapointed.

As for the other three members, I don't have a reliable source for Joe but you may know that he has been playing shows this fall. Hopefully he will check in and we can get an update from him. As of May Tigg Ketler and Kyle Stevens were on musical hiatus but again I'm not in direct contact with them so maybe we'll hear from them too.

For the most recent news please read The Latest.