Tuff (band)

Tuff
Origin Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Genres Glam metal,[1] hard rock, heavy metal
Years active 1985–present
Labels Atlantic, I.R.S./Grand Slamm Records, Mausoleum Records
Associated acts Nitro, Substance D, Sister Whiskey
Website tuffcds.com
Members Stevie Rachelle
Todd "Chase" Chaisson
Past members Jorge DeSaint
Gary Huckaby
Michael Lean
Terry Fox
Jim Gillette
Danny Wilder
Jimi Lord Winalis
Jamie Fonte
Adam Hamilton
Benny Bruce
Brian Saunders
Tony Eckholm
Darrell Roberts
Michael Thomas
John Corabi
Keri Kelli

Tuff is an American glam metal band formed in 1985 in Phoenix, Arizona, by guitarist Jorge DeSaint, drummer Gary Huckaby, and bassist Todd Chase. After drummer Gary Huckaby left the group in 1985 to work with another local project, the band enlisted drummer Michael Lean and 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 (1986). However, Gillette soon departed to form Nitro and was replaced by Stevie Rachelle.[2]

History

The band with its classic line-up consisted of Stevie Rachelle on vocals, Jorge DeSaint on guitars, Todd Chase on bass and drummer Michael "Lean" Raimondo. The band played all over the West Coast and eventually was doing cross country tours headlining clubs. Yet had no record deal. After becoming (in their opinion) the biggest unsigned band in the world that no one had ever heard of, after years of hard work, it never did really pay off.

Tuff was first signed in 1990 by Atlantic Records and released their debut album What Comes Around Goes Around in May 1991, which included the band's successful power ballad "I Hate Kissing You Goodbye" co-written with Todd Meagher. The video reached #3 on Dial MTV behind Guns N' Roses & Metallica. In 1994, Tuff independently released Fist First which was eventually reissued by another major label BMG as Religious Fix, in 1995 with the addition of three bonus tracks.

The band was then picked up by IRS Grand Slamm Records in early 1993. The label folded in less than a year with the end of the mother label, IRS Records, which distributed Grand Slamm, and Tuff was without a label again.

After struggling with record labels for years, Stevie Rachelle decided to form his own label for the band and in early 1994, Rachelle officially started RLS Records. The initials had a dual meaning. The first was "Record Labels Suck" & the second was "Rachelle's Lyrics & Songs". The offshoot, Cheezee Records, was formed in 1996 to be the home for the singer's side project, Cheeseheads With Attitude.

Tuff again signed with a record label 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 3 bonus tracks. The additional tracks were produced by Randy Cantor.

In 2001, Tuff released the compilation CD, The History of Tuff, which included the 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" made references to numerous similar bands of the era as well as criticizing grunge and alternative rock.

Tuff released What Comes Around Goes Around Again in 2012, which featured four rerecorded songs from What Comes Around Goes Around plus new tracks.[3]

Current members

Past members

Discography

Tuff Albums

Stevie Rachelle (Solo) Albums

Shameless Albums featuring Stevie Rachelle of Tuff

Tales From The Porn Albums featuring Stevie Rachelle of Tuff

Metal Sludge Releases featuring Stevie Rachelle of Tuff

Compilations & Tribute Albums featuring Stevie Rachelle of Tuff

Cheeseheads With Attitude Albums featuring Stevie Rachelle of Tuff

Home Videos/DVD

TV, Film & Documentaries

Tuff & Shameless American & International Tours

TUFF Breaks Up November 26, 1995----

TUFF Reforms in the fall of 2000----


C.W.A. forms in the fall of 1996----

Appearances in Published Books

References

  1. ↑ "Tuff Biography". Sleaze Roxx. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
  2. ↑ Tuff history
  3. ↑ TUFF Working On What Comes Around Goes Around Again EP
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