For over 10 years Black Valentine has established itself as one of the premier Hard Rock bands in Los Angeles, carving out a niche as a band with great Originals and great Re-Makes of so many overlooked Covers.
Black Valentine has performed hundreds of Shows as Headliner and Direct Support for National Acts and gone thru many line-up changes. When work began on their 9th Album, they parted ways with long time Bass Player Tris "Duke" Carpenter who left to pursues other Musical endeavors.
Jesse and Frankie decided to move forward with recording what would be the Bulletproof Heart album and began Tracking Drums in January of 2026.
To fill the void left by Duke's departure, they recruited Lee Bryan- a very accomplished Bass Player who Frankie had played with in another band.
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!Black Valentine's New Reality
Lee (who goes by "Chief") began Tracking his Bass parts to the 16 new Songs that Jesse had Tracked the Drums to and what he came up with is pure MAGIC!
His parts were so Iconic that Frankie found himself unable to hear the Songs without them.
Chief finished his Tracks on the middle of May.
Frankie then began laying down Guitars, Keyboards, and lead and Background Vocals. He also enlisted the Singing talents of Shawna McDonald for the Duet "Head Over Heels" along with Paul McDonald who played the Solo. To round out the Recording, Eric "Filth" Agnello, Andrew Koch, Crystal Emord, and Ngaire Harvey were brought in for Background Vocals on several Tracks as well as Guitarists Benjamin Schultz, Jeffrey Donovan, and Darin Abbott who playsd Solos on 5 of the 16 Songs.
Recording was completed at the end of May.
Then began the arduous task of Mixing and Mastering the album. To help with mastering, Frankie sought the advise of legendary Guitarist Benjamin Schultz.
Bulletproof Heart was finished by the middle of June and was released on July 18th at the Cruefest Hollywood Cancer Benefit at the legendary Whisky A Go Go in Hollywood, Ca.
Now with their latest Release Love Letters and Hate Mail this new iteration of Black Valentine.has come into their own presenting 11 Songs about Love, Hate, and everything In between.
Joseph Timmons of Xombiewoof Magazine says Black Valentine’s originals are “…drenched in attitude and emotions ranging from aggression and anger to hurt and pain, from frustration and discontent to determination and resolve. Each track literally screams out loud what most of us have only thought all wrapped up in perfectly catchy Songs delivered with exceptional musicianship.”
Freelance Journalist Paul Boutin (Newsweek, The New York Times) describes their Re-Makes as “…great songs that sound even better as hard rockers. Black Valentine doesn't "cover" these songs -- they stomp the stuffing out of them. Frank Yanno is my personal guitar hero in Los Angeles, and the rest of the band sounds like an elephant let loose in Nazareth's rehearsal space.”
Black Valentine has opened up for such famous Acts as Stephen Pearcy (RATT), Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow, Deep Purple), Orgy, Juan Croucier (RATT), Graham Bonnett (Rainbow, Alcatraz), and Bang Tango and their Live Performance is not to be missed -delivering their electrifying Stage Show to those who like smart Music served up HEAVY!!
Jesse Wolff
Drums, Background Vocals
Born in: Los Angeles,,Ca
Formal Training: Hamilton Magnet Music Academy, Drum Corp and Jazz Band, Graduated Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School
Executive Chef at: IL Sole in Los Angeles
Opened for: Orgy, Stephen Pearcy, Graham Bonnett, Joe Lynn Turner, Bang Tango.
Worked at: Drum Paradice as a Session Set Up Engineer, Can Am Recording Studio as Production and Mixing Assistant for such names as Death Row Records, Motley Crue, Pat Benatar, and Madonna
Grew up on Tour with: father Marty Wolff (Long Time Lighting and Road Manager for the Doobie Bros.)
Frankie Yanno
Guitarist, Lead Singer
Born in: Dansville, New York
Formal Training: AS in Graphic Designs, BFA in Illustration from the Rochester Institute of Technology
Guitarist for: Angel City Rockers, tHe CoNStAnT, Luther Braque, White Widow, Das Butt, Triphammer
Performed Live with: Kenny Aronoff, Ellis Hall, Martin GuiGui, Chris Peterman, Valeri Gaina,
Opened for: KIX, Orgy, Stephen Pearcy, Graham Bonnett, Joe Lynn Turner. Bang Tango, Y&T, Talas, Ronnie Montrose, Loudness, Keel, Radio Fee Europe, Gaina, Master, Legion, Powder
Owner: Gossamer Studios Van Nuys, Ca
Producer, Engineer for: Angel City Rockers, Guitar and Whisky Club, Daisy DelaHoya, Kylie Francesca, tHe CoNStAnT, Against Empire, Greg Gomes Band, Gary Leslie, Chico Rey, Paul Bradley, Howard Lubin
Wrote and Recorded Songs for: Daisy DelaHoya, Kylie Francesco, Clive Hellshayde, Dustin Penrod, Various Television and Movies
Featured Actor on: Clean House, Clean House Comes Clean
Graphic Designer/ Artist for: Black Valentine's Re-Making History Part 1, Re-Making History Parts 2 and 3, Already Here, Slingshot Rebels, World Gone Wrong, tHe CoNStAnT’s Sometimes Things Just Happen, The Letter, and NINETIMESTEN, Darkly Sunny Days, Das Butt’s Happy, Spinman (self titled), Human Horse (self titled), Gary Leslie’s Just a Little Attitude
Endorsed by: Zemaitis Guitars, Baker Guitars, GHS Strings, Rocktron Electronics, Pickworld Guitar Picks, Screaming Images Stage Banners, BestInCase Roadcases
Lee "Chief" Bryan
Bass, Lead and Background Vocals
Born in: Indianapolis, Indiana
Formal Training: Musicians Institute
Musical Styles: Rock, Funk, Blues, Country Latin, but open to all styles of Music
Bass Player for: Charlemagne, Isom Country, Fauve Romairo, Mystic, The Position, Lisa Torres, Jennifer Quiroz, The Curious, Josh Rich, Fat Daddy Special, Distro Union,, and the privilege of playing bass for legendary Solomon Burke.
Opened for: The Rolling Stones, Foghat, Vince Neal (Motley Crue), and Loverboy to name a few
