Tuff (band)
Encyclopedia
Tuff is an American glam metal
band formed in 1985 in Phoenix, Arizona
, by guitarist Jorge DeSaint (born George Manos) and bassist Todd Chase (born Todd Chaisson). The band was completed with the arrival of drummer Michael Lean (born Michael Raimondo) and short-lived vocalist Terry Fox, who left the band shortly afterwards to pursue an ice skating career. With replacement vocalist Jim Gillette
, the band recorded a four-track EP
entitled Knock Yourself Out. However, Gillette soon departed to form Nitro
and was replaced by Stevie Rachelle
(born Steve Hanseter).
in 1992. The band went onto have some success with their debut album What Comes Around Goes Around released in May 1991 on Atlantic/Titanium Records. It failed to achieve any RIAA sales certifications, although the single "I Hate Kissing You Goodbye" was a Top 10 requested video peaking at #3 on the Dial MTV
show. What Goes Around Comes Around was produced by Eduardo EGS and Howard Benson
, who had produced a list of similar bands: Southgang featuring Butch Walker
, Bang Tango
, Sweet FA & Pretty Boy Floyd
. He has now gone on to produce bands such as Hoobastank
, Papa Roach
, Daughtry, and P.O.D.
.
The band was then picked up by IRS/Grand Slamm Records in early 1993. The label folded in less than a year, and the band were without a label. After these record company problems, in early 1994, Rachelle started RLS Records. The initials stood for "Rachelle's Lyrics & Songs" but the alternative meaning was "Record Labels Suck". The imprint has issued on Cassette
, CD, VHS
and DVD
roughly 40 titles selling upwards of 100,000 pieces globally. The offshoot Cheezee Records was formed in 1996 to be the home for the Cheeseheads With Attitude or CWA project.
Tuff again signed to a record label again in early 1995 when BMG
/Mausoleum/MMS records picked up the RLS Fist First release after it sold upwards of 10,000 copies. BMG re-issued it as Religious Fix in June 1995 with three bonus tracks. The additional tracks were produced by Randy Cantor.
In 2001, Tuff released the compilation CD The History of Tuff. It included the hit song "American Hair Band", a parody of Kid Rock
's "American Bad Ass
" (both of which incorporate the instrumentals of Metallica
's "Sad But True
"). "American Hair Band" makes references to numerous U.S. bands such as Motley Crüe
, Skid Row, Guns N' Roses
, Warrant, Twisted Sister
, Poison
, White Lion
and KISS
and even the non-American bands Def Leppard
, Sleeze Beeze, Hanoi Rocks
, Whitesnake and AC/DC
, while at the same time, deriding 1990s grunge
and alternative rock
. The song has been a perennial favorite on Sirius Satellite Radio
's Hair Nation
channel and New Zealand's House Of Noizz radio.
In 2011, the 20th anniversary of What Comes Around Goes Around, Tuff will release a new EP
called What Comes Around Goes Around Again. It will feature four re-recorded songs from the first album, plus a new song called "Shagadoo to Lollipop".
Glam metal
Glam metal is a subgenre of hard rock and heavy metal that arose in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the United States, particularly on the Los Angeles Sunset Strip music scene...
band formed in 1985 in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, by guitarist Jorge DeSaint (born George Manos) and bassist Todd Chase (born Todd Chaisson). The band was completed with the arrival of drummer Michael Lean (born Michael Raimondo) and short-lived vocalist Terry Fox, who left the band shortly afterwards to pursue an ice skating career. With replacement vocalist Jim Gillette
Jim Gillette
*2001: Carnivore Soundtrack#"Freight Train Demo" – 4:27*2003: Hollywood Hairspray Volume 2#"B.O.M.B. Also Called " – 3:20-with Organ Donor:*2001: The Ultra Violent#"Organ Donor" – 3:36#"Ultra Violent" – 5:55...
, the band recorded a four-track EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
entitled Knock Yourself Out. However, Gillette soon departed to form Nitro
Nitro (band)
Nitro was an American glam metal band that formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California in 1987. Formed by vocalist Jim Gillette and guitarist Michael Angelo Batio, the band released two studio albums – O.F.R. and Nitro II: H.W.D.W.S. .-History:Nitro was officially formed in 1987 after the...
and was replaced by Stevie Rachelle
Stevie Rachelle
Stevie Rachelle is best known as the lead singer of '80s glam metal band Tuff. He has also released multiple solo albums, as well as material with a Green Bay Packers themed side project he founded called Cheeseheads With Attitude. Rachelle also tours, and records with a German based group called...
(born Steve Hanseter).
History
Tuff was signed in 1990 and dropped by Atlantic RecordsAtlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
in 1992. The band went onto have some success with their debut album What Comes Around Goes Around released in May 1991 on Atlantic/Titanium Records. It failed to achieve any RIAA sales certifications, although the single "I Hate Kissing You Goodbye" was a Top 10 requested video peaking at #3 on the Dial MTV
Dial MTV
Dial MTV was a television series on MTV that played music videos. It premiered February 17,1986. Much like Total Request Live, Dial MTV played the top five or top ten most requested videos of the day, as requested by viewers who dialed in to vote for their favorite video...
show. What Goes Around Comes Around was produced by Eduardo EGS and Howard Benson
Howard Benson
Howard Benson is a two-time Grammy-nominated music producer and aerospace engineer.-Biography:Howard Benson has a degree in materials engineering from Drexel University and studied composition at the Philadelphia College for Performing Arts. Later he worked for Garrett AiResearch, where he worked...
, who had produced a list of similar bands: Southgang featuring Butch Walker
Butch Walker
Butch Walker is an American recording artist, songwriter, and record producer. He was the lead guitarist for the metal band SouthGang from the late 80s to early 90s as well as the lead vocalist and guitarist for rock band Marvelous 3 from 1997 until 2001.-Career:Walker grew up in Cartersville,...
, Bang Tango
Bang Tango
Bang Tango is an American funk-infused hard rock and glam metal band.-Biography:The band formed in 1987 in Los Angeles, California and were signed to MCA Records that same year. The band's line-up has fluctuated since its inception, with the one mainstay of the group being frontman Joe Lesté...
, Sweet FA & Pretty Boy Floyd
Pretty Boy Floyd
Charles Arthur "Pretty Boy" Floyd was an American bank robber. He operated in the West South Central States, and his criminal exploits gained heavy press coverage in the 1930s. Like most other prominent outlaws of that era, he was killed by law enforcement officers...
. He has now gone on to produce bands such as Hoobastank
Hoobastank
Hoobastank is an American rock band, best known for their 2004 hit "The Reason" and other hits "Crawling in the Dark" and "Running Away". They formed in 1994 in Agoura Hills, California, with singer Doug Robb, guitarist Dan Estrin, drummer Chris Hesse, and original bassist Markku Lappalainen. They...
, Papa Roach
Papa Roach
Papa Roach is an American rock band from Vacaville, California. Their first major-label release was the triple-platinum album Infest . The group's success continued with their gold album Lovehatetragedy , their platinum album Getting Away with Murder , The Paramour Sessions , and Metamorphosis...
, Daughtry, and P.O.D.
P.O.D.
Payable on Death is an American Christian metal band formed in 1992. The band's line-up consists of vocalist Sonny Sandoval, drummer Wuv Bernardo, guitarist Marcos Curiel, and bassist Traa Daniels. Their Christian faith is an important part of their music.They have released seven studio albums and...
.
The band was then picked up by IRS/Grand Slamm Records in early 1993. The label folded in less than a year, and the band were without a label. After these record company problems, in early 1994, Rachelle started RLS Records. The initials stood for "Rachelle's Lyrics & Songs" but the alternative meaning was "Record Labels Suck". The imprint has issued on Cassette
Compact Cassette
The Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a magnetic tape sound recording format. It was designed originally for dictation, but improvements in fidelity led the Compact Cassette to supplant the Stereo 8-track cartridge and reel-to-reel...
, CD, VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
and DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
roughly 40 titles selling upwards of 100,000 pieces globally. The offshoot Cheezee Records was formed in 1996 to be the home for the Cheeseheads With Attitude or CWA project.
Tuff again signed to a record label again in early 1995 when BMG
BMG
Bertelsmann Music Group, , was a division of Bertelsmann before its completion of sale of the majority of its assets to Japan's Sony Corporation of America on October 1, 2008. It was established in 1987 to combine the music label activities of Bertelsmann...
/Mausoleum/MMS records picked up the RLS Fist First release after it sold upwards of 10,000 copies. BMG re-issued it as Religious Fix in June 1995 with three bonus tracks. The additional tracks were produced by Randy Cantor.
In 2001, Tuff released the compilation CD The History of Tuff. It included the hit song "American Hair Band", a parody of Kid Rock
Kid Rock
Robert James "Bob" Ritchie , known by his stage name Kid Rock, is an American singer-songwriter, musician and rapper with five Grammy Awards nominations...
's "American Bad Ass
American Bad Ass
"American Bad Ass" is a heavy metal song from American musician Kid Rock, released from his 2000 album The History of Rock. "American Bad Ass" uses the instrumental structure of Metallica's "Sad but True" The song was a victory lap for Devil Without a Cause's success...
" (both of which incorporate the instrumentals of Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
's "Sad But True
Sad But True
"Sad but True" is a song by the American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released as the fifth and final single from their eponymous fifth album, Metallica....
"). "American Hair Band" makes references to numerous U.S. bands such as Motley Crüe
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil...
, Skid Row, Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
, Warrant, Twisted Sister
Twisted Sister
Twisted Sister is an American heavy metal band from Long Island. Musically, the band implements elements of traditional heavy metal bands such as Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, along with a style that is similar to early glam metal bands...
, Poison
Poison (band)
Poison is an American glam metal band that achieved great success in the mid-1980s to mid-1990s. To date, Poison has sold over 30 million records worldwide and have sold 15 million records in the United States alone. The band has also charted ten singles to the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100,...
, 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...
and 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,...
and even the non-American bands Def Leppard
Def Leppard
Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Since 1992, the band have consisted of Joe Elliott , Rick Savage , Rick Allen , Phil Collen , and Vivian Campbell...
, Sleeze Beeze, Hanoi Rocks
Hanoi Rocks
Hanoi Rocks was a Finnish rock band formed in 1979, whose most successful period came in the early 1980s. The band broke up in 1985 after the death of their drummer, Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley...
, Whitesnake and AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
, while at the same time, deriding 1990s grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
and alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
. The song has been a perennial favorite on Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
's Hair Nation
Hair Nation
Hair Nation is an '80s hard rock and glam metal radio station on Sirius Satellite Radio channel 39 , XM Satellite Radio channel 39 , and Dish Network channel 6039. Until February 9, 2010, it was on Direct TV channel 829...
channel and New Zealand's House Of Noizz radio.
In 2011, the 20th anniversary of What Comes Around Goes Around, Tuff will release a new EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
called What Comes Around Goes Around Again. It will feature four re-recorded songs from the first album, plus a new song called "Shagadoo to Lollipop".
Current Members
- Stevie RachelleStevie RachelleStevie Rachelle is best known as the lead singer of '80s glam metal band Tuff. He has also released multiple solo albums, as well as material with a Green Bay Packers themed side project he founded called Cheeseheads With Attitude. Rachelle also tours, and records with a German based group called...
- Vocals - Jack Aurora - Guitar
- Todd "Chase" Chaisson - Bass guitar
- Todd T. Burr - Drums
Past Members
- Jorge DeSaint - Guitar (1985-1995)
- Michael Lean - Drums (1985-1993)
- Benny Bruce - Touring Keyboardist (1988-1990)
- Eldon "Mack" Rose - Bass guitar (1989-1990)
- Terry Fox - Vocals (1985)
- Jim GilletteJim Gillette*2001: Carnivore Soundtrack#"Freight Train Demo" – 4:27*2003: Hollywood Hairspray Volume 2#"B.O.M.B. Also Called " – 3:20-with Organ Donor:*2001: The Ultra Violent#"Organ Donor" – 3:36#"Ultra Violent" – 5:55...
- Vocals (1986-1987) - Danny Wilder - Bass guitar (1992-1993)
- Jimi Lord Winalis - Drums (1993-1995)
- Jamie Fonte - Bass guitar (1994-1995)
- Adam Hamilton - Drums (1995)
- Brian Saunders - Bass guitar (2000-2001)
- Tony Eckholm - Drums (2000-2001)
- Darrell RobertsDarrell Roberts-Career:In 2001 Darrell Roberts joined the Heavy Metal band W.A.S.P. In 2006 he left the band and went on to join Los Angeles based heavy metal band Five Finger Death Punch. Roberts was replaced by Jason Hook in 2009, but is anticipating the release of a solo album due out in 2009. In late 2009 he...
- Guitar (2000-2001) - Michael Thomas - Guitar (2001-2002)
- John CorabiJohn CorabiJohn Corabi is a heavy metal singer and guitarist who has worked with such bands as Angora, The Scream, Mötley Crüe, Union and ESP , Ratt , Twenty 4 Seven , Zen Lunatic, Brides of Destruction, and Angel City Outlaws John Corabi (born on April 26, 1959 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a heavy...
- Guitar (2001) - Keri KelliKeri KelliKeri Kelli is an American hard rock guitarist, until recently playing for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend Alice Cooper. He occasionally also plays with Skid Row. He played guitar and co-wrote songs on the 2008 Alice Cooper studio album, Along Came A Spider, released worldwide July 29...
- Guitar (2005) - Paul Jaeger - Bass guitar (2006-2008)
- Mike Trash - Guitar (2006)
Tuff
- Knock Yourself Out (1986)
- What Comes Around Goes Around (1991)
- Fist First (1994)
- Religious Fix (1995)
- Decade of Disrespect (1996)
- Regurgitation (2000)
- History of Tuff (2001)
- Live in the U.K. (2003)
Tuff Home Videos/DVD
- What Comes Around Goes Around: The Videos (1991/2003)
- Religious Fix The Videos (1995/2003)
- Decade of Distant Memories (1996/2003)
- Rock N' Rarities The Videos (2003)
Appearances in Published Books
- Hollywood Rocks - Ultimate Guide (2003)
- American Hair Metal (2006)
- Fuck You - Rock n' Roll Portraits by Neil Zlozower (2008)
TV & Film
- The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years (1988) (Documentary Film)