Kik Tracee | |
|---|---|
 Kik Tracee, 1991. | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1988–1993 |
| Labels | |
| Past members | Stephen Shareaux Rob Grad Gregory "Hex" Offers Michael Marquis Johnny Douglas Scott Donnell |
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. [1]
The band was formed in a Los Angeles suburb in 1988 by guitarists Gregory "Hex" Offers and Michael Marquis, bassist Rob Grad, and drummer Scott Donnell. The four had played the Los Angeles club scene from the age of 16. Singer Stephen Shareaux hailed from Minneapolis, MN, and joined the group that would become Kik Tracee. Drummer Johnny Douglas replaced Donnell during recording of the first album, citing creative differences with producer Dana Strum. The band was sometimes accused of being a clone of Guns N' Roses. Others argue that the band's complexity and depth placed them on a higher level than the average L.A. rock band. [2] Despite such accolades, Kik Tracee were one of many third-wave glam metal bands in the early 1990s swept out of commercial visibility due to the popularity of the alternative music scene. The band saw a very short run on MTV's Headbangers Ball in the 1990s, their sound having been described as similar to that of L.A. Guns, Britny Fox, and Faster Pussycat.
Dana Strum of Slaughter fame produced Kik Tracee's 1991 album No Rules for BMG Music, spawning the singles (and accompanying videos) "You're So Strange" and "Don't Need Rules."
Kik Tracee released the Chris Goss-produced EP Field Trip in 1992. A video was shot for the track "In Trance."
Kik Tracee, along with producer Garth Richardson, began work on their second full-length release titled Center of a Tension, but the band broke up during the recording process, and the unfinished album was shelved.
In 2002 Shareaux was one of many singers who auditioned for the Slash, Duff Mckagan, and Matt Sorum effort "The Project" (later dubbed Velvet Revolver). His audition was featured in the documentary "The Rise of Velvet Revolver." He submitted the track "Stripper Girl," but was rejected in favor of Scott Weiland.
Shareaux joined Flipp before creating a new psychedelic band called Revel 8, while bassist Grad is currently fronting the band Superfine, and guitarist Hex pursued placements in film and TV, as well as a project called Deep Audio. Shareaux also recorded with former Tomorrow's Child and Engines of Aggression guitarist Rik Schaffer under the name Nectar; their sole album, Afterglow, was released in 1997 by German-based label Dream Circle. [3]
In 1997, Superfine appeared on the TV show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” with Rob Grad in the role of a band member in the episode "Teacher's Pet." In 2010, Grad left Superfine and released a solo album. [4]
In November 2013, Shareaux released his debut solo album, Golden; former Small Faces and Faces keyboardist Ian McLagan makes a guest appearance on the song "R&R." [5]
In 2015 Shareaux began performing acoustic shows with Drew Fortier, in which Kik Tracee songs were heard live for the first time in over 20 years. [6] [7]
Fortier and Shareaux also formed Zen From Mars, an alternative rock band featuring former members of Enuff Z'Nuff, Fear Factory, and Flipp. Their debut album The Ultra Head Frequency was mixed and mastered by Richard Easterling for a projected mid-2018 release. [8]
In 2017 Kik Tracee signed with EMP Label Group and released Big Western Sky, a two-disc collection of demos, rarities, and b-sides. [9]
Their single "You're So Strange" peaked at #47 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in September 1991. [10] [11]
No Rules, Kik Tracee's debut album, landed at #46 on Rolling Stone's Top 50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums of All Time list. [12]
Kik Tracee appeared at #78 in VH1's Hair Metal 100 Countdown list. [13]
Power Chord TV listed Kik Tracee #2 on their list of Hollywood bands that should have been hugely successful. [14]
Glam metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that features pop-influenced hooks and guitar riffs, upbeat rock anthems, and slow power ballads. It borrows heavily from the fashion and image of 1970s glam rock.
Britny Fox was 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". Bassist Billy Childs has been the only band member to be a part of each of the band's many lineups.
Enuff Z'Nuff is an American rock band from Blue Island, Illinois, founded by singer Donnie Vie and bassist Chip Z'Nuff. The band charted two times on the US Hot 100; "Fly High Michelle" (#47) and "New Thing" (#67).
Bang Tango is an American hard rock band. The band was formed in Los Angeles in 1988 and was signed to MCA Records the same year.
Flipp is an American rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1994, founded by singer/guitarist/producer Brynn Arens. They were signed to Hollywood Records and later Artemis Records, releasing 3 studio albums up until their dissolution in 2003. The band were known for their MTV presence in the 1990s as well as its theatrical live show which included cartoonish personas, face paint, smoking guitar amps, jet-packs, pillow feathers, cereal, pulling unsuspecting concert goers onstage to perform with the band, and other such stunts. As of 2016, the band have reunited and remain active to this day.
Strength is the second studio album by the American rock band Enuff Z'nuff, released in 1991. The band had positive momentum at the time of the album's release, including an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman, as well as Rolling Stone calling them "The Hot Band of 1991." Although Strength quickly entered the British charts at No. 56, the album peaked at only No. 143 in the United States.
Enuff Z'Nuff is the debut studio album by American glam metal band Enuff Z'Nuff, released on August 18, 1989, through Atco Records. This debut album continues to be the best selling album in the band's catalog. The album's first single, "New Thing", received steady radio and MTV airplay, peaking at No. 67 on the Billboard Hot 100. Their follow-up single, a ballad called "Fly High Michelle," would prove to be the band's biggest hit, peaking at No. 47 on the same chart. Promotional CDs were created for another song, a ballad called "For Now," but this single was apparently cancelled while the band focused on their follow-up record, 1991's Strength. By 1991 the album had sold 300,000 copies.
Animals with Human Intelligence is the third studio album by the American rock band Enuff Z'nuff and is also their only album on Arista Records. Original drummer Vikki Foxx left the group right after the recording sessions ended, to join rocker Vince Neil's band. In addition to the promotional video for the song "Right by Your Side," the band made a live appearance on the Late Night with David Letterman TV show, performing the song "Superstitious". The song "Innocence" was released as a follow-up single, however, none of the album's singles charted on the US Hot 100.
Tweaked is the 5th studio album and first independently released collection of new material by American rock band Enuff Z'nuff.
Rik Schaffer is an American composer and musician. He formed Womb Music in 1996 after being in the music industry as a member of several acts such as Tomorrow's Child and Engines of Aggression. He often works with his partner Margaret Tang.
American rock band Enuff Z'Nuff currently has 17 studio albums, 5 live albums, and 4 compilations for a total of 27 official albums. Their highest charting singles were "Fly High Michelle" and "New Thing" from their 1989 self-titled release. Enuff Z'Nuff's latest studio release of new material, named Brainwashed Generation, was released in July 2020. A 3-disc compilation of unreleased material, Never Enuff, was released by Cleopatra Records in August 2021. A Beatles' Tribute Album named "Hardrock Nite" came out in 2021. Their newest release, Finer than Sin, will come out November 11, 2022 through Frontiers Records. It will be the 4th consecutive album with Chip Z'nuff taking over lead vocals.
Tony Fennell is a British musician, songwriter and producer. He was the lead singer, lyricist and musician for the band Ultravox from 1992 until 1994, as well as a writer and producer of music for television.
Donald Edwin Vandevelde, better known by his stage name Donnie Vie, is an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He is best known as the main songwriter and lead vocalist of the rock band Enuff Z'Nuff.
Andrew Lawrence Fortier is an American musician, guitarist, filmmaker, actor, and author. He is best known for his work with The Lucid; which he cofounded alongside Vinnie Dombroski (Sponge), David Ellefson, and Mike Heller. He was guitarist for the now late Chuck Mosley. He has directed and edited the documentary Attack of Life: The Bang Tango Movie as well as the David Ellefson produced horror film Dwellers which Fortier also wrote and stars in. He is the author of Dark, Depressing, and Hilarious which is an autobiography on his career thus far.
Zen From Mars is an American recording project formed in 2015 by members of Bang Tango, Kik Tracee, Enuff Z'Nuff, Flipp, and Fear Factory.
Stephen Shareaux is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He is best known as lead vocalist for the hard rock band Kik Tracee. He is a solo artist as well as lead vocalist and co-founder of alternative rock band Zen From Mars which includes members of Bang Tango, Enuff Z'Nuff, Flipp, and Fear Factory.
Brynn Arens is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and record producer from Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is best known as guitarist and frontman of the rock band Flipp, as well as guitarist for the alternative rock band Zen From Mars. He is also the founder of Brynn Co., which is his own model of guitar amplifiers created from vintage radio consoles.
"New Thing" is a song by American rock band Enuff Z'Nuff that was released as a single in 1989. This song, along with "Fly High Michelle", were the group's two entries on the US Hot 100.
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