Znowhite

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title: "Znowhite" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["american-speed-metal-musical-groups", "american-thrash-metal-musical-groups", "musical-groups-established-in-1982", "musical-groups-from-chicago", "heavy-metal-musical-groups-from-illinois", "1982-establishments-in-illinois"] description: "American thrash/speed metal band" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Znowhite" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American thrash/speed metal band ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox musical artist"]

Field	Value
name	Znöwhite
image	Znowhite (band).jpg
image_upright	1.2
alias	Snowhite, ZnöWhite
origin	Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
genre	Thrash metal, speed metal
years_active	1982–1989
label	Enigma, Roadrunner, Metal Mind
spinoffs	Cyclone Temple
past_members	Ian Tafoya
Sparks Tafoya
Nicole Lee
Nicky Tafoya
Alex Olvera
Scott Schafer
Debbie Gunn
John Slattery
module	{{Infobox
child	yes
data2	[[File:Znöwhite logo.jpg
::

| name = Znöwhite | image = Znowhite (band).jpg | caption = | image_upright = 1.2 | alias = Snowhite, ZnöWhite | origin = Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | genre = Thrash metal, speed metal | years_active = 1982–1989 | label = Enigma, Roadrunner, Metal Mind | spinoffs = Cyclone Temple | past_members = Ian Tafoya Sparks Tafoya Nicole Lee Nicky Tafoya Alex Olvera Scott Schafer Debbie Gunn John Slattery | module = {{Infobox | child = yes | data2 = [[File:Znöwhite logo.jpg|200px]] Znowhite (or Znöwhite) was an American thrash/speed metal band that has been credited for helping to pioneer thrash metal in Chicago.

History

Formation

In 1982, the heavy metal band Znowhite was founded by two African American brothers, guitarist Ian Tafoya and drummer Sparks Tafoya (real names Greg Fulton and Tony Heath), along with cousin Nicky Tafoya (real name Curtis Fulton) on bass. Nicole Lee (real name Sue Sharp) joined the group soon after as lead vocalist. The band originally performed under the title Snowhite, but later replaced the S with a Z. They independently released their three-song flexi disc which featured the song "Hellbent". This caught the attention of Metal Blade Records founder Brian Slagel. On the strength of the recording Znowhite landed a spot on volume three of the Metal Massacre compilation, which helped give them some exposure.

Lineup changes and disbandment

After Znowhite's initial success, Nicole, Ian, and Sparks decided to replace then bassist Amp Dawg. In 1985, Scott Schafer joined Znowhite taking over the bass duties. Four years of touring in America and Canada produced the independently released live album Live Suicide. Back in their hometown of Chicago the band started work on what would be the last Znowhite release, Act of God. Toward the end of the recording sessions Nicole Lee made the decision to leave Znowhite. Act of God was released in 1988 through Roadrunner Records. An extensive American tour followed the album's release and featured Sentinel Beast vocalist Debbie Gunn (real name Debbie Gunderson) and drummer John Slattery - formerly of the band Tools Of Ignorance. Gunn left after the tours, while Fulton, Schafer, and Slattery went on to form Cyclone Temple. When Cyclone Temple disbanded Fulton, Schafer, and Fulton's brother, former Znowhite drummer Tony Heath, formed a new group named Rebels Without Applause. Gunn went on to sing for the group Ice Age and, later, to reform Sentinel Beast.

Band members

Last known lineup

• Greg Fulton (aka "Ian Tafoya") – guitars (1982–1989)
• Scott Schafer – bass (1985–1989), drums (1987–1988)
• John Slattery – drums (1988–1989)
• Brian Troch – vocals (1989) Former members
• Curtis Fulton (aka "Nicky Tafoya") – bass (1982–1983)
• Tony Heath (aka "Sparks Tafoya") – drums (1982–1986)
• Sue Sharp (aka "Nicole Lee") – vocals (1982–1988)
• Amp Dawg – bass (1984)
• Alex Olvera – bass (1987)
• Debbie Gunderson (aka "Debbie Gunn") – vocals (1988–1989)

Timeline

ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:20 PlotArea = left:190 bottom:80 top:15 right:20 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1982 till:12/31/1989 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:3 ScaleMajor = increment:1 start:1985 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1989

Colors = id:vocals value:red legend:Vocals id:guitar value:green legend:Guitars id:bass value:blue legend:Bass id:drums value:orange legend:Drums,_percussion id:studio value:black legend:Studio_album id:bars value:gray(0.95)

BackgroundColors = bars:bars

LineData = layer:back color:studio at:01/31/1984 at:01/31/1985 at:01/31/1988

BarData = bar:Lee text:Sue Sharp (aka "Nicole Lee") bar:Gunn text:Debbie Gunderson (aka "Debbie Gunn") bar:Troch text:"Brian Troch" bar:Ian text:Greg Fulton (aka "Ian Tafoya") bar:Nickie text:Curtis Fulton (aka "Nicky Tafoya") bar:Dawg text:"Amp Dawg" bar:Schafer text:"Scott Schafer" bar:Olvera text:"Alex Olvera" bar:Sparks text:Tony Heath (aka "Sparks Tafoya") bar:Slattery text:"John Slattery"

PlotData= width:11 bar:Lee from:01/01/1982 till:03/15/1988 color:vocals bar:Gunn from:03/16/1988 till:03/01/1989 color:vocals bar:Troch from:03/01/1989 till:end color:vocals bar:Ian from:01/01/1982 till:end color:guitar bar:Nickie from:01/01/1982 till:12/31/1983 color:bass bar:Dawg from:01/01/1984 till:12/31/1984 color:bass bar:Schafer from:01/01/1985 till:12/31/1989 color:bass bar:Olvera from:01/01/1987 till:02/01/1987 color:bass bar:Schafer from:01/01/1987 till:12/31/1988 color:bass width:3 bar:Schafer from:01/01/1985 till:end color:bass bar:Sparks from:01/01/1982 till:12/31/1986 color:drums bar:Schafer from:01/01/1987 till:12/31/1988 color:drums bar:Slattery from:01/01/1989 till:end color:drums

Discography

Studio albums

• All Hail to Thee (EP, 1984)
• Kick 'Em When They're Down (EP, 1985)
• Act of God (1988)

Live albums

• Live Suicide (EP, 1986)

Compilation albums

• ZnöWhite (1998)
• ZnöWhite (2007 re-issue with albums All Hail to Thee + Kick 'Em When They're Down + Live Suicide)

Singles

• Live for the Weekend (1983)

Other appearances

• "Hell Bent" on Metal Massacre III (1983)
• "Baptized by Fire" on Stars on Thrash (1988)

References

Sources

• Christe, Ian (2003). Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal. HarperCollins.

References

1. Christe (2003), p. 206, "''Two black musicians from Chicago helped found that city's thrash metal scene: towering seven-foot guitarist Ian Tafoya of Znowhite, and denim-bedecked bassist Calvin Humphrey of Zoetrope.''"
2. (1995). "[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music". [[Guinness Publishing]].
3. Rivadavia, Eduardo. "allmusic (((Znowhite > Biography)))".
4. "REBELS WITHOUT APPLAUSE: Full-Length Debut Out Now".
5. "ICE AGE Demos Available For Free Download".
6. "SENTINEL BEAST: Performance Footage Of New Song Posted Online".
7. "allmusic (((Act of God > Overview)))".
8. "allmusic (((ZnöWhite > Overview)))".

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