Vie’s Verses – Female Fronted Glam Bands From Days Gone By – Where Are They Now?
In the 80s, hair bands ruled. They were all over the radio, all over MTV, and all over anywhere one could look. And while a lot of people thought that most of them looked like girls, there were a few bands that actually had girls in them. In this edition of Vie’s Verses, I’m paying tribute to some of the best female fronted bands of yesteryear. So grab your aqua net, your dog eared copy of Hit Parader, and your dual cassette boom box, and let’s take a ride down memory lane.
Vixen
Vixen was huge in 1988/1989 with their self-titled debut album and smash hit, Edge Of A Broken Heart. Their appeal was deeper than just the music, however. As an all female band, filled with beautiful women, the guys loved Vixen for more than their songs. Rationally, Edge Of A Broken Heart is not a song that a dude could pump his fist to. It’s a song about a woman who is trying to avoid heartbreak. That’s not very manly. But the guys found themselves singing along anyway, because these chicks were hot!
Vixen formed in Minnesota in the mid-80s and then moved to Los Angeles, California, to join the smoking hot L.A. music scene. The fact that they were an all girl band certainly helped to get them the attention of record execs. After enjoying huge success with their first album, Vixen released Rev It Up in 1990. Unfortunately, Rev It Up was not promoted by the band’s record label, EMI, as well as their debut album was, and record sales on Rev It Up were poor. In 1991 the band split up.
Where are they now?
In 2001, as hair metal was making a huge revival, Jan Kuehnemund reformed Vixen with two other original members and a new bass guitar player. Halfway through their first tour, the band split up again. Kuehnemund, determined to keep the band‘s name alive, hired a new lineup and continued to tour and record under the name Vixen. Their last show was at the 2009 Rocklahoma. Since then, there has not been much activity from the band, but there are rumors of a possible new album and tour in the works for 2010/2011.
Did you know?
80s pop star, Richard Marx, wrote and arranged Edge Of A Broken Heart for Vixen at the request of EMI.
Warlock
Led by the beautiful and highly talented Doro Pesch, Warlock was a heavy metal band that formed in Germany in 1982. Their third album, True As Steel, was released in 1986, and brought the band recognition in the US. The single, Fight For Rock, was picked up by North American radio, and the band found a new following during the height of the hair metal years. Though most members of the band rotated in and out of Warlock, Doro Pesch always remained Warlock’s front woman. Warlock would find even more success once their videos started getting regular play on MTv’s Headbangers Ball. By the late 80s, all of the original band members had left Warlock. Doro had to change the name of the band (to Doro) due to Warlock’s original manager suing for the naming rights to Warlock.
Where are they now?
Doro Pesch is still performing under the Doro moniker and released a new album in 2009. Guitarist Peter Szigeti went on to play with many other bands, most notably U.D.O. Guitarist Rudy Graf went on to join the band Rage after leaving Warlock in 1985. He left the band Rage in 1987. Bassist Frank Rittel left Warlock at the end of the True As Steel Tour and little has been heard of him since. Drummer Michael Eurich left Warlock to join the band Casanova where he recorded three albums with them. His drumming activity has been quiet since then. Doro is still recording and touring in Europe and North America.
Did you know?
In 2008, Pure Steel Records released the first official tribute to Warlock which included special appearances by members of the band.
Saraya
Fronted by the gorgeous Sandi Saraya, Saraya was a New Jersey based band that had some modest radio hits, including their big single, Love Has Taken Its Toll. Never wanting their album to sell based on Sandi’s beauty, the front woman actually insisted that most of her face be hidden for the album’s cover shoot. Saraya only released two albums, and their second album, When The Blackbird Sings is hardly known by anyone except the truest of metal fans. After the release of their second album, keyboardist Gregg Munier quit the band, and Saraya decided to go their separate ways.
Where are they now?
Keyboardist and founding member, Gregg Munier, died in 2006 due to complications from pneumonia.
After Saraya split up in 1991, Sandi Saraya married Tesla bassist Brian Wheat, but they soon divorced. Since then, Sandi went on to marry again and is raising five children with her current husband.
Guitarist Tony Bruno is currently performing with Danger, Danger, although he is not an official member of the band.
Drummer Chuck Bonfante has been in and out of different bands since the demise of Saraya.
Earlier this year, rumors abounded that Saraya would be playing a reunion show, their first show in over 18 years, at the Firefest in the UK. Unfortunately, this never happened. Tony Bruno and Chuck Bonfante claim that Sandi was never committed to the reunion and she backed out at the last minute after demanding an exurbanite amount of money to play the festival. Sandi claims this is not true, that she just wanted enough money to cover the expenses of her family traveling to the festival with her, so that her children could see her perform. Her husband recently underwent surgery and the medical bills depleted her savings. It is not known whether Sandi and her former bandmates have spoken since her decision to not perform at Firefest (which took place just last week (October 30th and 31st). Whether there will be a reunion in the future still remains to be seen.
Did you know?
Saraya was in the midst of recording their third album when the band decided to call it quits.
Smashed Gladys
Smashed Gladys was a band that flew under everybody’s radar, but whose debut album is currently fetching a small mint on EBay and Craigslist, when they can be found. Fronted by the sleazy hot Sally Cato, Smashed Gladys released their debut album, Smashed Gladys in 1985. They followed that up with the excellent Social Intercourse in 1988. While not receiving much airplay or video time on MTV, Smashed Gladys went on to form a small following of hard core fans. Due to lack of support and promotion from the record company, the band decided to split up in 1989 while recording their third album, Tales From The East Side. The album has never been released.
Where are they now?
Front woman, Sally Cato, completely disappeared from the music scene after Smashed Gladys hung up their instruments. For most of her adult life she has been a Tibetan Buddhist. She currently owns a marketing and design firm in New York City. She still conducts interviews with glam/rock magazines and websites from time to time.
Guitarists Bart Lewis and Roger Lane, as well as bassist J.D. Malo have been in and out of bands since the breakup of Smashed Gladys. Drummer Matt Stelluto is currently employed by the New York Mets.
Social Intercourse has recently been re-released on Wounded Bird Records and can be found online for a decent price. Sally Cato has not ruled out the chance for a Smashed Gladys reunion if someone can put together a budget for the band to reunite.
Did you know?
Smashed Gladys was originally managed by Gene Simmons.
Bitch
Bitch was formed in 1980 by lead singer, Betsy Bitch. Their debut album, Be My Slave was released in 1983 and received some rotation on rock radio stations. In 1987 Bitch released their follow up album, The Bitch Is Back, two years after originally recording it. During that time, the band built a large following on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, playing such noted clubs as The Roxy and The Whiskey A Go-Go. By the time The Bitch Is Back was officially released, the band had a large fan base. This helped sales of their sophomore release tremendously. In 1989, Bitch released their final album, A Rose By Any Other Name. Since that time, Betsy Bitch has been the only original member to remain in the band.
Where are they now?
Betsy Bitch has continued to stay in the music scene. In several interviews she has stated that Bitch never officially broke up, they would just go on extended hiatus. Bitch continued to play festivals and do some minor touring throughout the 90s and 00s.
Original drummer Robby Settles passed away from leukemia earlier this year.
Guitarist David Carruth stayed with the band until recently, but is no longer a member of Bitch.
Bitch is currently in the studio with a new lineup working on a new album. A release date has not been set.
Did you know?
Bitch was the first female fronted heavy metal band signed to a record label.
Excellent article Ryo! I remember seeing Smashed gladys opening up for the McAuley Schenker Group in Poughkeepsie, NY back in 1987. I thought they were pretty good.
Growing up in NJ, I remember Saraya, but never much cared for their music. WDHA in Dover, NJ had a metal show every Friday night, and they tried to push Saraya hard, but I don’t remember them gaining much traction.
The interesting thing about Bitch is that their music didn’t start out in the glam genre. If memory serves, I believe their first recordings were for Metal Blade Records.
AWESOME!! GREAT PC OF WORK! MAN, THINKIN BACK @ THOSE BANDS AND THE TIMES…I LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT!
NOTHING CAN TOP THAT TIME OF MUSIC(TODAY COMES CLOSE THOUGH)
GOING TO A CONCERT TWO TO THREE TIMES A WEEK, WORKING JUST TO BUY CONCERT TIC’S AND A T-SHIRT AND THE LASTEST CASSETTE OR ALBUM…MAN.
good idea for an article (or series?) – thanks.
Just wanted to add some… You followed Jan a bit in the Vixen blurb, but you might also want to mention Roxy. She’s been keeping quite busy from what I can tell. Along with various “appearances” here and there, she was (is?) working with Lorraine Lewis on a project called Roktopuss (http://www.myspace.com/roktopuss) that sound pretty good IMHO.
She has also recorded with sister – and fellow Madam X alumni – Maxine on her two (absolutely smoking) solo albums.
Some of the other girls have kept busy too – check out Neil’s Vixen page for everything you might want to know – and then some: http://www.neilsvixenpage.com/ (No, I’m not Neil
Oh, and another “did you know” bit… Crash Gladys of the Speed Freaks (http://www.speedfreaks.tv/bios/display.sd?iid=3&loc=show) was given her moniker by host Kenny as a riff on Smashed Gladys.
Whoa… a double cassette boom box, those baby’s ruled! It’s sad to learn about Robby Settles passing away from Leukemia. I guess I’m one of those dudes that could be caught pumping my fist into the air to “Edge Of A Broken Heart”.
Please do a “Part II” to this subject… it’s cool stuff!
Excellent research too… it’s not that easy sometimes.
Stone
Great post, always liked Vixen – sort of an edgier Heart. The first two albums still sound great. This post got me thinking of the original Glam girl though – Suzi Quatro – still going strong and gigging…which then got me thinking about the two great all-girl groups of the early 70′s – BIRTHA (Check out ‘My man told me’ from ‘Can’t Stop the Madness’ and of course FANNY – take your pick, lots of great tracks from them!