HISTORY
(This Virgin Steele's history based on a text which David wrote)

Virgin Steele's name means a fresh approach, a new lease on life; pure metal, baptized in the flame of life; full of hunger and power, rich with dignity and majesty, with an awareness and respect for tradition, but combined and fueled by a desperate need to carve out new frontiers of expression. To take the music as far as it can possibly go; to break the boundaries wide open. There are no limits!

David began his piano lessons at the age of eight. By age of eleven he was performing his first metal band called Phoenix. David was studying two years at music college where he met Joe O'Reilly. They began to jam together regularly and though about putting band together. Both graduated 0981 and few months later David saw an advertisement for various band seeking a lead singer. David spoke with their guitar player, Jack Starr, and they arranged a meeting. David went to the meeting, but Jack forgot to book the time. David suggested that Jack and drummer Joey Ayvazian came back to his house. David has an opportunity to show them his talents, and they liked it and asked to join the band. David haven't heard the band so he suggested that first they will jam together. David didn't like their bass player talens so he suggested his friend Joe O'Reilly and guys agreed. All from these small beginnings in October of 1981 Virgin Steele saw a daylight.

After rehearsing for three weeks Virgin Steele entered the studio to record something what they thought just a demo. Actually it was Virgin Steele One. The album was recorded mostly live in the studio. It took about a week to record and mix it. They began to sell their "demo" out to all various metal magazines. All of them liked it. Then Sharpinel record's president called to guys. He wanted to include Virgin Steele song to his metal collection album. Featuring track was "Children of the Storm" from "Virgin Steele 1".

After that collection released, gates opened. Virgin Steele felted that they should press up the album therirselves to see what would happen. First 5000 copies sold out in a matter of weeks and second 5000 alsos old out. Virgin Steele was sparking interest in record companies. The best offer from a record company came from an English label called Music For Nations and Virgin Steele signed with them 1982. VS started to support many great bands like Manowar and Mötorhead.

Beginning 1983 VS released their second album, Guardians of the Flame. Two ep's titled; "A Cry in the Night" in Eurpoe and "Wait for the Night" in U.S.A. That year proove a great success to Virgin Steele. Anyway, there was tension between guys and in 1984 Jack began to record his solo album. One of that solo album's backing vocalist was David. Meanwhile David and Joey started jamming with David's friend, Edward Pursino. Sooner or later they thought that it' best that Jack continue his solo career. They asked Edward to join the band.

Armed with new blood Virgin Steele began to record Noble Savage album in 1985, completed in about seven weeks. It released in 1986 and it proved to be a milestone to Virgin Steele's career. 1986 was a busy year to VS. Noble Savage got excellent reviews, sold more than any of their other efforts, so VS began touring in U.S.A. and Canada quite regularly. VS also had a new label, SPV, and new manager.

1987 Virgin Steele did two European tours with Manowar and one with Black Sabbath. At this point Virgin Steele has released their album in almost every country of the world. In the late 1987 Virgin Steele began to record Age of Consent. Unfortunately their manager had made a huge mess of their career, so Virgin Steele didn't record another album until 1992.

Life Among th Ruins was released in March 1993 and at same year's summer Virgin Steele completed a headlining tour in Europe. 1994 David had lot of energy and creativity and had an idea to do a double album. The concept of "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell pt. 1 and 2" was born. David wrote about 30 songs of his own and Edward and David wrote another 25-30 songs together. Recording session began as a trio, David, Edward and Joey, Rob had been asked to join R. Blackmore's Rainbow and it was easier to work as a three piece than find a new bass player. Edward played almost all songs bass except "Warrior's Lament" which bass played David. Virgin Steele planned a tour with Uriah Heep, but Bernie Shaw had injured himself so the tour re-scheduled to September. Virgin Steele played one headlining show in Hamburg at the Grosse Freihieit. After that Joe Ayvazian decided to retire and Frank Gilchriest stepped behind Virgin Steele's drums. Frank appears on three track on part two, Rob was unavailable at the time of recording. Once again Edward played bass guitar and David played keyboards. Final chapter in this trilogy is Invictus and it charted at number 47 on the German long play list.

Virgin Steele is enjoying success and h igh critical acclaim for their release of first true-metal opera, "The House of Aterus acts 1 and 2". It has also been translated to the theatrical stage. "Atreus" albums reaches number 24 on the Greek long play list, isn't it wonderfull?!?

January through March 2001 Virgin Steele was touring around the world and when David finally came home he started to prepair Die Rebellen, a metal opera based on Marriage-albums and Invictus.

January 2002 Virgin Steele released two albums, "The Book of Burning" and "Hymns to Victory". "Thr Book of Burning" features 8 new/unreleased songs and other songs from year '97. David re-wrote them all during the summer 2001, and recorded them then as well. "Hymns to Victory" contains classic tracks from "Noble Savage" to present's day selection. And it includes also two bonus tracks.

2003 Virgin Steele re-released their first two albums. Both allbums have been re-mastered and both contain special bonus tracks, liner notes and artwork.

Virgin Steele's future seems to be busy: VS will have two or trhee visits to Europe for several festival shows. VS will record/film those concerts to their DVD/video project. And what's the best, Virgin Steele will release a new studio album!