Michael Schermick

Last updated
Michael Schermick
Also known asMichael Kelly Smith
Born (1958-10-21) October 21, 1958 (age 65)
Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres Glam metal, hard rock
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentGuitar

Michael Schermick (born October 21, 1958), known professionally as Michael Kelly Smith, is an American guitarist who played for the glam metal bands Cinderella and Britny Fox. [1] Schermick and drummer Tony Destra were fired from Cinderella in 1985 at the request of the record label, Polygram. [2]

Contents

Following his departure from Cinderella, he again teamed with Destra, along with Dean Davidson and Billy Childs to form Britny Fox, becoming their lead guitarist. [3] Following Destra's untimely death in 1987 from a car accident, the band recruited drummer Johnny Dee, completing what would become their classic lineup. Schermick played on every album released by Britny Fox until their breakup in 1992. [4]

Prior to Cinderella and Britny Fox, Michael had been a guitarist in the bands Atlantic Star, Telepath, Psychopath, Diamonds, Saints in Hell and The Priscella Harriet Band.

He also played in a band known as Razamanaz featuring Cory Massi on lead vocals and guitar, Joe Bisbing on bass, and Steve Attig on drums. [5]

He currently[ when? ] teaches guitar in Horsham, Pennsylvania. [6]

Discography

With Cinderella

With Britny Fox

With Razamanaz

Related Research Articles

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

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.

<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.

<i>Tooth and Nail</i> (Dokken album) 1984 studio album by Dokken

Tooth and Nail is the second studio album by American heavy metal band Dokken, released on September 14, 1984 through Elektra Records.

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

BulletBoys is an American hard rock/glam metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1987. The group's original lineup was composed of singer Marq Torien, guitarist Mick Sweda, bassist Lonnie Vencent, and drummer Jimmy D'Anda. The group released two successful albums and had a number of singles featured on MTV between 1988 and 1991. From the 1990s onward, the group went through numerous lineup changes, with Torien as the only consistent member. Their most recent album From Out of the Skies was released in 2018. The original lineup reunited for one-off shows in 2011 and 2019.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Schenker Group</span> Multinational hard English rock band

The Michael Schenker Group is an English hard rock band, formed in London in 1979 by former Scorpions and UFO guitarist Michael Schenker. 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. 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.

<i>Live! Vampires</i> 1992 live album by L.A. Guns

Live! Vampires is the first live album by American hard rock band L.A. Guns. Recorded in August 1991 at two shows in the United States, it was self-produced by the band and released in Japan only on February 26, 1992, by Vertigo Records. The majority of songs performed on the album are from the band's third studio album Hollywood Vampires, plus one each from L.A. Guns and Cocked & Loaded. Live! Vampires registered at number 91 on the Japanese Albums Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff LaBar</span> American guitarist (1963–2021)

Jeffrey Philip LaBar was an American guitarist in the glam metal band Cinderella, in which he replaced original guitarist Michael Schermick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Brittingham</span> American bass guitarist

Eric Brittingham is an American bass guitarist best known for playing in the band Cinderella.

<i>Subhuman Beings on Tour</i> 1995 EP live by Skid Row

Subhuman Beings on Tour!! is a live EP by American heavy metal band Skid Row. The EP was released in Japan in 1995 and consists of live performances from the Subhuman Race tour in support of their most recent album Subhuman Race.

<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).

Femme Fatale was an American hard rock band. Originally from Albuquerque, the band moved to Los Angeles and released one studio album before disbanding. Lead vocalist, Lorraine Lewis, restarted the band in 2013 with an all-female line-up.

Jetboy is an American, San Francisco-based, hard rock band, founded in 1983 by guitarists Billy Rowe and Fernie Rod. Jetboy got the attention of music fans and record executives in Hollywood during the mid-1980s. The band moved to Los Angeles in 1986 after signing a deal with Elektra Records. Their musical influences ranged from punk rock to rock 'n' roll to blues. Their 1988 debut album Feel the Shake peaked at 135 on Billboard 200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Drnec</span> American musician

Jim Drnec is a drummer who played for the glam metal band Cinderella. He replaced original Cinderella drummer Tony Destra, who went on to the band Britny Fox. Drnec was himself replaced by drummer Fred Coury, although session player Jody Cortez played on Cinderella's first official album, Night Songs. Drnec is now a trial attorney in Wilmington, Delaware. In addition to Cinderella, from 1977 through 1989 Drnec played drums for Philly-area bands Big Eyes, Psychopath, V, Horsepower, The Dead End Kids, Hide Your Daughters, Network, and Tangier. In 1989, Network released their CD of original material, Crashin’ Hollywood. From 1990 through 1995, Drnec played drums for Southern California artists such as Raven Slaughter, A Pack of Gurus, The Blues Bastards, The Alexander Band, and The James Leigh Bishop Band. Most recently, Drnec played in the tri-state area locally with his blues band, The DelCats, from 2003 to 2009. Since 2006, Drnec has been playing in Philadelphia with local artist Tony Mecca in Mecca's band the Heavy MeNtal Gypsies. In 2020, Mecca released his seventh CD, Fractured Poetry. From 2011 to 2015, Drnec played drums for Ever/After, an all original hard rock band featuring Reggie Wu of Heaven's Edge, bassist Buddy Cash, guitarist Mike Sheahan, and vocalist Christopher Thomas of the Denver, Colorado band Omniism. Ever/After released its debut CD, A Beautiful Lie in August, 2013. The album contained all original material written by Wu and Drnec. Drnec was also the drummer for original Philadelphia rock band The Electric Boa in 2015–2016.

"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".

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Corbett</span> Musical artist

Gary Corbett was an American keyboardist, composer and producer most famous for playing in the glam metal band Cinderella.

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

Johnny Dee is an American heavy metal drummer.

For the Australian band, see The Blackeyed Susans.

References

  1. Phillips, William (20 March 2009). Encyclopedia of Heavy Metal Music. Greenwich, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. pp. 45–46. ISBN   978-0-313-34800-6 . Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  2. Talevski, Nick (2006). Rock Obituaries - Knocking On Heaven's Door. London: Omnibus Press. p. 130. ISBN   978-1-84609-091-2 . Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  3. Taylor, Carlson T. (June 2014). HAIRcyclopedia Vol. 1 - The Legends. Lulu.com. p. 43. ISBN   978-1-312-28618-4 . Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  4. Carlson, Taylor T. (27 June 2014). HAIRcyclopedia Vol. 1 - The Legends. Lulu.com. p. 37. ISBN   978-1-312-28618-4 . Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  5. "Razamanaz". www.nolifetilmetal.com. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  6. "Michael, Instructor at Horsham Music & Arts in PA". stores.musicarts.com.