The Ruffians

San Francisco's Ruffians were the victims of severe generation gap syndrome, thanks to a sound that was equal parts indebted to the late-'70s hard rock aesthetic of local legends Y&T, as it was to up-and-coming American metal bands like Seattle's Queensr++che (although they were never quite as heavy as either one). Formed in 1983 by vocalist Carl Albert, guitarists Craig Behrhorst and Chris Atchison, bassist Dan Moura, and drummer Luke Bowman, Ruffians took the usual baby-band-steps of recording a few demos and opening shows for visiting major acts like UFO, Saxon, and of cour...