Y&T
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Y&T | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Orinda , California, United States |
| Genre(s) | Heavy metal Rock |
| Years active | 1974 - 1991 1995 - present |
| Label(s) | Meanstreak Music Co., Universal Music |
| Website | Official Website |
| Members | |
| Dave Meniketti, Phil Kennemore, John Nymann, Mike Vanderhule |
|
| Former members | |
| Leonard Haze, Joey Alves, Jimmy DeGrasso, Stef Burns |
|
Y&T (Yesterday & Today) is a Hard rock band who formed in 1974. They hail from California's East Bay of San Francisco. The band put out two albums on London Records in the 1970s, before releasing several albums on A&M Records beginning in 1981, as well as albums on Geffen Records, Avex Records, and others. The band was originally co-managed by Herbie Herbert (who also managed Journey) and Lou Bramy. The band has sold over 4 million albums to date world wide.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
Starting out as "Yesterday and Today," the band released two ‘70s albums on London Records. A a new record deal in 1980 with A&M Records prompted the band to shorten their moniker to simply "Y&T," and encores with fans chanting “Y&T, Y&T, Y&T” sealed the condensed name.
The original members of Y&T were Dave Meniketti (lead vocals and lead guitar), Leonard Haze (drums), Phil Kennemore (bass), and Joey Alves (rhythm guitar). Haze was replaced by Jimmy DeGrasso in 1986. Alves was replaced by Stef Burns in 1989. DeGrasso and Burns later played together with Alice Cooper in the '90s.
The last studio album this line-up recorded was Ten. This album features some ballad highlights ("Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark", "Ten Lovers", "Come In From The Rain") together with some real hard rock songs ("City","Surrender", and the fastest track Y&T ever recorded: the speed metal song "Goin' Off The Deep End").
[edit] Commercial Success
Y&T’s 1985 hit Summertime Girls received tremendous airplay worldwide, played frequently in the BAYWATCH television series and several feature films, remained at length in heavy rotation on MTV as well as MTV’s top video playlists, and the hit song plays on today in regular airplay on classic rock radio stations throughout the country alongside other Y&T hits. Y&T songs grace the soundtracks of numerous movies and television shows, and their popular videos, such as Lipstick & Leather, Don’t Stop Runnin’, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, Contagious, and Summertime Girls, are still featured videos on VH1 today.
With career accolades that include performing on American Bandstand, two Bammie Awards, five top 100 albums, songs that tipped into the 40s on Billboard charts, multiple national and international television appearances, and a worldwide fan base, Y&T has sold over four million albums and recorded 16 LPs and three greatest hits collections since their 1974 inception. These rock-n-roll pioneers survived disco fever, rode the crest of the ‘80s hard rock insurgence, and remained faithful to melodic power ballads throughout the age of grunge. At any concert you can hear fans calling out their requests from albums including, “Rescue Me” from Earthshaker, “Forever” from Black Tiger, and “Mean Streak” from Mean Streak.
The band's signature hits include "Summertime Girls" (which reached #55 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1985) and "Mean Streak". Their 1984 Album In Rock We Trust was their highest selling release, reaching #46 on the Billboard Album Charts and selling over 450,000 copies; coming close to Gold status. The Earthshaker record is still seen by many as one of the heaviest, and most honestly produced albums in hard rock. It contains some top songwriting, for example with the songs "Rescue Me", "I Believe In You", "Hurricane" and "Squeeze". These - and other - songs of the record make up an important part of the live shows of the band. In 2006, a complete concert in The Netherlands was captured on the DVD One Hot Night.
[edit] Break up and reformation
The band officially disbanded in 1991, saying goodbye with the strong live album Yesterday & Today Live, but still continued to perform sporadically. They officially reunited in 2001 with a lineup of Meniketti, Kennemore, Haze and Burns. Burns eventually left to join Huey Lewis & The News and was replaced by guitarist/vocalist John Nymann. Nymann was an old friend of the band who previously sang backup for the group. In 2006 Haze was asked to step down and was replaced by Mike Vanderhule on drums. Meniketti and Kennemore have been the only consistent members since their formation.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio albums
- Yesterday & Today, 1976
- Struck Down, 1978
- Earthshaker, 1981, re-release 2006
- Black Tiger, 1982
- Mean Streak, 1983
- In Rock We Trust, 1984, re-release 2006
- Down for the Count, 1985
- Contagious, 1987
- Ten, 1990
- Musically Incorrect , 1995
- Endangered Species , 1997
- Unearthed Vol 1
- Unearthed Vol 2
[edit] Compilation Albums
- Best of '81-'85, 1990
- Anthology, 1992
- Ultimate Collection, 2001
[edit] Live Albums
- Open Fire (Live), 1985
- Yesterday & Today Live, 1991
- BBC In Concert: Live On The Friday Rock Show, 2000
[edit] Videos
- Live at the San Francisco Civic, 1985
- Summertime Girls & All American Boys, 1987
- One Hot Night (Live), 2007
[edit] External links
 |
This article on a United States rock music band is a stub. You can help by expanding it. |
