A Power Thrash Metal band of great repute, VICIOUS RUMORS formed in Santa Rosa in August 1979, co-founded by mainstay guitarist Geoff Thorpe. The band's debut performance came in 1980 at one of the fabled 'Metal Monday' meetings the The Old Waldorf in San Francisco. Two years later the first audio arrived in the form of 'I Can Live Forever' included on the KMEL 'New Oasis' compilation, the band lining up as vocalist Mark Tate, guitarists Geoff Thorpe and Jim Cassero, bass player Jeff Barnacle and drummer Walt Perkins.

The band would quickly be taken under the wing of guitar guru and Shrapnel Records boss Mike Varney, Thorpe meeting the man through Varney's ROCK JUSTICE project. At the time of their meeting Varney was in the process of putting the Shrapnel Records label together, a company that first made its name with the 'U.S. Metal' series of compilation albums that pushed the playing of the guitarists in the individual bands concerned well to the fore.

VICIOUS RUMORS line-up of 1983 saw Walt Perkins supplanted by Jim Lange. At this formative stage VICIOUS RUMORS were heavily reliant on image with co-ordinated black and blue stage costumes and with their singer entering the stage held aloft in a coffin borne by monks.

New bassist Dave Starr had been a member of fellow Metal band LÄÄZ ROCKIT, actually a founder member having renamed that act from their previous title of DEPTH CHARGE. Fired from LÄÄZ ROCKIT in 1983, Starr hooked created a power trio titled BLACK LEATHER with guitarist Rick Richards and drummer Jim Wells. In 1985 Starr formed part of the regrouped VICIOUS RUMORS completing a line-up of ex-HAWAII singer Gary St. Pierre, guitarist Geoff Thorpe and drummer Charles Emmil. During this period VAIN guitarist Jamie Rowe (then titled Chuck Mooney) made some recordings with VICIOUS RUMORS. Drummer for this period was Don Selzer.

VICIOUS RUMORS made their first appearance for Shrapnel on 'U.S. Metal Volume III' with the track 'Ultimate Death'. Varney gave the group another shot too, with 'One Way Ticket' included on 1984's 'U.S. Metal Volume IV'. At the time, Thorpe had been looking for the perfect guitar partner and getting nowhere. Former BLACK LEATHER man Rick Richards filled in for one gig. Varney introduced him to a discovery of his from Delaware called VINNIE MOORE. In no time at all, Moore was in the group and the group were put in the studio by Varney to record a debut album for Shrapnel in 1985. That first record 'Soldiers Of The Night', released in Europe in May 1985 through a licensing deal with Roadrunner, featured St. Pierre on vocals, Moore and Thorpe on guitar, bassist Dave Starr and drummer Larry Howe.

Moore, only ever a temporary member, would quit to pursue his goal of solo stardom and VICIOUS RUMORS promptly picked up former TYRANT man Terry Montana as a quick replacement. Montana lasted a year, recording demos and actually toured promoting the first album. After Montana's services were dispensed with, Alameda, California raised Mark McGee came into the frame. Formerly a member of local act OVERDRIVE, in the dual role of vocalist and rhythm guitarist, McGee had also spent a period of time in the ranks of fading Pomp Rock outfit STARCASTLE.

McGee made his debut with VICIOUS RUMORS on 1988's 'Digital Dictator' album, a record that also premiered ex-RUFFIANS and VILLIAN vocalist Carl Albert in place of the departed Gary St. Pierre. VICIOUS RUMORS hooked up SAVATAGE manager Robert Zemsky and consequently with major label Atlantic Records for the eponymous 1990 album, co-produced by Geoff Thorpe and Michael Rosen. The record title was originally set to be 'Immortal Battalion'.

VICIOUS RUMORS toured North America on a headlining club jaunt prior to European dates with DEATH ANGEL and FORBIDDEN as well as a performance at the prestigious Dynamo festival in Holland. Although media and fan response was enthusiastic, strangely the band did not seem to be receiving the benefits a major label like Atlantic could have delivered.

For 1991's 'Welcome To The Ball', again seeing Geoff Thorpe and Michael Rosen in command of the desk, the band toured Europe with SAVATAGE and put in further headline club gigs in America. Japanese dates resulted in the live 'Plug In And Hang On- Live In Tokyo' album.

The following year VICIOUS RUMORS were dealt two body blows. Not only were they dropped by Atlantic Records but Thorpe was found to be suffering from Carpal tunnel syndrome and had to undergo surgery for his condition. For a short while the band operated as a quartet without him. Howe filled his downtime by creating side project BOMB THREAT with HEATHEN members Lee Altus and Thaen Rasmussen with singer Jay from MY VICTIM. BOMB THREAT toured the California clubs playing a nostalgic set of NW0BHM covers.

By mid 1993 Thorpe was recovered enough to get out on the road again but by November line-up problems beset the band with Starr being fired and replaced by Tommy Sisco. The 1994 VICIOUS RUMOURS album 'Word Of Mouth' would see the addition of two bonus cuts for the Japanese market namely covers of the ROLLING STONES 'Paint It Black' and LED ZEPPELIN's 'Communication Breakdown'. In Germany the album emerged through Rising Sun Productions and limited edition digi-packs there added two live tracks, 'Hellraiser' and 'The Quest'.

In April 1995 VICIOUS RUMOURS took another hammer blow when Albert was killed in an auto accident. The singer hung onto life for a few days but was eventually pronounced braindead. McGee also quit the band eventually uniting with GREGG ALLMAN.

In October 1995 the group, now with Geoff Thorpe taking on lead vocals, got to tour the European continent once again as it hitched a ride on the heavyweight METAL CHURCH, ZODIAC MINDWARP and KILLERS package. Thorpe also took over lead vocals for the 1996 album 'Something Burning' as the band was also bolstered by guitarist Steve Smyth. The following year VICIOUS RUMORS drafted vocalist Brian O'Connor. High profile European dates would see the group guesting for ACCEPT. Back in America further gigs were put in as openers to established artists such as THIN LIZZY, RAINBOW and BLUE ÖYSTER CULT. The band would play to their biggest audiences though during 1998, billed as special guests to Germany's BLIND GUARDIAN on their European tour.

In 1999 VICIOUS RUMORS announced their new vocalist to be ex-HIGH TREASON and MEGATON BLONDE man Morgan Thorn. Smyth joined Thrash veterans TESTAMENT in the same year. That same year former guitarist Mark Mcgee established a new outfit billed LUVPLANET, later being joined by another erstwhile VICIOUS RUMORS colleague, bassist Tommy Sisco.

The band bounced back in 2001 with the 'Sadistic Symphony' album. VICIOUS RUMORS new look comprised of Thorn. Thorpe, guitarist Ira Black, bassist Cornbread and drummer Atma Anur. Black's history traces back through REXXEN, the 1992 incarnation of HEATHEN, UTERIS (featuring ex TESLA guitarist Tommy Skeoch) and DOGFACE with erstwhile EXODUS man Steve Souza. Bassist Cornbread is ex-BIZARRO, the band founded by ex-FORBIDDEN and TESTAMENT guitarist Glen Alvelais whilst drummer Atma Anur boasts numerous studio appearances with diverse acts such as DAVID BOWIE, JOURNEY, TONY MACALPINE and MARTY FRIEDMAN.

It would leak out that both Thorn and Cornbread had actually split away from the band in early 2001 but had resolved whatever differences of opinion there were and rejoined the fold. Former VICIOUS RUMORS personnel bassist Dave Starr and drummer Larry Howe would both join CHASTAIN in 2001. Meantime Ira Black delved into nostalgia by forming part of the reunion of 80s Thrash act MERCENARY.

With the release of the 'Sadistic Symphony' album VICIOUS RUMOURS once again changed tack, re-employing Brian O'Connor on vocals. The band, with Dan Lawson taking command of the drums, hooked up with SAVATAGE and BLAZE for European tour dates commencing in Sweden during January 2002 but would soon pull out citing friction with BLAZE.

Meanwhile, it would be learned in April that erstwhile VICIOUS RUMORS personnel bassist Dave Starr and drummer Larry Howe had teamed up with CHASTAIN. VICIOUS RUMOURS themselves pulled off a major local coup by landing the support to the mammoth AEROSMITH / KID ROCK show at the Marysville Autowest Amphitheater on November 7th.

Guitarist Steve Smyth took time out in early 2003 to collaborate with ex-ARIAH and SWEET LEAF bassist Steven Hoffman on a Progressive venture dubbed THE ESSENESS PROJECT. Guitarist Geoff Thorpe also engaged in outside projects, guesting on the 'Lake Of Memory' single from THE 7TH ORDER.

Having signed to the Dutch Mascot label, VICIOUS RUMORS set to work on a 2004 album provisionally billed as 'Immortal'. A DVD release would also be announced, 'Crushing The World - Part 1' including archive film featuring the late Carl Albert, footage from the 2002 European tour with SAVATAGE, the band's appearances at the 'Wacken Open Air' and 'Bang Your Head' festivals as well as three previously unheard tracks. VICIOUS RUMORS scheduled Italian dates for the Summer of 2004 but then pulled out due to illness on Geoff Thorpe's part. Nevertheless, Thorpe would be announced as putting in guest sessions on the tracks 'Vultures In the Air', the instrumental 'Black Telepathy' and 'Mighty Son Of The Great Lord' for the Italian band KALEDON's album 'The Way Of The Light'. However, Thorpe would in fact not contribute, unable to participate due to health problems.

The band was rejoined by drummer Larry Howe in January of 2005. More changes saw bassist Cornbread exiting in April, drafting Tommy Sisco as replacement. A live release party to celebrate the issue of the DVD 'Crushing The World', held at the Last Day Saloon in Santa Rosa, California on 21st May saw a reformation of the complete 'Word Of Mouth' line-up - Brian O'Connor, Geoff Thorpe, Mark McGee, Larry Howe and Tommy Sisco.

That same Summer, Ira Black announced a brand new band project, THE SIDEFX, in union with ROUGH CUTT veterans vocalist PAUL SHORTINO and bassist Matt Thorn plus the YNGWIE MALMSTEEN credited Patrick Johansson on drums.

On 9th July 2005 VICIOUS RUMORS lined up at The Pound outdoor amphitheatre in San Francisco alongside TESTAMENT, DREAMS OF DAMNATION, LÄÄZ ROCKIT, HIRAX, AGENT STEEL, DEKAPITATOR, MUDFACE, NEIL TURBIN, BROCAS HELM and IMAGIKA for the 'Thrash Against Cancer' benefit. Later that year guitarist Ira Black temporarily replaced Kurdt Vanderhoof in the ranks of METAL CHURCH for a three week US tour.

Brian O'Connor closed an eight year tenure as the VICIOUS RUMORS frontman in August. Within hours of this announcement guitarist Ira Black also officially terminated his position, joining Sci-Fi Metal band EMERALD TRIANGLE. The band re-formulated, with bassist Dave Starr and drummer Larry Howe rejoining guitarist Geoff Thorpe. Days later it would be revealed that James Rivera, of HELSTAR, SEVEN WITCHES, DISTANT THUNDER, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM and KILLING MACHINE, was to front the band. Another unexpected addition to the ranks would be BRAD GILLIS, best known for his term of duty with OZZY OSBOURNE and for being mainstay of melodic Rockers NIGHT RANGER. For European gigs the group drafted another high profile guitarist, ANVIL CHORUS, CONTROL, HEATHEN and BLACK SUN Thrash veteran Thaen Rasmussen temporarily replacing Gillis. Ex-guitarist Ira Black enrolled himself into the ranks of LIZZY BORDEN in April 2006 and shortly afterward Larry Howe took up an offer, albeit fleeting, to join W.A.S.P.

Promoting the 'Warball' album, VICIOUS RUMORS toured Europe in November allied with BEYOND FEAR and COURAGEOUS. Bassist Dave Starr left the band on January 23rd 2007, prioritising his act WILDESTARR. VICIOUS RUMORS teamed up with RIOT for two shows at Tokyo, Japan's Club Quattro on April 17th and 18th. A European tour scheduled to feature special guests AGENT STEEL was announced for June. The band teamed up with VICIOUS RUMORS and AFTER ALL for the Alienigma European Tour 2007 beginning in early September.