Pretty Boy Floyd (band)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 Original Pretty Boy Floyd line-up |
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| Origin |  Hollywood, California |
| Country | United States |
| Years active | 1987-1991 1995-present |
| Genres | Hard rock Glam metal |
| Labels | MCA Cleopatra Records Deadline |
| Members | Steve "Sex" Summers Aeriel Stiles Vinnie Chas T'Chad Dish |
| Past members | Kristy "Krash" Majors Kari Kane Keri Kelli Keff Ratcliffe Chad Stewart Lesli Sanders |
Pretty Boy Floyd is a hard rock band from Hollywood, California formed in 1987. They are most famous for their 1989 debut album Leather Boyz With Electric Toyz and the two singles from it; Rock and Roll and I Wanna Be With You.
The band broke up in 1991, but reformed in 1995 releasing several new records since that time. They continue on today.
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[edit] History
The origins of the band can be traced back to a group named Doll in Hollywood, California. It featured vocalist Kerry Doll, guitarist Ariel Stiles, bassist Vinnie Chas and drummer Kari Kane. Doll recorded demos but reportedly no albums.
They became Pretty Boy Floyd in 1987 when Kerry Doll was replaced by singer Steve "Sex" Summers. Soon Ariel Stiles was replaced by New York guitarist Kristy Majors. The band's name was reportedly given to them by producer Kim Fowley who the band were working with at the time.[1]
[edit] Leather Boyz with Electric Toyz
- For more information see; Leather Boyz with Electric Toyz.
After 8 shows Pretty Boy Floyd were snapped up by MCA Records. Their debut album named "Leather Boyz with Electric Toyz" was released in 1989 and produced by Motörhead producer Howard Benson. It reached #130 on the United States Billboard charts. The majority of the material features on the debut album was written by former guitarist Ariel Stiles, however Kristy Majors wrote the hit "Rock and Roll (Is Gonna Set the Night on Fire)".
Two singles, and acomanying promotional videos were released from the album; "Rock and Roll (Is Gonna Set the Night on Fire)" and "I Wanna Be With You", which gained rotation on MTV. They were also having success in Europe at the time, by being the cover subject of hard rock magazine Kerrang! on December 16, 1989.
Pretty Boy Floyd became embroiled in a dispute over the copyright of their band name, with a Canadian band also called Pretty Boy Floyd. The Canadian group released their debut "Bullets and Lipstick" the same year, but after a court case were forced to change their name to Tommi Floyd (the name of their frontman).
In early 1990 Pretty Boy Floyd were supposed to tour the United Kingdom in support of The Quireboys, but pulled out as their scedule was packed with shooting their second video "I Wanna Be With You".
Their music featured on two movie soundtracks, first the demo version of "48 Hours" was included on the 1989 The Karate Kid, Part III film. Two years later the previously unreleased "Slam Dunk" was released on the Ellen Barkin movie Switch soundtrack. However, by 1991 MCA Records had stopped supporting the band financially when they needed to tour, coupled with in-band fighting they soon decided to disband.
[edit] Post-Pretty Boy Floyd
- Steve Summers began to manage a strip club with his brother.
- Kristy Majors formed a short lived band with future Beautiful Creatures drummer Anthony Focx.
- Vinnie Chas joined former guitarist Ariel Styles in the band Rattlin' Bones, their self-titled album was influenced by 70s hard rock such as Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath
- Kari Kane's musical ventures after Floyd are unknown.
[edit] Reunited
By late 1995 Pretty Boy Floyd had reformed. They went into the studio to record a five song E.P. titled "A Tale of Sex, Designer Drugs, and the Death of Rock N Roll" in 1998. The band featured future Alice Cooper guitarist Keri Kelli, L.A. Guns bassist Keff Ratcliffe as well as Kari Kane, Kristy Majors and Steve Summers.
Although not as popular as their heyday in the late 1980s Floyd continued on in the underground music scene, putting out more releases. A full length album Porn Stars followed next, It featured five re-recordings of tracks from their debut album, and eight others including a cover of Alice Cooper's "Department of Youth". The production of this album was notably more raw than their debut.
[edit] Archives raided: early 2000s
By the 2000s Pretty Boy Floyd's line-up had become a revolving door scenario, with many Hollywood based musicians passing through the ranks, including bassist Lesli Sanders and drumer Dish who joined Majors and Summer for the 2001 live album "Live At The Pretty Ugly Club".
Vocalist Steve "Sex" Summers remained the sole original member for the "Size Really Does Matter" album. This was also the first time an official Pretty Boy Floyd recording had been released without Kristy Majors, who had been replaced by T'Chad in March 2002.
Also around this time, several releasing were put out on Perris Records which were made up of demos from the band's archives. This included demos on "The Vault" and "The Vault II", as well as "Tonight Belongs to the Young" which were remastered demos featuring the most famous line-up, originally planned to be the band's second album on MCA Records in the early 90s.
From 2001 onwards Kristy Majors had began to record as a solo artist, releasing "Devil in Me" and "Goodbye Rock-N-Roller", As well as an entire album of Ramones covers entitled "For Those About to Sniff Some Glue...We Salute You". The style of these albums lays between punk rock and hard rock.
Lesli Sanders and T'Chad left to form Prophets of Addiction in 2004. Summers enlisted the Peppermint Creeps, a band who he had managed as his backup band in Pretty Boy Floyd. In the following two years other musicians also played with Summers live under the name touring the United States, United Kingdom and Japan.
[edit] Recent times
Rumors often circulate about the original Pretty Boy Floyd line-up reforming and in early 2006 it was announced that Kristy "Krash" Majors and Kari Kane would be returning to record an album of brand new songs and tour Japan. In February 2006 they toured the States together.
However, by January 2007 Majors and Summers became involved in a public feud with each other, which was played out over the internet. Majors challenged Summers to a kickboxing match[2], Summers replied demeaning Majors previous role in the band and insulted the guitarist.[3] Majors replied refuting Summers claims and deeming him a "liar".[4]
Summers announced on his website that Pretty Boy Floyd would be releasing a new single on 26 January 2007 at the Cat Club. He also revealed in a blog on the band's official MySpace profile that he had been working with original guitarist Ariel Stiles and bassist Vinnie Chas on new material for an album.[5] Former members Ariel Stiles, Vinnie Chas, T'Chad and Dish are now listed as part of the band's line-up.
Kristy Majors is currently performing as a solo aristst, he recently released the album "Sex, Drugs 'N' Rock N Roll" and is set to tour Europe in March 2007
[edit] Members
- Steve "Sex" Summers - Vocals
- Aeriel Stiles - Guitar
- T'Chad - Guitar
- Vinnie Chas - Bass
- Dish - Drums
[edit] Former members
- Kristy "Krash" Majors - Guitar
- Kari Kane - Drums
- Keri Kelli - Guitar
- Keff Ratcliffe - Bass
- Chad Stewart - Drums
- Lesli Sanders - Bass
- Eddie Electra - Bass
- Macy Malone - Guitars
- Traci Michaelz - Drums
- Jamie Keane - Bass
- Michael Thomas - Guitar
- Todd Michael Burr - Drums
[edit] Discography
 (MCA - 1989) US #130 |
 (Cleopatra - 1998) |
 (Deadline - 2003) |
[edit] EP
[edit] Singles
- Rock and Roll (Is Gonna Set the Night on Fire) - (1989)
- I Wanna Be With You - (1989)
[edit] Live
- Live At The Roxy - Wake Up Bitch - (1998)
- Live At The Pretty Ugly Club - (2001)
[edit] Compilations
- The Vault - Demos - (2002)
- The Vault II - Demos - (2003)
- Tonight Belongs to the Young - Remastered demos - (2003)
- Dirty Glam - (2004)
- The Greatest Collection - The Ultimate Pretty Boy Floyd - (2004)
