All-girl Metal band of some repute,

All-girl Metal band of some repute, PHANTOM BLUE certainly threw out the train of thought that all female Metal bands needed was to look good and the marketing men would do the rest. A Power Metal band, PHANTOM BLUE vocalist Gigi Hangach was once in the same Ohio based band as one John Oswald on drums, better known in more recent years as WARRANT front man Jani Lane.

Guitarists Michelle Meldrum had started out as a teen metaller with WARGOD, an act featuring the DARK ANGEL, DEATH and STRAPPING YOUNG LAD credited drummer Gene Hoglan that issued two Thrash demos, 'Into The Abyss' and 'Day Of Atonement'. She had also made a guest appearance on POST MORTEM's 'Missing Links' release of 1987. Along with fellow guitarist Nicole Couch, from Peru, Illinois, Meldrum had met previous to PHANTOM BLUE when the pair had taken lessons from PAUL GILBERT of RACER X and MR. BIG. In somewhat of a bizarre coincidence Montana born drummer Linda McDonald, who had played in a previous band with Detroit, Michigan native Meldrum, was receiving tuition from RACER X's Scott Travis (later of JUDAS PRIEST) and bassist Kim Nielsen learnt her craft courtesy of RACER X bassist John Alderate, Bret Helm from P.I.L. and Doc Tahri.

PHANTOM BLUE formed in 1987 and recorded a demo tape that got into the hands of Shrapnel Records' Mike Varney. He was impressed. Signing to Shrapnel, PHANTOM BLUE was put into the studio with then CACOPHONY (later MEGADETH) guitarist MARTY FRIEDMAN. Assisting in production duties were Steve Fontano and erstwhile LE MANS vocalist Peter Marrino.

Having played their first show at the Troubadour in Los Angeles on 2nd June 1988, the girls released their album the folowing summer. The band would eventually make it over to Britain and Europe later the same year. A lengthy spell in the wilderness ensued prior to the band announcing a new record deal with Geffen Records. PHANTOM BLUE were signed by A&R supremo Tom Zutaut and work soon commenced on demos handled by DON DOKKEN. Eventually the second album was to emerge with a Max Norman production credit but its release was delayed for what seemed to the band to be an interminable length of time. Fearing the project may be shelved altogether the band was forced into legal action to get a release.

'Built To Perform' saw the light of day at the close of 1993. Guests included ex-EUROPE guitarist JOHN NORUM and MARTY FRIEDMAN of MEGADETH. PHANTOM BLUE toured Europe in 1994, as Couch lost her position to Karen Kruetzer. However, upon completion of these dates in April, Nielsen then severed ties with the band and was replaced by Rana Ross. Shortly afterward, PHANTOM BLUE drafted the WARBRIDE and HEROINE credited Samantha Taylor on bass.

During 1996 Michelle Meldrum was working up material with VIXEN drummer Roxy Petrucci. Following her split from the group, Kim Nielsen began assembling a band with erstwhile ARMORED SAINT man Jeff Duncan and subsequently guitarist Mick Sweda from the BULLETBOYS. This project failed to get off the ground and she moved to Britain and married Adam Parsons, the former drummer with British Glam outfit BELLADONNA. Nielsen also joined a revamped line-up of Nottingham based Metallers WRAITH appearing on their 1996 album 'Schizophrenia'. The following year Nielsen was collaborating with former PERSIAN RISK, GHOST and present day KROKUS frontman Carl Sentance.

PHANTOM BLUE, now comprising Hangach, McDonald, guitarists Tina Wood, previously with NO SHAME, and erstwhile SISTER STRANGE bassist Dyna Shirasaki, released the independently issued 'Caught Live' album in 1997. Former bassist Rana Ross teamed up with VIXEN for live work. Meantime, Michelle Meldrum, who had long since relocated to Stockholm, Sweden after her marriage to guitarist JOHN NORUM, re-appeared in 1998 in the all girl outfit MELDRUM touting an impressive demo tape.

The band issued a mini album 'Full Blown' in 2000. PHANTOM BLUE was now fronted by Dutch singer Lucienne Thomas with Josephine Soegijanty and Tina Wood on guitars, Mary Jo Godges on bass and Linda McDonald on drums. Quite surreally it emerged in 2001 that Josephine Soegijanty and Linda McDonald had, alongside NEW EDEN bassist Melanie Sisneros and PROZACT PRINCESS singer Jenny created the all female tribute band the IRON MAIDENS! Another tribute act with PHANTOM BLUE connections would be an AC/DC homage WHOLE LOTTA ROSIES featuring Tina Woods, Kim Nielsen and Dyna Shirasaki plus Stephanie Leigh of NO SHAME. Nielsen also worked with ABYSS, later DARK LIGHT SPECTRUM, and CAPTIVES OF THE SUN.

Rana Ross, having founded SINBOY, passed away on 3rd May 2003 due to liver failure. She was just 34 years old.

Former PHANTOM BLUE bassist Kim Nielsen sessioned on ASIA's 2004 album 'Silent Nation'.

On Sunday, May 18th 2008 Michelle Meldrum was rushed to St. Joseph's Hospital in Burbank, California in critical condition. Three days later, Wednesday, May 21st, she passed away as a result of a cystic growth on her brain that had restricted oxygen and blood flow to her brain. Meldrum had just completed writing and recording the band's latest album with drummer Gene Hoglan, along with the new line-up of vocalist Michele Madden and bassist Laura Christine. The surviving band members planned to release the album in tribute to their fallen band-mate. Meldrum, 39, was survived by her parents and three year old son, Jake Thomas.

PHANTOM BLUE reunited for a Michelle Meldrum memorial show was held at the Whisky A-Go Go in Hollywood, California on 24th May 2009.