Based in New York, BEGGARS & THIEVES initially featured former WILDLIFE, ROBIN GEORGE, OZZY OSBOURNE and BILLY IDOL bassist PHIL SOUSSAN plus former XKAPE drummer Bobby Borg. Prior to the formation of BEGGARS & THIEVES, frontman Louie Merlino had made a decent living as a session vocalist in New York, although a few Rock fans remembered his appearance on CENTAURUS' eponymously titled one-off release of 1979 vintage.

In the early 80's Ronnie Mancuso, who hails from Buffalo, New York, began his recording career with local outfit CHEATER before relocating to Los Angeles, where he recorded with BANG BANG and also played in MODERN DESIGN with soon to be KING KOBRA vocalist MARK FREE. The guitarist then began working with CARMINE APPICE on a VANILLA FUDGE re-union album.

Manncuso, who had also played cameo roles on albums by CHER and LOU GRAMM, had first hooked up with Louie Merlino when the singer was in MODERN DESIGN. The band also included bassist Dana Strum at the time, although he would leave to join the VINNIE VINCENT INVASION as Merlino relocated to New York.

The debut BEGGARS & THIEVES album was produced by the team of Steve Thompson and Michael Barbiero and several songs feature a co-writing credit for the infamous DESMOND CHILD.

Drummer Bobby Borg quit before the group signed a new deal with Epic Records for the proposed release of second album 'Look What You Create' and wound up working with TROUBLE TRIBE's Adam Wacht, former HERICANE ALICE vocalist Bruce Naumann and SAIGON KICK's Tom DeFile. Borg later joined WARRANT, replacing James Kottak after the release of the 'Ultraphobic' album.

For the long awaited second release, released on German label MTM Music, BEGGARS & THIEVES was credited simply as a duo of Merlino and Mancuso. Contributing musicians were former BILLY SQUIER band drummer Bobby Chouinard, ROBIN BECK, Matt LaFrance and keyboard player Alan St. John. Producer Jim Vallance, known as BRYAN ADAMS hit songsmith, also lent a hand on additional drums and keyboards.

Sadly, this was to be the last recording made by Chouinard as he died shortly after recording. 1998 saw a fresh album somberly titled 'The Grey Album'.

PHIL SOUSSAN issued a solo album in December 2005 entitled 'Vibrate'.