Shameless (band)

Shameless
Origin Munich, Germany
Genres Hard rock
Glam metal
Years active 1989–1991
1998–present
Labels Red Skunk Recordz
Members Alexx Michael
B.C.
Steve Summers
Keri Kelli
Stevie Rachelle
Tommy Wagner

Shameless are a hard rock and glam metal supergroup based in Munich, Germany. Although the band are based in Germany, they are notable for having numerous American rockers appearing on their albums.

History

The original incarnation of Shameless was formed in April 1989 by bassist Alexx "Skunk" Michael. The band were relatively popular in their home town, selling out a 500 capacity club on their very first show. The vocalist left the band at the end of 1991 and they folded.

Since their 1999 debut, Shameless have been establishing themselves as a band that doesn’t give a damn that the 80s are over – they continue to turn out good-natured, party rock and roll, regardless of shifting musical tends and styles.

Backstreet Anthems

In summer 1998 Alexx Michael started to reform Shameless with the support of his friend Kiss and Alice Cooper drummer Eric Singer. Singer used his contacts to help Michael reform "Shameless" for the debut album Backstreet Anthems. Two cover versions were present within the tracklist "Flaming Youth" by Kiss and "Hard Dayz Night" by The Beatles.

This album featured thirteen musicians in total, including B.C. a German friend of Michael's. The musicians on the album were;

Ten tracks in total were featured on the album. It was recorded in Studio City, Los Angeles, California and was produced by former Guns N' Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke.

Queen 4 A Day

After gaining a cult following and positive response from the underground hard rock community Alexx Michael and B.C. decided they would record another album. Back in Germany they were writing new tracks and rehearsing them by January 2000. This time was decided that the album would be produced at Keri Kelli's studio in Orange County, California.

The album titled Queen 4 a Day was recorded in March 2000 and featured a total of thirteen songs. Another Kiss cover was also present, "Tomorrow". It featured more guests, with some on the previous album returning.

The album was released in Europe via MTM Music, they did a tour of Germany and the Netherlands in promotion of it. Bruce Kulick joined the band on tour and performed some tracks live with them.

Splashed

By the time it came to recording the third album Splashed in 2002, the band made a conscious decision to keep the line-up more concentrated so that people could focus more on the songs that who was playing what. It featured 11 tracks and bonus DVD material of their 2000 tour and a promotional video for the track "Don't Hesitate".

The tracks were performed by Steve Summers, Alexx Michael, Keri Kelli, B.C., Mike Fasano and Stevie Rachelle. After a successful European tour in October 2003 and spring 2004, they released a live album from one of the United Kingdom dates, titled "Super Hardcore Show".

Famous 4 Madness

It would be three years before Shameless returned to record their next studio release in December 2006, “Famous 4 Madness”. Bassist, Alexx Michael and guitarist, BC were once again joined by vocalists, Steve Summers & Stevie Rachelle. “Famous 4 Madness” saw the band returning to fine form and enlisting help from outside musicians including Phil Lewis (L.A. Guns), Jani Lane (Warrant), John Corabi (The Scream, Mötley Crüe), Keri Kelli (Alice Cooper), Kari Kane (Pretty Boy Floyd), Eric Singer (KISS, Alice Cooper).

In support of “Famous 4 Madness,” the band embarked on a European tour that took the band to Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. Shameless continued to tour through 2009-2010 in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Belgium, France and Sweden.

Dial S for Sex

The band returned in December 2011, with a new studio release, “Dial S For Sex.” Featuring the two very successful songs, “Summertime Goodbye,” with vocalist Stevie Rachelle and guitarist Chris Holmes (W.A.S.P.) and a cover of the Katy Perry song“Hot N’ Cold” with Steve Summers on vocals.

From Feb. until July 2012 Shameless did a massive tour all over Europe incl. some Unplugged Shows as a trio with Alexx Michael playing acoustic guitars instead of bass. In early September, Alexx started to write new music for the upcoming release "Beautiful Disaster".

Beautiful Disaster 2013

Shameless is currently recording their sixth studio release, “Beautiful Disaster.” The first single “Forever Ends Today” features Steve Summers (vocals), Tod T Burr(drums) along with BC & Michael Thomas(guitar) and Alexx Michael (bass) and will be released this April.

“Beautiful Disaster” contains 10 new original Shameless classics along with a cover of the T Rex / Marc Bolan classic “Life’s A Gas” featuring former The Runaways singer, Cherie Currie. Currie also lent her unique vocal talents on the Shameless original, “Dear Mum” that was written by Alexx Michael & Andy Brings. In addition, the band recorded the timeless Alice Cooper classic, “I’m Eighteen” with vocalist, Stevie Rachelle.One of the numbers "She's not coming home tonight" was dedicated to Jennifer Klomp,a girl who was one of the victims of the buscrash in Sierre,Switserland in 2012.

The album was released in November 2013 and followed by a tour all over the UK.

Shameless will tour Europe in 2014 with Stevie Rachelle, Alexx Michael, BC and Tommy Wagner on drums


more shows TBA

Discography

Studio

All Shameless music[1] is directly available thru iTunes, Spotify, Google Play Music and a lot of other music providers

Live

Best Of

references

External links