Template:Short description Template:More citations needed Template:Use mdy dates Template:Use American English Template:Infobox musical artist
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. Template:Toc limit
HistoryEdit
Original lineup (1985–1992)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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> 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".<ref name="sleazeroxx1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Thanks to their connections to Cinderella, the band was able to secure a major recording contract. However, the band encountered difficulties when Destra was killed in a car accident on February 8, 1987.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> 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.<ref name="sleazeroxx1" />
The band released a demo in 1986 titled In America, which late drummer Tony Destra played on, and a demo in 1987 titled Rock Is Gonna Fight, on which the band's new drummer Adam West played. The band's self-titled debut album, released in 1988,<ref name="LarkinHR">Template:Cite book</ref> was one of the most successful debuts of the 1988–89 season, achieving RIAA gold status (500,000+ copies). The band held more than 130 shows, which attracted more than 625,000 fans cumulatively; during these shows, the band mostly performed as supporting acts to Poison and Ratt, although in a few shows, they headlined with Warrant as their opening act. They also won Metal Edge magazine's 1988 Reader's Choice Award for Best New Band.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
After the release of the band's second album in 1989, Boys in Heat, Davidson departed, and formed the band Blackeyed Susan.<ref name="LarkinHR" /> He was replaced by Las Vegas native Tommy Paris aka Don Jillson formerly of the band Jillson.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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. Britny Fox disbanded in 1992 for various reasons.<ref name="LarkinHR" />
Reunions (2000–present)Edit
Britny Fox reunited in 2000 with the same lineup 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 lineup 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).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Childs also played bass in the North American Led Zeppelin tribute band Get the Led Out.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 2010, Dean Davidson unsuccessfully attempted to reunite the surviving members of the original lineup.
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 lineup and that they were recording a new album.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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. They toured throughout 2023.
More recently in 2023, former lead guitarist Michael Kelly Smith confirmed in several new interviews that he was in touch with all surviving original members and was 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.
MembersEdit
Billy Childs' Britny FoxEdit
- 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)
PastEdit
Lead vocals/rhythm guitarEdit
- Dean Davidson (1985–1990)
- Tommy Paris (1990–2007; 2015–2016)
- Jamie Fletcher (2008–2014)
Lead guitarEdit
- Michael Kelly Smith (1985–1992; 2000–2003)
- Tommy Krash (2006–2007)
- Greg Polcari (2007–2014)
DrumsEdit
- 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 (2007–2014)
Touring keyboardsEdit
- Bobby Bunten (1988–1989)
TimelineEdit
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layer:back color:studio at:06/06/1988 #Britny Fox at:17/12/1989 #Boys in Heat at:27/03/1991 #Bite Down Hard at:29/07/2003 #Springhead Motorshark
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bar:Dean text:Dean Davidson bar:Tommy text:Tommy Paris bar:Jamie text:Jamie Fletcher bar:Ronnie text:Ronnie Rogers
bar:Michael text:Michael Kelly Smith bar:Krash text:Tommy Krash bar:Polcari text:Greg Polcari bar:Chris text:Chris Sanders
bar:Billy text:Billy Childs
bar:Tony text:Tony Destra bar:Adam text:Adam West bar:Johnny text:Johnny Dee bar:Greg text:Greg D'Angelo bar:Henry text:Henry Now
PlotData=
width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(11,-4) color:lvocals bar:Dean from:start till:14/01/1990 bar:Tommy from:15/01/1990 till:31/12/1992 bar:Tommy from:01/01/2000 till:31/12/2007 bar:Jamie from:01/01/2008 till:31/12/2014 bar:Tommy from:01/01/2015 till:02/10/2016 bar:Ronnie from:01/03/2022 till:end
color:lguitar bar:Michael from:start till:31/12/1992 bar:Michael from:01/01/2000 till:31/01/2006 bar:Krash from:01/02/2006 till:14/03/2007 bar:Polcari from:15/03/2007 till:31/12/2014 bar:Chris from:01/01/2015 till:02/10/2016 bar:Polcari from:01/03/2022 till:end
color:bass width:11 bar:Billy from:start till:31/12/1992 bar:Billy from:01/01/2000 till:02/10/2016 bar:Billy from:01/03/2022 till:end
color:drums bar:Tony from:start till:08/02/1987 bar:Adam from:09/02/1987 till:30/06/1987 bar:Johnny from:01/07/1987 till:31/12/1992 bar:Johnny from:01/01/2000 till:31/01/2006 bar:Greg from:01/02/2006 till:30/06/2007 bar:Henry from:01/07/2007 till:31/12/2014 bar:Johnny from:01/01/2015 till:02/10/2016 bar:Henry from:01/03/2022 till:end
</timeline>
LineupsEdit
| (1985–1987) |
|
|---|---|
| (February–March 1987) |
|
| (1987–1990) |
|
| (1990–1992), (2000–2003) |
|
| (2006–2007) |
|
| (2007) |
|
| (Late 2007–2014) |
|
| (2015–2016) |
|
DiscographyEdit
Studio albumsEdit
| 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 albumsEdit
| Year | Album | US | RIAA Certification | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Year of the Fox | - | - | CBS |
Live albumsEdit
| 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 albumsEdit
| Year | Album | US | RIAA Certification | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | The Best of Britny Fox | - | - | CBS |
SinglesEdit
| Year | Single | Chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Hot 100<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> | 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 |
DemosEdit
- 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)
BootlegsEdit
- Gudbuy T'Dean (2001)
- Tommy Krash and Friends, Britny Fox the Acoustic Sessions 2019
Other appearancesEdit
| 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 |
SoundtrackEdit
| Year | Song | Movie | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | "Living on the Edge" | Iron Eagle II | Starring Louis Gossett Jr. |
See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
- Template:Allmusic
- {{#if:|Template:PAGENAMEBASE discography at Discogs|{{#if:Template:Wikidata|Template:Wikidata Template:PAGENAMEBASE discography at DiscogsTemplate:EditAtWikidata|Template:PAGENAMEBASE discography at Discogs}}}}