Tuff Celebrate 25th Anniversary With ‘What Comes Around Goes Around… Again!’
Tuff Celebrate 25th Anniversary With ‘What Comes Around Goes Around… Again!’
March 3, 2012
It’s been 25 years since Tuff hit the Sunset Strip in Hollywood California, and to celebrate that anniversary (1987-2012) the band have issued ‘What Comes Around Goes Around… Again!’ The CD will hit the street on March 2012 via the bands own indy label (RLS Records).
The core that remains of the once self-proclaimed ‘Biggest Unsigned Band In the World’ are vocalist Stevie Rachelle and bassist Todd Chaisson. The newly recorded tracks were produced and mixed by Michael Raphael (Jailhouse/NEVE) with a laundry list of 80s stars appearing throughout.
The group will also adopt a new stage look and persona going forward says Stevie Rachelle — who was ‘From Hell’ according to a Hollywood promoter who nicknamed him that in the late 80s. That isn’t far off from the new stage name — $tEVIL. The bassist and founder of the band will re-assume his old stage identity of CH@SE. Not a new comer as the group’s drum throne has been occupied by Tod Burr since 2001, but going forward he will simply be known as T DRUMS. However, the band does welcome new blood with S’OLIN on lead guitar. The Swedish born Staffan Osterlind has played and toured with Paul Di’Anno (Iron Maiden) and Black Robot (Buckcherry).
‘What Comes Around Goes Around… Again!’ is not just a remake, but also a revisited disc of memories for CH@SE & $tEVIL. “This disc was a few years in the making, from the idea, to the actual sessions. I wanted to remake some of these songs — as our Atlantic Records debut was discontinued years ago. Fans see the YouTube videos, then want a quality copy of these songs but there isn’t one out there. Now it’s here,” says the bands leader and founder of the infamous Metal Sludge website.
“We had some tunes back in the day that used to be fan favorites, and this time around we added them. “Put Out Or Get Out” is us putting the metal back in hair metal,” says the youngest Chaisson with a bass. Todd Chaisson comes from a family of bass playing brothers, all with heavy metal roots. Oldest brother Greg Chaisson played in Badlands with Jake E. Lee and Kenny Chaisson with Keel.
“”What Comes Around Goes Around” — the song didn’t even make the album with the same name. Not sure why, but it missed the cut, yet we kept the title,” $tEVIL adds. The title track also features world renown shredder Jeff Loomis (ex-Nevermore) on lead guitar and Stephen Pearcy (Ratt) on some classic back grounds.
Also included are a half dozen of the band’s earliest re-mastered demos that feature the ‘classic hair band’ line-up of Tuff — Stevie Rachelle, Todd Chaisson, Jorge DeSaint (guitars) and Michael Lean (drums).
The band is realistic about where they stand, and what will happen says CH@SE, “We’re not going to set any records like we did when we sold out all those Hollywood clubs. We played them all, “Gazzarri’s”, “The Roxy”, “Troubadour” and the “Whisky A-Go-Go”. We’ll be happy to enjoy the rest of this ride. I am blessed and honored to be a part of this all these years later, that alone makes this a success.”
Tuff websites: tuffcds.com, www.facebook.com/people/Stevie-Rachelle/512921277, and twitter.com/#!/StevieTuff.
‘What Comes Around Goes Around… Again!’ track listing:
01. Good Guys Wear Black (featuring George Lynch and Jaime St. James)
02. All New Generation (featuring Steve Brown)
03. I Hate Kissing you Goodbye (featuring Keri Kelli)
04. So Many Seasons (featuring Michael Raphael)
05. What Comes Around Goes Around (featuring Jeff Loomis and Stephen Pearcy)
06. Put Out Or Get Out (featuring Howie Simon and Lizzy DeVine)
Re-Mastered Demos:
07. Round ‘Em Up (1988)
08. Summertime Goodbye (1988)
09. Want Trouble – You Got It (1988)
10. Down On Sinner Street (1989)
11. Forever Yours (1989)
12. Ain’t Worth A Dime (1989)
Bonus Tracks:
13. Move Along
14. So Many Seasons (Piano Version)
Courtesy of www.sleazeroxx.com