CHARIOT is an East London band managed by Shades Records owner Mike Shannon. The band created quite a buzz during the mid 80s in the metropolis. CHARIOT dealt in straightforward, no nonsense Hard Rock bereft of image (save for frontman Pete Franklin's popular 'Toothbrush Klan' T-shirt), but more than made up for with some classy song writing and showmanship.

Able to pack the London Marquee on a frequent basis, CHARIOT found appreciation outside the capitol strangely virtually non-existent, although enjoyed a strong reputation on the continent; specifically in France and Italy where they toured frequently.

in 1981, CHARIOT were originally a five piece, but after their vocalist left half an hour before a show, guitarist Franklin assumed vocal duties.

Initially featuring guitarist Scott Biaggi (ex-N16), bassist John Smith and French born drummer Olivier Le Franc, the latter was replaced by Biaggi's former N16 band mate Jeff Braithwaite before the band recorded their debut album.

With no major deal forthcoming Manager Shannon formed Shades Records in order to release the first CHARIOT album, 'The Warrior', in 1984; following it up two years later with 'Burning Ambition' (the girl depicted on the cover was the then girlfriend of DRIVESHAFT guitarist and Shades employee Fred Avesque). Both albums sold well across Europe and the band played a number of French festivals during 1986 and a rare British gig outside London in Loughborough alongside ANGEL WITCH and CHROME MOLLY. The group also issued a live video, 'Sweating Blood - Live At The Marquee', the same year.

For a period music industry guru Jonathan King held a management interest in the group, but following the group's demise due to lack of record company interest former CHARIOTeers Franklin and Biaggi formed a new band, CHARGE, in mid 1989 together with bassist Tony Newton and DEEP SWITCH and BEKI & THE BOMBSHELLS drummer Simon DeMontford. However, CHARGE never got beyond the demo stage and a London Marquee performance. Another name change to OUTLAND fared no better and, in 1991, Franklin and Biaggi resurrected CHARIOT, still retaining DeMontford and Newton.

More recently, 1995 saw Franklin fronting DIRTY DEEDS, an act championed by IRON MAIDEN's Steve Harris no less, who were to gain considerable interest from the Japanese market. This act again would issue a brace of albums before reaching stalemate and evolving into DEEDS.

In 2004 it emerged that Franklin was in the studio assembling tracks for a proposed solo release in union with guitar player Paul Lane and his former CHARIOT colleagues bassist John Smith and drummer Jeff Braithwaite. As it eventuated, the project evolved into a full blown CHARIOT reunion timed to coincide with the Majestic Rock re-issue of both 'Warrior' and 'Burning Ambition' albums. The CHARIOT album 'Behind The Wire' emerged in February 2006 on the Rippa Rock label.