Well known Portland, Oregon Rock act BLACK 'N BLUE evolved out of MOVIE STAR. The initial line-up evolved from the Portland outfit MOVIE STAR. BLACK 'N BLUE's inaugural line-up comprised ex-MOVIE STAR guitarist Tommy Thayer, MOVIE STAR drummer Jaime St. James, who also moonlighted as skinbasher with fellow Portland acts WILD DOGS and KEVIN WET for a time, MOVIE STAR guitarist Virgil Ripper, bassist Patrick Young and former KHARMA drummer Pete Holmes. MOVIE STAR, formed in the late 70s, had also featured keyboard player Pete Horne and vocalist / bassist Julian Raymond.

Initially Jaime St. James had occupied the role of drummer but, during a transitionary phase when the group was branded LOVED BY MILLIONS, took the stage as frontman in a spate of alcohol induced bravado at the Wreck Of The Hesperaus club, this act prompting his band mates to suggest his true talents lay as a singer. LOVED BY MILLIONS introduced Patrick Young on bass. The transition to BLACK 'N BLUE took place in November 1981. By May of 1982 Ripper had departed the fledgling BLACK 'N BLUE to be superseded by erstwhile VIRGIN guitarist Jef 'Whoop' Warner. At first the group performed in the Portland clubs as a covers act, focussing on AC/DC, but gradually introduced original material.