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1[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/white_wizzard.jpg]]
2%%[[caption-width-right:350:some caption text]]
3
4->''"You're gonna make it! You've got the fire!\
5Flames of your destiny, burning with desire!"''
6-->--"Over the Top"
7
8Music/WhiteWizzard is a Californian HeavyMetal band that, simply put, came 30 years too late for the party. And that's awesome.
9
10In 2007, Jon Leon set out to remind the people of the Earth what NuMetal and {{Metalcore}} genres seem to have forgotten: that heavy metal is about rocking out and having fun. Forming the original four-man lineup with himself on the bass guitar, Leon and Co. have released a [[SelfTitledAlbum self-titled]] and self-published EP in 2008. Soon thereafter, however, the band suffered creative disagreements incompatible with continued existence, so Leon fired everyone, who then [[StartMyOwn went to form]] Music/HolyGrail.
11
12Reforming with a five-man lineup (though the drummer Jesse Applehans soon had to leave, too), Music/WhiteWizzard signed in with the Earache Records label and re-released their EP under the title ''High Speed GTO'' in 2009, before recording their first studio album, ''Over The Top'' and going on tour in 2010. After finishing the tour, the guitarist Erik Kluiber and vocalist Wyatt Anderson left the band to pursue their own projects (or were simply fired). Michael Gremio (of Cellador fame) and Lewis Stephens replaced them for the upcoming Download Festival.
13
14In case you missed [[RevolvingDoorBand the pattern]], the vocalist changed again in September 2010, with Peter Ellis (previously involved with the band The More I See) replacing Gremio. Peter Ellis left the band in February 2011 because of organizational difficulties, with none other than Wyatt Anderson making a glorious comeback. Just a couple months later, Anderson left again, with Gremio returning as a stand-in singer on the on-going tour.
15
16The second studio album, ''Flying Tigers'', was released in September 2011. Recorded with just Leon ([[OneManBand playing all the guitars]]), Anderson (before he left), Durst and the band's producer Ralph Patlan participating, ''Flying Tigers'' turned out to be a semi-ConceptAlbum. Its first six tracks are unconnected songs but the second half (''Starman's Child'') follows an overarching plot written by Leon, which involves AncientAstronauts, {{Alien Invasion}}s, and humanity [[TurnedAgainstTheirMasters turning on its secret masters]], with the BackStory additionally [[AllThereInTheManual explained in the lyrics booklet]].
17
18In June 2013, the band released their third album, The Devil's Cut. It featured their fifth vocalist (Joseph Michael, who is a cousin of Ronnie James Dio) and their sixth and seventh guitarists (Will Wallner and Jake Dreyer). Joseph Michael was fired in early October under circumstances that are somewhat controversial: White Wizzard claims that Joseph was drinking in a pub opposite the venue and refused to perform, while Joseph claims that he challenged Jon Leon about issues relating to the way the band was being run (including alleging that Leon was stealing money owed for the other members of the band) and was fired, while also claiming that White Wizzard's album was only released because he had to sign a contract which effectively meant he could not receive credit for anything he wrote with the band. The two guitarists quit on 10th of October, less than a week after Joseph Michael did, as did drummer Giovanni Durst on the 11th of October, leaving Jon Leon the only remaining member of White Wizzard. Again.
19
20The current band lineup is:
21
22* Jon Leon (bass guitar, lyrics, composition)
23
24Former members include:
25
26* James-Paul Luna (vocals, the first lineup)
27* James J. [=LaRue=] (lead guitar, the first lineup)
28* Tyler Meahl (drums, the first lineup)
29* Jesse Applehans (drums, the proto-second lineup)
30* Wyatt Anderson a.k.a. Screaming Demon (vocals)
31* Erik Kluiber (lead guitar, the second lineup)
32* Chad Bryan (rhythm/harmony guitars)
33* Peter Ellis (vocals)
34* Lewis Stephens (lead guitar)
35* Giovanni Durst (drums)
36* Michael Gremio (vocals)
37
38Stylistically, the band follows the formulas of the traditional heavy metal legends like Music/JudasPriest, Music/IronMaiden, Music/BlueOysterCult, Music/{{Dio}}, etc., and doesn't take itself too seriously, marking a refreshing change from all the angsty screamo metal out there. If you are a metalhead, go buy their album.
39
40In case you are looking for their lyrics, see the band's [[http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=3540272492 Encyclopaedia Metallum]] page.
41----
42!!The band and their songs provide examples of following tropes:
43
44* AllYourPowersCombined: The band summons the White Wizzard by putting together the split parts of the W amulet in the music videos.
45* AncientAstronauts: ''Starman's Son'' explains that alien EnergyBeings are responsible for transforming primitive apes into the first humans.
46* TheBandMinusTheFace: Inverted. Leon stayed while the rest of the original lineup had to go.
47* BeamOWar: How the Witch and the White Wizzard duke it out in the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUh6-mtWrCQ "High Speed GTO" video]].
48* BreakingTheBonds: In the "High Speed GTO" video, James-Paul breaks his shackles after receiving a metal buff from his comrades.
49* ConceptAlbum: ''Flying Tigers'' is half-this.
50* CoolBike
51* CoolCar: The topic of "40 Deuces". Also featured in "Over the Top" video.
52* CoverVersion: The limited edition of ''Over the Top'' included covers of Cloven Hoof's "Gates of Gehenna" and Music/JudasPriest's "Heading Out To The Highway".
53* HeavyMeta: "Out of Control".
54* HellBentForLeather: The band's default outfits are ripe with leather.
55* AHellOfATime
56* HotBlooded: Most of their lyrics.
57* IAmTheBand: Leon.
58* LeadBassist: Jon Leon is equal parts Type B and Type C.
59* {{Mascot}}: The eponymous White Wizzard, a horned white-bearded CoolOldGuy from their album covers. Bonus points for having been originally designed by Derek Riggs, the creator of Music/IronMaiden's Eddie the Head.
60* MetalScream: "Heading Out To The Highway" opens with one. Well, duh, it's a cover of a Music/JudasPriest song...
61* NeverMyFault: Despite going through nearly as many band members in 5 years as notoriously ruthless veterans like [[Music/IcedEarth Jon Schaffer]] have in 5 times that long, Jon Leon tends to insist it has all been down to bad luck or the other guy being to blame.
62* TheNthDoctor: The band lineup changed so often (with Leon being the only permanent member), they can be considered an example.
63* NumberOfTheBeast: Referenced in "Strike of the Viper", among other Satanist messages.
64* ThePlague: The "virus" that killed the original alien masters of mankind in ''Starman's Child'' back-story.
65* ThePowerOfRock: The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfnIBnz2_zw "Over the Top" music video]] provides apt illustration of what it is all about.
66* PrimaDonnaDirector: Leon's extreme ControlFreak tendencies, willingness to burn bridges when someone isn't working out, and generally unpleasant demeanor have led to his gaining a reputation for being one of these.
67* RevolvingDoorBand: At the time of writing (October 2013), they have just lost their fifth vocalist, their sixth and seventh guitarists and their third drummer...and have only released three albums. For a band who have only been around since 2007, that is an impressive number of ex-members.
68* RockMeAsmodeus
69* RousingSpeech: "Over The Top".
70* SelfTitledAlbum: The first EP.
71* TheShowMustGoOn: The band suddenly found themselves between lead guitarists when the pre-booked studio time for ''Flying Tigers'' rolled around. Jon Leon performed all guitar parts on the album despite not being a great lead player, and it shows in the final product. The band also briefly tried to invoke this after Joseph Michael departed mid-tour, with Leon PushedInFrontOfTheAudience on vocals along with former singer Peter Ellis (who was performing in the support band) before they ended up imploding completely.
72* StartMyOwn: The members of the original lineup went on to form a similarly-themed band, Music/HolyGrail.
73* StylisticSuck: Their music videos.
74* TenMinuteRetirement: Kinda. Kluiber was fired from the band in January but came back two weeks later.
75* XtremeKoolLetterz: Two zeds in "Wizzard", just for the cool of it.

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