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Steelheart is the main antagonist in the first book of the Reckoners trilogy. He is a High Epic, which is an epic that cannot be killed using regular means. He took over the city of Chicago and renamed it Newcago, turning the whole city into steel, including part of Lake Michigan, where he then constructed his palace.
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In 2018, they issued documentary evidence from Europe with the album Rock'n Milan.I've killed a lot of fathers. As a tribute, one of his previously taped solos was added to the album track "My Dirty Girl." The band toured the globe in support. As a new version of Steelheart with guitarist Joe Pessia completed sessions for its fifth full-length outing, Through Worlds of Stardust, they received news that former guitarist Kanowski had passed away. After touring incessantly for a couple of years, Steelheart went on hiatus again before re-emerging at the three-day Rockingham festival in 2016 with Marten Andersson from Lynch Mob and Lizzy Borden on bass. Good 2B Alive arrived in 2008, offering a different musical direction and was subsequently with mixed reviews.
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The album featured the single "We All Die Young," penned by guitarist Kenny Kanowski, that was used in the 2001 musical comedy-drama Rock Star, with Matijevic providing the singing voice for Mark Wahlberg's character in the film. In 1996 Matijevic put together an all new lineup of the group and released the LP Wait. The country's musical climate changed dramatically during Matijevic's recovery, resulting in the band going on an indefinite hiatus. But tragedy was lurking just around the corner - at a Halloween show opening for Slaughter at McNichol's Arena in Denver, Colorado, Matijevic was struck in the head by a lighting truss, knocking him to the ground face first and injuring his skull, jaw, nose, and spine. The band quickly began work on its sophomore effort, Tangled in Reins, which was released a year later. In 1991, Steelheart released their self-titled debut, most notable for its octave-spanning vocals and a pair of hit power ballads: "Never Let You Go," which reached number 14 on the Billboard singles chart, and "She's Gone," which fared well internationally, spending 17 weeks at the top of the singles list. After years of hard work, the bandmates headed west to Los Angeles, signed with MCA Records, and changed their name to Steelheart. Originally called Red Alert, the quartet (which included Matijevic, guitarist Chris Risola, bassist James Ward, and drummer Frank Dicostanzo) spent most of the '80s playing the tri-state area and honing their guitar-centric, crowd-pleasing energetic sound.
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A re-formed Steelheart with Matijevic as the only original member continues to record and tour into the 21st century. They scored another big hit in Asia with 1992's "Mama Don't You Cry." After a lengthy absence due to a life-threatening injury, to Matijevic required long-term recovery just as the music scene was waning. Interestingly, it is regarded as one of the last power ballads to nail a top spot on the charts before the grunge and alternative rock invasions pulled the pop culture plug on hair metal completely. Their self-titled 1991 debut album boasted the single "She's Gone," that hit number one on the international singles charts and remained there for a whopping 17 weeks. Their sound is rooted in anthemic rockers - often with chant-along choruses - soaring power ballads, fat, compressed guitar riffs à la Led Zeppelin and Guns N' Roses, and the lead vocals of Michael Matijevic, possessed of an effortlessly delivered, emotively powerful four-octave range. Norwalk, Connecticut's Steelheart is among the last surviving hair metal bands to emerge from the MTV era in the late 20th century.
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