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Britny Fox was an American glam metal band from the Philadelphia area, initially active from 1985 to 1992 then subsequently reforming from 2000 to 2003, again in 2006 to 2008 and final time reforming in 2015 to 2016. They are best known for their music video for "Girlschool" and their minor hit "Long Way to Love" (U.S. No. 100). Bassist Billy Childs has been the only band member to be a part of each of the band's many lineups.
Britny Fox | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Years active |
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| Labels | Columbia, CBS Records, East West, Spitfire |
| Past members | Jamie Fletcher Greg Polcari Greg D'Angelo Michael Kelly Smith Dean Davidson Tony Destra Adam Ferraioli Tommy Krash Henry Nowak Billy Childs Johnny Dee Tommy Paris Chris Sanders |
History edit
Britny Fox formed in 1985 in Philadelphia. The band was originally fronted by lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist "Dizzy" Dean Davidson. The band also featured Billy Childs on bass, former Cinderella guitarist Michael Kelly Smith on lead guitar and former Cinderella drummer Tony Destra on drums.[8] The idea for the band's name was inspired by Davidson, who named the band in honor of a Welsh ancestor. They were described on a compilation as "trashy Victorian glam".[9]
Thanks to their connections to Cinderella, whom Michael Kelly Smith and Tony Destra were previous members of, the band was able to secure a major recording contract. However, just as things were beginning to look bright for the band, they soon dimmed. Tony Destra was killed in a car accident in 1987.[10] Facing a tour, they hired drummer Adam West (aka Adam Ferraioli) temporarily until landing what turned out to be long-term drummer, John DiTeodoro (Johnny Dee), who had been the drummer for the band Waysted.[9]
The band released a demo in 1986 titled In America, which drummer Tony Destra played on, and a demo in 1987 titled Rock Is Gonna Fight, which drummer Adam West played on. The band's self-titled debut album, released in 1988,[11] was one of the most successful premieres of the 1988–89 season, selling gold (500,000+ copies) and bringing more than 625,000 fans to their 130+ shows being direct support for Poison & RATT and with Warrant opening for them on a short headlining run. They also won Metal Edge magazine's 1988 Reader's Choice Award for Best New Band.[12] After the release of the band's second album in 1989, Boys in Heat, Davidson departed, and formed the band Blackeyed Susan.[11] He was replaced by Las Vegas native Tommy Paris aka Don Jillson formerly of the band Jillson.[13] Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde and Poison drummer Rikki Rockett guested on the band's third album, Bite Down Hard, which was released in 1991. However, the popularity of glam metal was on a decline around the time of the album's release, due to the rising popularity of the alternative rock/grunge movement.[citation needed] Britny Fox disbanded in 1992 for various reasons.[11]
Britny Fox reunited in 2000 with the same line-up before their disbandment, and released a fourth studio album, Springhead Motorshark, in 2003. The band toured the US and Europe in 2007 and 2008. Guitarist Tommy Krash and former White Lion drummer Greg D'Angelo was supposed to join at that time, but he broke his foot during rehearsal and was replaced by Henry Now.
As of late 2007, Britny Fox reformed under original bassist Billy Childs. The other former members of this line-up were lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Jamie Fletcher, lead guitarist Greg Polcari, and drummer Henry Now.
Bassist Billy Childs and the new lineup had a minor but billed role in the horror film Incest Death Squad (2009).[14] Childs is currently playing bass in the North American Led Zeppelin tribute band Get the Led Out.[15]
In 2010, "Dizzy" Dean Davidson unsuccessfully attempted to reunite the surviving members of the original line-up.
On April 25, 2015, the band announced that they had reunited with bassist Billy Childs, drummer Johnny Dee, long-time singer/rhythm guitarist Tommy Paris and new lead guitarist Chris Sanders as their line-up and that they are recording a new album.[16] This lineup played six shows in 2015 and eight shows in 2016, but none since.[17] Their last performance was on a Monsters Of Rock cruise in October 2016.[18] In a 2017 interview, Childs stated that the album project had been abandoned, but he stopped short of saying that the band had broken up.[19] In 2018, Sanders joined fellow glam metal band Ratt.
In 2022, Billy Childs formed his own incarnation of Britny Fox without the involvement of any other past members. This version has been described as a tribute band and has not been confirmed to be the official Britny Fox. They are currently touring as of 2023 and are scheduled to play at the M3 Rock Festival.
More recently in 2023, former lead guitarist Michael Kelly Smith confirmed in several new interviews that he is in touch with all surviving original members and is considering bringing an official version of the band back for a reunion with the lineup from the first two albums. Smith also teased the possibility of a new studio album.
Line-ups edit
| (1985–1987) |
|
|---|---|
| (February–March 1987) |
|
| (1987–1990) |
|
| (1990–1992), (2000–2003) |
|
| (2006–2007) |
|
| (2007) |
|
| (Late 2007 - 2014) |
|
| (2015–2016) |
drums, percussion, backing vocals
|
Members edit
Billy Childs' Britny Fox edit
- Billy Childs – bass guitar, backing vocals (1985-present)
- Ronnie Rogers - lead vocals, rhythm guitar (2022-present)
- Greg Polcari – lead guitar, backing vocals (2007–2014; 2022-present)
- Henry Now – drums, backing vocals (2007-2014; 2022-Present)
Past edit
Lead vocals/rhythm guitar edit
- Dean Davidson (1985–1990)
- Tommy Paris (1990-2007; 2015-2016)
- Jamie Fletcher (2008–2014)
Lead guitar edit
- Michael Kelly Smith (1985–1992; 2000–2003)
- Tommy Krash (2006–2007)
- Greg Polcari (Late 2007-2014)
Drums edit
- Tony Destra (1985–1987; died 1987)
- Adam Ferraioli (1987-1988?; died) 2023
- Johnny Dee (1988-1992; 2000-2003; 2015-2016)
- Greg D'Angelo (2006–2007)
- Henry Now (2007)
Touring keyboards edit
- Bobby Bunten (1988–1989)
Timeline edit
Discography edit
Studio albums edit
| Year | Album | US | RIAA Certification | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Britny Fox | 39 | Gold | CBS |
| 1989 | Boys in Heat | 79 | - | CBS |
| 1991 | Bite Down Hard | - | - | EastWest |
| 2003 | Springhead Motorshark | - | - | Spitfire |
Video albums edit
| Year | Album | US | RIAA Certification | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Year of the Fox | - | - | CBS |
Live albums edit
| Year | Album | US | RIAA Certification | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Long Way to Live! | - | - | Spitfire |
| 2002 | Live at Froggy's | - | - | Britny Fox Records |
| 2006 | Extended Versions | - | - | SBME Special Markets |
Compilation albums edit
| Year | Album | US | RIAA Certification | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | The Best of Britny Fox | - | - | CBS |
Singles edit
| Year | Single | Chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Hot 100[20] | US Main Rock | UK | |||
| 1988 | "Long Way to Love" | 100 | 33 | - | Britny Fox |
| 1989 | "Girlschool" | - | - | ||
| "Save the Weak" | - | - | - | ||
| "Standing in the Shadows" | - | - | 101 | Boys in Heat | |
| 1990 | "Dream On" | - | 34 | - | |
| 1991 | "Louder" | - | - | - | Bite Down Hard |
| "Over and Out" | - | - | - | ||
| 2003 | "Is It Real?" | - | - | - | Springhead Motorshark |
| 2007 | "Girlschool" "Long Way to Love" | - | - | - | Non-album single |
Demos edit
- In America (1986)
- Rock Is Gonna Fight (1987)
- The Bite Down Hard Demo Sessions (2003)
- Forbidden Fruits: The Bite Down Hard Demos, Volume I (2020)
- Forbidden Fruits: The Bite Down Hard Demos, Volume II (2020)
Bootlegs edit
- Gudbuy T'Dean (2001)
- Tommy Krash and Friends, Britny Fox the Acoustic Sessions 2019
Other appearances edit
| Year | Album | Song | US | RIAA Certification | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Nintendo: White Knuckle Scorin' | "Turn On" | - | - | MCA |
| 2019 | Tommy Krash and Friends, BRITNY FOX the Acoustic Sessions | Compilation | - | - | DEKO |
Soundtrack edit
| Year | Song | Movie | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | "Living on the Edge" | Iron Eagle II | Starring Louis Gossett Jr. |
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Talevski, Nick (2006). Rock Obituaries – Knocking On Heaven's Door. Omnibus Press. p. 130. ISBN 978-1-8460-9091-2.
- ^ "Whatever Happened To: The B-Listers of Hair Metal". Consequence. 2010-09-26. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
- ^ "The Top 10 Biggest Hair Bands ... Literally | Guitar World". 2015-11-15. Archived from the original on 2015-11-15. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
- ^ McPadden 9/24/2015, Mike. "The Hair Metal 100: Ranking the '80s Greatest Glam Bands, Part 4". VH1 News. Archived from the original on July 4, 2022. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Perfect Sound Forever: Hair Metal". www.furious.com. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
- ^ Company, Tampa Publishing. "When you think 'Britny Fox' ... does this group and song come to mind?". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
- ^ Blabbermouth (2008-02-18). "BRITNY FOX Off UK's Z ROCK 08 Festival; Replacement Act To Be Announced". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
- ^ Phillips, William (2009-03-20). Encyclopedia of Heavy Metal Music. Greenwich, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. pp. 45–46. ISBN 978-0-313-34800-6. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
- ^ a b "Sleaze Roxx: Britny Fox". May 1, 2011. Archived from the original on May 1, 2011. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
- ^ Talevski, Nick (2006). Rock Obituaries - Knocking On Heaven's Door. London: Omnibus Press. p. 130. ISBN 978-1-84609-091-2. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
- ^ a b c Colin Larkin, ed. (1999). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Heavy Rock (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 81. ISBN 0-7535-0257-7.
- ^ Blush, Steven (2006). American Hair Metal. Los Angeles, CA: Feral House. p. 119. ISBN 978-1-932595-18-5. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
- ^ "Sleaze Roxx: Tommy Paris Interview". January 24, 2010. Archived from the original on January 24, 2010. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
- ^ "Incest Death Squad (2009)". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
- ^ "Billy Childs bio". Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
- ^ "BRITNY FOX Has Reunited And Is Back In Studio". Blabbermouth.net. April 25, 2015. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
- ^ "Britny Fox Tour Statistics". Setlist.fm. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
- ^ "Britny Fox - Girl School". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
- ^ Alamo, Angel (March 11, 2017). "Interview with Billy Childs (Britny Fox)". Angelalamo.com. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
- ^ "The Hot 100 Chart - October 1st, 1988". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-03-25.