Gorgeous Frankenstein was an American horror punk/heavy metal[1] band formed in 2005 in New Jersey by Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein and his former wife and ex-professional wrestler Stephanie Bellars (a.k.a. Gorgeous George).
Gorgeous Frankenstein | |
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Background information | |
Origin | New Jersey, U.S. |
Genres | Horror punk, heavy metal |
Years active | 2005–2012 |
Labels | Evilive Records |
Past members | Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein Gorgeous George Frankenstein Landon Blood Dr. Chud "Left Hand" Graham Jesco Deviliance Argyle Goolsby Alex Story |
In 2005, Doyle left New Jersey for Las Vegas and began auditioning members for his own band, Gorgeous Frankenstein. The same year, he appeared on stage with Danzig numerous times throughout their tour and lead vocalist Glenn Danzig offered to produce Gorgeous Frankenstein first eponymous album on his record Label Evilive.[2]
The name of the band is a combination of both Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein and his wife Stephanie Bellars (Gorgeous George) names into a portmanteau concept.[3]
In 2006, Doyle and Danzig had recruited bassist Argyle Goolsby (lead vocalist of Blitzkid) and hired British comic book artist Simon Bisley to do the cover artwork (Bisley previously published some of his works at Verotik, Danzig's mature-themed comic books company).[2]
The musical arrangements of the band's debut album were completed before July 2007, but Doyle did not yet find a vocalist.[2][4] He finally recruited vocalist Landon Blood for the recordings of the album[5] and ex-Blitzkid drummer Jesco Devilanse (Andrew "Stipes" Winter).[6]
Later in 2007, Gorgeous Frankenstein played their first tour, opening for Danzig. This lineup included Argyle Goolsby (who also acted as lead vocalist, since Landon Blood left the band) and Dr. Chud on drums.[5] Stephanie Bellars (Gorgeous George) was part of these shows as a dancer.[7]
Doyle began to audition for a singer for the band and recruited Cancerslug's frontman Alex Story.[8]
In 2012, following Alex Story's suggestion, Doyle decided to abandon Gorgeous Frankenstein and go forward with a new band project eponymously named Doyle. As he explains:
I would play a show and people would come up and say, 'Oh, I didn't even know you had a band.' Like when I would open for Danzig. [...] My singer [Alex Story] suggested to me that we change the name because it was the most recognizeable part of the band and I said okay.[9]
The following year, Doyle (the band) would record a debut album entitled Abominator (2013).