Mike Tafoya has been a loud, raw and completely original part of the Chicago and national music scene for more than thirty years. He first made a name for himself in the mid-70s as the explosive lead guitarist for Epic recording artists, The Boyzz (from Illinoizz). After the release of "Too Wild to Tame" and a five-year run that included national tours with acts like Aerosmith, Rush and REO Speedwagon, Mike left The Boyzz and in 1982 landed yet another Epic recording contract with his new band, The B'zz (with Steve Riley of W.A.S.P. and LA Guns). Throughout the 80s and 90s, Mike continued to play, record and tour across Illinois and the nation with bands like Tafoya (with Boyzz guitarist Gil Pini) and Raw Dogs (with B'zz singer Tommy Holland). Through it all, Mike has been committed to making his own music on his own terms, a choice that eventually left him broke and alone and living in the streets through two harsh Illinois winters without a guitar to his name. His last axe had been stolen. "It was horrible," says Mike. "Nobody would buy me a burger but they would buy me a beer. But I knew I had to do this. I needed credibility to put my project together and make it work."

Then through open mic jams, he met drummer Chris McCoy and bassist Erik Osland in 2002 and a new band with a new yet classic sound was formed. There's no denying the echoes of Led Zeppelin, Santana, The Doors, Audio Slave, Rush, hard core blues and even The Boyzz in The Lost Boyzz sound. But from the soul of Classic Rock, The Lost Boyzz have managed to forge a completely new and innovative sound. Whether it's the uplifting title track, "Life," the heavily distorted "Hammerhead," the bluesy "Over Now," or the more melodic "Sturgis," Mike has finally found a platform to showcase his blistering yet soulful guitar work, which is not to dismiss the rest of the band. They work together as the ultimate power trio, complete with layers of vocal harmonies that seem so effortless they will likely go under-appreciated. Chris and Erik provide a rock solid foundation, and then Mike's guitar screams, rants, sears or soars and wherever it goes, you go with it. "We're a three-piece band," says Mike, "but we can make it sound like six."

Mike reunited with his old friend and former Boyzz bassist Dave Angel to co-produce the band's first CD and with the release of LIFE (2007 Rave Song Records) we finally hear the sound Mike has been chasing and creating for more than three decades. And as good as the CD is, it's even better to hear the band play it live and the bigger the venue the better. The title track in particular needs plenty of room to expand.

Tafoya's Lost Boyzz are pioneering a new genre that can only be described as New Classic Rock. The music brings back memories even when it's being heard for the first time and re-connects true music fans with the reasons why they came to love Rock 'N Roll.

Instrumentation:
Michael Tafoya - Guitar, Lead and Background vocals
Chris McCoy - Drums, Lead and Background Vocals
Erik Osland - Bass, Lead and Background Vocals

Reviewer: Debra

Remember what it was like back in the days of vinyl when you would run home from the record store with a new album in hand and lock yourself in your room and listen to it over and over and over again until you knew every word and every lick and then listen to it some more? That’s how excited I was when I opened my mailbox last week and found my Lost Boyzz CD had arrived. And if it’s possible to produce an instant classic, that’s what Mike Tafoya and The Lost Boyzz have done. You can play their LIFE CD over and over and over and over again and like it more each time you hear it. They don’t sound like anybody else but their inspiration is clearly pulled from the soul of Classic Rock. There are echoes of Led Zeppelin, Santana, The Doors, early Styx, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Hendrix, Deep Purple, hard core blues and, of course, The Boyzz, woven into the music. The result is a wall of sound that’s blistering, loud, raunchy and raw, while at the same time, uplifting, catchy and even spiritual. The music defies genre, other than to say it ROCKS!

As far as I am concerned, it isn’t Rock without a screaming guitar.. And the guitar work here is incredible. Each song serves as a launch pad for an amazing solo.

But the best thing about LIFE is it makes me smile. The music manages to bring back memories even though I’m hearing it for the first time. And it doesn’t hurt that Mike is an incredibly nice guy who sent me four CDs spanning thirty years of his musical career for a ridiculously low price. He personally took the order, followed up with emails and said thank you. In an age where you need a Best Buys Rewards Card just to have the chance to pay $225 to see the big reunion tour of the summer, that’s very refreshing.

Buy the CD. You will remember why you like music. Debra in Evergreen, Colorado This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it (Long Ago Boyzz Fan)