Biography

A Melodic Power Metal band, that you have to hear, is what you have in Banshee. Coming together from the midwest in the mid 1980's was Banshee, an incredible heavy metal band. Tommy Lee Flood (vocals) Terry Dunn (guitar), Chuck Hopkins (bass) and Kent Burnham (drums) were artists from Omaha and Kansas City that formed what was to become an underrated band that would make it's mark on the metal era. The band was formed in a music store warehouse in Kansas City and would go on to release 3 incredible albums against tremendous odds.

'Cry In The Night' was the band's self released EP on cassette in 1986. The albums 'Cry In The Night' was later re-released by Metal Blade records on LP and Cassette in 1988. The song, 'We Want You' from the album was also released on Metal Massacre 9 by Metal Blade. Chuck released a limited number of CD's after the band's 2000 reunion show.

Bill Westfall replaced Chuck on bass before their second album and 'Race Against Time' was released by Atlantic's Titanium records in 1988. It was available nationally on LP, Cassette and CD. The popular 'Shoot Down The Night' video, from this album, aired for six months and reached the hard 30 ranking on MTV's Headbangers Ball. Due to poor management and Atlantic wanting to focus on other artists their relationship was short lived. Sleaze Roxx stated: " With every song on Race Against Time a stand out, this album was, like many other fateful rippers of the time, way overlooked."

Their third album 'Take 'em By Storm' came out in 1993 on their own Snowblind Records label on Cassette and CD. It had little national distribution, but sold out quickly. The band went it's separate ways soon after that.

Reunion shows were very well received in 1999 and 2000, but the timing wasn't right, at that time, for the band to stay together and continue playing.

In 2008 they are on the ticket for Rocklahoma 2008 in July. Tyson Leslie will be filling Bill's position on bass. Rumors have it that several other shows are also in the works.

They have also recently released their music for download on Amazon MP3 and iTunes. Physical CD re-releases are on the way.

Tommy and Terry speak of plans for a fourth album after their appearances this summer, as the time for this genre is returning. Their music will definitely have a chance and a supportive audience this time around.

Banshee is often referred to as an underrated gem in the metal genre and anyone who listens to them tends to agree. Some artists fall by the wayside in this brutal industry, but Banshee is striving to rock on!