Seann Nicols

Seann Nicols
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Nationality	American
Occupation	Rock Singer Songwriter Music Producer

Seann Nicols is an American rock singer, songwriter, and music producer known for his work with a number of prominent rock and metal bands. Over the years, he has contributed to the music scene through his collaborations with bands such as Quiet Riot, Adler's Appetite, Icon, and Bobby Blotzer's Ratt.

Nicols has also gained recognition as the lead vocalist for the American metal band, Westfield Massacre. His vocal performances have been instrumental in the band's achievements, including the release of their successful album, "Salvation". In addition to his work as a performer, Nicols has engaged in behind-the-scenes roles as an engineer and producer. His contributions to the field of rock and metal music, both onstage and off, have helped him carve out a distinctive place in the music industry.

Adler's Appetite (2005-2009)

In 2005, Seann Nicols (then known as Sheldon Tarsha) gained international recognition when he replaced Jizzy Pearl as the lead vocalist for Adler's Appetite, a band formed by ex-Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler. With plans to release an original album in 2006, Nicols performed in the US, South America, and Europe, performing the 'Appetite for Destruction' album with the band. In 2006, their European Tour was abruptly derailed when Adler reportedly fired the band in Germany. Adler later issued a public apology to Nicols and the rest of the band for his actions. In 2009, Nicols returned to Adler’s Appetite for a 20-date US tour.

In April 2009, Nicols parted ways with Adler's Appetite. Despite his departure, he conveyed well-wishes for the continued success of the band and its members. His time with Adler's Appetite was marked by numerous performances, including a notable rendition of the Guns N' Roses classic "Rocket Queen" in Seymour, Tennessee, in March 2009.

Tarsha (2007-2010)

Tarsha, the band fronted by Seann Nicols (then known as Sheldon Tarsha), garnered significant attention in 2010. On January 16 of that year, it was reported that the band was set to support Canadian metal legends, Anvil, in a concert at the House of Blues in Anaheim, California on February 4. This collaboration was a continuation of the relationship built when Nicols performed for ICON at Rocklahoma the previous year, sharing a memorable ride with Anvil's members.

The band also had another notable performance lined up that year, opening for Steel Panther at the House of Blues in West Hollywood, California on February 22. These engagements came after a national tour where Nicols served as the vocalist for Adler's Appetite.

2010 also saw Tarsha independently releasing "The Singles EP," inclusive of a music video for the track "Second Life". This followed the 2007 success of the band's first full-length album, "Prophecies." Released independently, "Prophecies" achieved widespread online recognition, becoming a hit on Internet radio worldwide. It secured the No. 2 spot and retained a position on the Internet Live 365 Rock Top 30 chart for an impressive 77 weeks.

Icon (2009-2010)

In 2009, Nicols (then known as Tarsha) was recruited to sing for the Phoenix-based rock band ICON. He made his debut with the group at Rocklahoma on July 11th, 2009. Nicols performed his last show with ICON on May 20th, 2010, opening for QUEENSRŸCHE at the Orpheum Theater in Phoenix, Arizona.

Name Change (2011)

On April 29, 2011, Seann Nicols announced his official name change from Sheldon Tarsha. The singer, known for his work with Adler's Appetite and ICON, stated that the reasons for the change were both personal and professional. He expressed a desire to attract new energy into his life, viewing the name change as a reflection of this intention. At that time, he also confirmed that his band name, Tarsha, would remain unchanged. Nicols expressed appreciation for the understanding and support from his fans and looked forward to the positive changes associated with his new moniker.

Studio Vocal Work (2008-2012)

Seann Nicols has contributed vocals to numerous studio projects. He performed lead vocals on the original song "Uncle Sam" from the Liberty N' Justice album "Light It Up", released on Retroactive Records on January 19th, 2010, which also featured bassist Jeff Pilson of Dokken/Foreigner.

Nicols appeared on the following subsequent releases by Liberty N’ Justice:

• "Hell Is Coming To Breakfast" (April 24, 2012), alongside JK Northrup (King Kobra, XYZ), released by Roxx Records.

• "The Cigar Chronicles" (February 26, 2013), where he performed "Ice Ice Baby" with Eddie Ojeda (Twisted Sister), originally recorded by Vanilla Ice, released by Roxx Records.

Additional studio projects featuring Nicols’ vocals include:

• "Kiss My Ankh: A Tribute to Vinnie Vincent" (August 27, 2008), where he performed “That Time of Year” with guitarist Ryan Roxie (Alice Cooper), bassist Marko Pukkila (Altaria), and drummer Troy Patrick Farrell (White Lion).

• Steelshine - Album (November 2011 - December 2012), alongside Dave Henzerling (Guitar/Bass) and John Covington (Drums).

Quiet Riot (2016-2017)

In October 2016, Seann Nicols joined the renowned rock band, Quiet Riot, stepping into the role of lead vocalist. Nicols immediately engaged with the band in the studio, working on new material for an anticipated 2017 album release on Frontiers Music SRL. Nicols replaced the band's previous vocalist, Jizzy Pearl, who chose to concentrate on his solo career. The band lineup included longtime members Frankie Banali, Chuck Wright, and Alex Grossi alongside Nicols.

Quiet Riot: Tensions and Departure

Seann Nicols' time as the lead singer of Quiet Riot was marked by significant creative and personal conflicts, particularly with bandmate Frankie Banali. Nicols' tenure with the band lasted only a few months, during which time he recorded vocals for an early version of the album, "Road Rage". However, his contributions were later replaced when the band chose to re-record the album with its seventh lead singer, James Durbin.

The rift between Nicols and the band began when Nicols sought compensation for his work on the album. This request was met with opposition from Banali, who involved lawyers and began excluding Nicols from various situations within the band. According to Nicols, Banali's behavior from their first rehearsal and throughout their five shows together was unprofessional and challenging, creating a hostile working environment.

Despite these tensions, Quiet Riot initially intended to release "Road Rage" with Nicols' vocals. This decision was later reversed and the band decided to erase all traces of Nicols' voice from the album. Nicols asserts this decision was an injustice, as it attempted to deny him royalties and writing credits he believed he was legally entitled to. He was compelled to engage legal representation to protect his rights.

Banali justified the decision to release "Road Rage" without Nicols' vocals by saying that the music was written without Nicols' involvement, and they had changed all the lyrics and vocal melodies when re-recording with James Durbin. According to Banali, they took steps to ensure Durbin was not influenced by Nicols' earlier version of the songs. Despite this explanation, the end of Nicols' involvement with Quiet Riot was marked by controversy and disagreement.

'Road Rage’ Single

After his departure from Quiet Riot, and upon learning that the band was replacing his vocals on their record, Seann Nicols released a solo single, "Road Rage". Initially intended to be part of Quiet Riot's album with the same name, Nicols reworked and re-recorded the track, infusing it with fresh instrumentation and a lively new production. Despite disagreements with drummer Frankie Banali, Nicols remained determined to share his vision of "Road Rage" with his fans.

Following the release of his reimagined single "Road Rage", Nicols became embroiled in a copyright dispute with Quiet Riot drummer Frankie Banali and ex-Quiet Riot guitarist Neil Citron. Nicols' assertive response, however, led to a swift legal victory, securing his rights over his original work. The dispute culminated in Nicols retaining copyright ownership of the songs he wrote for the "Road Rage" album. This result came after Nicols and his legal team rigorously responded to false DMCA copyright takedown notices issued by Banali and Citron on platforms including iTunes, YouTube, and Tunecore. Following the dispute's resolution, Nicols' version of "Road Rage" was reinstated on YouTube, marking a significant victory in his efforts to independently release his work.

Bobby Blotzer's Ratt (2017)

On March 7 2017, soon after his departure from Quiet Riot, Seann Nicols was announced as the new frontman for Bobby Blotzer's Ratt. Nicols replaced Joshua Alan, who left the band in mid-February of the same year.

Blotzer shared the news on Ratt's Facebook page, where he detailed how he had learned of Nicols through a friend who had praised the vocalist's abilities. Nicols had even sent Blotzer versions of Ratt songs with his own voice replacing that of Stephen Pearcy, the original lead singer of Ratt, which greatly impressed the drummer.

Despite some ongoing band turmoil, Blotzer remained positive about the band's future with Nicols, teasing fans with a sample of Nicols' cover of Ratt's song, "Lovin' You's a Dirty Job".

Three days later, on March 10 2017, Bobby Blotzer again confirmed that Seann Nicols, former vocalist for Quiet Riot and Adler's Appetite, would be the new frontman for his iteration of Ratt. A recording of Nicols singing the Ratt song "Shame Shame Shame", originally from the band's 1990 album "Detonator", was released at this time.

According to Blotzer, Nicols had initially been suggested as a potential frontman for the band during their 2016 tour, following the departure of a few band members. While Blotzer was impressed by Nicols' vocal performance on Ratt songs, he decided to stick with their then-singer, who reassured him of his commitment to the band. However, when their vocalist later left, Nicols was approached to fill the position.

At the same time, Blotzer was dealing with some health issues, needing to undergo lumbar spine surgery, as well as some legal disputes over the rights to the Ratt name. Nevertheless, he was optimistic about the future of the band and planned to resume touring with Ratt, featuring Nicols as the lead singer, by late June.

Debut Performance with Bobby Blotzer's Ratt

On March 18, 2017, Seann Nicols made his live debut as the new frontman for Bobby Blotzer's version of Ratt. The performance took place at the Prairie Knights Casino & Resort in Fort Yates, North Dakota, and the band was able to sell out the venue, attracting an audience of 3,000 attendees.

Joining Nicols and Blotzer in this iteration of Ratt were guitarists Mitch Perry (formerly of Talas, Heaven, Steeler, MSG, Lita Ford) and Stacey Blades (ex-L.A. Guns), along with bassist Brad Lang (ex-Y&T). This performance marked the first public appearance of the band since Joshua Alan, the former vocalist, left in January to focus on his own music.

The performance was not without its share of controversy. Blotzer, the only member from Ratt's 1980s lineup, had been involved in a legal dispute with the other original members of Ratt over the rights to use the band's name. Despite these disputes and his own impending lumbar spine surgery, Blotzer remained committed to touring with his version of Ratt and reaffirmed to fans that his corporation, WBS Inc., still owned the rights to the Ratt name.

Despite the ongoing litigation, Blotzer expressed confidence in the band's future, promising to "mop up [the] litigation" and return to the road "with Ratt around late June."

Experience with Bobby Blotzer's Ratt

Following his single performance with Bobby Blotzer's Ratt, Nicols spoke with "The Classic Metal Show" about his experience. He viewed the performance as an opportunity to perform songs he loved with great musicians and found it professionally fulfilling. However, he had reservations about Blotzer’s personal conduct.

Nicols quickly noticed several red flags and spoke candidly about his relationship with Blotzer, stating that while he was treated well financially, their personal relationship was fraught with issues. He acknowledged Blotzer's involvement in a legal dispute over the rights to the Ratt name, but claimed that Blotzer had assured him that he was the legitimate owner of the band's trademark.

Despite his criticisms, Nicols expressed respect for Blotzer's contributions to music history and held no negative feelings towards him. He reiterated that while Blotzer had been a significant part of the music that he and others loved, their working relationship was not beneficial for him personally.

Westfield Massacre (2017-2018)

Seann Nicols joined Westfield Massacre as the new lead vocalist in June 2017. He took the place of the band's former singer, Tommy Vext, who left the band to join Bad Wolves. Nicols' tenure with the band began with the "North American Meltdown" tour in early July 2017.

Westfield Massacre's 'Salvation' Album

Ahead of the album's full release, the band's single, "Famine", was released with an official music video directed by Ron Underwood. The single debuted at No. 86 on the iTunes Metal chart and garnered over 130,000 views on YouTube within three weeks of its release.

In September 2018, Westfield Massacre, with Seann Nicols as the lead vocalist, continued to build momentum towards their forthcoming album, "Salvation", with the release of two more singles, "Love to Hate" and "Your Salvation". Each song was launched with its unique visual presentation. "Love to Hate" was complemented by an official lyric video, created by designer Ciao Macbeserra. Meanwhile, "Your Salvation" was released alongside a full-feature music video, directed by Ron Underwood. The latter profoundly conveyed the band's personal experiences and the pain of losing friends and family members to drug and opioid addiction.

The album "Salvation" was officially released on October 26, 2018, through Nerve Strike Records. Those who pre-ordered the album on iTunes received instant access to the singles "Famine," "Love To Hate," "Your Salvation," and the bonus single "Taking The Fall," with the remaining songs becoming available upon the album's release.

In November 2018, Westfield Massacre released a music video for their track "Taking The Fall", a popular pick from their sophomore album "Salvation". The video combines animated graphics with behind-the-scenes live performance footage. Nicols expressed the band's love for all tracks on the album but acknowledged that fans had a particularly strong reaction to "Taking The Fall", which inspired the creation of the video.

Collaborations (2017-Present)

In 2017, Seann Nicols provided vocals for the track "Ghost In Silence" on Luis Kalil's EP "Boulevard".

In 2020, Seann Nicols collaborated with artist Cody Hyde on a single called "Hate is Blind" from Hyde's self-titled "Special Edition" album. Nicols provided lyrics and vocals, along with recording, mixing, and mastering at Nerve Strike Records. Hyde, who handled all guitar parts, also shared mixing responsibilities and produced the track.

Nerve Strike Records (2020-Present)

After earning his Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 2020 at University of LaVerne, Seann Nicols opened a full-service recording and production studio, Nerve Strike Records, in Anaheim, California. Utilizing cutting-edge techniques and state-of-the-art equipment, Nicols provides a range of professional services, including music production, songwriting, session work, and industry consultation.

In addition to these services, Nicols offers expert guidance to those navigating the complexities of the music industry. Passionate about the power of collaboration, he believes in its crucial role in the contemporary music production process. Through Nerve Strike Records, Nicols continues to be a dynamic force in the music industry, fostering creativity and pushing the boundaries of music production.

Production Work

Nicols produced the single "Falling Apart" for the band Worldwide Panic in 2022, which reached #20 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Indicator chart. He was also the primary songwriter for the track, providing lyrics and backing instrumentation. Seann's production work on the song helped the band gain recognition on the national rock music scene.

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