Ronnie "10/10" Younkins Donnie Purnell Tee Tunes Brian "Damage" Forsythe Donnie Spence Terry Brady Sam Smith Steve Whiteman David "Stargazer" Bumbalough Jimmy "Chocolate" Chalfant Brad Divens Mark Schenker
Kix (stylized as KIX) was an American glam metal and hard rock band formed in 1976, that achieved popularity during the 1980s. Led by bassist Donnie Purnell and front man Steve Whiteman, the band's classic lineup was rounded out by guitarists Ronnie "10/10" Younkins and Brian "Damage" Forsythe and drummer Jimmy "Chocolate" Chalfant. Kix covered AC/DC, Aerosmith, April Wine, Led Zeppelin, and others before signing with Atlantic Records in 1981. Since peaking in the late 1980s, band members continued to record and tour until their disbandment in 2023.
The band was unnamed from December 1976 until March 1977. Initially calling themselves Shooze in March 1977, followed by a stint as The Generators, Kix formed with Ronnie "10/10" Younkins and Donnie Purnell (from the band Jaxx) in December 1976 in Hagerstown, Maryland, and Frederick, Maryland. Guitarist Brian "Damage" Forsythe joined in March 1977, then front man Steve Whiteman, and finally drummer Jimmy "Chocolate" Chalfant soon came on board, completing what would become the band's classic lineup. The band got a contract with Time Warner affiliate Atlantic Records. In 1981, they released their self-titled debut album, Kix, which featured favorites from their live shows like "Atomic Bombs," "The Itch," and "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah." With a unique ad-lib performance by lead vocalist Whiteman, the latter became one of the band's most popular concert songs. Another track, "Love at First Sight," also became a concert favorite.[2] The album established the tongue-in-cheekrock and roll style of Kix.
Their 1983 follow-up, Cool Kids,[3] showcased a more commercial side of the band[according to whom?] and included three cover songs. Spearheaded by the single "Body Talk", a cover of a 1981 Nick Gilder song, rumors circulated that the song was covered to appease the band's label, who was eager to capture radio airplay. Other songs like "Restless Blood" and "Mighty Mouth" fared a little better. This album was also the only Kix record to feature guitarist Brad Divens, who replaced Younkins for what would ultimately be a brief departure.[citation needed]
Eager to recapture the harder rock vibe of their earlier work, and with Younkins having returned to the lineup, Kix partnered with then Ratt and future Warrant producer Beau Hill and hit songwriter Bob Halligan Jr., releasing Midnite Dynamite in 1985.[3] The album spawned two singles: "Midnite Dynamite" reached No. 18, followed by "Cold Shower," which reached No. 23, both on the Hot Mainstream Rock chart. Other notable tracks receiving airplay included "Sex" and "Bang Bang (Balls of Fire)".[citation needed]
Commercial success (1988–1995)
Kix performing in 1983
After Midnite Dynamite, Kix went back into the studio to record their follow-up. In 1988, they released Blow My Fuse,[3] which went platinum. The Bob Halligan Jr. co-written power ballad "Don't Close Your Eyes" peaked at No.11 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album also featured the singles "Cold Blood" (the first of Purnell's many co-writes with Taylor Rhodes) and the title track, "Blow My Fuse", along with videos showing the band in concert at Hammerjack's. In 1989, the band released Blow My Fuse: The Videos, featuring their official video releases and behind-the-scenes footage. The success of Blow My Fuse enabled the band to begin performing in arenas.[citation needed]
The album Hot Wire arrived in 1991,[3] with the single "Girl Money". In 1993, guitarist Jimi K. Bones replaced Brian "Damage" Forsythe. While on tour in 1992, they made a live album, titled Live, showcasing a recent performance at the University of Maryland, College Park. This album, internally referred to as Contractual Obligation Live, was released in 1993. In 1994, Atlantic dropped the band from the label. In 1995, the band released their next album, $how Bu$ine$$, on CMC International.[citation needed]
Side projects
In 1996, Whiteman formed a band called Funny Money. In 1998, Brian "Damage" Forsythe teamed up with ex-White Sister and Tattoo Rodeo drummer Rich Wright, and erstwhile Rhino Bucket members rhythm guitarist/lead vocalist Georg Dolivo (George Dolivo) and bassist Reeve Downes to forge Deep Six Holiday. In 2001, Forsythe himself would join Rhino Bucket, later performing lead guitar on the group's 2005 release And Then It Got Ugly..[citation needed]
Meanwhile, Ronnie "10/10" Younkins relocated to Baltimore City, and would be part of the rock 'n' roll act Jeremy and the Suicides.[citation needed] Younkins later moved to Los Angeles, then wrote, recorded, and released the album The Slimmer Twins: Lack of Luxury, as a collaboration with vocalist Jeremy L. White in 2000. Back on the East Coast, he founded the Blues Vultures in 2002, maturing into the lead vocalist and primary songwriter, and in 2005, released the album The Blues Vultures: Cheap Guitars & Honky Tonk Bars.
Jimmy "Chocolate" Chalfant joined Whiteman in Funny Money as their drummer in 2003, ultimately sowing the seeds for a Kix reunion.
Reunion and retirement (2003–2023)
Kix reformed in late 2003 without songwriter and band leader Donnie Purnell. Kix then lined-up shows for September 2004, the line-up consisting of Whiteman (lead vocals), Younkins (guitars), Brian "Damage" Forsythe (guitars), Jimmy "Chocolate" Chalfant (drums, backing vocals), and Funny Money bassist/vocalist/songwriter Mark Schenker in place of Donnie Purnell.[citation needed]
On August 7, 2012, Frontiers Records announced that it had signed Kix; the band subsequently released a live CD/DVD, titled Live in Baltimore, in September, with a new studio album to follow in 2013.[4]
On April 16, 2014, it was announced that the band had signed with Loud & Proud Records to release the band's first studio album in 19 years.[5] On June 18, 2014, it was announced that the band would release this album - their seventh studio album - titled Rock Your Face Off, on August 5.[6] Upon release, it debuted at No. 49 on the Billboard Top 200 (the band's second highest-charting record after 1988's Blow My Fuse), while debuting at No. 1 on Amazon Hard Rock, remaining there for more than three weeks. It was well-received by fans and critics alike. The hard rock webzine Sleaze Roxx published that Rock Your Face Off was awarded No. 1 in the Top Ten Albums of 2014 by editors and staff as well as No. 1 in Top Ten Albums of 2014 in the Sleaze Roxx Reader's Poll.[full citation needed] The first time in the web site's history that an album has taken the top spot in both categories. Stereogum.com chose Rock Your Face Off as Album of the Week with high praise saying "...all of it is delirious and catchy, and it proudly flaunts its out-of-fashion party-hard spirit. It’s glittering trash, made by guys in their fifties who probably hold down day jobs these days and who have no business making this vigorous and fun anymore. Its mere existence is an inspirational thing, and it’s a reminder that sometimes exploring new musical space isn’t the most important thing. Sometimes, songs are the most important thing."[7]
In February 2017, it was announced that Kix would headline the first night at Rockingham Festival 2017, which was held at Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom.[8]
Original Shooze drummer Donnie Spence died at the age of 64 on January 19, 2018 in Hagerstown, Maryland.[9]
On September 21, 2018 a 2 CD anniversary edition set named Fuse 30 Reblown – 30th Anniversary Special Edition was released. Producer Beau Hill who previously worked with Kix on their 1985 album, Midnite Dynamite remixed the original 24 track recordings. Fuse 30 Reblown is the original concept of current bassist Schenker, who with help from record executive Madelyn Scarpulla, was able to obtain digital transfers from the original analog master recording reels. Schenker was also instrumental in rescuing the original 8-track demo reels and to digitally enhance and rescue the original 2-track demos. The website Metalnation.com reported "Hill does a masterful job on Fuse 30, bringing the album into the new millennium without taking away from eclectic elements and raucous energy that made the original so memorable. Jay Frigoletto came in to master the album. The second disc contains the 10 demo recordings for each one of the album tracks."[10] In 2020 the previous album Midnight Dynamite was remixed and re-released; called Midnight Dynamite Re-Lit, it is, to date, only available as a digital download.
Beginning in November 2020, guitarist Ronnie Younkins took a leave of absence from touring and beginning in May 2021, Bob Paré began performing live with Kix.[11] Soon after, it was revealed that Younkins' absence was because he had been placed under house arrest after repeatedly getting in trouble with the police.[12] In late February 2022, Ronnie returned to live performances with his own band. He remains on hiatus from live performances with Kix.
On November 18, 2022, drummer Jimmy Chalfant suffered an apparent severe cardiac event while on stage at the Tally Ho Theater in Leesburg, VA.[13] Drum tech Sam Stilwell and others assisted with attending to Jimmy, but the band did not finish the performance. From March 2023 until May 2023, Matt Starr filled-in for Chalfant for live performances and is currently on standby in case Chalfant's health deteriorates. Chalfant notably does not sing backing vocals, with Paré continuing to provide that support.
On May 7, 2023, during an appearance at the M3 Rock Festival at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, Steve Whiteman announced that Kix would call it quits and would perform their final show on September 17 at the same venue.[14][15] The band disbanded following the performance, with guitarist Ronnie Younkins and former guitarist Brad Divens performing with the band.[16]
Side projects
In 2018, bassist Mark Schenker and drummer Vince Tricarico formed the Rush tribute band Sun Dogs[17] handling lead vocals, bass, keyboards, and bass pedals.
In popular culture
The 2017 horror comedy Dead Ant covers songs by Kix, presented as songs by Sonic Grave, a fictional has-been glam metal band.[18]
Michael Schenker is a German guitarist. He played in the rock band UFO and leads the Michael Schenker Group (MSG). He was an early member of the hard rock band Scorpions, a band co-founded by his elder brother Rudolf Schenker. In the mid-1970s, Schenker joined UFO, playing lead and rhythm guitar. He left the band in 1978 to briefly rejoin Scorpions for the recording of Lovedrive, and then to form MSG. He has rejoined UFO three times, producing an album each time. Schenker continues to perform and record. He has been called "a legendary figure in the history of metal guitar."
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.
Krokus is a Swiss hard rock and heavy metal band formed in 1975. They were popular in North America during the 1980s.
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The Michael Schenker Group is an English hard rock band, formed in London in 1979 by former Scorpions and UFO guitarist Michael Schenker. In 1986, Schenker and vocalist Robin McAuley formed the McAuley Schenker Group, which lasted until 1993. Afterwards, in 1996, the Michael Schenker Group was reformed. After the release of their second live album, 1984's Rock Will Never Die, its members began to have serious discussions that caused a two-year hiatus, and Michael ended the band in 1986.
Steve Whiteman is an American rock vocalist, best known for being the lead singer of Kix.
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Kix is the debut album by the glam metal band Kix. It was released in 1981 on Atlantic Records.
Cool Kids is the second studio album by the glam metal band Kix. Released in 1983 on Atlantic Records, it is the only Kix album to feature Brad Divens of Wrathchild America and Souls at Zero on guitar.
Midnite Dynamite is the third studio album by American glam metal band Kix, released in 1985 by Atlantic Records. It features 7 out of 10 songs co-written by bassist Donnie Purnell with hit songwriter Bob Halligan Jr.. Kip Winger was credited on one song and Crack the Sky frontman John Palumbo on three. Only one other Kix member contributed to the songwriting, Steve Whiteman on, "Sex."
Blow My Fuse is the fourth album by the glam metal band Kix. Released on September 6, 1988, on Atlantic Records, the album features Kix's only hit, the power ballad "Don't Close Your Eyes." The song peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was co-written with Bob Halligan, Jr. and Crack the Sky frontman John Palumbo, both of whom had previously collaborated on Kix songs. The album was certified platinum by the RIAA in 2000.
Hot Wire is the fifth studio album by the glam metal band Kix. It was released on July 9, 1991 on East West Records.
Live is a live album by the glam metal band Kix, recorded at the University of Maryland's Ritchie Coliseum in October 1991. It was released in 1993 on Atlantic Records.
Show Business is the sixth album by the American hard rock band Kix. It was released in 1995 through CMC International, following their departure from Atlantic Records. Kix supported the album with a North American tour.
Funny Money is an American rock band. They played at multiple venues in the Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania area. They played a mix of Kix covers as well as original material.
Rock Your Face Off is the seventh and final studio album by the American rock band KIX. It is KIX's first studio release in 19 years since their 1995 album Show Business. It is the band's only studio release with bassist Mark Schenker replacing the band's primary songwriter Donnie Purnell. Producer Taylor Rhodes co-wrote three of the album's songs, while former Funny Money guitarist Rob Galpin and Craig Stegall also get co-writing credits.
Ronald Romero is a Chilean singer and lyricist best known as the vocalist of the bands Elegant Weapons, Lords of Black, Rainbow, the Ferrymen, Michael Schenker Group, and Sunstorm. He represented Bulgaria at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 as the lead singer of Intelligent Music Project.
"Don't Close Your Eyes" is a power ballad by the American glam metal band Kix from their fourth studio album, Blow My Fuse (1988). It was written by Bob Halligan Jr., John Palumbo and Donnie Purnell.
References
↑ "Kix". Big Time Entertainment. Retrieved September 11, 2012.
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