Stevie Rachelle

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Stevie Rachelle is best known as the lead singer of 80's glam metal band Tuff. He has also released multiple solo albums, as well as material with side projects such as Cheeseheads With Attitude. He is the financer/manager of 80's Glam Metal website Metal Sludge and the current manager of the Sleaze Rock band Vains of Jenna.

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[edit] Early life

Rachelle was born Steven Howard Hanseter on March 2, 1966. He was raised in America around the Lake Winnebago area of Oshkosh Wisconsin despite being German. He moved to California as a young adult after spending hours dreaming of the place as a child. Rachelle graduated from Oshkosh West High School in 1984, now the owner of the nickname "Banger", which was shortened from "Headbanger". Rachelle didn't receive the name because of his love for Heavy Metal music however. It was given to him after falling flat on his face trying to jump over a fence to impress a group of girls.

By spring 1985 self taught musician Rachelle found himself in a band as vocalist after been suggested for the job by a skateboarding friend of his. The band would often perform Heavy Metal cover songs by bands like Kiss, Black Sabbath and Van Halen.

[edit] Tuff

The band after many changes eventually became Tuff, however before deciding on this name Billy's Old Mill, Tommi Gunn and The Jabberwocky were all used. The band were soon snatched up by Atlantic and recorded their debut album What Comes Around Goes Around. The band never achieved huge success other than the single taken from this album I Hate Kissing You Goodbye which was a constant staple on MTV.

Stevie Rachelle appeared in the Penelope Spheeris Rockumentary "Decline of Western Civilization, Part II". He was, at the time, one of multiple interviewees who were hopeful to land a record contract while trying to make a name for themselves on the crowded Sunset Strip music scene in late 1980s Los Angeles.

[edit] Later life

After the glam metal movement died out Tuff were unheard of and nobody was sure if they had split or not. However in 2001 a Greatest Hits package was released containing a new track called "American Hair Band. In this parody, there are also samples from the Poison song "Talk Dirty to Me", Skid Row's "Youth Gone Wild" and the Guns N' Roses classic "Sweet Child o' Mine." The song also has several lyrics attacking grunge music. Rachelle referred to the song as his tribute to a scene he was extremely proud to be a part of and wanted to give something back to.

Rachelle was also in recent years revealed as "the man behind the curtain" of the 80's Metal Music website Metal Sludge. Which also seems to be something Rachelle is doing to keep the world of Glam Metal alive.

Rachelle is now living in California with two young children.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Tuff

  • 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)

[edit] Solo Albums

  • Who The Hell Am I? (1998)
  • Since Sixty-Six (2000)

[edit] Shameless

  • Backstreet Anthems (1999)
  • Queen 4 a Day (2000)
  • Splashed (2002)
  • Famous 4 Madness (2007)

[edit] Appearances on Tribute Albums

  • Leppardmania: A Tribute to Def Leppard (2000) {vocals on Too Late for Love}
  • Bulletproof Fever: A Tribute to Ted Nugent (2001) {vocals on Wango Tango}
  • Livin' On a Prayer: A Tribute to Bon Jovi (2001) {vocals on In & Out of Love}
  • Name Your Poison: A Tribute to Poison (2001) {vocals on Look What The Cat Dragged In}
  • Welcome to the Jungle: A Tribute to Guns N' Roses (2002) {vocals on You're Crazy}

[edit] Guest Appearances

During and after Rachelle's time in Tuff he has played with many other musicians on stage and in the studio, including;

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