Nobody Said It Was Easy

Official re-issue of this hard rock classic from The Four Horsemen, produced by Rick Rubin. Originally released in 1991 on Rubin's Def American label, the album landed just as grunge was breaking and immediately faced an uphill battle for acceptance, despite widespread critical acclaim. Formed in the late 80s by former Zodiac Mindwarp and The Cult bassist Haggis (Stephen Harris), the band members came together with help from Rubin, playing a style that took the basics from the AC/DC school of driving hard rock with a raucous vocal delivery from frontman Frank Starr. The band gained a reputation for being genuinely dangerous, further enhanced when Starr was arrested on drugs charges and imprisoned. After the release of the album drummer Ken Montgomery died from a drug overdose before vocalist Starr was killed on Sunset Strip by a drunk driver. The twin tragedies, plus the advent of grunge, derailed the band, despite acclaim from the media and fellow musicians. Montgomery's place was subsequently filled by his brother Charles, aka Chuck Biscuits, better known as the drummer for Danzig. Starr's position was briefly filled by Ron Young of Little Caesar.