Justin Heat is a hard rock and glam metal band hailing from Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA, established in 1986.

The band's lineup has included several members throughout its history: - Robert Leath - Vocals (1986-1987, 1989-1990) - Gene Hadley - Vocals (1987-1988) - Rick Ruhl - Vocals (1988) - Scott Williams - Guitar (1986-1987) - Jeff Allen - Guitar (1987-1988) - Tony "Bong" Paduano - Guitar (1989-1990) - Don Murray - Bass - Matt Williams - Drums (1986-1987) - Jim Phipps - Drums (1987-1988) - Trace Vickory - Drums (1989-1990)

The band was formed by Don Murray, a former bassist of HARD KNOX, and the late Mark West in Oak Ridge, TN. Having previously played together in the band SORCERER during high school, their collaboration was seamless. West, an accomplished guitarist with experience on the rock club circuit alongside Armored Charm, co-wrote the original four tracks that became staples of Justin Heat's repertoire. These included the straightforward rocker “Just In Heat,” the catchy melodic piece “Feel The Passion,” the haunting ballad “Eyes Of A Killer,” and the riff-heavy “Running From Reality.”

To solidify their lineup, they recruited Robert Leath, a charismatic vocalist well-known in the Knoxville club scene, whose impressive vocal range and commanding stage presence proved to be an asset for the band. Notably, Leath was responsible for coining the name Justin Heat. They also added drummer Cliff Greene to the mix.

As the local rock scene in Knoxville began to stagnate, and with West receiving offers to tour with regional cover bands, Murray and Leath decided to pursue opportunities in Nashville, TN. They quickly began auditioning guitarists and drummers, ultimately bringing in Scott and Matt Williams, who had recently relocated from Charlotte, NC. This marked the emergence of the Nashville version of Justin Heat, which became a headlining act at venues like Music Row Showcase and The Cannery. The quartet recorded an eight-song demo that featured both classic Justin Heat material and new compositions, including “White Noize,” “Time To Show,” “Tables Have Turned,” and “One Man Against The World.”

However, as differing opinions regarding musical direction arose, Leath and Murray parted ways with the Williams brothers. After some personnel changes, they found guitarist Jeff Allen, whose melodic style complemented Justin Heat's evolving glam rock sound. Murray and Allen collaborated to write several songs that became JH classics, such as “Rockin All Nite,” “Talkin This City,” “Naughty But Nice,” “Dirty Women,” “Right On Time,” and “Make Your Move.” They then added drummer Jim Phipps to the lineup.

Following extensive performances in the Nashville club circuit, Leath departed to explore other interests, leading to the recruitment of Gene Hadley, former vocalist of Hard Knox. Hadley’s dynamic stage presence and raspy vocals brought a fresh energy to the band, which was then in discussions with several major record labels. They recorded a two-song demo featuring “Rocking All Night” and “Takin This City,” which showed great promise. However, Hadley returned to Hard Knox shortly after, leaving Murray, Allen, and Phipps without a frontman despite having existing commitments and industry interest.

Rick Ruhl, another former Hard Knox vocalist, joined Justin Heat, allowing the band to enter the studio with a new array of material. The results were well-received, but soon after completing the demo, Ruhl and Phipps departed to form Every Mother's Nightmare, which went on to release two albums with Arista Records. This left Murray at a crossroads with a cache of material and a dedicated local following, including new songs like “Talk Of The Town.”

Reconnecting with Leath, they brought in lead guitarist Tony “Bong” Paduano and drummer Trace Vickory. Despite a year of successful showcases and a warm reception from fans, Justin Heat disbanded in 1990.