Vixen (band)

Infobox musical artist |
Name = Vixen


Img_capt =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
Genre = Glam metal
Heavy metal
Hard rock
Years_active = 1980–1991
1997–1998
2001–present
Label = EMI
Associated_acts = Phantom Blue, Madam X
URL =
Current_members = Jan Kuehnemund
Jenna Sanz-Agero (Jenna Piccolo)
Lynn Louise Lowrey
Kathrin "Kat" Kraft
Past_members = See: Former members

Vixen is an all-female American glam metal/heavy metal band which achieved some success during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

History

Early years

Vixen was formed in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1980 by guitarist Jan Kuehnemund while still at high school. In 1984, an early version of the band with Kuehnemund and singer Janet Gardner appeared in the movie "Hardbodies", as the on-screen band Diaper Rash. In 1985, the band moved to L.A. to be part of the L.A. rock scene.

Commercial success

Lineup changes happened during the following years until the "classic lineup" of Janet Gardner (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Jan Kuehnemund (lead guitar), Share Pedersen (bass), and Roxy Petrucci (drums) was formed. This lineup of Vixen was interviewed in 1987 along with many other rock artists of the day by Penelope Spheeris for her film "".

In 1988 the band was signed to EMI, and they began recording their debut album "Vixen", which was released in September 1988. Singer-songwriter Richard Marx actually wrote and arranged their signature hit, "Edge of a Broken Heart", as well as performing keyboards and producing the song. Rumor was he was asked to assist the all-female band by EMI to produce their first major-hit, to compete with the all-female band the Bangles. Richard Marx had nothing to do with their follow-up CD, since he was becoming more of a mainline- singer than songwriter. Vixen spent the next year touring the world, supporting acts such as Ozzy Osbourne, Scorpions, and Bon Jovi, as well as headlining their own shows. The band returned to the studio in late 1989/early 1990 to record their follow up album, "Rev It Up", which was released in July 1990. A year of touring followed, including headlining their own shows and supporting acts such as KISS and Deep Purple. In mid-1991, the group disbanded due to musical differences.

First reunion

In 1997, drummer Roxy Petrucci reformed Vixen, with Janet Gardner (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Gina Stile (lead guitar), and Rana Ross (bass). This lineup toured the U.S. in 1997, and in 1998 Gardner, Stile, and Petrucci recorded the album "Tangerine". After the release of the new album, Roxy's sister Maxine Petrucci was brought in to play bass on a U.S. tour of 1998, but they were sued for copyright infringement by Kuehnemund.

In 1999, Share Pedersen joined her husband's band, the Dogs D'Amour, who were reforming after a long hiatus. She appeared on their 2000 album, "Happy Ever After", playing bass, keyboards, and, backing vocals. Share and her husband, Bam, also have their own band, Bubble, which is very popular in L.A..

econd reunion

In 2001, Vixen was reformed by Kuehnemund with a lineup consisting of herself, Janet Gardner, Roxy Petrucci, and new bassist Pat Holloway. This lineup toured the U.S. as part of the Voices of Metal tour. Unfortunately, half-way through the tour, disagreements caused the band to split-up, with only Kuehnemund remaining. Kuehnemund quickly recruited Jenna Sanz-Agero (Jenna Piccolo) (lead vocals), Lynn Louise Lowrey (bass), and Kathrin "Kat" Kraft (drums) to complete the tour. This lineup is still together, and released two new albums in 2006, a live album, recorded at a live show in Sweden, called "Extended Versions", and a studio album, " Live & Learn".

Recent events

In 2004, VH1 approached the four members of the "classic lineup" to appear on their show, Bands Reunited. The show was recorded in August 2004, and broadcast in the U.S. in November 2004. Following the broadcast of the VH1 show, EMI re-released the first two Vixen albums, "Vixen" and "Rev It Up".

Band members

Current members

*Jenna Sanz-Agero (Jenna Piccolo) – lead vocals (2001–2004, 2004–present)
*Jan Kuehnemund – lead guitar, backing vocals (1980–1991, 2001–present)
*Lynn Louise Lowrey – bass, backing vocals (2001–2004, 2004–present)
*Kathrin "Kat" Kraft – drums, backing vocals (2001–2004, 2004–present)

Former members

*Janet Gardner – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1983–1991, 1997–1998, 2001, 2004)
*Liza Carbe – bass, backing vocals (1983)
*Tamara Ivanov – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1984)
*Pia Maiocco – bass, backing vocals (1984)
*Laurie Hedlund – drums, backing vocals (1984)
*Roxy Petrucci – drums, backing vocals (1986–1991, 1997–1998, 2001, 2004)
*Share Pedersen – bass, backing vocals (1987–1991, 2004)
*Gina Stile – lead guitar, backing vocals (1997–1998)
*Rana Ross – bass, backing vocals (1997)
*Maxine Petrucci – bass, backing vocals (1998)
*Pat Holloway – bass, backing vocals (2001)
*Noelle Bucci – lead vocals
*Gayle Erickson-DeMatoff – bass, backing vocals
*Cindy Boettcher – keyboards, backing vocals
*Marlene Peterson – drums, backing vocals
*Nancy Shanks – lead vocals

ession musicians

*Richard Marx – keyboards on "Vixen" (1988)
*Mike Pisculli – bass, backing vocals on "Tangerine" (1998 — all tracks)
*Chris Fayz – keyboards on "Live & Learn" (2006 — tracks "Little Voice", "Give Me Away")
*Randy Wooten – keyboards on "Live & Learn" (2006 — track "Suffragette City")
*Paulie Cerra – saxophone on "Live & Learn" (2006 — track "Suffragette City")
*Robert Lear – bagpipes on "Live & Learn" (2006 — track "Give Me Away")

Discography

tudio albums

*"Vixen" (1988)
*"Rev It Up" (1990)
*"Tangerine" (1998)
*" Live & Learn" (2006)

Live albums

*"Extended Versions" (Live in Sweden) (2006)

Compilations

*"Best of Vixen - Full Throttle" (1999)

ingles

*"Edge of a Broken Heart"
*"Cryin'"
*"Love Made Me"
*"Edge of a Broken Heart" (reissue)
*"How Much Love"
*"Love Is a Killer"
*"Not a Minute Too Soon"

Videography

Videos

*"Revved Up" (1990)

External links

* [http://www.vixenrock.com/ Vixen Official website]
* [http://www.neilsvixenpage.com/ Neil's Vixen Page]
* [http://personal.telefonica.terra.es/web/metalqueens/vixen-.htm Metal Queens - Vixen]
* [http://www.metalmaidens.com/vixen.htm Vixen profile at MetalMaidens.com]
* [http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Venue/9127/vixen.htm Unofficial Vixen Page]
* [http://www.bassgirl.com/ Rana Ross' Home Page]
* [http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/bands_reunited/81583/episode_about.jhtml VH1 Bands Reunited: Vixen]
* [http://www.rocknrolltv.net/ Share Ross' rock n roll video blog]
* [http://www.roxypetrucci.com/ Roxy Petrucci's site]
* [http://www.bassgirls.com/bassgirls_index04.htm Lynn Lousie Lowrey interview at BassGirls.Com]
* [http://www.fullinbloommusic.com/roxy_petrucci.html Roxy Petrucci History on Madam X & Vixen]
* [http://www.savioursofrock.com/interviews/interviewVixen.html Interview at Saviours of Rock]
*allmusic|id=11:hpfixql5ldje|label=Vixen