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James Rivera Chronological History

HELSTAR: 1983 - Present
ALBUMS:
‘Burning Star’, Combat Records, 1984
‘Remnants of War’, Combat Records, 1986
‘A Distant Thunder’, Metal Blade Records, 1988
‘Nosferatu’, Metal Blade Records, 1989
‘Multiples of Black’, Massacre Records, 1995
‘T'was The Night Of A Helish Xmas’ (Live), Metal Blade Records, 2000
‘The James Rivera Legacy’, Iron Glory Records, 2001

DVD’s:
‘Burning Alive’, Perris Records, 2005

TOURS:  

1984 – The band breaks ground with regional Texas touring.  Opener for WASP in Houston, Texas.
1985 – Support act for STRYPER at the Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas.
1986 - ANTHRAX headline a tour package with the band throughout Texas.  
            US tour opener for MEGADETH and TT QUICK, plus additional headline performances.
            Regional Texas tour as headliner and also support act for KING DIAMOND and KEEL.
1988 - Opener for SAVATAGE in Riverside, CA. 
            European tour with YNGWIE MALMSTEEN and TANKARD, plus a sold-out headlining
            performance at the Dynamo club in Eindhoven, Netherlands.
1989 – US tour with FATES WARNING
2001 – Performed at the Bang Your Head festival in Germany as reunion lineup with guest musicians,
            followed by a short US tour which began at the Milwaukee Metal fest and ended with the
            Powermad festival in Baltimore, Maryland.
            Headlined the Bang Your Head festival in Houston, Texas; a carbon copy of the German event,
            organized by Rivera.
2002 – Dynamo Festival, Eindhoven, Netherlands as reunion lineup with guest musicians.
2004 – Headliner for Keep It True festival in Germany, followed by select performances in Greece,
            Italy, Denmark and Netherlands as reunion lineup with guest musicians.
2006 – ‘Remnants of War’ 20th Anniversary reunion lineup headlines the 4th annual Robb’s Metalworks
            Showcase in San Antonio, Texas, followed by two performances in San Marcos, CA, a sold-out
            concert in Houston, Texas, plus an appearance at the 3rd annual Minneapolis Mayhem festival in
            Minnesota.

VIGILANTE: 1990 - 1995
This assemblage was a further incarnation of HELSTAR under a new title, due to the absence of main writer and founding member, Larry Barragan.  Raven management oversaw the unit at the time and regional Texas performances took place.  Prior to his departure, Barragan was involved in the recording of a four track demo which garnered international attention.  Later, the release of a rare six-song EP ultimately landed VIGILANTE a record deal with Massacre Records and involved MEGADETH’s Dave Ellefson as producer of the forthcoming cut.  However, it was encouraged that the band return to their original name of HELSTAR, resulting in the classic power metal act’s fifth release, ‘Multiples Of Black’.  A compilation of the HELSTAR demo and scarce VIGILANTE material were subsequently packaged and released under the HELSTAR moniker as ‘The James Rivera Legacy’.

DESTINY’S END: 1998 - 2001
ALBUMS:                 
‘Breathe Deep The Dark’, Metal Blade Records, 1998
‘Transition’, Metal Blade Records, 2000

TOURS:
1998 – Regional Texas tour with MERCYFUL FATE.
Support act for FATES WARNING performance in Corona, CA.
1999 – US tour with ICED EARTH and NEVERMORE
            European tour with SACRED STEEL and WARDOG
            Wacken Open Air festival in Germany
2000 – Bang Your Head festival in Germany
2001 – 1st annual Prog Power USA in Chicago, IL
Support act for FLOTSAM & JETSAM performance in Phoenix, AZ.

FLOTSAM & JETSAM: 2001 – 2001
TOURS:  
2001 - Fall US Tour

SEVEN WITCHES: 2002 – 2005
ALBUMS:                 
‘Passage To The Other Side’, Noise/Sanctuary Records, 2003
‘Year Of The Witch’, Noise/Sanctuary Records, 2004

DVD’s:                      
‘Years Of The Witch’, Screaming Ferret Wreckords, 2006

TOURS:

2002 – Classic Metal fest in Cleveland, Ohio
            Milwaukee metal fest, Wisconsin
            US & Canada tour with SYMPHONY X
2003 – Regional Texas and California headlining performances
            European tour opening for OVERKILL
2004 – Tampa Bay Sun & Steel metal fest
            March Metal Meltdown in New Jersey
            Headlining performances in Laredo and Houston, Texas
            Graspop Metal Meeting festival in Belgium, opening for JUDAS PRIEST
            Support act for UFO in Allentown, PA
2005 – Northeast/Midwestern US headlining tour

DISTANT THUNDER: 2004 – 2004
ALBUMS:                 
‘Welcome The End’, Massacre Records, 2004

TOURS:
2004 - Headlining performances in San Antonio, Texas, and in Houston, Texas.

KILLING MACHINE: 2005 – 2006
ALBUMS:                 
‘Metalmorphosis’, Mausoleum, 2006

VICIOUS RUMORS: 2005 – Present
ALBUMS:                 
‘Warball’, Mascot Records, 2006

TOURS:
2006 – Select European appearances in Belgium, Germany and Spain
Regional San Francisco, CA, performances
            European tour with BEYOND FEAR
2007-  Support act for TESTAMENT, San Francisco, CA 

Tribute Bands and Additional Projects

CHILDREN OF THE GRAVE - A Tribute to Black Sabbath: 1997 – 2002
Regional Texas, and Tucson, Arizona performances.  Support act for HALFORD in Oklahoma City, OK.

PROJECT RIVERA – A Tribute to 80’s Metal: 1998-2000
Included cover songs from Iron Maiden, Saxon, UFO, Judas Priest, Dio, etc.  Regional Houston, Texas, performances.

METAL GODS – A Tribute to Judas Priest: 2000 – 2002
Regional Houston, Texas, performances.

SABBATH JUDAS SABBATH – A Tribute to Black Sabbath & Judas Priest: 2002 – Present
The ultimate tribute to Black Sabbath and Judas Priest rolled into one by combining CHILDREN OF THE GRAVE and METAL GODS.  Originated with of cream of the crop local musicians from Houston, Texas.  Also presently including guitarist Mike Heald (HELSTAR) and bassist Jerry Abarca (HELSTAR).  Demand in other market territories have recently led Rivera to develop a Western US chapter featuring current RAZER/ex-WARDOG members, plus guitarist Michael Gilbert (FLOTSAM & JETSAM).  A Midwestern US section is also soon to be launched with members of BEYOND FEAR.  Regional appearances in Texas, Florida, Arizona, and Nevada.

POWERSLAVE – A Tribute to Iron Maiden: 2003 – 2003
Featured well-known metal artists Jack Owen (CANNIBAL CORPSE) and Richard Bateman (NASTY SAVAGE).  Regional performances in Tampa, Florida.

JAMES RIVERA – A Tribute to His Metal History: 2004 – Present
A showcase highlighting the revered metal outfits fronted by James Rivera.  Includes songs by Helstar, Seven Witches, Killing Machine, Distant Thunder, Destiny’s End, Flotsam & Jetsam and more.  Regional Texas appearances.

PATH OF MAN: 2003 – 2003
A 1970’s classic rock project with notable death metal musicians Jack Owen and Paul Mazurkiewicz (CANNIBAL CORPSE).  Recorded one un-released demo and performed regionally in Tampa, Florida.

MALAKIS REIGN: 2003 – 2003
New Jersey based melodic, dark, power/speed metal act.  Recorded one un-released self titled demo in which Rivera boasts high pitch black metal vocals in the vein of Dani Filth, intertwined with his own traditional singing style. Guest appearance by bassist Mike Le Pond (SYMPHONY X).

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