 Discuss the band Cinderella at the Hair Nation Metal Message Board
Originally conceived as a glitterized amalgam of the band's acute 70's Rock n' Roll influences. CINDERELLA had replaced such a riotous blueprint by the time their second album had been conceived in favour of a more blues based direction, yet still retained the throaty vocals of main-man Tom Keifer, the creative force behind the band's success. Tom Keifer briefly fronted a covers act entitled PSYCHOPATH which included among its members guitarists Michael Schermick and erstwhile TELEPATH man GREG REITER and drummer 'Doctor Neck' (a.k.a. Jimmy Drnc).
Keifer had met bassist Eric Brittingham whilst the frontman had been merely the guitarist been in the Glam outfit SAINTS FROM HELL and ran into Brittingham in a club in Maryland one night and promptly auditioned him in order to replace the band's outgoing bassist.
SAINTS FROM HELL were fronted by vocalist Billy Gram, later to form the short-lived GHOST DANCE TRIBE in 1989 with ex-METALWOLF guitarist GREG REITER and Brit born bassist Mick Moore, both ex-AVENGER, along with PRETTY POISON drummer Bobby Corea.
Brittingham and Keifer subsequently played together with New Jersey acts DIAMONDS and the PRISCILLA HARRIET BAND before a falling out with Priscilla Harriet after a show led to the pair departing after a year and forming CINDERELLA with guitarist Michael Schermick and drummer Tony Destra. The band took its name from that belonging to one of Mike's pet cats, although in post 'Night Songs' press Keifer claimed that the origins of the band name lay in a porn movie titled 'Sinderella'.
Having previously impressed KISS' resident talent scout GENE SIMMONS, who had attempted to get the band signed, it fell to JON BON JOVI to catch them at one of their sold out Empire shows in Philadelphia. After bending the ear of PolyGram's A&R honcho Derek Shulman (who promptly saw exactly the same thing as Bon Jovi and Simmons) CINDERELLA were thus signed them to Mercury in 1985. Earlier the band had recorded demo tapes in both 1983 and 1984, the latter of which included formative versions of songs that would surface on the band's debut album.
the deal meant a parting of the ways with both Schermick and Destra who, quite devastated by the decision, promptly formed BRITNY FOX with ex-WORLD WAR III member Dean Davidson on vocals and guitar with Bill Degley on bass. Tragically, Destra would not be able to share in the success of the debut BRITNY FOX album, released by Columbia in 1988, as the drummer was tragically killed in a road accident during 1987.
Shermick was replaced by former WHITE FOXX guitarist Jeff LeBar whilst Destra's position was filled by Jim Drnc (pronounced Darnick) and Mercury were quick to push their new signings into the studio.
The CINDERELLA debut album 'Night Songs', produced by Andy Johns, wound up being recorded using ex-STONE FURY drummer Jody Cortez in the place of Drnc who, according to producer Johns, couldn't cut it. Jim Drnc's services were promptly dispensed with, the drummer joining WHITE FOXX then recording with NETWORK, and it wouldn't be the first time in the band's history that a session drummer would be hired for the recording of an album.
Binghampton, New York born Fred Coury, who had become known to a contact at PolyGram for having substituted for an injured Randy Castillo in OZZY OSBOURNE's band cutting pre-production demos for the 'Ultimate Sin' album, was installed onto the drum stool in time to appear on the album cover. His previous credits included the debut CHASTAIN album 'Mystery Of Illusion' in 1985, a very brief tenure with KEEL and the distinction of being a number of musicians who had been a member of Los Angeles Glam band LONDON. Many of whose members had gone on to greater heights; Coury having recorded 'Non-Stop Rock', LONDON's debut album issued in 1985, before quitting for CINDERELLA.
With the band originally playing club gigs on the East coast opening for the likes of KIX around the time of 'Night Songs'' release in mid 1986, sales of the record soon went through the roof. Much of this was thanks to high-profile tours as special guests to DAVID LEE ROTH and BON JOVI and accompanying, MTV assisted hit singles in 'Shake Me' and 'Nobody's Fool'.
CINDERELLA wound up the 'Night Songs' tour, on which they were augmented by keyboardist / guitarist Rick Criniti, who would eventually join BLACKEYED SUSAN in 1990, by playing the 'Monsters Of Rock' festival dates in Europe during the summer of 1987. These dates included an opening set at a very damp and wet Donington, an event headlined by BON JOVI that year.
Coury took time out following CINDERELLA's touring commitments to sub in GUNS N' ROSES as Steven Adler had broken his hand. Returning to the studio with the intention of working with producer Andy Johns once more, CINDERELLA would part company with him during recording and finished second album 'Long Cold Winter' at Bearsville Studios with Steve Thompson and Michael Barbiero at the helm.
During the recording Fred Coury vacated the confines of the studio to deputise for an injured Steven Adler in GUNS N' ROSES, who were in the middle of a lengthy world tour, the drummer playing on dates opening for MÖTLEY CRÜE. Rumour mongers suggested that Coury had, in fact, left CINDERELLA, Andy Johns having drafted in COZY POWELL to record the drum tracks. The official word was that ex-RAINBOW man Powell had been drafted in to do the record due to Coury's apparent inexperience in the studio. Also scoring drums on 'Long Cold Winter' would be the HEART and MONTROSE credited Denny Carmassi.
The album emerged as a rapid departure from the electrically charged 'Night Songs', displaying a distinctly Blues base, inspired by Keifer's alleged Muddy Waters, B.B. King and Robert Johnson influences, although comparisons to the 70's British Blues- Rock scene were closer to home.
CINDERELLA would begin the 'Long Cold Winter' trek opening for JUDAS PRIEST in the States. Brittingham opted out on some dates to attend his new born baby and erstwhile RAINBOW bassist Jimmy Bain took the position for these gigs.
the time the quartet returned with third album 'Heartbreak Station' in 1990 album taking on even more of an R&B flavour than 'Long Cold Winter'.
CINDERELLA were to suffer badly in their plans to quickly return with a new record when Tom Keifer was hit with throat problems that kept the frontman out of action for a rather lengthy period. During this time Coury left the band and relocated to Los Angeles where he teamed up with ex RATT vocalist Stephen Pearcy to form ARCADE, recording two albums for Epic Records.
Whilst Fred was originally replaced by ex-BREATHLESS, DONNIE IRIS and SHADOW KING man Kevin Valentine, things didn't work out and CINDERELLA's fourth album, 'Still Climbing', was recorded with noted session drummer Kenny Aaronoff guesting on all but one track.
The group advertised for a new drummer by inviting applicants to audition through the Internet after the idea was suggested to the band by someone at the record company. According to Eric Brittingham, 500 applications were received and one Kevin Conway was eventually selected. However, Conway would not take his place within the CINDERELLA ranks as the job was given to former BAREFOOT SERVANTS man Ray Brinker.
Brinker had been recommended to the band by a mutual acquaintance and had also played in the studio with VINNIE VINCENT INVASION and DAVID LEE ROTH. Indeed, it was ex DAVID LEE ROTH drummer Greg Bissonette who had originally tipped CINDERELLA off about the guy's talents. However, with 'Still Climbing', finally seeing the light in 1994, failing to take off in the way everyone had hoped and Tom Keifer still reeling from the death of his mother, a sad event that had further delayed the album's release, CINDERELLA eventually parted company.
Upon the break up of the band Tom Keifer teamed up with ex-TANGIER man Doug Gordon. Ray Brinker was also involved in the project that featured bassist Tony Reyes and keyboardist Charlie Lawrence
Unfortunately LaBar fell into the grip of drug abuse and was arrested during 1996 and placed on probation.
However, thanks in part to a documentary aired on MTV in the United States highlighting the fading fortunes of many of the bands the network had found no hesitation in fawning all over at their peak in the mid 80s renewed interest in bands like CINDERELLA. This exposure led to Keifer reforming the band with Coury, LaBar (now drug free) and Brittingham for a benefit concert at a club in New Jersey during November 1996. The reunited quartet then made plans for a tour with the reformed DOKKEN and RATT line-ups in 1997, with PolyGram set to issue a greatest hits package. The tour was eventually called off with Keifer, now based in Nashville, keener to pursue his solo projects rather than resurrect the past.
A new CINDERELLA album was slated for release to the Japanese market and the greatest hits album 'Once Upon A...Greatest Hits 1985-1997' was released in the spring and featured a brand new track, 'War Stories', to boot.
As the band regrouped Keifer was still intent on putting his solo material out on an album. CINDERELLA meantime undertook an 'Unfinished Business' tour during 1998, offering a 'Live' CD at shows and via mail order.
CiINDERELLA would be one of the many high profile Hard Rock artists signed to the newly resurrected Portrait Record label led by John Kalodner. During the interim Keifer contributed vocals to JIM PETERIK's 2000 solo album 'World Stage', featuring on the track 'Zig zag' alongside CHEAP TRICK's Rick Neilsen and Bun E. Carlos.
However, despite being signed to Portrait for nearly three years no product was forthcoming and by April of 2001 the label released the band from their contract. These years away from the public gaze had resulted in the recording of many demos, some in collusion with JIM PETERIK, but no album recordings. In November of 2002 CINDERELLA signalled an unexpected move to return to the stages in the UK, forming part of a package billing alongside ALICE COOPER, THUNDER and THE QUIREBOYS entitled the 'Monsters Of Rock' tour. Unfortunately for British fans these plans would be scotched within days and L.A. GUNS took the band's position.
In late 2003 Fred Coury in alliance with the FOZZY duo of Chris Jericho and guitarist Rich Ward together with former ALICE IN CHAINS and OZZY OSBOURNE bassist Mike Inez, had cut a version of the KISS classic ''King Of The Nighttime World' for va Koch Records tribute album. A more unlikely project from the drummer surfaced in early 2004, his Dance act EFFCEE issuing the debut 'Perfect' album. Meantime, Eric Brittingham and Jeff LaBar pursued their NAKED BEGGAR project, this band being fronted by the bassist's wife.
December of 2004 witnessed an announcement that CINDERELLA was to help form up the Summer 2005 'Rock Never Stops' tour in collaboration with RATT, QUIET RIOT and FIREHOUSE. The first new CINDERELLA recording in many years came with the release of the 'VH1 Classic Metal Mania: Stripped' compilation album through Sidewinder Music, the band re-recording an acoustic version of the power ballad 'Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)'. Mercury Records also got in on the action, issuing the compilation 'Rocked, Wired & Bluesed: The Greatest Hits' on CD and DVD.
Fred Coury produced Alt-Rockers THE NUMB ONES 2005 album ''Everything In Between'. Tom Keifer also scored points on the production front in November, overseeing three tracks for 'American Idol' runner-up BO BICE, 'Cinnamon & Novacaine', 'Whiskey, Women And Time' and 'Sinner In A Sin', bonus tracks on a re-issue of Rice's 'The Real Thing' record. In December the drummer joined the live line-up of UNION to conduct European dates across Switzerland, Germany, the UK, Denmark and Spain.
Summer US touring in 2006 had CINDERELLA packaged with POISON, the bands celebrate the 20th anniversary of their 'Nightsongs' and 'Look What the Cat Dragged In' debuts respectively. Fred Coury featured on the VAN HALEN song 'Ice Cream Man' included on the tribute album '80s Metal Tribute To Van Halen' released by Deadline Records in September 2006.
A stripped down acoustic version of 'Nobody's Fool', credited to Tom keifer as a solo artist, was contributed to the 'VH1 Metal Mania Stripped Volume 3' compilation album issued through Sidewinder Music in March 2007.
DISCOGRAPHYGypsy Road Live
2006
Gold
2006
Cinderella Live
2005
Rocked, Wired & Blused: The Greatest Hits
2005
In Concert
2004
Winning Combinations
2002
20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection...
2000
Live At The Key Club
1999
Cinderella [Drive]
1998
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang [Drive]
1998
Bad Attitude: 1986-1994
1998
Once Upon A...
1997
Still Climbing
1994
Her First Roman [Original Cast]
1993
Heartbreak Station
1990
Long Cold Winter
1990
Night Songs
1986
Compilations
For Those About To Röck
2007
Monster Metal Hits
2007
Mullets Rock! Too! : Mullets In Love
2007
80s Power Ballads
2007
VH1 Classic Metal Mania: Stripped vol. 3
2007
'80s Metal Gold
2007
This Is Rock Anthems
2006
This Is '80s Hair Metal
2006
This Is Metal
2006
Deadline Presents: The World's Greatest Heavy Metal Anthems
2006
Monster Metal Power Ballads
2006
80s Metal Hits
2006
80's Metal Hits
2006
Vh1 Metal Mania Stripped Volume 2: The Anthems
2005
Power Ballads Gold
2005
Metal Mania Stripped!: VH1 Classic Presents
2004
More '80s Hair Metal
2004
Mega Movie Mix [2004]
2004
Radio Waves Of The 80's - Rock Hits
2003
Hits of the 60's 70's & 80's [St. Clair]
2003
This Is 80's Hair Metal
2003
Gold Collection: The 80's Decade
2002
Classic Rock Live [Universal Special Products]
2002
Pure 80's Rocks
2002
The Best of Metal: Hard and Soft
2002
Hit Me With Your 80's
2002
Metal Mania [Boxsets]
2002
Love Metal
2002
Metal Thunder: Metal Inferno
2001
Guitar Rock: Power Ballads
2001
Essential Metal Masters
2001
Metal Thunder: Metal Meltdown
2001
Metal Thunder: Metal Mania
2001
Metal Thunder: High Voltage Power Rock
2001
Metal Thunder: Hard 'N' Heavy Rock
2001
Heart Of Metal 2
2001
World's Greatest Heavy Metal Anthems [Deadline]
2000
Naughty Platinum Rock
2000
Hard Rock to Metal
2000
Heart Of Metal
2000
Let It Rock 1988
2000
VH1: The Big 80's Big Hair
1999
Glam Metal Noize 1983-1990 (Leather Boyz with Electric Toyz)
1999
Heavy Metal Thunder [Rhino]
1999
The Best of Crank It Up
1998
Love Bites: More Romantic Power Ballads
1998
80's Glam Rock, Vol. 2
1998
Metal [Delta]
1998
Power Ballads [Rebound]
1998
Best of 80's Metal, Vol. 2
1997
Best Of 80's Metal Vol. 1: Bang Your Head
1997
Feel Like Makin' Love: Romantic Power Ballads
1997
Best Of 80's Metal Vol. 3: Bang Your Head
1997
Shared Vision, Vol. 2: The Songs of the Rolling Stones
1996
Bordello of Blood [Original Soundtrack]
1996
Heavy Metal Hits Of The `80s, Vol. 3
1996
Hard Rock Essentials: 1980s
1995
80's Greatest Rock Hits, Vol. 9: Hard Rock
1993
Say What U Want
1992
Killer Metal
1992
Wayne's World
1992
Crushed By Love
1992
New Metal Monsters
1990
Thunder And Spice
1990
Stairway To Heaven, Highway To Hell
1989
Rock N' Roll Meltdown
1989
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