In 2000, Violent Delight, consisting of Rodney and Tom released "Hands Up! If You've Got VD", a 9 track Extended Play demo. They followed this in 2001, by being signed to J Albert & Son publishers, and Hayakawa and Macrow joined later that year. A year later they toured with A, Rival Schools, Ill Niño and Suicidal Tendencies, and released "Secret Smile" and "Same Old Story" on limited editionvinyl. Despite their youth, with Henderson and Tom both being sixteen at the time, the band were signed to a recording contract with Warner Bros. Records UK in 2002.[2]
Transmission and success
Their first single, "Secret Smile" was produced by Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones and gained rotation on Kerrang! television and P-Rock, the song reached number 89 on the UK Singles Chart in 2002. A second single was released in 2002, "Same Old Story" was issued as a 7" Vinyl Record but failed to make an impact on the top 100. Violent Delight's next two singles were produced by Ill Niño drummer Dave Chavarri. The third single "I Wish I Was a Girl", reached number 25 in the UK in 2003 and the band's fourth single "All You Ever Do" also reached the top 40 at number 38. "Transmission" was released as Violent Delight's final single but failed to make the same impact on the charts, missing the top 40 and reaching number 63.[3][2][4]
The band's debut album, "Transmission" was released on 15 September 2003, the album entered the UK Albums Chart at number 96 spending one week in the top 100. The Album received mixed reviews upon release. Kerrang! who initially supported the band with regular features on the magazines compilation albums were particularly negative.[2][4]
Departure of Tom Steenvoorden and breakup
In November 2003 guitarist Tom Steenvoorden departed the band citing creative differences. The band decided to continue on without him although by mid 2005 Henderson and Hayakawa launched a new band named SuzyHope. Bassist Ben Macrow and Vex Red guitarist Nick Goulding created their new band Selladore. With no new record or singles released the band disappeared from the mainstream, performing one last farewell gig to a sell-out crowd at the Camden Barfly, London on 10 November 2006.[2] Lead singer Henderson currently fronts the four-piece rock band Just A Ride.[5][6]