Bio FromRockNWorld.com Members:
Donnie Vie - Lead Vocals, Guitar, Piano 1985- present
Chip Z'nuff - 4-8 & 12 string bass, Vocals 1985- present
Monaco - Lead Guitar 1996 - present
Ricky Parent - Drums 1993 -present Former Members:
Geno Martino - Lead guitar 1985- 1987 / 1995-96
Derek Frigo - Lead Guitar 1987 - 1994
Vikki Foxx - drums 19?? - 1993
Biography :
"They should be Superstars." This has been said by many fans, rock critics, king of all media Howard Stern, and yes even rock n' roll legends like Paul Stanley and Robert Plant just to name a few.
Named best new artist by Rollingstone Magazine in 1991 should have set this band on the path to super stardom, what happened? Many will argue that it was personnel changes, the music biz, the rise of grunge, or maybe controversy in the members lives. Sure all of those played a part, but what did Enuff Z'nuff in was MTV, and Business side of the record industry. God knows these four guys are premier musicians. And talent? They have it in spades. Not to mention natural song writing ability, and the raspy John Lennon'esq lead vocals of Donnie Vie.
Here is the Story of one of the most under rated bands in Rock History.
Vie and Z'nuff both from Chicago are rumored to have met at a White Sox game. Vie at the time was the singer of a Beatles cover band, and Z'nuff a retired minor league ball player was playing around town as well. They played together and something clicked, the magic that is Enuff Z'nuff was born. They recorded several songs in Chips basement, and made copies for their friends, and the by then growing number of fans.
The band was signed to ATCO records in 1989 and released their self titled debut. They appeared on MTV with two successful Videos New thing and Fly High Michelle in 1989. At that time in Rock History hair was the big thing, so MTV and the bands label marketed the band as a glam band, the only problem was that Enuff Z'nuff musically is anything but Glam. So when Glam gave way to Grunge the "Hair Band" label became the Kiss of death to many bands.
But Many rock fans fell in love with the bands powerful yet melodic music. One listen was all it took for many listeners to become adoring fans. The band has been called "the Beatles of the nineties" by many of their fans, and the musical parallels are extraordinary. Not only does Enuff Z' nuff capture the Beatles sound and blend it with powerful hard rock riffs, but the two chief engineers of the music Donnie Vie , and bass player Chip Z'Nuff, seemed to have captured the magic as well.
The Bands second record Strength, was released in 1991, Due to low air play of the two singles "Your baby loves you" and "Mothers eyes" the record did not sell well. Despite being receiving high Praise from Rock Critics.
1993 saw major changes for Enuff Z'Nuff. First the band left ATCO records and signed with Arista. Then drummer Vikki Foxx split to join the now defunct Vince Neil band. Donnie and Chip recruited Ricky Parent to fill Foxx's shoes. The band recorded their third album Animals with human intelligence with Vikki Foxx shortly before he left the band.
But that is really only the beginning of the story of Enuff Z'nuff, the real story begins after they left Arista records following the slow sales of t Animals with human intelligence.
Soon after Guitarist Derek Frigo, left the band, and original Enuff Z' nuff guitarist Geno Martino stepped in to take his place.
The band found controversy when Madonna took offense at their depiction of her, on their 1994 release 1985. A collection of Early Enuff Z'Nuff recording.
The band split from the mainstream and signed with the independent label Mayhem Records.
1995 saw the release of a new studio album Tweaked, considered by many the bands Rubber soul album. Dealing with the specter of drug addiction the record has a dark feel to it, a vast departure from the lighter pop focus of Animals. Yet the move to independent recording seemed a natural for EZN, tweaked proved to many fans that the band's music was evolving.
Monaco replaced Geno Martino on guitar, as the band headed out on it's first world tour in three years.
Peach Fuzz another collection of older EZN tunes was released, as well as The Chip and Donnie Solo record Brothers (& Sisters). Although only available on import many US fans fell in love with the more musically mature Brothers. The band had come along way since their first album, and a back to back listing of their self titled debut and the brothers album was a clear indication that Enuff Z' nuff was not the pop Glam band many non believes labeled them.
The Brothers Album became Enuff Z' nuff Seven, including two new tracks. 1997 Saw the release of the Enuff Z'nuff Home Video which included there videos plus TV appearances on the David Letterman Show. In December 97 the Live Album was released in Japan. Recorded in Philadelphia in 1990 this cd captures a side of the band that their studio records only give a glimpse of, raw excitement. Although the studio records are incredible nothing compares to an Enuff Z'nuff live show, each appearance just proves that these guys are not only talented Song writers, but also incredible musicians.
1998 is a promising year for the band. With the US release of the Live CD, to be followed by a new studio record called Paraphernalia. There is also the Vitamin A project a possible second studio record which shows the lighter pop side of the band, Chip and Donnie are currently shopping this material with major labels.
One thing can be said about Enuff Z'nuff is that they stayed true to their music, and their fans, and never gave up. The times they are a changing, and Enuff Z'nuff has strong music, if they can just get a record company behind them that would promote them, we would no longer ask why they are not superstars, but how come it took so long?
nuff said...
