Britny Fox

Last updated

Britny Fox
Origin Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres
Years active
  • 1985–1992
  • 2000–2003
  • 2006–2008
  • 2015–2016
  • 2022–present (Billy Child's Britny Fox)
Labels Columbia, CBS Records, East West, Spitfire
Past membersJamie Fletcher
Greg Polcari
Greg D'Angelo
Michael Kelly Smith
Dean Davidson
Tony Destra
Adam Ferraioli
Tommy Krash
Henry Nowak
Billy Childs
Johnny Dee
Tommy Paris
Chris Sanders

Britny Fox is an American glam metal band from the Philadelphia area, initially active from 1985 to 1992 then subsequently reforming from 2000 to 2003, again in 2006 to 2008 and final time reforming in 2015 to 2016. They are best known for their music video for "Girlschool" and their minor hit "Long Way to Love" (U.S. No. 100). Bassist Billy Childs has been the only band member to be a part of each of the band's many lineups.

Contents

History

Original lineup (1985–1992)

Britny Fox formed in 1985 in Philadelphia. The band was originally fronted by lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist "Dizzy" Dean Davidson. The band also featured Billy Childs on bass, former Cinderella guitarist Michael Kelly Smith on lead guitar and former Cinderella drummer Tony Destra on drums. [1] The idea for the band's name was inspired by Davidson, who named the band in honor of a Welsh ancestor. They were described on a compilation as "trashy Victorian glam". [2]

Thanks to their connections to Cinderella, the band was able to secure a major recording contract. However, the band encountered difficulties when Destra was killed in a car accident on February 8, 1987. [3] Facing a tour, they hired drummer Adam West (aka Adam Ferraioli) temporarily until landing what turned out to be long-term drummer, John DiTeodoro (Johnny Dee), who had been the drummer for the band Waysted. [2]

The band released a demo in 1986 titled In America, which late drummer Tony Destra played on, and a demo in 1987 titled Rock Is Gonna Fight, on which the band's new drummer Adam West played. The band's self-titled debut album, released in 1988, [4] was one of the most successful debuts of the 1988–89 season, achieving RIAA gold status (500,000+ copies). The band held more than 130 shows, which attracted more than 625,000 fans cumulatively; during these shows, the band mostly performed as supporting acts to Poison and Ratt, although in a few shows, they headlined with Warrant as their opening act. They also won Metal Edge magazine's 1988 Reader's Choice Award for Best New Band. [5]

After the release of the band's second album in 1989, Boys in Heat , Davidson departed, and formed the band Blackeyed Susan. [4] He was replaced by Las Vegas native Tommy Paris aka Don Jillson formerly of the band Jillson. [6] Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde and Poison drummer Rikki Rockett guested on the band's third album, Bite Down Hard , which was released in 1991. However, the popularity of glam metal was on a decline around the time of the album's release, due to the rising popularity of the alternative rock/grunge movement. Britny Fox disbanded in 1992 for various reasons. [4]

Reunions (2000–present)

Drummer Johnny Dee performing live with Britny Fox, 2013 Johnny Dee.jpg
Drummer Johnny Dee performing live with Britny Fox, 2013

Britny Fox reunited in 2000 with the same lineup before their disbandment and released a fourth studio album, Springhead Motorshark, in 2003. The band toured the US and Europe in 2007 and 2008. Guitarist Tommy Krash and former White Lion drummer Greg D'Angelo was supposed to join at that time, but he broke his foot during rehearsal and was replaced by Henry Now.

As of late 2007, Britny Fox reformed under original bassist Billy Childs. The other former members of this lineup were lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Jamie Fletcher, lead guitarist Greg Polcari, and drummer Henry Now.

Bassist Billy Childs and the new lineup had a minor but billed role in the horror film Incest Death Squad (2009). [7] Childs also played bass in the North American Led Zeppelin tribute band Get the Led Out. [8]

In 2010, Dean Davidson unsuccessfully attempted to reunite the surviving members of the original lineup.

On April 25, 2015, the band announced that they had reunited with bassist Billy Childs, drummer Johnny Dee, long-time singer/rhythm guitarist Tommy Paris, and new lead guitarist Chris Sanders as their lineup and that they were recording a new album. [9] In a 2017 interview, Childs stated that the album project had been abandoned, but he stopped short of saying that the band had broken up. [10] In 2018, Sanders joined fellow glam metal band Ratt.

In 2022, Billy Childs formed his own incarnation of Britny Fox without the involvement of any other past members. They toured throughout 2023.

More recently in 2023, former lead guitarist Michael Kelly Smith confirmed in several new interviews that he was in touch with all surviving original members and was considering bringing an official version of the band back for a reunion with the lineup from the first two albums. Smith also teased the possibility of a new studio album.

Members

Billy Childs' Britny Fox

Past

Lead vocals/rhythm guitar

  • Dean Davidson (1985–1990)
  • Tommy Paris (1990–2007; 2015–2016)
  • Jamie Fletcher (2008–2014)

Lead guitar

  • Michael Kelly Smith (1985–1992; 2000–2003)
  • Tommy Krash (2006–2007)
  • Greg Polcari (2007–2014)

Drums

  • Tony Destra (1985–1987; died 1987)
  • Adam Ferraioli (1987–1988) (died 2023)
  • Johnny Dee (1988–1992; 2000–2003; 2015–2016)
  • Greg D'Angelo (2006–2007)
  • Henry Now (2007–2014)

Touring keyboards

  • Bobby Bunten (1988–1989)

Timeline

Britny Fox

Lineups

(1985–1987)
(February–March 1987)
  • Dean Davidson – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Michael Kelly Smith – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Billy Childs – bass, backing vocals
  • Adam West – drums, percussion
(1987–1990)
  • Dean Davidson – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Michael Kelly Smith – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Billy Childs – bass, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Johnny Dee  – drums, percussion, backing vocals
(1990–1992), (2000–2003)
  • Tommy Paris – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards
  • Michael Kelly Smith – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Billy Childs – bass, backing vocals
  • Johnny Dee – drums, percussion, backing vocals
(2006–2007)
  • Tommy Paris – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards
  • Tommy Krash – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Billy Childs – bass, backing vocals
  • Greg D'Angelo  – drums, percussion, backing vocals
(2007)
  • Tommy Paris – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards
  • Tommy Krash – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Billy Childs – bass, backing vocals
  • Henry Now – drums, percussion, backing vocals
(Late 2007–2014)
  • Jamie Fletcher – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Greg Polcari – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Billy Childs – bass, backing vocals
  • Henry Now – drums, percussion, backing vocals
(2015–2016)
  • Billy Childs – bass, backing vocals
  • Tommy Paris – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards
  • Johnny Dee – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Chris Sanders – lead guitar

Discography

Studio albums

YearAlbum US RIAA CertificationLabel
1988 Britny Fox 39GoldCBS
1989 Boys in Heat 79-CBS
1991 Bite Down Hard --EastWest
2003 Springhead Motorshark --Spitfire

Video albums

YearAlbum US RIAA CertificationLabel
1989Year of the Fox--CBS

Live albums

YearAlbum US RIAA CertificationLabel
2001Long Way to Live!--Spitfire
2002Live at Froggy's--Britny Fox Records
2006 Extended Versions --SBME Special Markets

Compilation albums

YearAlbum US RIAA CertificationLabel
2001 The Best of Britny Fox --CBS

Singles

YearSingleChart positionsAlbum
US Hot 100 [11] US Main Rock UK
1988"Long Way to Love"10033- Britny Fox
1989"Girlschool"--
"Save the Weak"---
"Standing in the Shadows"--101 Boys in Heat
1990"Dream On"-34-
1991"Louder"--- Bite Down Hard
"Over and Out"---
2003"Is It Real?"--- Springhead Motorshark
2007"Girlschool" "Long Way to Love"---Non-album single

Demos

Bootlegs

Other appearances

YearAlbumSong US RIAA CertificationLabel
1991 Nintendo: White Knuckle Scorin' "Turn On"--MCA
2019Tommy Krash and Friends, BRITNY FOX the Acoustic SessionsCompilation--DEKO

Soundtrack

YearSongMovieDescription
1988"Living on the Edge" Iron Eagle II Starring Louis Gossett Jr.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angel (American band)</span> American rock band

Angel is an American rock band from Washington, D.C., formed in the mid-1970s by Punky Meadows, Mickey Jones, and Gregg Giuffria. They were primarily known for their flamboyant glam stage presence and white satin outfits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cinderella (band)</span> American rock band

Cinderella was an American rock band formed in the suburbs of Philadelphia in 1983. The band emerged in the mid-1980s with a series of multi-platinum studio albums and hit singles whose music videos received heavy MTV rotation and popularity. Cinderella initially had a glam metal sound throughout the late 1980s before shifting into a more blues rock-based sound during the early to mid 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danger Danger</span> American glam metal band

Danger Danger is an American glam metal band formed in Queens, New York, in 1986.

Tony Destra, was an American drummer who played for the glam metal bands Cinderella and Britny Fox. Before Cinderella or Britny Fox, Tony was the drummer for another popular Philadelphia area band called Enforcer. The singer for Enforcer was Bill Mattson who would gain later recognition as the frontman for Tangier. Tony played on Cinderella's indy 45 of "Shake Me" and "Somebody Save Me". After he left Cinderella, he joined Britny Fox in 1985. He played on the Britny Fox demo In America in 1986. Tony died in a car accident on February 8, 1987.

Michael Schermick, known professionally as Michael Kelly Smith, is an American guitarist who played for the glam metal bands Cinderella and Britny Fox. Schermick and drummer Tony Destra were fired from Cinderella in 1985 at the request of the record label, Polygram.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heathen (band)</span> American thrash metal band

Heathen is an American thrash metal band originating from the San Francisco Bay Area, active from 1984 to 1993 and again from 2001 onwards. Despite never achieving commercial success, the band is often credited – alongside Exodus, Testament, Forbidden, Death Angel and Vio-lence – as one of the leaders of the Bay Area thrash metal scene of the mid-to-late 1980s, and they have gone through several lineup changes, leaving guitarist Lee Altus as the only constant member. To date, Heathen has released four studio albums: Breaking the Silence (1987), Victims of Deception (1991), The Evolution of Chaos (2009) and Empire of the Blind (2020).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roxx Gang</span> American Glam Metal Band

Roxx Gang was an American glam metal band formed in 1982 in St. Petersburg, Florida. It was fronted by Kevin Steele, who formed the band along with guitarist Eric Carrell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Easy Action (band)</span> Swedish rock band

Easy Action is a Swedish band from Stockholm that was first formed in 1981 by Pelle Almgren (ex-Warhead), Henrik "2 meter" Jermsten (ex-Stoodes), Bosse Belsen and Björne Fröberg. Bosse and Björne quit and were replaced by Ola "Skox" Andersson and drummer Urban "Ubbe" Sundbaum. Stranded Rekords became interested and released the single "Honcho Bongo". It did not sell well and when the second single, "Om jag vore kung", also failed the band split up. Skox and 2 meter formed Psyhedelic Mongo and Pelle Almgren started writing songs instead.

<i>Britny Fox</i> (album) 1988 studio album by Britny Fox

Britny Fox is the debut album by the American glam metal band Britny Fox, released on June 6, 1988, through Columbia Records. The album contains the hits "Long Way to Love", "Girlschool" and the power ballad "Save the Weak". On December 21, 1988, the album was certified as gold.

London is an American glam metal band formed in Hollywood, California in 1978. The band included several members that would go on to play in more famous bands, such as Mötley Crüe, Guns N' Roses, W.A.S.P. and Cinderella.

<i>Boys in Heat</i> 1989 studio album by Britny Fox

Boys in Heat is the second album by the American glam metal band Britny Fox, released in 1989. After this album, singer "Dizzy" Dean Davidson left the group and formed the band Blackeyed Susan. He was replaced by singer Tommy Paris. The album debuted at No. 149 on the Billboard 200 albums chart dated November 25, 1989, and peaked at No. 79 the following week, staying there for 3 weeks. The song "Hair of the Dog" was originally recorded by Nazareth on the album Hair of the Dog (1975).

<i>Bite Down Hard</i> 1991 studio album by Britny Fox

Bite Down Hard is the third studio album by American glam metal band Britny Fox and the first to feature singer Tommy Paris. It also features guest appearances by Zakk Wylde and Poison drummer Rikki Rockett.

"Dizzy" Dean Davidson is an American singer, guitarist, and drummer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a founding member, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the glam metal band Britny Fox from 1985 to 1990. After leaving Britny Fox, Davidson formed the band Blackeyed Susan. The band disbanded in 1992 but reunited in 2000 without Davidson. In 2010, Davidson attempted to reunite Britny Fox but did not get past the talking stage. The band name, Britny Fox was named after the Welsh coat of arms of one of Davidson's 18th century ancestors. Davidson later expressed a dislike for the Britny Fox material, saying he was "controlled by management and the label" and calling the music "prefabricated".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kik Tracee</span> American hard rock band

Kik Tracee was a 1990s hard rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1988, during the last years of the glam metal movement, before the influx of grunge and alternative rock.

Tangier was an American, Philadelphia-based hard rock band, which was active between 1984 and 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diamond Rexx</span> American heavy metal/glam metal band

Diamond Rexx is an American heavy metal / glam metal band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1985 by singer Nasti Habits and guitarist Scott St. Lust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Dee (musician)</span> American heavy metal drummer

Johnny Dee is an American heavy metal drummer.

<i>Springhead Motorshark</i> 2003 studio album by Britny Fox

Springhead Motorshark is the fourth studio album by American glam metal band Britny Fox, released on July 29, 2003, by Spitfire Records.

For the Australian band, see The Blackeyed Susans.

References

  1. Phillips, William (March 20, 2009). Encyclopedia of Heavy Metal Music. Greenwich, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. pp. 45–46. ISBN   978-0-313-34800-6 . Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Sleaze Roxx: Britny Fox". May 1, 2011. Archived from the original on May 1, 2011. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  3. Talevski, Nick (2006). Rock Obituaries – Knocking On Heaven's Door. London: Omnibus Press. p. 130. ISBN   978-1-84609-091-2 . Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 Colin Larkin, ed. (1999). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Heavy Rock (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 81. ISBN   0-7535-0257-7.
  5. Blush, Steven (2006). American Hair Metal. Los Angeles, CA: Feral House. p. 119. ISBN   978-1-932595-18-5 . Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  6. "Sleaze Roxx: Tommy Paris Interview". January 24, 2010. Archived from the original on January 24, 2010. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  7. "Incest Death Squad (2009)". IMDb.com. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  8. "Billy Childs bio". Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  9. "BRITNY FOX Has Reunited And Is Back In Studio". Blabbermouth.net. April 25, 2015. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  10. Alamo, Angel (March 11, 2017). "Interview with Billy Childs (Britny Fox)". Angelalamo.com. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  11. "The Hot 100 Chart – October 1st, 1988". Billboard. Retrieved March 25, 2021.