Where Are You?

Frank Knight
Vocalist for German band X-Wild

Frank Knight was the vocalist for the German band X-Wild. X-Wild was formed in 1993 by ex-Running Wild musicians Stefan Schwarzmann (now in Helloween), Jens Becker (now in Grave Digger), and Axel Morgan (sure to be a future Where Are You).

X-Wild put out three records, "So What" in 1993, "Monster Effect" in 1995, and "Savageland" in 1996 before disbanding for various reasons. The band was simply extraordinary, mixing in the traditional Running Wild/Helloween sound with the dirty bluesy stylings of Accept and AC/DC. The music was brilliant, but the vocals were even better.

Frank Knight created a down and dirty atmosphere with the X-Wild songs, sounding like a combination of UDO and Bon Scott. On "So What", Knight sounds like a drunken outlaw, rampaging about bikes and booze on tracks like "Freeway Devil", "Can't Tame The Wild", and the sadistic "Dealing With The Devil". His vocals are rough and edgy, creating the perfect mood for this record. Knight hisses like a snake in the grass, spewing out lyrics such as these on "Thousand Guns":

HEY, YOU OVER THERE, WITH THE SCAR ON YOUR FACE
I DON'T THINK YOU'RE PART OF THE FUCKING HUMAN RACE
YOU'RE LIKE SOMETHING I GODDAMN STEPPED ON BEFORE
AND I'M THE BAD GUY, COME TO SETTLE....THE SCORE!

On X-Wild's last studio effort, "Savageland", Frank Knight shows he can sing power metal as well, polishing off tracks like "Braveheart" and "Born For War" with the greatest of ease. Knight transforms the band into a pack of modern day warriors, caught somewhere between Saxon and Motorhead.

With so many singers trying to be the next Michael Kiske or Rob Halford, Frank Knight's vocals are refreshing. He wasn't a smooth vocalist by any means, but his rough and tumble vocal style is addictive. If only 20% of today's metal vocalists would adopt this style the metal world would be a much happier place.

Its been seven years since Knight's departure from metal. I've read rumors that he joined a biker gang (?) and also laid down some vocals for a British band called White Buffalo. Another rumor has it that Knight did the spoken intro for UDO's "Holy" album. I have yet to see or hear any proof of this however.

The man has dissappeared without a trace, but left behind three very good records to remember him by. His "no guts, no glory" attitude and vocal style has been missed.

Where Are You Frank Knight?    

Discography-
So What
Monster Effect
Savageland

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Frank Knight has appeared at a handful of Skiltron shows since 2013, performing lead vocals on a cover of AC/DC's "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)".


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