Youngblood

Youngblood is an American street rock and Oi group formed in Southern California in the late 1980s. The band is active from 1988 to the present. Its line-up includes Bobby Sisk on lead vocals, Jeff Diehl on guitars and vocals, Eric Saylors on guitars and vocals, Danny Williams on keyboards and vocals, Kyle Koker on bass and vocals, and Kevin Kale on drums. Earlier accounts also describe the project as being built around Jeff Diehl, Danny Williams and Bobby Sisk, with Eric Cruise appearing in an earlier live line-up.

Early history

The band forms around the late-1980s collaboration of Bobby Sisk, Jeff Diehl and Danny Williams. Diehl and Williams both play in their high school band, Departure, and later continue into other music and recording work before Youngblood takes shape. After working on early material and a five-song demo, the group attracts attention from Geffen Records and later begins assembling a full live line-up. Kevin Kale joins after the band watches him perform in Bloomington, Indiana, and the group completes rehearsals before playing its first shows.

Recordings and releases

Youngblood’s first LP, Final War, appears in 1988 on Rock-O-Rama Records. After a long hiatus, the band returns with What We Fight For in 2005 on Old Guard Records, a release described as faster and more punk-influenced than its earlier work. In 2010 the band releases Old School Pride on Rebel Records, moving back toward a more mid-paced street rock and oi style. The same year it issues 21 Years: Heritage and Honor on Blood Sacrifice Productions, a collection of remastered versions of the first two albums with four bonus tracks recorded in 2009. Also in 2010, the band puts out the Patriotic Force EP on Strong Survive Records, which combines five new studio tracks with three acoustic versions of older songs.

Live activity and circulation

Following its reformation, Youngblood plays concerts across the United States and Europe. In its early touring period it performs in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Iowa, Missouri and Canada, and appears in venues ranging from clubs to arenas and stadiums. The band also receives radio play during its active period in the Midwest.

Related work and later activity

After Bobby Sisk leaves to pursue Broadway work, Jeff Diehl and Danny Williams continue recording and form a new band called Brickyard with the remaining Youngblood members. The musicians also continue studio work in Carmel, Indiana, and are credited with writing material for radio syndication, as well as songs for the White House, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Indianapolis Colts. They also record with Gene Simmons of KISS in their studio, and work with producer Eddie Kramer.