The Cold (rock band)
Encyclopedia
The Cold were a "New Wave"
band that formed in New Orleans in 1979. The band were hugely popular in their home city and throughout the southeastern U.S. during their existence, but did not find national success. The members of The Cold were Barbara Menendez (vocals and keyboards), Vance DeGeneres
(bass), Chris Luckette (drums), Kevin Radecker (guitar) and Bert Smith (guitar). Influenced by British punk bands as well as American act Blondie
, the band released several independent singles between 1980 and 1982, then split up. They reunited in 1984 for an LP and new single release, and released another album in 1985. In 1997, a compilation of their early singles entitled Three Chord City was released. The band reunited for some live performances in 1999 and 2001. In 2005 a CD of outtakes from the band's original incarnation was released.
The Cold was the successor of the band "Totally Cold", whose membership included Radecker and Smith and which was a frequent opening band for The Normals, a locally popular punk band for which Luckette was the drummer. The name "Totally Cold" was a spoof of the album Totally Hot
by Olivia Newton-John
; the idea was that the band would be dedicated to a style as far opposite as possible from this album.
Vance DeGeneres
is the brother of comedian Ellen DeGeneres
, was the original Mr. Hands in Walter Williams
's Mr. Bill Show, was a regular on The Daily Show
, and has played with Cowboy Mouth
. Chris Luckette replaced Fred LeBlanc
in Dash Rip Rock
when LeBlanc quit to form Cowboy Mouth
. Barbara Menendez married Ray Ganucheau (who was in the Continental Drifters
); in 2010 she started a band, The Help, which included one of their four children. Bert Smith later became the deputy chief operating officer of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana
, and the band's manager, Bruce Spizer
, is now known as an expert on The Beatles
.
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
band that formed in New Orleans in 1979. The band were hugely popular in their home city and throughout the southeastern U.S. during their existence, but did not find national success. The members of The Cold were Barbara Menendez (vocals and keyboards), Vance DeGeneres
Vance DeGeneres
Vance Elliott DeGeneres is an American actor, musician, film producer and screenwriter, known for his work in television...
(bass), Chris Luckette (drums), Kevin Radecker (guitar) and Bert Smith (guitar). Influenced by British punk bands as well as American act Blondie
Blondie (band)
Blondie is an American rock band, founded by singer Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the early American New Wave and punk scenes of the mid-1970s...
, the band released several independent singles between 1980 and 1982, then split up. They reunited in 1984 for an LP and new single release, and released another album in 1985. In 1997, a compilation of their early singles entitled Three Chord City was released. The band reunited for some live performances in 1999 and 2001. In 2005 a CD of outtakes from the band's original incarnation was released.
The Cold was the successor of the band "Totally Cold", whose membership included Radecker and Smith and which was a frequent opening band for The Normals, a locally popular punk band for which Luckette was the drummer. The name "Totally Cold" was a spoof of the album Totally Hot
Totally Hot
Totally Hot is Olivia Newton-John's ninth US and tenth international studio album. Released in November 1978, it became her first solo Top 10 album since 1975's Have You Never Been Mellow...
by Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John AO, OBE is a singer and actress. She is a four-time Grammy award winner who has amassed five No. 1 and ten other Top Ten Billboard Hot 100 singles and two No. 1 Billboard 200 solo albums. Eleven of her singles and 14 of her albums have been certified gold by the RIAA...
; the idea was that the band would be dedicated to a style as far opposite as possible from this album.
Vance DeGeneres
Vance DeGeneres
Vance Elliott DeGeneres is an American actor, musician, film producer and screenwriter, known for his work in television...
is the brother of comedian Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen Lee DeGeneres is an American stand-up comedienne, television host and actress. She hosts the syndicated talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and was also a judge on American Idol for one year, having joined the show in its ninth season....
, was the original Mr. Hands in Walter Williams
Walter Williams (comedian filmmaker)
Walter Williams is a filmmaker and comedy writer, most famous for his "Mr. Bill" shorts that aired on the television series Saturday Night Live....
's Mr. Bill Show, was a regular on The Daily Show
The Daily Show
The Daily Show , is an American late night satirical television program airing each Monday through Thursday on Comedy Central. The half-hour long show premiered on July 21, 1996, and was hosted by Craig Kilborn until December 1998...
, and has played with Cowboy Mouth
Cowboy Mouth
Cowboy Mouth is a rock band based in New Orleans, Louisiana. Their name usually means "One with a loud and raucous voice". The nucleus of the band formed in the 1990s, and they have become a powerhouse live act whose performances have been likened to "a religious experience."Some of their most...
. Chris Luckette replaced Fred LeBlanc
Fred LeBlanc
Fred LeBlanc is currently the lead singer/drummer for the New Orleans based rock band Cowboy Mouth, as well as a freelance songwriter, record producer, short story author, and acoustic performer...
in Dash Rip Rock
Dash Rip Rock
Dash Rip Rock is a New Orleans based rock band built around the songs of singer-guitarist Bill Davis.The band is a legendary live powerhouse, often being credited with founding the musical genre known as "Country Punk." The New York Times said Dash Rip Rock is "the kind of band that provides a...
when LeBlanc quit to form Cowboy Mouth
Cowboy Mouth
Cowboy Mouth is a rock band based in New Orleans, Louisiana. Their name usually means "One with a loud and raucous voice". The nucleus of the band formed in the 1990s, and they have become a powerhouse live act whose performances have been likened to "a religious experience."Some of their most...
. Barbara Menendez married Ray Ganucheau (who was in the Continental Drifters
Continental Drifters
The Continental Drifters was an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1991 and dissolved in New Orleans, Louisiana about a decade later...
); in 2010 she started a band, The Help, which included one of their four children. Bert Smith later became the deputy chief operating officer of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana
Jefferson Parish, Louisiana
Jefferson Parish is a parish in Louisiana, United States that includes most of the suburbs of New Orleans. The seat of parish government is Gretna....
, and the band's manager, Bruce Spizer
Bruce Spizer
David "Bruce" Spizer is a tax attorney in New Orleans, Louisiana, who is also recognized as an expert on The Beatles. He has published eight books, and is frequently quoted as an authority on the history of the band and its recordings....
, is now known as an expert on The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
.