Extreme (band)
Encyclopedia
Extreme is an American rock
band, headed by frontmen Gary Cherone
and Nuno Bettencourt
, that reached the height of their popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Among some of Extreme's musical influences are Queen
and Van Halen
. (Gary Cherone
and Nuno Bettencourt
joined Queen onstage at The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert
in 1992 and Gary Cherone
joined Van Halen in 1996); The band have described their music as "Funky Metal".
They have released five studio albums, two EPs (in Japan
) and two compilation albums since their formation. The band was one of the most successful rock acts of the early 1990s, selling over 10 million albums worldwide. Extreme achieved their greatest success with their 1990 album Pornograffitti
, which peaked at number 10 on the Billboard 200
, and was certified gold in May 1991 and 2×platinum in October 1992. That album featured the acoustic ballad
single "More Than Words
", which reached #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 in the United States. "More Than Words
" has also been featured in the movie "The Love Guru
" being sung by Mike Myers as Guru Pitka.
, in 1985. Vocalist Gary Cherone
and drummer Paul Geary
were in a band called The Dream ("Extreme" is a derivation of Cherone and Geary's former band "The Dream", meaning "Ex-Dream"). Guitarist Nuno Bettencourt
was in a band called Sinful, and bassist Pat Badger
was playing with a Berklee-based outfit called In The Pink. Following an altercation between the rival groups over communal dressing rooms, the four decided to form a new band together.
Cherone and Bettencourt began writing songs together and the band played numerous shows in the Boston area. They gradually developed a strong local following, and were named "Outstanding Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Act" at the Boston Music Awards in 1986 and 1987.
The band had accumulated several original songs by the time A&R director Bryan Huttenhower signed them to A&M Records
in 1988. The band then recorded their self-titled debut
album which was issued in 1989. The first single was "Kid Ego," a song that Cherone would later admit made him cringe. The final track on the album, "Play With Me," was used as the "mall chase" song in the film Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
.
, who had previously worked with Dokken
and White Lion
, was hired to produce the band's Extreme II: Pornograffitti album in 1990.
The record, which showcased Bettencourt's guitar-playing, was a mixture of funk, pop and Glam metal sounds. "Decadence Dance" and "Get the Funk Out" were released as singles. "Get The Funk Out" reached number 19 in the UK charts in June 1991. Neither single was successful in the United States, however, and the album had fallen off the charts when A&M sent the third single to a number of radio stations in Arizona.
The acoustic ballad
"More Than Words
" entered the Hot 100 on March 23, 1991, at Number 81. It later became a huge smash, hitting Number 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 in the United States. The subsequent single, "Hole Hearted
", another acoustic track, was also successful, rising to Number 4 on the same popular music chart.
The band began recording their third album in 1992. Their appearance at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in April 1992 interrupted the recording sessions, but it gave the band considerable exposure beyond the heavy metal fraternity.
III Sides to Every Story
was released on September 22, 1992. The first single from the album, "Rest in Peace", had an accompanying video clip inspired by a film short by the National Film Board of Canada
called Neighbours
. The band was sued for plagiarism, but they quickly settled out of court, later releasing a new version of the clip. The album contained noticeable religious themes, presumably put there by Cherone, who noted in interviews being interested in evangelical preachers. The album was generally favored by music critics and some fans, but it failed to sell as well as Pornograffitti.
festival in the summer of 1994 (where they were booed off the stage), Mike Mangini
(ex-Annihilator
) replaced Paul Geary on drums, who left the band to pursue a career on the business side of the music industry, managing successful acts such as Godsmack
.
The first record to feature Mangini, Waiting for the Punchline
, was released on February 7, 1995. The singles "Hip Today
", "Unconditionally," and "Cynical
" were released, but the album sold less than III Sides to Every Story and Extreme disbanded in 1996, on amicable terms.
for the recording of their album Van Halen III
, issued in 1998. Although Eddie Van Halen was initially drawn to Cherone as a lyricist, Cherone's socially aware lyrical style did not translate well to Van Halen's 'sex, drugs, and rock n' roll'-based catalog of songs and particular fan base. Fans also disliked the differences between his vocal style and that of previous frontman Sammy Hagar. Those differences led to his quick departure from the band in 1999.
He later formed Tribe of Judah
, which released an album called Exit Elvis
in 2002. In 2005, Cherone released a four song sampler CD, entitled Need I Say More.
Nuno Bettencourt went on to release a solo album titled Schizophonic
in 1996. In 1998 he formed a group called Mourning Widows
who released a self-titled album that year and a follow-up album, Furnished Souls For Rent
, in 2000. Following the breakup of that band, he released another solo album under the project name of Population 1 in 2002. Acquiring new members, he decided to keep the name Population 1 and released a five-song E.P. entitled "Sessions from Room 4" in 2004. They then changed the band's name to Dramagods
and created a follow-up CD entitled Love
in 2005.
A 13-track Extreme "best-of
" collection, The Best of Extreme - An Accidental Collocation of Atoms?
, was released in 1998. A re-packaged collection with a different tracklisting titled Extreme - The Collection
was released in 2002.
(August), in their hometown of Boston at the WAAF
anniversary (Sept.19) as well as a few concerts in Japan
(January 2005). After a hiatus during 2005, the band returned in 2006 with the "classic" Pornograffitti line-up to do a small, three-show reunion tour through New England
.
On November 26, 2007, the band announced plans for a world tour in the summer of 2008 with King's X
as well as a release date for their new album, Saudades de Rock
, produced by Bettencourt. Kevin Figueiredo
, who played with Bettencourt in DramaGods
and Satellite Party, took over drum duties for the band. Original drummer Paul Geary is still involved with the band, albeit in a management position. Singles from the album have been available on MySpace including "Star". The album was released on July 28, 2008 in France, August 4, 2008 in Europe, and August 12, 2008 in the United States.
The band then embarked on the Take Us Alive World Tour
, supported by King's X
in the US and Hot Leg
in the UK, with various other dates in Europe and Asia, through all of 2008. In 2009, the band continued to tour, co-headlining the East Meets West Tour
with Ratt
.
According to a December 2010 interview with singer Gary Cherone
, Extreme has been writing new material for their next album, which they plan to release sometime in 2011. Asked in the same interview if the band will produce the new album by themselves or get an outside producer, Cherone replied, "There's talk of a few people. It would be great to get an A-list name. I don't know if that happens. My dream producer would probably be Rick Rubin
. Here's a guy that's done Johnny Cash
, the Chili Peppers
and you know, Neil Diamond
."
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band, headed by frontmen Gary Cherone
Gary Cherone
Gary Francis Caine Cherone is an American rock singer-songwriter. He is best known for his work with the rock group Extreme, as well as his short stint as the lead singer for Van Halen on their 11th album Van Halen III and subsequent tour. In recent years he has released solo recordings. In 2007,...
and Nuno Bettencourt
Nuno Bettencourt
Nuno Duarte Gil Mendes Bettencourt is a Portuguese guitarist and singer-songwriter best known for his role as the lead guitarist of the Boston rock band Extreme whose hits include the acoustic ballads "More Than Words" and "Hole Hearted"...
, that reached the height of their popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Among some of Extreme's musical influences are Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
and Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
. (Gary Cherone
Gary Cherone
Gary Francis Caine Cherone is an American rock singer-songwriter. He is best known for his work with the rock group Extreme, as well as his short stint as the lead singer for Van Halen on their 11th album Van Halen III and subsequent tour. In recent years he has released solo recordings. In 2007,...
and Nuno Bettencourt
Nuno Bettencourt
Nuno Duarte Gil Mendes Bettencourt is a Portuguese guitarist and singer-songwriter best known for his role as the lead guitarist of the Boston rock band Extreme whose hits include the acoustic ballads "More Than Words" and "Hole Hearted"...
joined Queen onstage at The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert
The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert
The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS Awareness was an open-air concert held on Easter Monday, 20 April 1992 at London's Wembley Stadium, for an audience of 72,000. The concert was produced for television by Ray Burdis and broadcast live on television and radio to 76 countries around the...
in 1992 and Gary Cherone
Gary Cherone
Gary Francis Caine Cherone is an American rock singer-songwriter. He is best known for his work with the rock group Extreme, as well as his short stint as the lead singer for Van Halen on their 11th album Van Halen III and subsequent tour. In recent years he has released solo recordings. In 2007,...
joined Van Halen in 1996); The band have described their music as "Funky Metal".
They have released five studio albums, two EPs (in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
) and two compilation albums since their formation. The band was one of the most successful rock acts of the early 1990s, selling over 10 million albums worldwide. Extreme achieved their greatest success with their 1990 album Pornograffitti
Pornograffitti
-Personnel:* Pat Badger - Bass Guitars, Backing Vocals* Nuno Bettencourt - Guitars, Piano, Keyboards, Percussion, Backing Vocals* Gary Cherone - Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals* Paul Geary - Decadent Drums, Percussion* Barbara Glynn - Mutha's Voice, "Decadence Dance"...
, which peaked at number 10 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, and was certified gold in May 1991 and 2×platinum in October 1992. That album featured the acoustic ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
single "More Than Words
More Than Words
"More Than Words" is a ballad written and originally performed by the rock band Extreme. It is built around acoustic guitar work by Nuno Bettencourt and the vocals of Gary Cherone . Released in 1990 on the album Extreme II: Pornograffiti, the song marked a departure from the funk metal that had...
", which reached #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 in the United States. "More Than Words
More Than Words
"More Than Words" is a ballad written and originally performed by the rock band Extreme. It is built around acoustic guitar work by Nuno Bettencourt and the vocals of Gary Cherone . Released in 1990 on the album Extreme II: Pornograffiti, the song marked a departure from the funk metal that had...
" has also been featured in the movie "The Love Guru
The Love Guru
The Love Guru is a 2008 comedy film, directed by Marco Schnabel and starring Mike Myers and Jessica Alba along with Romany Malco and Justin Timberlake. In addition to starring in the film, Myers wrote The Love Guru with Graham Gordy and produced it with Gary Barber. The film was released by...
" being sung by Mike Myers as Guru Pitka.
Early years (1985–1989)
Extreme was formed in Malden, MassachusettsMalden, Massachusetts
Malden is a suburban city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 59,450 at the 2010 census. In 2009 Malden was ranked as the "Best Place to Raise Your Kids" in Massachusetts by Bloomberg Businessweek Magazine.-History:...
, in 1985. Vocalist Gary Cherone
Gary Cherone
Gary Francis Caine Cherone is an American rock singer-songwriter. He is best known for his work with the rock group Extreme, as well as his short stint as the lead singer for Van Halen on their 11th album Van Halen III and subsequent tour. In recent years he has released solo recordings. In 2007,...
and drummer Paul Geary
Paul Geary
Paul Geary is an American rock and roll drummer and manager. He was once the drummer for the Funk metal band, Extreme...
were in a band called The Dream ("Extreme" is a derivation of Cherone and Geary's former band "The Dream", meaning "Ex-Dream"). Guitarist Nuno Bettencourt
Nuno Bettencourt
Nuno Duarte Gil Mendes Bettencourt is a Portuguese guitarist and singer-songwriter best known for his role as the lead guitarist of the Boston rock band Extreme whose hits include the acoustic ballads "More Than Words" and "Hole Hearted"...
was in a band called Sinful, and bassist Pat Badger
Pat Badger
Pat Badger is the bassist in the band Extreme. He is also a former member of Daemon, In The Pink, Super Trans Atlantic, and Tribe of Judah....
was playing with a Berklee-based outfit called In The Pink. Following an altercation between the rival groups over communal dressing rooms, the four decided to form a new band together.
Cherone and Bettencourt began writing songs together and the band played numerous shows in the Boston area. They gradually developed a strong local following, and were named "Outstanding Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Act" at the Boston Music Awards in 1986 and 1987.
The band had accumulated several original songs by the time A&R director Bryan Huttenhower signed them to A&M Records
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
in 1988. The band then recorded their self-titled debut
Extreme (album)
Extreme is the first studio album of Boston funk-metal band Extreme, released on March 14, 1989. Despite being released on a major label, the album did not sell very well. It produced four singles: "Little Girls", "Kid Ego", "Mutha " and the radio-only "Play with Me"...
album which was issued in 1989. The first single was "Kid Ego," a song that Cherone would later admit made him cringe. The final track on the album, "Play With Me," was used as the "mall chase" song in the film Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure is a 1989 American science fiction–comedy buddy film and the first film in the Bill & Ted franchise in which two metalhead slackers travel through time to assemble a menagerie of historical figures for their high school history presentation.The film was written by...
.
Popular success (1990–1993)
Sales of Extreme's first record were sufficient to support a second release. Michael WagenerMichael Wagener
Michael Wagener is a music producer, mixer, and engineer from Hamburg, Germany, best known for his work with many top hard rock and heavy metal bands in the late 80's. Wagener's works have sold over ninetyfour million albums worldwide. Wagener was the original guitarist for the German band Accept...
, who had previously worked with Dokken
Dokken
Dokken is an American heavy metal and hard rock band formed in 1978. They split up in 1989 but reformed four years later. The group accumulated numerous charting singles and has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide...
and White Lion
White Lion
White Lion is an American/Danish hard rock/heavy metal band that was formed in New York City in 1983 by Danish vocalist Mike Tramp and American guitarist Vito Bratta. Mainly active in the 1980s and early 1990s, the band achieved double platinum status with their #8 hit "Wait" and #3 hit "When the...
, was hired to produce the band's Extreme II: Pornograffitti album in 1990.
The record, which showcased Bettencourt's guitar-playing, was a mixture of funk, pop and Glam metal sounds. "Decadence Dance" and "Get the Funk Out" were released as singles. "Get The Funk Out" reached number 19 in the UK charts in June 1991. Neither single was successful in the United States, however, and the album had fallen off the charts when A&M sent the third single to a number of radio stations in Arizona.
The acoustic ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
"More Than Words
More Than Words
"More Than Words" is a ballad written and originally performed by the rock band Extreme. It is built around acoustic guitar work by Nuno Bettencourt and the vocals of Gary Cherone . Released in 1990 on the album Extreme II: Pornograffiti, the song marked a departure from the funk metal that had...
" entered the Hot 100 on March 23, 1991, at Number 81. It later became a huge smash, hitting Number 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 in the United States. The subsequent single, "Hole Hearted
Hole Hearted
"Hole Hearted" is a folk rock song by American group Extreme. The song was released as the 4th single from their successful Pornograffitti album in 1991 and reached #4 on the Billboard Top 100...
", another acoustic track, was also successful, rising to Number 4 on the same popular music chart.
The band began recording their third album in 1992. Their appearance at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in April 1992 interrupted the recording sessions, but it gave the band considerable exposure beyond the heavy metal fraternity.
III Sides to Every Story
III Sides to Every Story
Footnotes:"Peacemaker Die" is not included on the Republic of Korea edition."Don't Leave Me Alone" is available exclusively on the vinyl and cassette editions of the album, as well as on the Extragraffitti compilation album , "Tragic Comic" single, "Stop The World" single, and as a separate...
was released on September 22, 1992. The first single from the album, "Rest in Peace", had an accompanying video clip inspired by a film short by the National Film Board of Canada
National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
called Neighbours
Neighbours (film)
Neighbours is a 1952 anti-war film by Scottish-Canadian filmmaker Norman McLaren. Produced at the National Film Board of Canada in Montreal, the film uses the technique known as pixilation, an animation technique using live actors as stop-motion objects...
. The band was sued for plagiarism, but they quickly settled out of court, later releasing a new version of the clip. The album contained noticeable religious themes, presumably put there by Cherone, who noted in interviews being interested in evangelical preachers. The album was generally favored by music critics and some fans, but it failed to sell as well as Pornograffitti.
Mangini era and break-up (1994–1996)
Prior to the band's appearance at Donington's Monsters of RockMonsters of Rock
Monsters of Rock was an annual music festival held in England, then moved in other locations like The Netherlands, France, Italy, Germany, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Chile.The Last show was in 2008....
festival in the summer of 1994 (where they were booed off the stage), Mike Mangini
Mike Mangini
Mike Mangini is an American drummer, and the current drummer for the progressive metal band Dream Theater. He has played for Annihilator, Extreme, James LaBrie, and Steve Vai, among others. He lectured at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and is also known for his work as a session musician...
(ex-Annihilator
Annihilator (band)
Annihilator is a Canadian heavy metal band hailing from Ottawa, Ontario, also from Vancouver, British Columbia between 1987-2002 by founding member, vocalist, guitarist and bassist Jeff Waters. The band has been around since 1984 and is the biggest selling heavy metal artist from Canada in history,...
) replaced Paul Geary on drums, who left the band to pursue a career on the business side of the music industry, managing successful acts such as Godsmack
Godsmack
Godsmack is an American heavy metal band from Lawrence, Massachusetts, formed in 1995. The band is composed of founder, frontman and songwriter Sully Erna, guitarist Tony Rombola, bassist Robbie Merrill, and drummer Shannon Larkin...
.
The first record to feature Mangini, Waiting for the Punchline
Waiting for the Punchline
Waiting for the Punchline is Extreme's fourth album, which was released in 1995. It was labeled as a "grunge" album, but despite stripped down production and frontman Gary Cherone's gruffer, less-tuneful delivery, it otherwise lacked significant deviation from Extreme's style on previous recordings...
, was released on February 7, 1995. The singles "Hip Today
Hip Today
Hip Today is the second and last single off Extreme's fourth studio album Waiting for the Punchline, released in 1995. It is the last single the band released before breaking up and reforming in 2007....
", "Unconditionally," and "Cynical
Cynical (song)
"Cynical" is the first single from rock band Extreme's fourth studio album Waiting for the Punchline.The song is representative of the style of the album, which, unlike Extreme's glam and funk metal in their first three albums, is more of a grunge driven hard rock sound.-Track listing:...
" were released, but the album sold less than III Sides to Every Story and Extreme disbanded in 1996, on amicable terms.
Post-breakup (1997–2003)
In 1996, Cherone joined Van HalenVan Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
for the recording of their album Van Halen III
Van Halen III
Van Halen III is the band's 11th album and was the last studio album by American hard rock band Van Halen. It is the only Van Halen album to feature Gary Cherone on lead vocals...
, issued in 1998. Although Eddie Van Halen was initially drawn to Cherone as a lyricist, Cherone's socially aware lyrical style did not translate well to Van Halen's 'sex, drugs, and rock n' roll'-based catalog of songs and particular fan base. Fans also disliked the differences between his vocal style and that of previous frontman Sammy Hagar. Those differences led to his quick departure from the band in 1999.
He later formed Tribe of Judah
Tribe of Judah (band)
Tribe of Judah is Gary Cherone's post-Van Halen band featuring several former members of Extreme. An eponymous EP was released in 2001 and a full-length album was released in late 2002. Tribe of Judah is different from Cherone's other work as it features a more industrial/electronic sound...
, which released an album called Exit Elvis
Exit Elvis
Exit Elvis is the first, and currently only album by Tribe Of Judah. It was the first full length album by Gary Cherone after leaving Van Halen....
in 2002. In 2005, Cherone released a four song sampler CD, entitled Need I Say More.
Nuno Bettencourt went on to release a solo album titled Schizophonic
Schizophonic (Nuno Bettencourt album)
Schizophonic is an album from guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, known for being the guitarist in the band Extreme. Bettencourt is credited on the cover simply as "Nuno"...
in 1996. In 1998 he formed a group called Mourning Widows
Mourning Widows
Mourning Widows was a musical project led by former Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt. The band was formed in 1997, and they released two albums during their career. Despite not being widely released in the US, both albums were successful in Japan...
who released a self-titled album that year and a follow-up album, Furnished Souls For Rent
Furnished Souls for Rent
Furnished Souls for Rent is the second album released by Mourning Widows, a band led by former Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt.-Track listing:All songs written by Nuno Bettencourt, except where noted.# "Furnished Souls for Rent" - 5:04...
, in 2000. Following the breakup of that band, he released another solo album under the project name of Population 1 in 2002. Acquiring new members, he decided to keep the name Population 1 and released a five-song E.P. entitled "Sessions from Room 4" in 2004. They then changed the band's name to Dramagods
DramaGods
DramaGods is a rock band led by Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt.The band originally started as a solo project from Bettencourt when he released his album Population 1 in 2002. On the album, he recorded all the instruments on most of the tracks...
and created a follow-up CD entitled Love
Love (DramaGods album)
Love is an album from DramaGods, a project led by guitarist Nuno Bettencourt. Bettencourt is most remembered for being the guitarist in the band Extreme....
in 2005.
A 13-track Extreme "best-of
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
" collection, The Best of Extreme - An Accidental Collocation of Atoms?
The Best of Extreme - An Accidental Collocation of Atoms?
The Best Of Extreme: An Accidental Collocation Of Atoms? was the first of "The Best Of's" albums by Extreme.-Track listing:#"Decadence Dance" #"Rest in Peace" #"Kid Ego" ...
, was released in 1998. A re-packaged collection with a different tracklisting titled Extreme - The Collection
Extreme - The Collection
Extreme – The Collection is the second greatest hits album by Extreme. After the lack of success of Waiting for the Punchline, the band subsequently disbanded.-Track listing:#Mutha *#Little Girls#Kid Ego#Wind Me Up...
was released in 2002.
Reunion(s) (2004–present)
Extreme reformed for a short tour in 2004 playing in the AzoresAzores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
(August), in their hometown of Boston at the WAAF
WAAF (FM)
WAAF is a Boston, Massachusetts, area commercial Album Oriented Rock/Active rock radio station that mixes music that is popular in the modern rock, heavy metal and classic rock genres....
anniversary (Sept.19) as well as a few concerts in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
(January 2005). After a hiatus during 2005, the band returned in 2006 with the "classic" Pornograffitti line-up to do a small, three-show reunion tour through New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
.
On November 26, 2007, the band announced plans for a world tour in the summer of 2008 with King's X
King's X
King's X is an American hard rock band that combines progressive metal, funk and soul with vocal arrangements influenced by gospel, blues, and British Invasion rock groups. The band's lyrics are largely based on the members' struggles with religion and self-acceptance...
as well as a release date for their new album, Saudades de Rock
Saudades de Rock
* Track 14 appears only on the European version released by Frontiers Records.* Japanese edition includes bonus track "Mr. Bates " instead of "Americocaine ".- Chart information :-Credits:*Gary Cherone - lead vocals...
, produced by Bettencourt. Kevin Figueiredo
Kevin Figueiredo
Kevin 'kFigg' Figueiredo is an American drummer.Kevin began playing drums at the age of ten, when his grandfather bought him a drum kit. He has studied with jazz drummer Bob Gullotti "The Fringe" and Mike Mangini, whom collectively exposed him to many different approaches to drumming.He has...
, who played with Bettencourt in DramaGods
DramaGods
DramaGods is a rock band led by Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt.The band originally started as a solo project from Bettencourt when he released his album Population 1 in 2002. On the album, he recorded all the instruments on most of the tracks...
and Satellite Party, took over drum duties for the band. Original drummer Paul Geary is still involved with the band, albeit in a management position. Singles from the album have been available on MySpace including "Star". The album was released on July 28, 2008 in France, August 4, 2008 in Europe, and August 12, 2008 in the United States.
The band then embarked on the Take Us Alive World Tour
Take Us Alive World Tour
The Take Us Alive World Tour was a concert tour by hard rock band Extreme, taking place in from mid to late 2008, in support of Saudades de Rock, their first album of original material in 13 years, and the first since their reunion in 2007. It was considered their reunion tour, and their first...
, supported by King's X
King's X
King's X is an American hard rock band that combines progressive metal, funk and soul with vocal arrangements influenced by gospel, blues, and British Invasion rock groups. The band's lyrics are largely based on the members' struggles with religion and self-acceptance...
in the US and Hot Leg
Hot Leg
Hot Leg is an English glam metal band led by former The Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins. The band consists of Hawkins, Pete Rinaldi , Samuel SJ Stokes and Darby Todd...
in the UK, with various other dates in Europe and Asia, through all of 2008. In 2009, the band continued to tour, co-headlining the East Meets West Tour
East Meets West Tour
The East Meets West Tour '09 was a concert tour by hard rock band Extreme, taking place in the summer of 2009, in support of their 2008 album Saudades de Rock. It followed the Take Us Alive World Tour in 2008 which was in support of the same album. The tour started with a performance at the M3 Rock...
with Ratt
Ratt
Ratt is an American heavy metal band that had significant commercial success in the 1980s. The band is best known for songs such as "Round and Round," "Wanted Man," "Lay It Down," "You're in Love", "Slip of the Lip", "Back For More", "Dance", "Body Talk", "I Want a Woman", and "Way Cool Jr." Ratt...
.
According to a December 2010 interview with singer Gary Cherone
Gary Cherone
Gary Francis Caine Cherone is an American rock singer-songwriter. He is best known for his work with the rock group Extreme, as well as his short stint as the lead singer for Van Halen on their 11th album Van Halen III and subsequent tour. In recent years he has released solo recordings. In 2007,...
, Extreme has been writing new material for their next album, which they plan to release sometime in 2011. Asked in the same interview if the band will produce the new album by themselves or get an outside producer, Cherone replied, "There's talk of a few people. It would be great to get an A-list name. I don't know if that happens. My dream producer would probably be Rick Rubin
Rick Rubin
Frederick Jay "Rick" Rubin is an American record producer and the co-president of Columbia Records. Along with Russell Simmons, Rubin was the co-founder of Def Jam Records and also established American Recordings...
. Here's a guy that's done Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
, the Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
and you know, Neil Diamond
Neil Diamond
Neil Leslie Diamond is an American singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades from the 1960s until the present....
."
Tours
- Extreme Tour
- Pornograffitti Tour
- III Sides to Every Story Tour
- Waiting for the Punchline Tour
- 2005 Reunion Tour
- 2006 Reunion Mini-Tour2006 Reunion Mini-TourExtreme's 2006 Reunion Mini-Tour was a series of three reunion concerts by hard rock band Extreme, taking place in the summer of 2006 in the New England area, in Boston, Hampton Beach, New Hampshire and Ledyard, Connecticut...
- Take Us Alive World Tour 2008Take Us Alive World TourThe Take Us Alive World Tour was a concert tour by hard rock band Extreme, taking place in from mid to late 2008, in support of Saudades de Rock, their first album of original material in 13 years, and the first since their reunion in 2007. It was considered their reunion tour, and their first...
- East Meets West Tour '09East Meets West TourThe East Meets West Tour '09 was a concert tour by hard rock band Extreme, taking place in the summer of 2009, in support of their 2008 album Saudades de Rock. It followed the Take Us Alive World Tour in 2008 which was in support of the same album. The tour started with a performance at the M3 Rock...
Current members
- Gary CheroneGary CheroneGary Francis Caine Cherone is an American rock singer-songwriter. He is best known for his work with the rock group Extreme, as well as his short stint as the lead singer for Van Halen on their 11th album Van Halen III and subsequent tour. In recent years he has released solo recordings. In 2007,...
– lead vocals (1985–1996, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007–present) - Nuno BettencourtNuno BettencourtNuno Duarte Gil Mendes Bettencourt is a Portuguese guitarist and singer-songwriter best known for his role as the lead guitarist of the Boston rock band Extreme whose hits include the acoustic ballads "More Than Words" and "Hole Hearted"...
– lead guitar, harmony vocals, backing vocals (1985–1996, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007–present) - Pat BadgerPat BadgerPat Badger is the bassist in the band Extreme. He is also a former member of Daemon, In The Pink, Super Trans Atlantic, and Tribe of Judah....
– bass, backing vocals (1986–1996, 2006, 2007–present) - Kevin FigueiredoKevin FigueiredoKevin 'kFigg' Figueiredo is an American drummer.Kevin began playing drums at the age of ten, when his grandfather bought him a drum kit. He has studied with jazz drummer Bob Gullotti "The Fringe" and Mike Mangini, whom collectively exposed him to many different approaches to drumming.He has...
– drums, percussion (2007–present)
Former members
- Paul GearyPaul GearyPaul Geary is an American rock and roll drummer and manager. He was once the drummer for the Funk metal band, Extreme...
– drums, percussion (1985–1994, 2004, 2005, 2006) - Mike ManginiMike ManginiMike Mangini is an American drummer, and the current drummer for the progressive metal band Dream Theater. He has played for Annihilator, Extreme, James LaBrie, and Steve Vai, among others. He lectured at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and is also known for his work as a session musician...
– drums, percussion (1994–1996) - Paul Mangone – bass, backing vocals (1985–1986)
- Peter Hunt – lead guitar, backing vocals (1986)
- Hal Lebeaux – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1985)
- Carl RestivoCarl RestivoCarl Restivo is an American born musician, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and sound engineer. His unique abilities as a lead singer, multi-instrumentalist , songwriter, producer, and arranger have landed him spots on tour with Perry Farrell's Satellite Party and Tom Morello's...
– bass, backing vocals (2004) - Laurent Duval – bass, backing vocals (2005)
Line-ups
| (1985) |
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|---|---|
| (1985–1986) |
|
| (1986–1994) |
Pat Badger Pat Badger is the bassist in the band Extreme. He is also a former member of Daemon, In The Pink, Super Trans Atlantic, and Tribe of Judah.... – bass, backing vocals |
| (1994–1996) |
Mike Mangini Mike Mangini is an American drummer, and the current drummer for the progressive metal band Dream Theater. He has played for Annihilator, Extreme, James LaBrie, and Steve Vai, among others. He lectured at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and is also known for his work as a session musician... – drums, percussion |
| (1996–2004) |
(Extreme disbanded) |
| (2004) |
|
| (2005) |
|
| (2006) |
|
| (2006–2007) |
(Extreme on hiatus) |
| (2007–present) |
|
Discography
- ExtremeExtreme (album)Extreme is the first studio album of Boston funk-metal band Extreme, released on March 14, 1989. Despite being released on a major label, the album did not sell very well. It produced four singles: "Little Girls", "Kid Ego", "Mutha " and the radio-only "Play with Me"...
(1989) - PornograffittiPornograffitti-Personnel:* Pat Badger - Bass Guitars, Backing Vocals* Nuno Bettencourt - Guitars, Piano, Keyboards, Percussion, Backing Vocals* Gary Cherone - Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals* Paul Geary - Decadent Drums, Percussion* Barbara Glynn - Mutha's Voice, "Decadence Dance"...
(1990) - III Sides to Every StoryIII Sides to Every StoryFootnotes:"Peacemaker Die" is not included on the Republic of Korea edition."Don't Leave Me Alone" is available exclusively on the vinyl and cassette editions of the album, as well as on the Extragraffitti compilation album , "Tragic Comic" single, "Stop The World" single, and as a separate...
(1992) - Waiting for the PunchlineWaiting for the PunchlineWaiting for the Punchline is Extreme's fourth album, which was released in 1995. It was labeled as a "grunge" album, but despite stripped down production and frontman Gary Cherone's gruffer, less-tuneful delivery, it otherwise lacked significant deviation from Extreme's style on previous recordings...
(1995) - Saudades de RockSaudades de Rock* Track 14 appears only on the European version released by Frontiers Records.* Japanese edition includes bonus track "Mr. Bates " instead of "Americocaine ".- Chart information :-Credits:*Gary Cherone - lead vocals...
(2008) - Take Us AliveTake Us AliveTake Us Alive is a live album by the American rock band Extreme, first released in May 2010. The set features the final concert on the East Meets West Tour recorded at House of Blues in Boston on 8 August 2009...
(2010)