- Rough Cutt
Infobox musical artist
Name = Rough Cutt
Background = group_or_band
Origin =San Diego, California
Genre = Heavy metal
Years_active = 1980–1987
Label = Warner Bros.
Associated_acts = Mickey Ratt/Ratt , Magic, Orgy, Jailhouse,Quiet Riot ,Dio , Jag Wire,Ozzy Osbourne , Badlands
URL =
Past_members =Paul Shortino Dave Alford Matt Thorr Chris Hager Amir Derakh Jake E. Lee Craig Goldy Joey Cristofanilli Claude Schnell Rough Cutt was a American heavy metal band based in
Los Angeles , California in the 1980's. Despite having a roster of musicians who later found greater success in other groups, Rough Cutt never achieved the popular success enjoyed by many other Los Angeles bands of that time.The first Rough Cutt lineup featured vocalist
Paul Shortino , guitaristJake E. Lee , keyboardistClaude Schnell , bassistJoey Cristofanilli , and drummerDave Alford . Both Lee and Alford had also previously been in another San Diego band, Mickey Ratt, which later shortened it's name toRatt . Two other former Mickey Ratt members, bassistMatt Thorne akaMatt Thorr (who replaced Cristofanelli) and guitaristChris Hager , would also soon join Rough Cutt.Lee left Rough Cutt in 1982, very briefly played in the band
Dio , and then replaced the deceased Randy Rhoads asOzzy Osbourne 's lead guitarist. Lee in turn was replaced byCraig Goldy , formerly of the L.A. band Vengeance.Ronnie James Dio greatly influenced the development of the band. Dio’s wife Wendy Dio was the group’s manager, and Dio himself helped write one of the band’s songs. Rough Cutt contributed two tracks “A Little Kindness” and “Used & Abused,” both produced by Dio, to the compilation album “L.A's Hottest Unsigned Bands,” issued in 1983. Goldy soon left the band, and went onto play inGiuffria , and later in Dio’s band. Goldy was replaced byAmir Derakh , another San Diego band alumnus.With the lineup solidified with Shortino, Alford, Hager, Thorne and Derakh, Rough Cutt was signed to Warner Bros. Records in 1984 and recorded two albums "Rough Cutt" produced by Tom Allom and "Rough Cutt Wants You" produced by Jack Douglas. The band toured extensively in the United States, Europe and Japan as an opening act for Foreigner, Dio, Krokus and others.
Shortino left in the band in 1987 to replace Kevin DuBrow as singer of
Quiet Riot . Derakh, Thorne and Alford regrouped with singer Danny Simon and guitarist Michael Raphael to form Jailhouse, which released a live EP “Alive in a Mad World” in 1988. Derakh was later guitarist for the nu-metal band Orgy. Shortino reformed Rough Cutt in 2000 with an all-new lineup that included former Aerosmith guitaristJimmy Crespo , former House of Lords bassist Sean McNabb, and drummer John Homan, and recorded an EP “Sneak Peak.” The album was produced by former Rough Cutt bassist Matt Thorne(produced/engineered; The Eels, Trapt, Ratt, Warrant, Badlands, The Donnas, etc.) [http://www.BlueThumbProductions.com] . The band soon shortened its name to simply The Cutt.The best known lineup of Rough Cutt reformed for a one-off reunion show in October 2002 at the
Viper Room in Hollywood with Shortino, Alford, Hager, Thorne and Derakh performing together one last time.Discography
* "Used And Abused" and "A Little Kindness" (1981)
* "Rough Cutt" (1985)
* "Wants You! " (1986)
* "Rough Cutt Live " (1996)
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