Flying Tigers

Flying Tigers

Flying Tigers are a rock group from San Francisco, formed by singer and guitarist Ryan Martin and drummer Gary Benson after both had played in the alternative band Frankie Machine. Former Powerman 5000 bassist Dorian Heartsong later joins the lineup, completing the trio.

The band plays a form of rock that combines modern sounds with classic-rock attitude, with emphasis on strong melodies, direct songwriting and raw energy. Martin’s vocals are a defining feature of the group’s sound, and Benson describes the music as simple, melodic rock.

Recording and release

The group records for Atlantic Records, with a self-titled debut album produced with Brendan O’Brien. O’Brien, known for work with Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl Jam and Rage Against the Machine, hears early demos and later works with the band in Atlanta after first spending time watching them rehearse in Los Angeles.

Among the tracks identified from the debut are “Maybe,” the first single, as well as “What’s Become Of Me,” “Detonate” and “Drive.” The songs are presented as straightforward personal writing, drawing on the singer’s own experiences and observations of people around him.

Activity and background

Before recording the album, Flying Tigers spend a summer on the road supporting The Cult. The group forms after Martin and Benson want to move away from what they see as stale elements of their previous work and focus on emotionally direct original rock music. Heartsong joins after leaving Powerman 5000 in search of fresh music, and the band’s lineup is then fixed.