White Lion - The New White Lion and Legal Issues

The New White Lion and Legal Issues

In 1999 Mike Tramp, with all new musicians, released Remembering White Lion, which featured new versions of some of White Lion's classic songs and started what would be a long battle to reform White Lion.

In October 2003, Tramp announced a White Lion reunion with the original members. This statement was quickly denied by the other former members. Later Tramp said that Vito Bratta wanted nothing to do with a reunion. With summer festivals in Europe already booked, Tramp attempted to put together a "new White Lion" featuring former members James LoMenzo and Jimmy DeGrasso, along with Warren DeMartini of Ratt. Vito Bratta filed suit claiming partial ownership of the name, and the tour was scrapped. Tramp later commented that despite his willingness, "There will never be an original White Lion reunion".

In 2004 due to legal issues the album Remembering White Lion was re-released under the new title Last Roar featuring the band name Tramp's White Lion.

In 2005, Mike Tramp organized another group of unknown musicians and attempted to continue with a new White Lion under the act Tramp's White Lion, this however did not stop the persistant legal issues with former members. Despite all the issues 'TWL' (aka White Lion 2) played and re recorded White Lion songs, touring and releasing a double-live CD entitled Rocking the USA in 2005. In November and December 2006, Tramp's White Lion played several dates in Europe including Sweden, Norway, Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark.

In 2006 Anthology 83-89 album was released which featured never before released songs and demo versions of White Lion classic songs from previous albums.

On February 16, 2007, Vito Bratta appeared on the Eddie Trunk radio show in New York, stating that despite what Mike Tramp said, he had never refused a White Lion reunion, stating that the only reason he was unable to participate was due to the illness of his father. He added that he would still be open to the idea and has not closed the door to returning to the music industry again. Trunk made it clear that Bratta's involvement in the show was something that he had wanted to happen since White Lion first broke up in 1991. Bratta took calls and answered questions from fans for almost 3 hours. On April 6 and 7, 2007, at the L'Amours Reunion Shows in New York, Bratta made his first public musical appearances in over 15 years.

Three weeks later Mike Tramp called the same show from Australia, speaking about Bratta and the band's new album, including the tour dates that Tramp's White Lion had recently confirmed. Tramp said that he was thankful that Bratta had finally answered fan's questions, the same questions he himself had been asked many times over the past 15 years. He also stated that he felt uncomfortable answering on Vito's behalf, and that he was upset that Vito had withdrawn himself from the music industry.