Fiona

b. Fiona Flanagan, New Jersey, USA. Fiona had always harboured ambitions to be a star since her teenage years singing in clubs with various rock bands in New York. Eventually she took the first steps towards achieving that dream by signing a contract with Atlantic Records in 1985, they put her in the studio with Bobby Messano (guitar; ex-Starz), along with session men Donnie Kisselbach (bass), Joey Franco (drums; ex-Good Rats, Twisted Sister) and Benji King (keyboards). After a false start with production problems, former Good Rats vocalist Peppi Marchello took over. The resulting self-titled album received good press and predictable comparisons to Heart and Pat Benatar ensued. The second album displayed a more mature sound thanks to producer Beau Hill (her boyfriend at the time) and guest appearances from Nile Rodgers, and Kip Winger and Reb Beach from the Alice Cooper band (at the time forming their own unit, Winger). The album featured a poignant cover version of ‘Thunder And Lightning’ by German singer Chi Coltrane, which, if released as a single, might have provided a much needed hit. She did, however, come to the attention of producer Richard Marquand who cast her in his 1987 movie Hearts Of Fire, in which she sang alongside Bob Dylan and actor Rupert Everett. Her last album for Atlantic was greeted with a measure of indifference and her career has remained on hold ever since, despite winning a new contract from Geffen Records.