Enuff Z'Nuff

Enuff Z'Nuff

Enuff Z'Nuff, 1991
Background information
Also known as Enuff Z'nuff, Enuff Znuff
Origin Blue Island, Illinois
Genres Glam metal,[1][2] hard rock,[3] power pop,[4] psychedelic rock[5]
Years active 1984–present
Labels Atco, Arista, Big Deal, Mayhem, Spitfire, Perris Records, Stoney Records, Frontiers Records
Associated acts V8
Website www.enuffznuff.com
Members Chip Z'Nuff
Tory Stoffregen
Tony Fennell
Daniel Hill
Past members B.W. Boeski
Gino Martino
Pete Comita
Alex Kane
Derek Frigo
Vik Foxx
Ricky Parent
Donnie Vie
Johnny Monaco
Randi Scott
Erik Donner

Enuff Z'Nuff (a pronunciation respelling of "enough's enough"), is an American rock band from Blue Island, Illinois. Founded by singer Donnie Vie and bassist Chip Z'Nuff, this Chicago area band is best known for their charting singles "Fly High Michelle" and "New Thing".[6]

Enuff Z'Nuff has continually recorded and toured throughout their career of more than 30 years, releasing 13 studio albums and a total of 21 CDs to date. Its songs have been recorded by several other musicians, some of which include Paul Gilbert, The Tuesdays, The Wildhearts, and Nelson. The group has appeared on MTV, Howard Stern and David Letterman. In addition to their independent label releases, their music has been released on the major labels Atco Records and Arista Records.

History

Formation (1984–1989)

Enuff Z'Nuff formed in 1984 as "Enough Z'Nuff". The band soon grew a live following and recorded their first demo songs, some of which would be officially released later in their career. The band's first single, "Fingers On It," received some minor recognition when it was featured in the 1986 cult movie Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer.[7] Band members during this period also included drummer B.W. Boeski and guitarists Gino Martino and Alex Kane, the latter of which moved on to lead guitars for Life, Sex & Death and eventually formed the band AntiProduct.

Major label recordings (1989–1993)

By 1989, Enough Z'Nuff had revised their band name to "Enuff Z'Nuff" and released their first major label offering, a self-titled debut album on Atco Records. For this recording, founding members Donnie Vie and Chip Z'Nuff were joined by ex-Le Mans guitarist Derek Frigo and drummer Vik Foxx. The band had two charting hits with the psychedelic-flavored pop rock songs "New Thing" and "Fly High Michelle," both of which received steady airplay on MTV. A few years later, the band's heavy glam rock appearance in the music videos would be parodied on Beavis & Butthead.

Frontman Donnie Vie has expressed disappointment that the label marketed the group as a glam metal act during this period instead of as a power pop group, which he considered to be a better descriptor of their sound, and suggested that the group would have retained their popularity had they been promoted as such.[8]

For their follow-up album, 1991's Strength, the band consciously toned down their glam image. Strength was released in 1991 on Atco to strong reviews, including Rolling Stone magazine calling the group "The Hot Band of the Year."[9] There were promotional videos for the singles "Mother's Eyes" and "Baby Loves You", as well as an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman. However, this follow-up album did not sell nearly as well as their first.

The band filed for bankruptcy and left Atco Records, but soon after was picked up by Clive Davis' Arista Records label for their 1993 album Animals with Human Intelligence. Soon before this album's release, drummer Vikki Foxx quit the band to join Vince Neil's solo band. Foxx would be airbrushed out of the album cover, despite performing on each track of the recording. Foxx was replaced by New Jersey resident and former War and Peace member Ricky Parent, who also appeared for most of the album's promotional material. The band performed on Letterman again and shot a video for the single "Right by Your Side". However this release, much like Strength, received some critical acclaim but ultimately disappointed commercially.[10]

Independent albums and Donnie's departure (1993–2006)

A short time after Enuff Z'Nuff parted ways from Arista Records, guitarist Derek Frigo left the band, though he still recorded on occasion with them. Despite this setback, the band continued touring and recording, releasing albums on several indie labels and finding a solid fanbase overseas.[11] Some notable events include many appearances on The Howard Stern Show, local appearances on the Mancow's Morning Madhouse radio program, a 1998 performance on The Jenny Jones Show, a pair of features on VH1 about hair bands in 1999, and attaining an opening slot for Poison's 2001 "Glam Slam Metal Jam" tour.[12]

Lead singer and songwriter Donnie Vie stopped touring with the group in 2002 out of frustration and to embark upon a solo career. Enuff Z'Nuff continued to tour in his absence as a "3-piece," with their lead guitarist Johnny Monaco also serving as the band's lead singer.[13] Despite not touring, Vie would still write and record with the band in future studio releases.

In 2004, former lead guitarist Derek Frigo died from an apparent drug overdose at the age of 37, soon after the band planned a Japanese tour with the original line-up.[14] Another tragedy struck when the band's drummer Ricky Parent lost his long-time battle with cancer in October 2007.[15] Parent had been with the band for approximately 12 years.

Reformation and current activity (2006–present)

In 2006, original members Chip Z'Nuff and Donnie Vie reconvened to shoot a pilot for the VH1 reality television show, Bands on the Run.[16] The show's pilot episode never aired. However, during that time the reunited band held their initial recording sessions for their 12th record. Several songs from these sessions eventually resulted in their latest studio album of new material, Dissonance, which also features former Ozzy Osbourne / Badlands guitarist Jake E. Lee on guitar. With Vie rejoining the live shows in 2008, Dissonance was released in 2009 in Japan, with a U.K. release following in 2010.[17] In support of the album, Enuff Z'Nuff toured both Japan and Europe, including the Download Festival in the U.K.[18] As of May 2013, Donnie Vie once again left the band. Johnny Monaco returned to Enuff Z'Nuff as the band's singer.[19]

There was more band member shuffling in May 2014 when guitarist Tory Stoffregen and drummer Randi Scott each left the band.[20] Drummer Erik Donner joined on drums in June, while Enuff Z'Nuff continued touring as a 3-piece. In April 2016, Metal Sludge confirmed via an interview with Johnny Monaco that he is no longer in the band.[21] The band is continuing with Chip Z'nuff as the lead singer, Tory Stoffregen back on lead guitar, and Tony Fennell (Ultravox) on guitar.

Enuff Z'nuff will release an album of original material on Frontiers Records in late 2016, officially titled "Clowns Lounge." [22] It is set to be released in Japan on King Records on November 23, followed by US and European releases on December 2. It mainly features previously unreleased songs from studio sessions originally recorded in 1988 and 1989.

Discography

Band members

Current members


Former members
Touring musicians


Timeline

See also

References

  1. ↑ Popoff, Martin (2014). The Big Book of Hair Metal: The Illustrated Oral History of Heavy Metal's Debauched Decade. Voyageur Press. p. 174. ISBN 978-0-76034-546-7.
  2. ↑ Crawford, Allyson B. "Enuff Z'nuff Don't Cheat When Playing Live". Noisecreep. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
  3. ↑ "ENUFF Z'NUFF To Release 13th Studio Album 'Clowns Lounge' In December". Metal Forces. September 27, 2016. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
  4. ↑ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Enuff Z'nuff – Artist Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  5. ↑ "Video > Enuff Z'Nuff (A * Vision)" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 866. November 16, 1990. p. 17. ISSN 0277-4860. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
  6. ↑ Billboard Chart History For Enuff Z'Nuff Billboard. Accessed January 22, 2012.
  7. ↑ Soundtrack for Henry: Portrait Of A Serial Killer IMDb.com. Accessed June 27, 2011.
  8. ↑ Parks, John. "Legendary Rock Interview with Donnie Vie of Enuff Z' Nuff and Donnie Vie Band | Legendary Rock Interviews". Legendary Rock Interviews. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  9. ↑ Hot Issue Hits and Misses: Coldplay and Enuff Z'Nuff Rolling Stone. Accessed June 27, 2011.
  10. ↑ Linden, Amy. Review: Animals With Human Intelligence. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on 2009-12-21.
  11. ↑ Oricon Japanese Charts. Oricon. Accessed January 15, 2012.
  12. ↑ Glam Slam Metal Jam Coming In May antiMUSIC. Accessed January 15, 2012.
  13. ↑ Interview With Monaco Ready To Rock. Accessed January 15, 2012.
  14. ↑ Derek Frigo Biography Sleaze Roxx. Accessed June 27, 2011.
  15. ↑ Enuff Z'Nuff Drummer Ricky Parent Dies Hard Rock Hideout. Accessed January 15, 2012.
  16. ↑ Enuff Z'Nuff To Perform On Bands On The Run Blabbermouth.net Accessed June 26, 2011.
  17. ↑ Jake E. Lee to appear on new Enuff Z'Nuff Album antiMUSIC. Accessed June 27, 2011.
  18. ↑ Download Festival Photos Download Festival Website. Accessed January 22, 2012.
  19. ↑ Donnie Vie Sends Best of Luck Message to Enuff Z'Nuff Metal Sludge. Accessed June 7, 2013.
  20. ↑ Enuff Z'nuff Loses Two Members In a Month Metal Sludge. Accessed May 27, 2014.
  21. ↑ Fly High Monaco Metal Sludge. Accessed April 19, 2016.
  22. ↑ Enuff Znuff New Album To Include Jani Lane Blabbermouth. Accessed April 19, 2016

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 12/3/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.