Blackboard Jungle (band)
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Blackboard Jungle are a hard rock/glam metal band from Los Angeles, California. The original lineup consisted of: vocalist Kenny Price; guitarist Dave Zinc; drummer Joel Faith; and bassist Britt (no surname.) Other members from various periods included at least one different guitarist (Steve Olivero) and two replacement drummers (Brett Bradshaw and Ange Dunleavy ). After fifteen years and various lineup changes the band once again consists of the four original members.
In 1990, the band recorded its first demo tape, which was most notable for containing a cover version of the 1980s hit "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" by Dead or Alive.
In 1992, the band recorded an independent album called I Like It Alot (sic) which was well-received but failed to garner much industry buzz since Blackboard Jungle was considered (unfairly, according to most fans of the band) to be part of the "hair metal" genre. At the time, radio stations and music video channels were focusing on so-called "grunge" bands such as Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, and Nirvana. Despite their fast-growing local popularity, the group had difficulty getting serious attention from the major recording labels that were now looking away from Hollywood and towards Seattle in search of new talent. During this time they played several dates supporting Faster Pussycat in the United States. The band also played a few international dates, including a performance in Japan which was circulated on bootleg videotapes.
Joel Faith left in 1993 for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by former Faster Pussycat drummer Brett Bradshaw.
In 1994, Good Day L.A., a local morning show on the Los Angeles Fox Broadcasting television affiliate, held a competition to determine the "best local unsigned band." Blackboard Jungle entered and would eventually win the contest and its grand prize: a recording deal. Unfortunately for the band, the deal was with Fox Records, which essentially existed to release soundtrack albums from 20th-Century Fox motion pictures. Blackboard Jungle did not release any recordings under the Fox label.
Brett Bradshaw quit in mid-1994 after an alleged brawl with Britt prior to a performance at the Coconut Teaszer club in Hollywood, California. Ange Dunleavy was recruited after his departure from Sister Whiskey (another Sunset Strip alumni) and played several live shows until the return of Joel Faith in 1995. Shortly thereafter, Dave Zinc left the group for personal reasons. Blackboard Jungle recorded their last known studio demos in 1995 before breaking up due to personal and creative differences, coupled with a general lack of widespread success.
- Kenny Price joined Los Angeles rock group Jet 68.
- Britt moved to San Francisco and formed his own group, the Substitutes.
- Dave Zinc left the music scene to raise a family.
- Joel Faith occasionally plays with Los Angeles band Melody Black.
In recent years, Blackboard Jungle has reunited for "one night only" shows in Hollywood. In 2005, the annual reunion show was at the Whisky A Go-Go. In 2006 it was moved to the Viper Room. They maintain a small but loyal fanbase.
