A set of demos caught the attention of British AOR specialists Now And Then Records and EYEWITNESS were signed up for an eponymous 1995 debut album. The band's inaugural effort was produced by Scott Burns and features a track, 'Arms Of Love', co-written with WARRANT bassist Jerry Dixon. Also on the song list were cover versions of ZENO's 'Far Away' and UFO's seminal 'Only You Can Rock Me'.
The act appeared at the Now And Then Records Gods '95 spectacular at the Astoria 2 in London in early 1995 to coincide with the release of their debut album on the Wigan based label, bringing the recently hired second guitarist Michael Caruso with them. A follow up album 'Messiah Complex', did not fare so well with fans or critics and the group, recently having supplanted Hodson with Manfred Binder, opted for a re-think. By 1996 the band had undergone a name change to MILLENIUM. Briefly, at this same juncture bass guitarist Wayne Kohl was associated with the band but did not record..
An eponymous album surfaced in late 1997. Later works would find the band fronted by Norwegian JORN LANDE, a man whose credits with YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, THE SNAKES, ARK, MUNDANUS IMPERIUM and VAGABOND give credence to his much vaunted talents. Santolla, having issued the 2002 solo album 'Shaolin Monks In The Temple Of Metal', joined the high profile Heavy Metal band ICED EARTH the following year.
Ex-EYEWITNESS singer Todd Plant, albeit unaccredited would make into millions of living rooms by singing WCW wrestler Hulk Hogan's 'American Made' TV anthem. The track also made it onto the 'WCW Mayhem - The Music' album and even a Playstation game. During 2002 Plant would journey on to the live circuit once more in a band also incorporating DOOBIE BROTHERS drummer Chet McCracken, former CHICAGO guitarist Chris Pinnick, FIREFALL's David Muse, Dave Shogren (Doobie Bros.) and Cornelius Bumpus (Steely Dan, Doobie Bros.). Both Plant and Santolla are featured as part of Rick Duncan's epic Progressive Rock project CRYPTIC VISION in 2003.
2004 found Santolla joining the ranks of SEBASTIAN BACH's new band. However, in November the guitarist made a public statement revealing that he was suffering from degenerative condition in the bones of his jaw. Costly treatment would include bone grafts and reconstructive surgery and to offset some of the medical bills a benefit concert in Tampa, headlined by SEBASTIAN BACH, would be scheduled for January of 2005. That same month, Todd Plant joined Florida's TEER as their new frontman. May found Santolla joining arch Black / Death Metal act DEICIDE for US touring. - Garry Sharpe-Young