Cole Ryan

**Cole Parker Ryan** (born March 28, 1973; age 50) is a American singer, songwriter and musician best known for being the vocalist for Rerun Van Pelt, Tonka and Toonstruck, as well as being the bassist for that matter. He got his start in The Booyah Electric Blues Band as a singer. He's also the lead vocalist for fictitious Bluey band My Perfect Sorrow.

## Cole Ryan

### Born

Cole Parker Ryan: March 28, 1973 (age 50); Duluth, Minnesota, U.S.

## Musical Career

### Genres

Nu metal, Alternative metal, Sludge metal, Hardcore punk, Psychobilly, Horror punk, Gothic metal (early), Electric blues (early)

### Labels

T-Ball, Earache, TVT, Roadrunner, Dayglow, Zombie Shark

### Associated acts

The Booyah Electric Blues Band, Rerun Van Pelt, Tonka, Toonstruck

## Early life

Cole Ryan was born to a music artist mother and a music teacher father, so it was easy getting into the music industry as a whole artist. He recorded his first song called *Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?* which was released under T-Ball Records' kids division. In 1983, he formed The Booyah Electric Blues Band with his friends.

## The Booyah Electric Blues Band (1983-1990, 2004, 2014)

The band was formed when Cole, Ruby, Daniel and Chris began being managed by Stevie Nicks at a young age of around 9 to 10 years of age, which they signed to Virgin Records. In 1984, the band released their self-titled debut album and opened for Buddy Guy in 1985. In 1987, the band released their second album *Love You To The End* which got three hit songs. *Don't Stop The Groove*, *How I Love You* and *The Slow Dance Is Ours*. The band supported Fleetwood Mac for their Shake The Cage tour. In 1989, the band recorded their third album. This album, 1990's *Summer Fun* which featured a huge trop rock and surf rock influence. Cole Ryan left the band before the band went on tour to support the album. but would come back for two shows in 2004 and 2014 at Amsoil Arena. He's credited with the first three albums on compilations to this day.

## Rerun Van Pelt (1990-1996)

After Cole Ryan left The Booyah Electric Blues Band, he reconnected with his best friend and guitarist Ram West, along with connecting with bassist Evan Shay and drummer Patrick Rey. The band released a demo in mid 1994 which caught the attention of Earache Records, who signed the band in late 1994. In 1995, the band released their debut self-titled album which was certified quintuple platinum in early 1996, however the bands original vocalist Cole Ryan left the band.

## Tonka (1996-present)

After quitting Rerun Van Pelt, Cole looked for new members. He later met bassist Evan Scoville, guitarist Chris Davenport and drummer Zachary Carter. They became friends and later recorded a demo which caught the eye of TVT Records, who signed them to a 4 album deal. In 1998, the band released their debut album *Revolt*. In 1999, Evan Scoville and Zachary Carter left and were replaced by Morgan Archer on bass and Ethan Tomac on drums. In 2000, the band released their sophomore album *Acid Hazard* which got the band a hit song called *Pushing Apart*. The band opened for Static-X for their tour. In 2003, the band parted ways with Chris Davenport as Ram West came in as his replacement. In 2004, the band released their third album *Inveined*. In 2005, Morgan Archer left the band due to focusing on her other band, Tribunal, former Twisted Method bassist Derek DeSantis was her replacement. In 2007, the band released their fourth album *Tragedy Gold* which completed the four album deal.

In 2011, the band released their fifth album *Butterfly Rifle* which was the first album with Dayglow Records who signed them in 2009. The band went on tour with Incendiary as the opening act in 2013. In late 2013, the band released their sixth album *Teeth Pores* which featured a hardcore punk influenced sound. The band went on 2014's Vans Warped Tour on the Monster Energy Stage. In 2016, the band released their seventh album *Cannabis Pizza* which featured a sludge metal influenced sounding. The band went on tour with Hellyeah as the opening act in 2017. In 2019, the band released their eighth studio album *Cola Paste Submarine Sandwich* which sold well. In 2021, the band released their ninth album *Da Vinci-O-Pose* and went on tour. On May 30th 2023, the band released their tenth self-titled album.

## Toonstruck (2003-2011, 2018)

Cole Ryan and Joey Jordison met at a bar and connected over a love of horror-related media, as well as sharing drinks together. Joey later got Cole to meet Tripp Eisen and Ben Graves. Cole asked them all if they wanted to form a band, where Cole would take bass and vocals, Joey would take rhythm guitar, Tripp would take lead guitar and Ben would take drums. Offering to kill two birds with one stone. Joey initially was uncertain, but agreed later on. The band now named Toonstruck got signed to Roadrunner Records in late 2003. In 2004, the band released their debut album *Cartoon Bloodshed* which debuted a Psychobilly mixed with Horror punk sounding. The band did a co-headlining tour with HorrorPops. In 2006, the band recorded their second album. This album, 2007's *The Good Life* featured a huge groove metal influence. The band went on tour with Three Days Grace as the opening act. In 2009, the band released their third album *Shady Ladies Over At The Boulevard* which the band tour for from 2009 until 2010. The band would be put on hiatus when Murderdolls reunited but Joey announced in 2011 that Toonstruck would not come back. On April 13, 2018, the band reunited for a 5 year anniversary tribute show to Chi Cheng at the Whisky-A-Go-Go, on May 9, 2018, Ben Graves died due to cancer complications. When asked about a new Toonstruck album, Cole said "Fuck that shit, how are we going to continue without Ben Graves? That's just bullshit we would find a new drummer". In 2021, Joey Jordison passed away due to transverse myelitis, Cole later said that it's now impossible for a Toonstruck reunion.

## Influences

Vocal influences according to Cole were Ozzy Osbourne, Jeff Keith, Lemmy, Dio, Paul McCartney, Stevie Nicks and Damon Albarn.

## Discography

### With The Booyah Electric Blues Band

#### Main

*The Booyah Electric Blues Band (1984)*

*Love You To The End (1987)*

*Summer Fun (1990)*

#### Compilations

*The Loveliest Of The Booyah Electric Blues Band (1996)*

*Booyah Silliness (1997)*

*20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of The Booyah Electric Blues Band (1999)*

*Welcome To The Booyah (2001)*

*The Booyah Sessions Volume 1: 1984-1994 (2004)*

*The Essential The Booyah Electric Blues Band (2010)*

*The Booyah Sessions Volume 2: 1984-1994 (2014)*

*The Booyah 35 (2018)*

*Kraken Heart (2023)*

### With Tonka

*Revolt (1998)*

*Acid Hazard (2000)*

*Inveined (2004)*

*Tragedy Gold (2007)*

*Butterfly Rifle (2011)*

*Teeth Pores (2014)*

*Cannabis Pizza (2016)*

*Cola Paste Submarine Sandwich (2019)*

*Da Vinci-O-Pose (2021)*

*Tonka (2023)*

### With Toonstruck

*Cartoon Bloodshed (2004)*

*The Good Life (2007)*

*Shady Ladies Over At The Boulevard (2009)*

## Personal Life

Cole Ryan currently resides in Winona, Minnesota along with his wife Ruby Ryan, whom he's married to since 1996. The two have two children named Matthew (born June 30, 1998; age 25) and Ava (born July 9, 2001; age 22), Matthew has been the drummer for Alkaline since the bands formation. Cole Ryan currently owns a St Bernard dog named Edison (born 2019) and a Doberman dog named Splice (born 2019) Both of whom he posts to his Instagram and Threads accounts.