- Y&T
Infobox musical artist
Name = Y&T
Img_capt =
Img_size =
Background = group_or_band
Alias = Yesterday & Today
Origin =Orinda, California ,United States
Years_active = 1974–1991
1995–present
Label = London (1976–1978)
A&M (1981–1985, 1990)
Universal (1985)
Geffen (1987–1990)
Metal Blade (1991)
Avex
Meanstreak Music Co.Hip-O Records (2005)
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.meniketti.com/ Official Website]
Current_members =Dave Meniketti
Phil Kennemore
John Nymann
Mike Vanderhule
Past_members = Leonard Haze
Joey AlvesJimmy DeGrasso
Stef BurnsY&T (originally known as Yesterday & Today) is a heavy metal band who formed in 1974. They hail from the East Bay of the
San Francisco Bay Area . The band put out two albums onLondon Records as Yesterday & Today in the 1970s, before shortening their name to Y&T and releasing several albums onA&M Records beginning in 1981, as well as albums onGeffen Records , Avex Records, and others. The band was originally co-managed by Herbie Herbert (who also managed Journey) and Louis "Lou" Bramy. The band has sold over 4 million albums to date worldwide.History
Early years
Dave Meniketti (often mistakenly spelled Menketti) started his musical career in 1973, and in 1974 he formed Yesterday and Today. The band's name was inspired byThe Beatles ' album of the same name. fact|date=September 2008 The original members were Meniketti (lead guitar, lead vocals), Joey Alves (rhythm guitar), Phil Kennemore (bass), andLeonard Haze (drums).The band released two 1970s albums on
London Records . A new record deal in 1980 withA&M Records prompted the band to shorten their moniker to simply Y&T, and encores with fans chanting "Y&T, Y&T, Y&T" sealed the condensed name.Commercial success
Y&T’s 1985 hit "Summertime Girls" received tremendous airplay worldwide, played frequently in the "
Baywatch " television series and several feature films, remained at length in heavy rotation onMTV as well as MTV’s top video playlists, and the hit song gets regular airplay today onclassic rock radio stations throughout the country alongside other Y&T hits. Y&T songs grace the soundtracks of numerous movies and television shows, and their popular videos for songs such as "Lipstick & Leather", "Don’t Stop Runnin'", "Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark", "Contagious", and "Summertime Girls" are still featured videos onVH1 today.Later years
Leonard Haze was replaced by
Jimmy DeGrasso in 1986, and Joey Alves was replaced by Stef Burns in 1989. Jimmy DeGrasso and Stef Burns later played together withAlice Cooper in the 1990s.The last studio album this lineup recorded was "Ten". This album features some ballad highlights, such as "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark", "Ten Lovers", and "Come in from the Rain", together with some real
hard rock songs, including "City", "Surrender", and the fastest track Y&T ever recorded, thespeed metal song "Goin' Off the Deep End".Musical impact
With career accolades that include performing on "
American Bandstand ", two Bammie Awards, five top 100 albums, songs that tipped into the 40s on Billboard charts, multiple national and international television appearances, and a worldwide fan base, Y&T has sold over four million albums and recorded 16 LPs and three greatest hits compilations since their 1974 inception. These rock 'n' roll pioneers surviveddisco fever, rode the crest of the 1980s hard rock insurgence, and remained faithful to melodic power ballads throughout the age of grunge. At any concert, you can hear fans calling out their requests including, "Rescue Me" from "Earthshaker", "Forever" from "Black Tiger", and "Mean Streak" from "Mean Streak".The band's signature hits include "Summertime Girls" (which reached #55 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1985) and "Mean Streak". Their 1984 Album "
In Rock We Trust " was their highest-selling release, reaching #46 on the Billboard Album Charts and selling over 450,000 copies, coming close to gold certification. The album "Earthshaker" is still seen by many as one of the heaviest, and most honestly-produced albums in hard rock. It contains some top-songwriting, for example, with the songs "Rescue Me", "I Believe in You", "Hurricane", and "Squeeze". These, and other songs of the record, makeup an important part of the band's live shows. In 2006, a complete concert in theNetherlands was captured on the DVD "One Hot Night".Breakup and reformation
The band officially disbanded in 1991, concluding with the strong live album "Yesterday & Today Live", but still continued to perform sporadically. They officially reunited in 2001 with a lineup of Dave Meniketti, Stef Burns, Phil Kennemore, and Leonard Haze. Stef Burns eventually left to join
Huey Lewis and the News , and was replaced by rhythm guitarist/backing vocalist John Nymann, who was an old friend of the band, and previously sang backing vocals on "Down for the Count". In 2006, Leonard Haze was asked to step down and was replaced by Mike Vanderhule on drums. Dave Meniketti and Phil Kennemore have been the only constant members of the band since it's formation in 1974.Band members
Current members
*
Dave Meniketti – lead guitar, lead vocals (1974–1991, 1995–present)
*John Nymann – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2001–present)
*Phil Kennemore – bass guitar, backing vocals (1974–1991, 1995–present)
*Mike Vanderhule – drums, percussion, cymbals, backing vocals (2006–present)Former members
*
Leonard Haze – drums, percussion, cymbals, backing vocals, mayhem (1974–1986, 2001–2006)
*Joey Alves – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1974–1989)
*Jimmy DeGrasso – drums, percussion, cymbals, backing vocals (1986–1991, 1995–2001)
*Stef Burns – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1989–1991, 1995–2001)ession members
*Robert Russ – piano on "
Struck Down " (1978)
*Galen Cook – organ on "Struck Down " (1978)
*Cherie Currie – backing vocals on "Struck Down " (1978)
*Adam Day – rhythm guitar on "Down for the Count" (1985)
*Randy Nichols – keyboards on "Down for the Count" (1985)
*Steffen Presley – keyboards on "Down for the Count" (1985)
*Claude Schnell – keyboards on "Down for the Count" (1985)
*Bill Costa – backing vocals on "Down for the Count" (1985)
*John Nymann – backing vocals on "Down for the Count" (1985)Note: Y&T formed in 1974, disbanded in 1991, and began performing sporadically in 1995 until officially reuniting in 2001.
Note: In some places, it wrongly states Jimmy DeGrasso was drummer of Y&T from (1987–1990, 1995), but this is incorrect.
Note: Though Dave Meniketti began his musical career in 1973, Y&T wasn't formed until 1974.Discography
tudio albums
*"Yesterday & Today" (1976)
*"Struck Down " (1978)
*"Earthshaker" (1981)
*"Black Tiger" (1982)
*"Mean Streak" (1983)
*"In Rock We Trust " (1984)
*"Down for the Count" (1985)
*"Contagious" (1987)
*"Ten" (1990)
*"Musically Incorrect " (1995)
*"Endangered Species" (1997)
*"Earthshaker" (re-release) (2006)
*"In Rock We Trust " (re-release) (2006)
*"Unearthed Vol 1"
*"Unearthed Vol 2"Compilations
*"Best of '81–'85" (1990)
*"Anthology" (1992)
*"Ultimate Collection" (2001)Live albums
*"Open Fire" (live) (1985)
*"Yesterday & Today Live" (1991)
*"BBC in Concert: Live on the Friday Rock Show" (2000)Other contributions
*"
Hear 'n Aid " (1986)ingles
*"Summertime Girls"
*"All American Boy"B-sides
*"Summertime Girls" (live)
*"Go for the Throat"Videography
Videos
*"Live at the San Francisco Civic" (1985)
*"Summertime Girls & All American Boys" (1987)DVDs
*"One Hot Night" (live) (2007)
External links
* [http://www.yandtrocks.com Official Website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/yandtrocks Y&T] atMyspace
* [http://www.yandt.net/ Y&T Fan Site]
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