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Rough Cutt

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Rough Cutt
OriginLos Angeles, California
GenresHeavy metal, Glam metal
Years active1981–1987, 2000–2002, 2016-present
LabelsWarner Bros., DeRock, MusicWorks, Wounded Bird, Deadline
MembersPaul Shortino
Dave Alford
Matt Thorr
Chris Hager
Amir Derakh
Past membersJake E. Lee
Craig Goldy
Eddie Cantu
Claude Schnell
Parramore McCarty
Jimmy Crespo
J.T. Garrett
Sean McNabb
Jeff Mayer
John Homan
Websitehttp://www.roughcutt.com
Rough Cutt 1986

Rough Cutt is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California who released 2 studio albums on Warner Bros. Records in the mid-1980s. Rough Cutt never achieved the commercial success enjoyed by many other L.A. bands of that time but various members went on to success in other groups, including Jake E. Lee with Ozzy Osbourne, Amir Derakh with Orgy, Paul Shortino with Quiet Riot, and Craig Goldy and Claude Schnell with Dio.

History

The first Rough Cutt line-up featured vocalist Paul Shortino, drummer Dave Alford, guitarist Jake E. Lee, keyboardist Claude Schnell, and bassist Joey Cristofanilli. Both Lee and Alford had also previously been in another Los Angeles band, Ratt. Both Schnell and Cristofanilli had previously been in the band Magic.[1]

Two other former Ratt members, guitarist Chris Hager and bassist Matt Thorne a.k.a. Matt Thorr (who replaced Cristofanilli) would also soon join Rough Cutt. After his departure, Cristofanilli temporarily joined Ratt himself, later joining forces with members of the band Sin who went on to release the album Made In Heaven under the name Jag Wire in 1985.

Lee left Rough Cutt in 1982, auditioned for, and was hired briefly by the band Dio, and then replaced the deceased Randy Rhoads as Ozzy Osbourne's guitarist. Lee in turn was replaced by Craig Goldy, formerly of the San Diego band Vengeance.[2] Ronnie James Dio greatly influenced the development of the band. Dio's wife Wendy Dio was the group's manager, and Dio himself helped write one of the band's songs. Rough Cutt contributed two tracks, "A Little Kindness" and "Used & Abused", both produced by Dio and featuring Jake E Lee on guitar, to the compilation album L.A's Hottest Unsigned Bands, issued in 1983. Another Dio-produced track, "Try A Little Harder", with Goldy on guitar featured on the KLOS 95 1/2: Rock to Riches compilation, along with another Wendy Dio project NuHaven, released later on in 1983. Goldy soon left the band, and went on to play in Giuffria, and later in Dio's band. Goldy was replaced by Amir Derakh, another San Diego band alumnus.[3]

With the line-up solidified with Shortino, Alford, Derakh, Hager, and Thorne, Rough Cutt was signed to Warner Bros. Records in 1984. The band gained national exposure when they appeared on the 'Rock Palace' TV show performing the songs "Crank It Up", "Dreamin' Again", "Street Gang Livin'", and "Try A Little Harder."[1] Hosted by comedian Howie Mandel, the recording took place on January 1, 1984 at the Hollywood Palace, now the Avalon Hollywood. Rough Cutt also made their way to Europe showcasing at London's famed Marquee Club on April 13, 1984 and playing a badly promoted show at the Fabrik in Hamburg, Germany, both well in advance of recording their first studio album.

After waiting around for a year to work with producer Ted Templeman, who had signed the band to Warner Bros. but was busy with both Van Halen and David Lee Roth at the time, Rough Cutt decided to record their debut album, Rough Cutt (1985), with Tom Allom instead.[4] The band toured extensively in the United States as an opening act supporting Krokus on their The Blitz tour [2] alongside Accept,[5] followed by an extensive trek with Dio on their Sacred Heart tour,[3] which lasted from August through December 1985.[6] Rough Cutt were also part of the legendary Super Rock '85 festival bill on August 10, 1985 at Odaiba-Undohiroba in Odaiba,Tokyo, Japan sharing the stage with headliners Dio, Foreigner, Mama's Boys, Sting, and several Japanese acts, including Earthshaker. The show was commemorated with a VHS release titled Super Rock In Japan '85; Rough Cutt was featured with 4 songs from their debut album, "Black Widow", "Take Her", "Dreamin' Again", and "Piece of My Heart."

Veteran producer Jack Douglas of Aerosmith fame would guide the band's follow-up effort Wants You! (1986). Rough Cutt would join Dio on the last date of their Sacred Heart tour at the R.C. Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico on October 10, 1986 and once again made their way to Japan. While in Japan, Shortino made the decision to leave the band due to internal differences about what direction their music should take. Rough Cutt's manager Wendy Dio introduced Shortino to Quiet Riot and engineered a deal for him to step in as their new lead singer in place of Kevin DuBrow who had been fired. Shortino was briefly replaced by Parramore McCarty of Warrior before Rough Cutt called it quits. Derakh, Thorne and Alford re-grouped with singer Danny Simon and guitarist Michael Raphael to form Jailhouse, releasing a live EP, Alive in a Mad World, in 1989 while Hager would team up with Jeff Warner of Black 'N Blue in Woop & the Count. Thorne was also briefly a member of L.A. Rocks, renamed Eyes once vocalist James Christian entered the fray, while Derakh found major success with self-proclaimed death pop band Orgy in the late 90's.

In 1996, DeRock Records released Rough Cutt Live which contained 3 new studio cuts, "House of Pain", "Prowler", and "Peyote", as bonus tracks. The same label would also issue a full-length studio album by Rough Cutt offshoot Jailhouse in 1998, with all 5 songs from the 1989 Alive in a Mad World EP added as bonus tracks.

Shortino reformed Rough Cutt in 2000 with an all-new lineup that included former Aerosmith guitarist Jimmy Crespo, keyboardist James 'J.T.' Garrett, Shortino's former Quiet Riot bandmate bassist Sean McNabb, and Magnitude 9 drummer John Homan. The band announced the release of an EP, titled Sneak Peek, in 2000 but it was canceled and expanded into a full length-album instead. Sacred Place was released in 2002 under the name Paul Shortino's The Cutt on Shortino's own MusicWorks Entertainment label and featured additional contributions by guitarists Brad Gillis, Carlos Cavazo, Howard Leese, and Dave Whiston as well as bassists Chuck Wright and Jason Boyleston.

The Warner Bros. era (classic) line-up of Rough Cutt reformed for a one-off reunion show in October 2002 at the Viper Room in Hollywood with Shortino, Alford, Derakh, Hager, and Thorne performing together once again.[7]

In the fall of 2005, Wounded Bird Records re-issued both Rough Cutt Warner Bros. studio albums as a 2-for-1 single disc, Rough Cutt/Rough Cutt Wants You.

In 2008, Deadline Records issued the double disc Anthology consisting of pre- and post-Warner Bros. era demos and a live set recorded in Syracuse, New York in 1985.[8]

In 2016, the classic lineup of Shortino, Alford, Derakh, Hager, and Thorne reunited again. They are booked to play on the Monsters of Rock cruise for 2018.

Line-ups

Mk. 1 (1982-1983)

  • Paul Shortino: Lead Vocals
  • Jake E. Lee: Guitar
  • Claude Schnell: Keyboards
  • Joey Cristofanilli: Bass
  • Dave Alford: Drums, backing vocals

Mk. 2 (1983-1984)

  • Paul Shortino: Lead Vocals
  • Craig Goldy: Guitar
  • Chris Hager: Guitar
  • Matt Thorr: Bass, backing vocals
  • Dave Alford: Drums, backing vocals

Mk. 3 (1984-1987) (2016-)

  • Paul Shortino: Lead Vocals
  • Amir Derakh: Guitar
  • Chris Hager: Guitar
  • Matt Thorr: Bass, backing vocals
  • Dave Alford: Drums, backing vocals

Mk. 4 (1987)

  • Parramore McCarty: Lead Vocals
  • Amir Derakh: Guitar
  • Chris Hager: Guitar
  • Matt Thorr: Bass, backing vocals
  • Dave Alford: Drums, backing vocals

Mk. 5 (2000)

  • Paul Shortino: Lead Vocals
  • Jimmy Crespo: Guitar
  • J.T. Garrett: Keyboards
  • Sean McNabb: Bass
  • John Homan: Drums

Discography

Studio and live albums

Compilations

  • LA's Hottest Unsigned Rock Bands (Backhouse Records, 1983) w/ Jake E Lee on guitar
  • KLOS 95 1/2: Rock to Riches (Starstream Records, 1983) w/ Craig Goldy on guitar
  • Super Rock in Japan '85 (Toshiba, 1985) VHS

References

  1. ^ "Dave Alford Interview". SleazeRoxx.com. August 12, 2007.
  2. ^ Dave Reffett (March 14, 2013). "Guitarist Craig Goldy Talks Working with Ronnie James Dio and Touring with Dio's Disciples". GuitarWorld.com.
  3. ^ "Rough Cutt Vocalist Paul Shortino aka Duke Fame". FullInBloomMusic.com. May 20, 2008.
  4. ^ Ruben Mosqueda (May 21, 2011). "Paul Shortino Interview". SleazeRoxx.com. Archived from the original on December 25, 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ Box Score Top Grossing Concerts. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1 June 1985. pp. 48–. ISSN 0006-2510. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  6. ^ "20 Questions with Paul Shortino". MetalSludge.tv. September 17, 2002. Archived from the original on December 25, 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ "Rough Cutt's Original Line-Up To Reunite For Special Performance". Blabbermouth.net. October 20, 2002.
  8. ^ Jon Wilde (June 15, 2009). "Paul Shortino Interview". RockRealms.com.
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