Blasting out of the rubble of 1980s glam and hard rock, this rock group originally formed as Red Alert in 1990, but quickly reorganized as Steelheart. Although the early days saw immediate lineup changes, vocalist Michael Matijevic, guitarist and bassist Frank DiCostanzo, bassist and pianist James Ward, and drummer John Fowler would become the band's core for its first couple of years.

As Steelheart, they released their self-titled debut in 1990, featuring single "I'll Never Let You Go (Angel Eyes)," which reached No. 23 on Billboard's U.S. Hot 100 and No. 24 on U.S. Mainstream Rock. The band's second album, ‘Tangled in Reins,' came out two years later and contained hit single "Mama Don't You Cry," which reached No. 1 in Hong Kong and Japan, spurring the band to tour Asia. ‘Tangled in Reins' also charted in the U.S., reaching No. 144 on the Billboard 200. Later that year, the band played a Halloween show in Denver where singer Matijevic was hit in the head by a lighting truss, giving him multiple injuries and sidelining the band temporarily.

Five years later, the band started again with a new lineup — Matijevic was the only original member. The new group released ‘Wait,' which some fans considered more of a Matijevic solo album. Either way, single "We All Die Young" was covered by fictional rock band Steel Dragon in the 2001 Mark Wahlberg film ‘Rock Star.' In the film, Matijevic sang lead vocals for Wahlberg's character. In 2008, Steelheart released ‘Good 2B Alive,' their first full album in more than a decade. For that album's tour, the band was re-joined by original member Chris Risola.