We are featuring in exclusive at here the upcoming reissue of ’80s American melodic hard rockers CHILDZPLAY two albums, fully remastered. Depite their name, CHILDZPLAY’s style was pretty hard rocking with a few space for sleaze.
CHILDZPLAY’s debut, 1985’s ”First Toy” sounds like mix between RATT and KEEL, a private release on vinyl but professionally recorded and very well produced with a sharp sound. In mid-2024, the master tapes from the “First Toy” album, once thought to be lost, were discovered – alongside CHILDZPLAY’s second album, never released.
Circa 1990 and with a new singer, CHILDZPLAY decided to change the band’s name to BIG CITY. BIG CITY would write and record an album titled “Make Your Mark” with engineer Tom Hall, known for his work with Queensryche and Heir Apparent. The project finished in late 1991 / early ’92. Due to various issues at the time, BIG CITY would never release this project, and late in 1992, would call it quits.
Since this material was never officially released, the band kept the name CHILDZPLAY and called the record “Big City” to be released now 2025 for the first time. Musically, “Big City” is much more melodious than the previous album – this is late ’80s American melodic hard rock similar to DANGER DANGER, BLUE TEARS, etc, but still with some edge.
CHILDZPLAY was formed in 1983 by guitarist Mitch Hoitt in Boise, Idaho. Hoitt was introduced to bassist Ray Vancouver through a mutual friend. Hoitt then recruited schoolmates, drummer Troy Nickell and singer Curt Caldwell. Soon after, second guitarist Jefferey Fultz would join, completing the original line-up.
In 1984 / 85, CHILDZPLAY met the band’s would-be producer and lifelong friend, Kevin Mitchell. Kevin would take CHILDZPLAY into The Music Source studio in Seattle, Washington, to record the songs of this first album.
That same year, ‘First Toy’ was released under the band’s imprint, Playmate Records. The band would press only 500 copies of the record, vinyl LP.
Upon release, ‘First Toy’ quickly received consistent local radio support. Band members would also do numerous radio interviews while traveling for shows in and around Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
Hoitt and Caldwell left the band within the next three years to pursue other opportunities. Now needing a replacement vocalist, the band looked towards a singer named Michael Bell. The band would ask Bell to audition for CHILDZPLAY, which he did, leading to him becoming the group’s new frontman.
In 1988, CHILDZPLAY boldly decided to uproot and head for Hollywood. CHILDZPLAY would spend numerous nights hanging out on the Hollywood Strip, checking out the hundreds of other bands chasing that elusive record deal. Like their peers littering the scene, CHILDZPLAY played Gazzarri’s on the Strip, The Waters Club in Sand Pedro, and other SoCal clubs as they chased that rock’ n’ roll dream.
When the summer of 1989 rolled around, and to everyone’s surprise, so did a new sound coming out of Seattle.
The band played around the Seattle area as CHILDZPLAY for a year or two, then decided to change the band’s name to BIG CITY.
BIG CITY would write and record a 13-song album titled “Make Your Mark” at Triad Studios with engineer Tom Hall, known for his work with Queensryche and Heir Apparent. The project finished in late 1991 / early ’92. Due to various issues at the time, BIG CITY would never release this project, and late in 1992, would call it quits.
Since this material was never officially released, the band kept the name CHILDZPLAY and called the record “Big City” to be released now 2025 for the first time.
CHILDZPLAY’s “Big City” is a very good collection of melodic hard rock tunes with that late ’80s / early ’90s magic, a band with talent to write a fine hook.
HIGHLY Recommended
01 – Gimme Love
02 – Candy
03 – Elaine
04 – Make Your Mark
05 – Little Mover
06 – Cryin’
07 – Freedom
08 – Put Your Love Away
09 – No Matter What [CD-only Bonus Track]
Mike Bell – Lead Vocals
Jeffery Fultz – Lead Guitar
Troy Nickell – Drums / Vocals
Ray VanCour – Bass
James Lancaster – Lead Guitar / Vocals
CHILDZPLAY – Big City [Heaven and Hell Records remaster / previously unreleased] (2025)
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