A group assembled by former BLACK SHEEP guitarist PAUL GILBERT, a discovery of Shrapnel Records' Mike Varney. RACER X amounted to a band of 'musician's musicians', but still made Rock fans sit up and take notice proving to be a suitable springboard to launch the career of the whiz kid guitarist. Musically RACER X dealt in technically enhanced Metal and quickly built up a cult following which grew in stature with the various high profile exploits of the individual band members after the band's demise.

Gilbert was discovered as a 15 year old budding guitar hero by Varney, who raved over the youngster's talents in his regular column in 'Guitar Player' magazine. Gilbert was encouraged to move to Los Angeles from his home in Greensburg, Pennsylvania to attend the renowned Guitar Institute of Technology (later renamed the Musician's Institute) school where Paul soon turned from pupil into tutor by the time he was 21. It was here that Paul discovered fellow axe slinger Bruce Bouillet and quickly invited his pupil to join the fledgling RACER X. Just prior to this Gilbert had been a member of BAD APPLES, an act fronted by erstwhile ANTHRAX vocalist Neil Turbin. RACER X would eventually boast ex-SURGICAL STEEL front man vocalist JEFF MARTIN, bassist John Alderate and former NO BROS drummer Harry Gnoschosser. The latter was soon replaced by ex-HAWK man Scott Travis.

Naturally, RACER X would gain a deal with Varney's Shrapnel label and unleashed the 'Street Lethal' album in 1986. The band's second album included the track 'Heart Of A Lion', written by JUDAS PRIEST and given to RACER X by vocalist ROB HALFORD unbeknownst to the rest of the band or their management.

Scott Travis would be enticed away into the ranks of British Metal legends JUDAS PRIEST revitalising that band in many people's eyes for their 1990 'Painkiller' album. Gilbert would join MR. BIG and Martin hooked up with former OZZY OSBOURNE guitarist JAKE E. LEE to play drums in BADLANDS.

RACER X added one Chris Arvin in place of Gilbert and soldiered on, although the last line-up of RACER X saw Bouillet and Alderete joined by ex-ANGORA vocalist / guitarist John Corabi and former SHARK ISLAND and AMERICADE drummer Walt Woodward III. Before long RACER X evolved into THE SCREAM (via SAINTS AND SINNERS) and scored a new deal with Hollywood Records. Following one album release Corabi was lured away to the big time replacing VINCE NEIL in MÖTLEY CRÜE and THE SCREAM became DC10.

Gilbert emerged as part of the successful 'supergroup' MR. BIG scoring numerous hit albums and a number 1 American single 'Be With You'. Travis landed the key position as drummer for arch Metal veterans JUDAS PRIEST debuting on their 1990 'Painkiller' album. He also made an appearance in JUDAS PRIEST singer ROB HALFORD's solo FIGHT project before rejoining JUDAS PRIEST.

Both Gilbert and Bouillet were to lend their tuition skills to PHANTOM BLUE guitarists Michelle Meldrum and Nicole Couch. Conversely, Aldrete was to tutor Kim Nielsen from the same band. Jeff Martin turned to the drums, joining BADLANDS in the drummer's role and teamed up with ex-SURGICAL STEEL colleague Greg Chaisson to form a solid rhythm section as Martin took the place of Eric Singer.

Martin and Chaisson continued to work together post BADLANDS in the Christian outfit RED SEA, recording the 'Blood' album in 1995.

Martin, Gilbert, Bouillet and Alderete would be reunited on Gilbert's first solo album, 'King Of Clubs', recorded during 1997 and released later that year through Atlantic. The record would be re-issued upon it being licensed to Mayhem Records some six months into the following year.

As Gilbert departed from MR. BIG, Martin became part of the guitarist's touring band for the 1998 album 'Flying Dog' and resulting live album 'Beehive Live'.

RACER X emerged once more with the full classic line-up, now as a side project, Travis still very much a member of JUDAS PRIEST after their reunion in 1997, for the 'Technical Difficulties' album. Martin joined UFO on drums for their ill fated European tour in 2000. A further new album emerged in 2000 with 'Superheroes' ploughing a sci-fi theme throughout. The American release of the album, released by Shrapnel Records, differed from other territories in that profanities used in the tracks 'Evil Joe' and 'O.H.B.' were deleted. RACER X, now with Gilbert a resident of Japan, would reconvene to squeeze in a solitary gig at the Hollywood Whiskey to promote the 'Superheroes' album upfront of Travis's JUDAS PRIEST commitments.

By 2001 Martin was ensconced in the MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP as drummer for the German guitar legend's 'Be Aware Of Scorpions' opus. Martin's vocal abilities would also be on hand as he features as lead on the Japanese release bonus cut 'Ride The Lightning'.

RACER X toured Japan in January of 2002 before Travis engaged himself with JUDAS PRIEST once more for an extended bout of North American dates. A show in Yokohama would be recorded for inclusion as a bonus live disc on the band's 2003 studio record 'Getting Heavier'. Martin also came to attention outside of his priority band activities, portraying the character "Seventree" for a Daniele Liverani 2004 GENIUS outing 'In Search of The Little Prince'. On the drumming front Martin also formed up part of a new studio band for erstwhile QUIET RIOT frontman Kevin DuBrow's solo debut of classic Rock covers. By March he would be out on the road once more, acting as drummer for GEORGE LYNCH's solo band, that very same month also announcing he had become the new singer for resurrected Rockers LEATHERWOLF. JEFF MARTIN issued his debut solo album, 'Fool', in April 2006.

PAUL GILBERT found inclusion in AMAZING JOURNEY, a one-off tribute band assembled to pay homage to THE WHO. On drums would be Mike Portnoy, of DREAM THEATER repute, with Gary Cherone of VAN HALEN and EXTREME on vocals and BILLY SHEEHAN from MR. BIG, DAVID LEE ROTH, UFO and TALAS on bass. This impressive quartet undertook a brief burst of US shows in May 2006. Japanese concerts witnessed the addition of Gilbert's RACER X colleague Bruce Bouillet on second guitar.

During 2009 Bruce Bouillet headlined the 'Virtuosity: Round 2' US tour backed by Sean Baker, Michael Harris and Joe Stump.