Phantom Blue was an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, formed in 1987. Phantom Blue were the first and only female artists to be signed to Mike Varney's Shrapnel Records, only three months after forming.

History

Formation and main career (1988–2001)

Phantom Blue was formed in 1988 in Los Angeles by Michelle Meldrum and Nicole Couch. Couch and Meldrum were students of Paul Gilbert and Bruce Bouillet of Racer X. Michelle Meldrum had played with drummer Linda McDonald in previous projects and together with vocalist Gigi Hangach and original bassist, Debra Armstrong. Armstrong left the band in June 1988, prior to the band signing with Shrapnel Records, in October 1988, and was replaced by Kim Nielsen, a student of John Alderete, bassist for Racer X and The Mars Volta. Couch and Meldrum also co-wrote a track on the album with Marty Friedman. currently lives in Sioux City, Iowa with her husband. She left the music industry soon after being replaced by Kim Nielsen in 1988, and went on to pursue a career in 3D modeling and engineering, working for clients such as Disney Imagineering, DARPA and others.

Guitarist Michelle Meldrum went on to form an international band called Meldrum. The band has toured with Zakk Wylde's Black Label Society, Motörhead, Sepultura, Nashville Pussy and Danzig. They have released a live DVD, Loaded Live, and two albums, Loaded Mental Cannon and Blowin' Up the Machine, the latter featuring her former Phantom Blue bandmate, drummer Linda McDonald. On May 21, 2008, Meldrum died as a result of a cerebral hemorrhage. She left behind her husband John Norum (of Europe) and their son Jake.

Discography

Studio albums

  • Phantom Blue (1989)
  • Built to Perform (1993)

EP

  • Full Blown (EP) (1998)

Live album

  • Caught Live (1997)

Compilation album

  • Prime Cuts & Glazed Donuts (1995)

Singles

  • "Why Call It Love?" (1989)
  • "Time to Run" (1993)
  • "My Misery" (1994)

Members

{| class="toccolours" border=1 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 style="float: lleft; width: 420px; margin: 0 0 1em 1em; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid #E2E2E2;"

|+ <big>Phantom Blue lineups</big>

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! style="background:#e7ebee;"| Pre-Shrapnel Era <br /> (Early 1988)

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  • Gigi Hangach – lead vocals
  • Michelle Meldrum – guitar
  • Nicole Couch – guitar
  • Debra Armstrong – bass
  • Linda McDonald – drums

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! style="background:#e7ebee;"| Shrapnel/Roadrunner Era <br /> (Late 1988–1993)

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  • Gigi Hangach – lead vocals
  • Michelle Meldrum – guitar
  • Nicole Couch – guitar
  • Kim Nielsen – bass
  • Linda McDonald – drums

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! style="background:#e7ebee;"| Geffen Era <br /> (1993–1994)

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  • Gigi Hangach – lead vocals
  • Michelle Meldrum – guitar
  • Nicole Couch – guitar
  • Karen Kreutzer – guitar
  • Kim Nielsen – bass
  • Linda McDonald – drums

|-

! style="background:#e7ebee;"| (1994–1996)

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  • Gigi Hangach – lead vocals
  • Michelle Meldrum – guitar
  • Karen Kreutzer – guitar
  • Rana Ross – bass
  • Linda McDonald – drums

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! style="background:#e7ebee;"| Reunion <br /> (2009)

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  • Gigi Hangach – lead vocals
  • Tina Wood – guitar
  • Sara Marsh – guitar
  • Courtney Cox – guitar
  • Kim Nielsen – bass
  • Linda McDonald – drums

|}

References

  • Official website (archived)
  • 1992 Kim Nielsen Interview
  • 2010 Gigi Hangach Interview
  • Phantom Blue on Facebook
  • Phantom Blue at Metal Queens