Robin Black

Robin Black is a Canadian glam rock band, originally known as Robin Black and the Intergalactic Rock Stars, formed in 1998. The band's lead singer also uses Robin Black as his stage name.

History

Robin Black the frontman has previously lived in Pinawa, Manitoba, performing with the band Ballroom Zombies. He moved to Toronto in 1998 to form Robin Black and the Intergalactic Rock Stars. One of the band members he would find was Killer Ky (Ky Anto); a Canadian guitarist who had played with the band Sassy Scarlet as well as performing with Sylvain Sylvain (New York Dolls) and Michael Monroe's (Hanoi Rocks) solo groups. Killer Ky joined the band as bass player after the departure of original but short lived member Jackie Duncan. The band also included guitarist/ keyboard player Chris Cunnane aka Starboy, guitarist Stacey Stray and drummer Kevin Taylor. Stacey and Kevin joined the band when they left their previous Toronto group, The Conscience Pilate, in 1998. In 2002 Stacey Stray left the band. Killer Ky switched to lead guitar and B.B. Mcqueen was added on bass.

The band released their first recording, a novelty CD single cut in the shape of a star, in 2000. The album Planet Fame, produced by Moe Berg and Garth Richardson, followed on February 14, 2002. It was filled with glam rock tracks, led by the single "So Sick of You". A video for the single was also released.

Prior to the release of their second album, the band brought in two new members; Chris "The Kidd" Avolos on drums and John "The Creep" Kerns on bass. The 2005 album was named Instant Classic, and was produced by Bob Ezrin along with Garth Richardson. For this release the band's name was shortened to just Robin Black.

They toured extensively for this release, including the UK.

Frontman Robin also made an appearance on Showcase's TV series KinK. Black was also a judge on the 2006 Much Music VJ Search. He holds a 2nd degree blackbelt in taekwondo and was the 2004 Ontario Open Musical Kata Champion. Robin also won the 2008 Naga world championships. He now trains at Xtreme Couture in Toronto alongside with other fighters such as Mark Hominick, Mark Bocek, and Rob Di Censo.

Robin Black toured the U.K again across July and August 2008 with support from German glam rock band The Pleasures and British based Patchwork Grace. This tour culminated in a headline show at Trash Stock festival, Nottingham.

Somewhat scaled down in the makeup department, he now is a front-running Canadian MMA reporter and color-commentator on the Score and the face of the Fight Network.

Members

Current

ROBIN BLACK

• Robin Black - vocals
• Peter Arvidsson - lead guitar, backing vocals
• Chris "Starboy" Cunnane - guitar, backing vocals
• Robby Ruckus (who also plays in Darlings of Chelsea) - bass
• Aaron Verdonk - Drums (who also plays in Stereos)

Former

ROBIN BLACK AND THE INTERGALACTIC ROCK STARS 1998-2002

• Robin Black - lead vocals
• Stacey Straye - lead guitar, backing vocals
• Chris "Starboy" Cunnane - guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
• jackie Duncan - bass (may-sept. 98)
• Killer Ky Anto - bass (sept. 98-May 2002)
• Kevin Taylor aka K-Tron - drums

ROBIN BLACK AND THE INTERGALACTIC ROCK STARS 2002-2003

• Robin Black - lead vocals
• Killer Ky Anto - lead guitar, backing vocals
• Chris "Starboy" Cunnane - guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
• B.B. McQueen - bass
• Kevin Taylor - drums

ROBIN BLACK 2003-2006

• Robin Black - lead vocals
• Killer Ky Anto - lead guitar, backing vocals
• Chris "Starboy" Cunnane - guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
• John "The Creep" Kerns - bass
• Chris "The Kid" Avolos - drums

2007-band hiatus

2008-see above for current line up

Discography

Albums

• Planet:Fame (2002)
• Instant Classic (2005)

Singles

• Star Shaped Single (2000)
• Two Song Tease (2004)
• "Hellraiser" (2003) U.K. only release

DVD

• We Came, We Saw...We Came! (DVD, 2002)

Videos

Mixed martial arts

Robin Black has been a known practitioner of Taekwon-Do and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In an early interview Robin was quoted as saying he felt safe traveling due to the security that the Taekwon-Do training gave him. He was featured on a MuchMusic program titled "Robin Black: Cage Fighter".^[1] On the program, Black trained with mixed martial artists Georges St. Pierre, Sam Stout, Mark Hominick, Dan smith, Mat Battle, Matt "Wild Child" Malice and Andrew Bradbury.

Black was also recently a guest commentator at an XMMA show in Montreal featuring David Loiseau.^[2] This marked the first time that not only Robin did 'color' commentary for fights but also the first time a male commentator wore makeup while interviewing fighters. Robin has since been brought in to interview fighters in between rounds at Warrior-1 MMA - Inception.

Black's first professional televised match was against Chris "The Pitbull" Myra, a tattoo artist in Pembroke, Ontario, Canada, and cage fighter.

Unfortunately for Black, Chris Myra was able to get the win, and beat Black. In his second professional match in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, on November 28, 2008 he tapped out early in the first round to grappler Janz Stein. He scored his first win in the ring on February 6, 2009 against Moncton, NB native Stephane Poirier. Black choked Poirier with a triangle choke submission two minutes and fifty seven seconds into the first round of the bout.^[3]

Black and Poirier would later rematch for the first ELITE 135 pound Championship belt. Robin bettered his earlier performance against Poirier and was able to secure a rear naked choke to be crowned the first ever ELITE FC 135 pound Champion.

Robin next fought in Edmonton, AB at Adrenaline MMA against Corey Lautischer (1-1). Lautischer beat Black by guillotine choke to secure the win. Lautischer has since gone on to fight for the title of Best Canadian Flyweight coming up short to Mike "Too Short" Davis. MMA Math would dictate that at one point Robin Black was in the Top Five for Canadian Flyweights.

Robin then went on to defeat Matt Knysh (brother of MMA Superstar "Cry'n" Ryan Knysh) via TKO in round 2 on February 5, 2010.^[4]

He then fought against Eric "Pizza" Perez in which he lost via TKO in round 1 on June 4, 2010 in Winnipeg, MB.

Black's most recent fight was against Mike Reilly on Jan 28th, where he lost 57 seconds into the first round after Mike managed to trap him in an armbar.

His current MMA record stands at 3-5. (W-L)

Black is currently training for an upcoming rematch with Chris "The PitBull" Myra which would end his self-impossed 'retirement'. When asked why he decided to return to combat Robin answered, "You know sometimes you just have to prove it to yourself one more time."

Unfortunately for Robin, Myra was unable to meet the medical requirement due to a recently diagnosed case of Aphenphosmphobia.

References

This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (April 2009)

External links

• MySpace