Ruffians

San Francisco's Ruffians combine the earworm riffs and melodies of traditional hard rock with the raw power of heavy metal. They courted mainstream success in 1985 with the release of their internationally charting debut EP, which led to supporting slots for high-profile artists like UFO, Alice Cooper, Saxon, Y&T, and Slayer. Ruffians disbanded in 1988 but reunited in 2004 for a festival appearance and eventually headed back into the studio, releasing the full-length Desert of Tears in 2006.