WHIPLASH TV

WHIPLASH is a three-piece power trio hailing from New Jersey!

Tony Portaro, founding member and pillar of the power trio Whiplash, is embarking on a world tour to promote Power and Pain LIVE 2011 with a new power line-up.

Portaro (vocals, guitar), who studied at Berklee College of Music, joined forces with Tony Scaglione (drums) and recruited Tony Bono on bass to form the New Jersey thrash band Whiplash in 1984.

Signed by Roadrunner Records to record their debut album "Power and Pain," they played their first show in Berkeley, California in 1985 at Ruthie's Inn. Witnessed by bands such as Metallica and Exodus, they performed their break-through album, alongside Possessed and Death Angel, and soon after embarked on an extensive European tour with Sodom.

Considered thrash innovators of that era, Whiplash added their East Coast influence to the San Francisco-born thrash style. Power and Pain became a thrash classic, and remains one of the best thrash albums of all time.

With the departure of Scaglione in 1987 to do a stint with Slayer, line-up changes continually followed for Whiplash, allowing Portaro to keep it fresh for the fans. The second album, "Ticket To Mayhem" in 1987, was another power trio masterpiece for Whiplash. The addition of a vocalist on Whiplash's third release "Insult to Injury" (1990), let Portaro focus on his guitar work.

In 1996, Whiplash became a 5-piece, adding a second guitarist. Portaro swapped dynamic leads and served up creative guitar harmonies on "Cult of One." Following 1997's release of "Sit, Stand, Kneel, Prey," the original power trio lineup of the three Tony's - Portaro, Scaglione and Bono reunited for the 1998 release of "Thrashback." Many Whiplash followers deem this CD's place in the ranks of "Power and Pain" and "Insult To Injury."

Tony Portaro followed a 10 year hiatus of writing, producing and engineering with the reformation of power trio Whiplash. "Unborn Again" reignited fan interest around the globe. Portaro's aggressive live performance mesmerized fans with his powerful leads. His driving riffs and soaring melodies energized thrash audiences everywhere. The Power and Pain LIVE 2011 tour is a gift to all old-school thrash fans, and to the new generation of thrashers!

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