Stephen Shareaux

Last updated

Stephen Shareaux
Stephen Shareaux.png
Shareaux performing in 2015
Background information
Born (1965-09-16) September 16, 1965 (age 58)
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • musician
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • piano
Years active1988–present

Stephen Shareaux (born September 16, 1965) [1] is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He is best known as lead vocalist for the hard rock band Kik Tracee. [2] [3] 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. [4]

Contents

Career

Kik Tracee

Shortly after moving to Los Angeles in 1987, Shareaux formed the hard rock band Kik Tracee with L.A. bassist Rob Grad, guitarist Gregory "Hex" Offers, guitarist Michael Marquis, and drummer Scott Donnell (Later replaced by Johnny Douglas). [5] The group were signed to RCA Records and initially managed by Sharon Osbourne until Slaughter bassist Dana Strum persuaded the band to seek elsewhere for representation; Strum would then go on to produce their debut record No Rules. [6] The music video for the track Don't Need Rules had moderate rotation on MTV's Headbanger's Ball and the single You're So Strange, which also had a music video, peaked at No. 46 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in 1991. [7]

The band's follow up, the Chris Goss produced EP Field Trip, was released in 1992. Kik Tracee's marketing team treated almost the entire New York staff of RCA, the band's label, to a real life field trip to present the marketing plan for the album. [8] A video was then released for the single In Trance.

Also in 1992, Shareaux was named a top contender to replace Vince Neil in Mötley Crüe; Shareaux turned down the offer to join, and John Corabi ultimately got the gig. [9] [10]

In 1993 the band began work on its second full-length release, Center of a Tension, with producer Garth Richardson. The band would end up falling apart at this point resulting in the album never making it past the pre-production stage.

In 2017, Kik Tracee signed with EMP Label Group to release a 2-disc demos and b-sides album titled Big Western Sky. [11]

Post Kik Tracee

Still having to deliver an album to RCA after the break of up Kik Tracee, Shareaux then teamed up with guitarist/singer Brynn Arens to write together; Shareaux parted ways and Arens carried on to form Flipp.

Following Kik Tracee's break up, Shareaux would resurface in Revel 8 as well as Nectar, which featured Rik Schaffer of Tomorrow's Child and Engines of Aggression. [12]

As shown in the VH1 documentary The Rise of Velvet Revolver, in 2002 Shareaux had auditioned for the lead singer position in The Project; which would end up becoming Velvet Revolver. The position eventually went to Scott Weiland.

Shareaux's debut solo album Golden was released in November 2013. The album was produced by Bernie Larsen and features a guest appearance by Small Faces and Faces keyboardist Ian McLagan, who performs on the track R&R. The single Stay was released along with a music video which was directed by Kii Arens. [13]

In 2016, Shareaux had been chosen to audition in person for the then vacant frontman position in Stone Temple Pilots. Jeff Gutt would end up getting the gig. [14]

Zen From Mars

In 2015, Shareaux began performing acoustic shows with Bang Tango guitarist Drew Fortier for which Kik Tracee material was performed live for the first time since the band's break up in 1993. This eventually led to the duo forming alternative rock band Zen From Mars along with bassist Chip Z'Nuff, drummer Mike Heller, guitarist Brynn Arens, and pianist Kate Catalina. The band released an early version of their track New Leaf in 2016 which was mixed by Matt Wallace. Their debut album The Ultra Head Frequency is currently being mixed and mastered for a 2018 release.

Other works

In 2005 Shareaux landed a role as Jimmy the Mod in the stage musical of The Who's Quadrophenia. [15] Shareaux also performs in The Who Generation, which is a The Who tribute band that have been featured on AXS TV's World's Greatest Tribute Bands. [16]

Legacy and accolades

Kik Tracee's debut album No Rules appeared at No. 46 on Rolling Stone's Top 50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums of All Time list. [17]

Kik Tracee landed at No. 78 for VH1's Hair Metal 100 Countdown list which ranked the greatest 80's hair metal bands of all time. [18]

Discography

Kik Tracee

Nectar

Zen From Mars

Solo

Related Research Articles

<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 1986. 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.

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).

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

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flipp</span>

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.

<i>Strength</i> (Enuff Znuff album) 1991 studio album by Enuff Znuff

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.

<i>Enuff Znuff</i> (album) 1989 studio album by Enuff ZNuff

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Can't Get Enuff</span> 1990 single by Winger

"Can't Get Enuff" is a single by American rock band Winger, from their album In the Heart of the Young.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cherry Pie (Warrant song)</span> 1990 single by Warrant

"Cherry Pie" is a song by the American glam metal band Warrant. It was released in September 1990, as the lead single from the album of the same name. It preceded the album's release by three days. The song became a Top Ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 10 and also reached number 19 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks. The song has been cited by many as a "hair metal" anthem.

<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.

<i>1985</i> (album) 1994 studio album by Enuff ZNuff

1985 is the fourth studio album by the American rock band Enuff Z'Nuff, which features material recorded in the band's earliest days. The songs were taken from a demo at the time called Hollywood Squares, originally recorded in 1985. Musically, the songs were noticeably more pop rock in direction as opposed to the hard rock recordings they had been known for.

<i>Paraphernalia</i> (album) 1999 studio album by Enuff Znuff

This record is one of a string of mid-career recordings by Chicago natives Enuff Z'Nuff. Paraphernalia is arguably heavier in nature than many of their previous recordings. This album is also notable for its guest appearances from other famous Chicago area musicians, including Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick, James Young of Styx, and Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins, all featured on lead guitar for several of the album's tracks.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drew Fortier</span> American musician (born 1987)

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zen From Mars</span>

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.

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.

"Fly High Michelle" is a power ballad by American rock band Enuff Z'Nuff that was released as a single in 1990.

"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.

References

  1. ↑ U.S.A., David Tanny, San Diego, California. "Cosmic Twin Celebrity Births – 1965-Jul–Dec". MegaBirthdays Birth Chronologies. Retrieved May 21, 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ↑ "Stephen Shareaux | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Kik Tracee | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  4. ↑ "KIK TRACEE, ENUFF Z'NUFF, FEAR FACTORY Members Join Forces in ZEN FROM MARS Project". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. August 9, 2016. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Kik Tracee: True Hollywood Story | Amplified Edge". Amplified Edge. September 26, 2014. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Where Are They Now? Rob Grad of Kik Tracee". Noisecreep. December 3, 2012. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Kik Tracee You're So Strange Chart History". Billboard . Archived from the original on May 20, 2018.
  8. ↑ Inc, Nielsen Business Media (August 15, 1992). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.{{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  9. ↑ Hochman, Steve (March 1, 1992). "Vince Neil Goes Away From Motley Crue—Mad". Los Angeles Times. ISSN   0458-3035 . Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Where are you Kik Tracee?". Maximum Metal.
  11. ↑ "Kik Tracee to release B-sides, demos and rarities collection 'Big Western Sky' – Sleaze Roxx". sleazeroxx.com. April 4, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Stephen Shareaux Interview | KIK TRACEE frontman | June 2017". Music Legends Online. June 22, 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Stephen Shareaux biography | Last.fm". Last.fm. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Stephen Shareaux Interview | KIK TRACEE frontman | June 2017". Music Legends Online. June 22, 2017. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  15. ↑ Reynolds, Christopher (November 18, 2005). "'Quadrophenia' producer: his coming-of-stage story". Los Angeles Times. ISSN   0458-3035 . Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  16. ↑ "The World's Greatest Tribute Bands THE WHO GENERATION The Whisky 10/12/2016". CALIFORNIA ROCK NEWS. October 13, 2016. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  17. ↑ "50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  18. ↑ "The Hair Metal 100: Ranking the '80s Greatest Glam Bands, Part 2". VH1 News. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.