Quick Facts
Biography
Kane Roberts (born Robert William Athas; January 16, 1962) is an American heavy metal guitarist best known for his tenure in Alice Cooper's band during the late 1980s. He has performed as a solo act.
Roberts is notable for his Rambo-like appearance and physique and his usage of an electric guitar shaped like a machine gun.
Career
Roberts was the guitarist who played on Alice Cooper's Constrictor and Raise Your Fist and Yell and their respective tours. He is the man responsible for Alice's metal years in the late '80s as he co-wrote nearly every track from those albums. Just by being on stage, he was a part of the show with his huge physique and rocket shooting guitars.
After "Raise Your Fist", Roberts released his first solo album, Kane Roberts, which featured Cooper's lyrics on Full Pull. He then guested on Trash, playing guitar on Bed of Nails. He then released a second solo album, Saints and Sinners, which contained the Bon Jovi-penned Does Anybody Really Fall in Love Anymore?, previously recorded by Cher as well.
While he is primarily a guitar player, Roberts is also a skilled vocalist, capable of extreme high range, as is evident on his solo projects. He has contributed backing vocals on several albums, including Steve Vai's Sex & Religion, Desmond Child's Discipline, and the song Shocker by the Dudes of Wrath, which served as the title track from the 1989 film of the same name.
He also played on the Bob Ezrin produced Count Three & Pray album by Berlin, and the 1986 Rod Stewart album Every Beat of My Heart. He also co-wrote Take It Off with Paul Stanley and Bob Ezrin, which appeared on Kiss' Revenge album.
Roberts took a long hiatus from music after his second solo album, but returned in 1999 with a band called Phoenix Down, named for a life potion in the PlayStation video game Final Fantasy VII, one of Roberts' favorite games. Phoenix Down recorded only one album, entitled Under A Wild Sky. Fans of both say that much of the record is inspired by the game.
After several years away from the music industry, working in graphic arts and as a video game programmer, Roberts began work on a new album, Touched, in 2006.
On October 23, 2011, Roberts performed with Talon at Firefest VIII, marking his first live performance in over twenty years.
In 2012, Roberts released Unsung Radio, a collection of previously unreleased tracks.
In 2016 Kane featured on a track for Northern Ireland based Hard Rock outfit Maverick. The track and video (also featuring Kane) for 'Asylum' also included Jakob Samuel from Sweden's 'The Poodles'.
Discography
- With Alice Cooper
- Constrictor – 1986
- Raise Your Fist and Yell – 1987
- Trash – 1989 (Song "Bed of Nails" only)
- Solo career
- Kane Roberts – 1987
- Saints And Sinners – 1991
- Under A Wild Sky (with solo band Phoenix Down) – 1999
- New Place Now (with solo band Phoenix Down) – 2000
- Unsung Radio (Album) 2012