Biography
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Years Active
1985 – present (39 years)
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Founded In
Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, United States
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Members
- Anthony Corder
- John Patterson
- Keith Douglas
- Patrick Francis
There are / were at least 2 bands going by this name.
1) Tora Tora is an American glam metal band formed in Memphis, Tennessee, United States, in 1985.
2) Were an 80's Synthpop act from France.
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1) Blues-based, Led Zeppelin inspired metal that should have made Tora Tora a household name, but sadly didn't.
Tora Tora is an American glam metal band formed in Memphis, Tennessee, United States, in 1985. "Tora" means "tiger" in Japanese and the name is a play on the code name for attack used by the Japanese Imperial Navy during their attack on Pearl Harbor, "Tora, Tora, Tora". The actual origin of the band name was more likely a reference to the song of the same name recorded by Van Halen on their 1980 release Women and Children First. In a 1989 Headbanger's Ball interview with singer Anthony Corder and bassist Patrick Francis, they said that a friend of the band came up with a list of 60 to 70 different names for their band, and they picked the name Tora Tora because it stood out to them the most. They mentioned in the same interview that the original name of the band had been "Free Beer".
One of the best-unknown bands in the hard rock genre, but lack of label support killed any chance the band had for massive success. Formed in Memphis, Tennessee, by Anthony Corder (vocals), Keith Douglas (guitar), Patrick Francis (drums) and John Patterson (drums). They quickly beat out sixty other groups in a Battle of the Bands contest and received some free studio time. They cut one track in Memphis before using the prize money they had won to record an entire independent EP called To Rock, To Roll. The studio was so impressed with the recordings that they offered to help shop the demo and gave them even more free recording time. Tora Tora eventually singed with A&M and the debut album made the Billboard Top 100, and hovered on the brink of breaking wide open. Later that same year "Dancing With A Gypsy" would appear on the soundtrack for Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. The follow-up, while being another classic, sold even less copies then the debut. A third album, Revolution Day, was recorded in 1994, but it was never released due to label restructuring. After missing the due date, the band folded.
Recent years have seen Corder and Francis perform live as either Tora Tora or Homemade Flavor. Rumors circulate that the unreleased third album may finally see the light of day, and one can only hope. A band that should regroup and release another killer album on the unsuspecting public.
n 2008, all four original band members reunited to do several performances. One was a sold out performance at Newby's, a local club in Memphis, to celebrate their 20th anniversary of receiving their recording contract. After the show, a record was sold to fans which included songs from their first two albums and material slated for their unreleased Revolution Day album. The album was titled The Warehouse… 20 Years Later. The second occurred during Rocklahoma 2008. The band played another reunion show at The New Daisy Theatre on March 7, 2009, in Memphis.
At the end of 2009, Tora Tora signed with the Nashville, Tennessee based FNA Records and released three albums. Before & After, Bombs Away: The Unreleased Surprise Attack Recordings, and Miss B. Haven': The Unreleased Wild America Recordings.
On February 28, 2011, FNA Records in conjunction with the band decided after 17 years since the completion of their third album, which was shelved indefinitely at the time due to label complications, to release their "lost album" Revolution Day. Anthony Corder stated about the Revolution Day Sessions.
Lineup
Anthony Corder - vocals, acoustic guitar
Keith Douglas - guitar, backing vocals
Patrick Francis - bass, backing vocals
John Patterson - drums
Discography - Albums
Surprise Attack (1989) No. 47 US Billboard 200
Wild America (1992) No. 132 US Billboard 200
Revolution Day (1994)
Bastards of Beale (2019)
Discography - EPs
To Rock to Roll (1987)
Unplugged (2020)
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