Britny Fox
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2008) |
| Britny Fox | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Genres | Glam metal Hard rock Heavy metal |
| Years active | 1985–1992 2000–2008 |
| Labels | Columbia CBS Records East West Records Spitfire Records |
| Associated acts | Cinderella Jillson Waysted Tangier |
| Website | Official site |
| Past members | |
| Billy Childs Jamie Fletcher Greg Polcari Greg D'Angelo Michael Kelly Smith John Diteodoro (Johnny Dee) Tommy Paris Dean Davidson Tony Destra Adam West Tommy Krash Henry Now |
|
Britny Fox was an American Glam metal band from the Philadelphia area, initially active from 1985 to 1992 then subsequently reforming in 2000. They are best known for their music video for "Girlschool" and their hit "Long Way to Love" (U.S. #100).
Contents |
[edit] History
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. 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 one of their best hits albums as "trashy Victorian glam", and sported an attitude only rivaled by AC/DC. [1]
Thanks to their connections to Cinderella, 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. Facing a tour, the band recruited drummer, John Diteodoro (Johnny Dee), who had been the drummer for the band Waysted.[2]
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, was one of the most successful premieres of the 1988–89 season, selling more than one million copies and bringing more than 625,000 fans to their 130+ shows. The music video for Girls School is widely considered the best metal music video ever. They also won Metal Edge Magazine's 1988 Reader's Choice Award for Best New Band. After the release of the band's second album in 1989, Boys in Heat, Davidson departed, and formed the band Blackeyed Susan. He was replaced by Las Vegas native Tommy Paris aka Don Jillson formerly of the band Jillson.[3] 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.
Michael Kelly Smith was previously in an early version of fellow Philadelphia band Cinderella until his dismissal, and later Tony Destra also played with them.
Drummer Adam West, formerly of Tangier, played for Britny Fox briefly between the time of Tony Destra and Johnny Dee.
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 with Henry Now.
As of 2007, Britny Fox reformed under original bassist Billy Childs. The other current and former members are lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Jamie Fletcher, lead guitarist Greg Polcari, and drummer Henry Now.
Bassist Billy Childs had a minor but billed role in the horror film Incest Death Squad (2009).[4] Childs is currently playing bass in the North American Led Zeppelin tribute band Get The Led Out, "The American Led Zeppelin".[5]
In 2010, "Dizzy" Dean Davidson unsuccessfully attempted to reunite the surviving members of the original line-up.
[edit] Lineups
| (1985–1987) |
|
|---|---|
| (1987) |
|
| (1987–1989) |
|
| (1990–1992), (2001–2006) |
|
| (2006–2007) |
|
| (2007) |
|
| (2008–2009) |
|
[edit] Past members
- Dean Davidson - Lead Vocals & Rhythm Guitar
- Michael Kelly Smith - Lead Guitar & Vocals
- Billy Childs - Bass Guitar & Vocals
- Johnny Dee - Drums
- Tommy Paris - Lead Vocals & Rhythm Guitar
- Tony Destra - Drums
- Adam West - Drums
- Greg D'Angelo - Drums
- Tommy Krash - Lead Guitar & Vocals
- Henry Now - Drums
- Jamie Fletcher - Lead Vocals & Rhythm Guitar
- Greg Polcari - Lead Guitar & Vocals
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio albums
| 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 |
[edit] Live albums
- Long Way to Live! (2001)
- Live at Froggy's (2002)
- Extended Versions (2006)
[edit] Compilation albums
- The Best of Britny Fox (2001)
[edit] Singles
| Year | Single | Chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Hot 100 | US Main Rock | UK | ||
| 1988 | "Long Way to Love" | 100 | 33 | - |
| 1989 | "Girlschool" | 81 | - | - |
| "Save the Weak" | - | - | - | |
| 1990 | "Dream On" | - | 34 | - |
| 1991 | "Louder" | - | - | - |
[edit] Demos
- In America (1986)
- Rock Is Gonna Fight (1987)
- The Bite Down Hard Demo Sessions (2003)
[edit] Bootlegs
- Gudbuy T'Dean (2001)
