Axe, an American hard rock band from Gainesville, Florida, was formed in 1979. The original lineup included vocalist Edgar Riley, guitarist Bobby Barth, bassist Mike Turpin, and drummer Bob Miles. Initially known as Babyface, the group adopted the name Axe when Michael Osborne joined as a second guitarist. Signed to MCA Records, Axe released their self-titled debut album Axe in 1979, gaining attention with a melodic rock sound featuring heavy guitars and keyboards. Their breakthrough came with the 1982 hit "Rock 'N' Roll Party in the Streets" from the album Offering, which also included a cover of Montrose's "I Got The Fire". The band toured extensively, supporting acts such as Scorpions, Kiss, Judas Priest, Ozzy Osbourne, and ZZ Top. In 1984, following the release of their fourth album Nemesis and a tour with Mötley Crüe, Axe suffered a tragic setback when Osborne was killed in an auto crash, severely injuring Barth. The band dissolved shortly after. Barth later joined Blackfoot and released a solo album, Two Hearts, One Beat, in 1986. Attempts to reform Axe in the late 1980s and early 1990s were made but ultimately unsuccessful. In 1997, Axe reunited with a revised lineup and released several albums, including Axeology in 2012. The band's original drummer Teddy Mueller passed away on June 29, 2012.
