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 Jack Aurora Todd "Chase" Chaisson Tod T. Burr
Past members
Jorge DeSaint Michael Lean Benny Bruce Eldon "Mack" Rose Terry Fox Jim Gillette Danny Wilder Jimi Lord Winalis Jamie Fonte Adam Hamilton Brian Saunders Tony Eckholm Darrell Roberts Michael Thomas John Corabi Keri Kelli Paul Jaeger Mike Trash

Tuff is an American glam metal band formed in 1985 in Phoenix, Arizona, by guitarist Jorge DeSaint (born George Manos) and bassist Todd Chase (born Todd Chaisson). The band was completed with the arrival of drummer Michael Lean (born Michael Raimondo) and short-lived 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. However, Gillette soon departed to form Nitro and was replaced by Stevie Rachelle (born Steve Hanseter).^[2]

History

Tuff was signed in 1990 and dropped by Atlantic Records in 1992. The band went onto have some success with their debut album What Comes Around Goes Around released in May 1991 on Atlantic/Titanium Records. It failed to achieve any RIAA sales certifications, although the single "I Hate Kissing You Goodbye" was a Top 10 requested video peaking at #3 on the Dial MTV show.^{[citation needed]} What Goes Around Comes Around was produced by Eduardo EGS and Howard Benson, who had produced a list of similar bands: Southgang featuring Butch Walker, Bang Tango, Sweet FA & Pretty Boy Floyd. He has now gone on to produce bands such as Hoobastank, Papa Roach, Daughtry, and P.O.D..

The band was then picked up by IRS/Grand Slamm Records in early 1993. The label folded in less than a year, and the band were without a label. After these record company problems, in early 1994, Rachelle started RLS Records. The initials stood for "Rachelle's Lyrics & Songs" but the alternative meaning was "Record Labels Suck". The imprint has issued on Cassette, CD, VHS and DVD roughly 40 titles selling upwards of 100,000 pieces globally.^{[citation needed]} The offshoot Cheezee Records was formed in 1996 to be the home for the Cheeseheads With Attitude or CWA project.

Tuff again signed to a record label again in early 1995 when BMG/Mausoleum/MMS records picked up the RLS Fist First release after it sold upwards of 10,000 copies.^{[citation needed]} BMG re-issued it as Religious Fix in June 1995 with three bonus tracks. The additional tracks were produced by Randy Cantor.

In 2001, Tuff released the compilation CD The History of Tuff. It included the hit song^{[citation needed]} "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" makes references to numerous U.S. bands such as Motley Crüe, Skid Row, Guns N' Roses, Warrant, Twisted Sister, Poison, White Lion and KISS and even the non-American bands Def Leppard, Sleeze Beeze, Hanoi Rocks, Whitesnake and AC/DC, while at the same time, deriding 1990s grunge and alternative rock. The song has been a perennial favorite on Sirius Satellite Radio's Hair Nation channel and New Zealand's House Of Noizz radio.^{[citation needed]}

In 2011, the 20th anniversary of What Comes Around Goes Around, Tuff will release a new EP called What Comes Around Goes Around Again. It will feature four re-recorded songs from the first album, plus a new song called "Shagadoo to Lollipop".^[3]

Current Members

• Stevie Rachelle - Vocals
• Jack Aurora - Guitar
• Todd "Chase" Chaisson - Bass guitar
• Todd T. Burr - Drums

Past Members

• Jorge DeSaint - Guitar (1985-1995)
• Michael Lean - Drums (1985-1993)
• Benny Bruce - Touring Keyboardist (1988-1990)
• Eldon "Mack" Rose - Bass guitar (1989-1990)
• Terry Fox - Vocals (1985)
• Jim Gillette - Vocals (1986-1987)
• Danny Wilder - Bass guitar (1992-1993)
• Jimi Lord Winalis - Drums (1993-1995)
• Jamie Fonte - Bass guitar (1994-1995)
• Adam Hamilton - Drums (1995)
• Brian Saunders - Bass guitar (2000-2001)
• Tony Eckholm - Drums (2000-2001)
• Darrell Roberts - Guitar (2000-2001)
• Michael Thomas - Guitar (2001-2002)
• John Corabi - Guitar (2001)
• Keri Kelli - Guitar (2005)
• Paul Jaeger - Bass guitar (2006-2008)
• Mike Trash - Guitar (2006)

Discography

Tuff

• Knock Yourself Out (1986)
• 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)

Tuff Home Videos/DVD

• What Comes Around Goes Around: The Videos (1991/2003)
• Religious Fix The Videos (1995/2003)
• Decade of Distant Memories (1996/2003)
• Rock N' Rarities The Videos (2003)

Appearances in Published Books

• Hollywood Rocks - Ultimate Guide (2003)
• American Hair Metal (2006)
• Fuck You - Rock n' Roll Portraits by Neil Zlozower (2008)

TV & Film

• The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years (1988) (Documentary Film)

References

1. ^ "slearoxx > Tuff". Sleaze Roxx. http://www.sleazeroxx.com/bands/tuff/tuff.shtml. Retrieved 4 April 2010. 
2. ^ Tuff history
3. ^ TUFF Working On What Comes Around Goes Around Again EP

External links

• Stevie Rachelle & Tuff Official Site
• YouTube Video of Tuff's "American Hair Band"