Gregg Giuffria
Encyclopedia
Gregg Giuffria is an American
rock
keyboardist
. He was the keyboardist for heavy metal bands, Angel
, and House of Lords
, and arena rock band, Giuffria
.
Giuffria is originally from Gulfport, Mississippi, graduating from high school there in 1969. A talented keyboardist, he packed up his Hammond organ and headed for the West Coast where his talent was recognized. In the late '70s, he joined the band, Angel
. After the band broke up in 1981, Giuffria put together his own band, Giuffria
, with vocalist David Glen Eisley
, guitarist Craig Goldy
, bassist Chuck Wright
, and drummer Alan Krigger, and achieved some success with their first album, and first single, "Call To The Heart," which placed in the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100
. The band did not last long, however, and fell apart after the failure of their next album in the mid-'80s.
Giuffria then put together another band called the House of Lords
with the help of Kiss
' Gene Simmons
and signed to Simmons' label. The first album, House of Lords
, was released in 1988 and experienced a modest amount of commercial success with the single "I Wanna Be Loved". However, this slight success was halted by an unwillingness of the band to tour, thus preventing it from receiving a gold certification. However, Simmons decided there was enough potential to warrant the release of a second album, and so in 1990 the band released Sahara
. The album hit #120 on the charts and in the wake of the ultra-successful single "Can't Find My Way Home
" (a Blind Faith
cover) was certified platinum in 1991. Unfortunately, thanks once again to a refusal of the band to tour, the album's progress stalled shortly thereafter. A final album, Demons Down
, was released for the Japanese market in 1992. The band broke up in 1993. House of Lords has since reunited, but without Giuffria, although he does appear on their 2006 release World Upside Down
as a guest keyboardist. Gregg has recently been working on a solo album with an expected release of late 2005 or early 2006, but because he was unlucky with mother nature it is not certain if and/or when it will be released (Hurricane Katrina wiped out his business ventures in Biloxi, leaving him in a bit of a folly).
Gregg was also the CEO of a Vegas company, Outland Development LLC, that designed and built gaming machines as well as designed theme park attractions. He is currently co-owner of the Biloxi Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, along with partners Roy Anderson III and David Ross. Gregg now lives in California.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
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...
keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
. He was the keyboardist for heavy metal bands, Angel
Angel (band)
Angel is a glam rock and heavy metal band from Washington, D.C., formed in the mid-70s by Punky Meadows and Mickie Jones. They were signed to Casablanca Records, and had the image of dressing in white.-History:...
, and House of Lords
House of Lords (band)
House of Lords is a hard rock/AOR band from Los Angeles, California.-History:House of Lords was formed in 1987 by former Angel member and keyboardist Gregg Giuffria from his solo project Giuffria...
, and arena rock band, Giuffria
Giuffria
Giuffria was an American rock band that was formed in 1982 by Gregg Giuffria after his departure from the band Angel, a glam rock/heavy metal band from Washington, D.C..- History of the band :...
.
Giuffria is originally from Gulfport, Mississippi, graduating from high school there in 1969. A talented keyboardist, he packed up his Hammond organ and headed for the West Coast where his talent was recognized. In the late '70s, he joined the band, Angel
Angel (band)
Angel is a glam rock and heavy metal band from Washington, D.C., formed in the mid-70s by Punky Meadows and Mickie Jones. They were signed to Casablanca Records, and had the image of dressing in white.-History:...
. After the band broke up in 1981, Giuffria put together his own band, Giuffria
Giuffria
Giuffria was an American rock band that was formed in 1982 by Gregg Giuffria after his departure from the band Angel, a glam rock/heavy metal band from Washington, D.C..- History of the band :...
, with vocalist David Glen Eisley
David Glen Eisley
David Glen Eisley is an American actor and musician.Eisley was born in Los Angeles, California. He is the son of Anthony Eisley. While in high school, he played drums for the band Mammoth, an Iron Butterfly cover band. He has been in the AOR bands Giuffria and Dirty White Boy...
, guitarist Craig Goldy
Craig Goldy
Craig Goldy is an American guitarist, mostly notably of the band Dio.Before Dio, he played in the bands Vengeance, Rough Cutt, and Giuffria. He replaced Jake E. Lee in Rough Cutt and was himself replaced by Amir Derakh in this group. Prior to joining Rough Cutt, he had played in the band Vengeance...
, bassist Chuck Wright
Chuck Wright
Chuck Wright is an American bassist, best known as the bassist of heavy metal band Quiet Riot. He originally joined Quiet Riot in 1982, performing bass on several tracks for their hit album, Metal Health, as well as contributing backing vocals. He left and rejoined Quiet Riot multiple times,...
, and drummer Alan Krigger, and achieved some success with their first album, and first single, "Call To The Heart," which placed in the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. The band did not last long, however, and fell apart after the failure of their next album in the mid-'80s.
Giuffria then put together another band called the House of Lords
House of Lords (band)
House of Lords is a hard rock/AOR band from Los Angeles, California.-History:House of Lords was formed in 1987 by former Angel member and keyboardist Gregg Giuffria from his solo project Giuffria...
with the help of Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
' Gene Simmons
Gene Simmons
Gene Simmons is an Israeli-American entrepreneur, singer-songwriter, actor, and rock bassist. Known as "The Demon", he is the bassist/vocalist of Kiss, a hard rock band he co-founded in the early 1970s.-Early life:...
and signed to Simmons' label. The first album, House of Lords
House of Lords (House of Lords album)
House of Lords is the eponymous debut album by House of Lords, a Giuffria spin-off band, featuring keyboardist Gregg Giuffria. It was released in 1988 on Kiss bassist Gene Simmons' own label and distributed by RCA Records. The album reached position No...
, was released in 1988 and experienced a modest amount of commercial success with the single "I Wanna Be Loved". However, this slight success was halted by an unwillingness of the band to tour, thus preventing it from receiving a gold certification. However, Simmons decided there was enough potential to warrant the release of a second album, and so in 1990 the band released Sahara
Sahara
The Sahara is the world's second largest desert, after Antarctica. At over , it covers most of Northern Africa, making it almost as large as Europe or the United States. The Sahara stretches from the Red Sea, including parts of the Mediterranean coasts, to the outskirts of the Atlantic Ocean...
. The album hit #120 on the charts and in the wake of the ultra-successful single "Can't Find My Way Home
Can't Find My Way Home
The New York No Wave band Swans version of "Can't Find My Way Home" appeared on their 1989 album The Burning World and was also released as a single.- Track listing :# "Can't Find My Way Home"...
" (a Blind Faith
Blind Faith
Blind Faith were an English blues-rock band that consisted of Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, Steve Winwood and Ric Grech. The band, which was one of the first "super-groups", released their only album, Blind Faith, in August 1969...
cover) was certified platinum in 1991. Unfortunately, thanks once again to a refusal of the band to tour, the album's progress stalled shortly thereafter. A final album, Demons Down
Demons Down
-Personnel:*James Christian - lead vocals*Gregg Giuffria - keyboards, backing vocals*Dennis Chick - guitars, backing vocals*Sean McNabb - bass, backing vocals*Tommy Aldridge - drums, backing vocals-Additional musicians:...
, was released for the Japanese market in 1992. The band broke up in 1993. House of Lords has since reunited, but without Giuffria, although he does appear on their 2006 release World Upside Down
World Upside Down
World Upside Down is the fifth studio album , by House of Lords, released on May 23, 2006.The album features founding member James Christian once again with an all-new line-up, as he is the only one of the original members left on the line-up...
as a guest keyboardist. Gregg has recently been working on a solo album with an expected release of late 2005 or early 2006, but because he was unlucky with mother nature it is not certain if and/or when it will be released (Hurricane Katrina wiped out his business ventures in Biloxi, leaving him in a bit of a folly).
Gregg was also the CEO of a Vegas company, Outland Development LLC, that designed and built gaming machines as well as designed theme park attractions. He is currently co-owner of the Biloxi Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, along with partners Roy Anderson III and David Ross. Gregg now lives in California.
With Angel
- Angel (1975)
- Helluva BandHelluva BandHelluva Band is the second album by the rock band Angel. On this album Angel explores the heavier side of progressive rock, but still offers arguably one of their most progressive songs to date: "The Fortune."-Track listing:...
(1976) - On Earth as It Is in HeavenOn Earth As It Is In HeavenOn Earth As It Is In Heaven is the third album by the rock band Angel. This marks the last album with Mickie Jones who was the band's bass player since 1974. It was produced by Eddie Kramer and recorded in an actual castle in the Hollywood Hills...
(1977) - White HotWhite Hot (album)White Hot is the fourth album by the rock band Angel. After the release of On Earth As It Is In Heaven, bass player Mickie Jones left and was replaced by Felix Robinson who would be the bass player until Angel's breakup in 1981. This album contains Angel's biggest and only Top 50 hit Ain't Gonna...
(1978) - SinfulSinful (album)Sinful is the fifth album by the rock band Angel. It was the band's most pop-oriented album. The album was originally titled Bad Publicity, and a few copies of the album with that title and a different album cover were sold before being replaced. The album went to #159 on the Pop Album Charts in...
(1979) - Live Without a NetLive Without A Net (album)Live Without A Net is the first live album, sixth in total, by the rock band Angel. It would be the band's last album before breaking up in 1981. The band had hoped that their live album would bring them commercial success, like the album Alive! did for Kiss, but it didn't, leading to Angel's...
(1980)
With Giuffria
- GiuffriaGiuffria (album)Giuffria is the self-titled debut album from American rock band Giuffria , released on MCA Records in 1984, and co-produced by Andy Johns. The album's highest peak on the Billboard Hot 100 was #26 on March 2, 1985...
(1984) - Silk and SteelSilk and Steel (Giuffria album)Silk and Steel was the second album released by 1980s arena rock band Giuffria in 1986. It was produced by Pat Glasser, who was at the time also the producer of Giuffria's MCA labelmates Night Ranger. The band covered "I Must Be Dreaming", a Willy DeVille song that went to No. 52 on the Billboard...
(1986) - Giuffria III (unreleased) (1988)
With House Of Lords
- House Of LordsHouse of Lords (House of Lords album)House of Lords is the eponymous debut album by House of Lords, a Giuffria spin-off band, featuring keyboardist Gregg Giuffria. It was released in 1988 on Kiss bassist Gene Simmons' own label and distributed by RCA Records. The album reached position No...
(1988) - Sahara (1990)
- Demons Down (1992)
- World Upside DownWorld Upside DownWorld Upside Down is the fifth studio album , by House of Lords, released on May 23, 2006.The album features founding member James Christian once again with an all-new line-up, as he is the only one of the original members left on the line-up...
as guest keyboardist (2006)