Enuff Z'nuff
Encyclopedia
Enuff Z'Nuff, pronounced "enough's enough," is an American
glam rock
band from Blue Island, Illinois
. Founded by singer Donnie Vie and bassist Chip Z'Nuff, this Chicago area band is best known for their charting singles "Fly High Michelle" and "New Thing." Enuff Z'Nuff has continually recorded and toured throughout their career of more than 25 years, releasing 12 studio albums to date. Their songs have been recorded by several other musicians, some of which include Paul Gilbert
, The Wildhearts
, and Nelson
. The band has a cult fan-base around the world which includes radio personality Howard Stern
, though they have not had large success commercially.
. Band members during this period also included drummer B.W. Boeski and guitarists Gino Martino and Alex Kane, the latter of which eventually formed the band AntiProduct
.
. For this album, founding members Donnie Vie and Chip Z'Nuff were joined by ex-Le Mans guitarist Derek Frigo and drummer Vik Foxx. The band had two minor hits with the psychedelic-flavored pop rock songs "New Thing" and "Fly High Michelle", both of which charted in the U.S. and received steady airplay on MTV
. However, the band's heavy glam rock
appearance in the promotional videos would be later parodied on MTV's Beavis & Butthead.
For their follow-up album, 1991's Strength, the band consciously toned down their glam image. "Strength" was released in 1991 on Atco
to strong reviews, including Rolling Stone
magazine calling the group "The Hot Band of the Year." There were promotional videos for the singles "Mother's Eyes" and "Baby Loves You," as well as an appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman. However, this follow-up album did not sell nearly as well as their first.
The band filed bankruptcy and left Atco Records
, but soon after was picked up by Clive Davis
' Arista Records
label for their 1993 album Animals With Human Intelligence
. This release, much like Strength, received some critical acclaim, but ultimately failed commercially. Soon before this album's release, drummer Vikki Foxx quit the band to join Vince Neil
's solo band. Foxx would be airbushed out of the album cover, despite performing on each track of the recording. Foxx was replaced by New Jersey resident and former "War & Peace" member Ricky Parent, who also appeared for most of the album's promotional material.
Lead singer and songwriter Donnie Vie stopped touring with the group in 2002 to embark upon a solo career. Enuff Z'Nuff continued to tour in his absence as a "3-piece," with their lead guitarist Johnny Monaco also serving as the band's singer. In 2004, former lead guitarist Derek Frigo died from an apparent drug overdose at the age of 37, just before the band planned a Japanese tour with the original line-up. Another tragedy struck when the band's drummer Ricky Parent lost his long time battle with cancer in October 2007. Parent had been with the band for approximately 13 years.
reality television
show, Bands on the Run
. The show's pilot episode never aired. However, during that time the reunited band held their initial recording sessions for their 12th record. Several songs from these sessions eventually resulted in their latest studio album, "Dissonance," which also features former Ozzy Osbourne
/ Badlands
guitarist Jake E. Lee
on guitar, and co-producer Vinnie Castaldo on drums. "Dissonance" was released in 2009 in Japan, with a U.K. and U.S. release following in 2010. In support of the album, Enuff Z'Nuff (with singer/songwriter Donnie Vie) toured Japan in 2009 and in the U.S. and Europe in 2010.
Other recent events include bassist Chip Z'Nuff performing worldwide with the band Adler's Appetite
, which features former Guns N' Roses
drummer Steven Adler
. Z'Nuff has also been producing other artists and has recently released a solo project called "Johnnie Rotten Jr." Singer Donnie Vie is currently working on his second solo album and is touring in "The Donnie Vie Band," playing Enuff Z'Nuff staples and solo material. A new Donnie Vie record, titled "Wrapped Around My Middle Finger," is expected to be released in the Fall of 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
glam rock
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
band from Blue Island, Illinois
Blue Island, Illinois
Blue Island is a city in Cook County, Illinois. The population was 22,556 at the 2010 census. Blue Island was established in the 1830s as a way station for settlers traveling on the Vincennes Trace, and the settlement prospered because it was conveniently situated a day's journey outside of Chicago...
. Founded by singer Donnie Vie and bassist Chip Z'Nuff, this Chicago area band is best known for their charting singles "Fly High Michelle" and "New Thing." Enuff Z'Nuff has continually recorded and toured throughout their career of more than 25 years, releasing 12 studio albums to date. Their songs have been recorded by several other musicians, some of which include Paul Gilbert
Paul Gilbert
Paul Brandon Gilbert is an American guitarist. He is well known for his technical guitar work with Racer X and Mr...
, The Wildhearts
The Wildhearts
The Wildhearts are a British rock group originally formed in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The band's sound is a mixture of hard rock and melodic pop music, often described in the music press as combining influences as diverse as The Beatles and 1980s-era Metallica...
, and Nelson
Nelson (band)
NELSON is a American hard rock band founded by singer/songwriters Matthew and Gunnar Nelson . NELSON featuring the twin lead front men had a No. 1 hit in the United States with " Love and Affection" during the week of September 29, 1990...
. The band has a cult fan-base around the world which includes radio personality Howard Stern
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
, though they have not had large success commercially.
Formation (1984-1989)
Enuff Z'Nuff formed in 1984 as "Enough Z'Nuff." The band soon grew a live following and recorded their first demo songs, some of which would be officially released later in their career. The band's first single, "Fingers On It," received some minor recognition when it was featured in the 1986 cult movie Henry: Portrait of a Serial KillerHenry: Portrait Of A Serial Killer
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer is a 1986 crime horror film directed and co-written by John McNaughton about the random crime spree of a serial killer who seemingly operates with impunity. It stars Michael Rooker as the nomadic killer Henry, Tom Towles as Otis, a prison buddy with whom Henry is...
. Band members during this period also included drummer B.W. Boeski and guitarists Gino Martino and Alex Kane, the latter of which eventually formed the band AntiProduct
AntiProduct
AntiProduct are a UK-based glam punk band, fronted by Alex Kane, formerly of Clam Abuse, Enuff Z'nuff, Holland, and Life, Sex & Death.The band formed in 2000, and have played alongside acts such as Rachel Stamp, The Wildhearts, Ginger, The Quireboys, Enuff Z'Nuff, Electric Eel Shock, Tyla from...
.
Major Label Recordings (1989-1993)
By 1989, Enough Z'Nuff had revised their band name to "Enuff Z'Nuff" and released their first major label offering, a self-titled debut album on Atco RecordsAtco Records
ATCO Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, currently operating through WMG's Rhino Entertainment.-Beginnings:Atco Records was founded in 1955 as a division of Atlantic Records. It was devised as an outlet for productions by one of Atlantic's founders, Herb Abramson, who...
. For this album, founding members Donnie Vie and Chip Z'Nuff were joined by ex-Le Mans guitarist Derek Frigo and drummer Vik Foxx. The band had two minor hits with the psychedelic-flavored pop rock songs "New Thing" and "Fly High Michelle", both of which charted in the U.S. and received steady airplay on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
. However, the band's heavy glam rock
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
appearance in the promotional videos would be later parodied on MTV's Beavis & Butthead.
For their follow-up album, 1991's Strength, the band consciously toned down their glam image. "Strength" was released in 1991 on Atco
Atco Records
ATCO Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, currently operating through WMG's Rhino Entertainment.-Beginnings:Atco Records was founded in 1955 as a division of Atlantic Records. It was devised as an outlet for productions by one of Atlantic's founders, Herb Abramson, who...
to strong reviews, including Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine calling the group "The Hot Band of the Year." There were promotional videos for the singles "Mother's Eyes" and "Baby Loves You," as well as an appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman. However, this follow-up album did not sell nearly as well as their first.
The band filed bankruptcy and left Atco Records
Atco Records
ATCO Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, currently operating through WMG's Rhino Entertainment.-Beginnings:Atco Records was founded in 1955 as a division of Atlantic Records. It was devised as an outlet for productions by one of Atlantic's founders, Herb Abramson, who...
, but soon after was picked up by Clive Davis
Clive Davis
Clive Davis is an American record producer and music industry executive. He has won five Grammy Awards and is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a non-performer. From 1967 to 1973 he was the President of Columbia Records. He was the founder and president of Arista Records from 1975...
' Arista Records
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
label for their 1993 album Animals With Human Intelligence
Animals with Human Intelligence
Animals with Human Intelligence is the third album by Enuff Z'nuff, which is also their first and only album on Arista Records. In addition to the promotional video "Right By Your Side," the band made a live appearance on Late Night With David Letterman, performing the song "Superstitious." The...
. This release, much like Strength, received some critical acclaim, but ultimately failed commercially. Soon before this album's release, drummer Vikki Foxx quit the band to join Vince Neil
Vince Neil
Vincent Neil Wharton is an American vocalist and musician, best known as the lead vocalist of heavy metal band Mötley Crüe.-Early life:Neil was born in Hollywood, California to Odie and Shirley Wharton...
's solo band. Foxx would be airbushed out of the album cover, despite performing on each track of the recording. Foxx was replaced by New Jersey resident and former "War & Peace" member Ricky Parent, who also appeared for most of the album's promotional material.
Independent Albums And Break-Up (1993-2006)
A short time after Enuff Z'Nuff was dropped from Arista Records, guitarist Derek Frigo parted ways with the band, though he still recorded on occasion with them. Despite this setback, the band had continued touring and recording, releasing albums on several indie labels and finding a solid fanbase overseas.Lead singer and songwriter Donnie Vie stopped touring with the group in 2002 to embark upon a solo career. Enuff Z'Nuff continued to tour in his absence as a "3-piece," with their lead guitarist Johnny Monaco also serving as the band's singer. In 2004, former lead guitarist Derek Frigo died from an apparent drug overdose at the age of 37, just before the band planned a Japanese tour with the original line-up. Another tragedy struck when the band's drummer Ricky Parent lost his long time battle with cancer in October 2007. Parent had been with the band for approximately 13 years.
Reformation And Current Projects (2006 - Present)
In 2006, original members Chip Z'Nuff and Donnie Vie reconvened to shoot a pilot for the VH1VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
show, Bands on the Run
Bands on the Run
Bands on the Run is an American competitive reality tv show which first aired weekly on VH1 from April 2 to July 15, 2001. The show featured four unsigned bands competing for a prize package which included $50,000 in cash, $100,000 in musical equipment from Guitar Center, a showcase in front of...
. The show's pilot episode never aired. However, during that time the reunited band held their initial recording sessions for their 12th record. Several songs from these sessions eventually resulted in their latest studio album, "Dissonance," which also features former Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
/ Badlands
Badlands
A badlands is a type of dry terrain where softer sedimentary rocks and clay-rich soils have been extensively eroded by wind and water. It can resemble malpaís, a terrain of volcanic rock. Canyons, ravines, gullies, hoodoos and other such geological forms are common in badlands. They are often...
guitarist Jake E. Lee
Jake E. Lee
Jakey Lou Williams , commonly known as Jake E. Lee, is an American guitarist best known for playing with Ozzy Osbourne in the mid-1980s and later in his own band Badlands.- Musical education :...
on guitar, and co-producer Vinnie Castaldo on drums. "Dissonance" was released in 2009 in Japan, with a U.K. and U.S. release following in 2010. In support of the album, Enuff Z'Nuff (with singer/songwriter Donnie Vie) toured Japan in 2009 and in the U.S. and Europe in 2010.
Other recent events include bassist Chip Z'Nuff performing worldwide with the band Adler's Appetite
Adler's Appetite
Adler's Appetite, previously Suki Jones, is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2003. As of 2011, the lineup consists of Patrick Stone , Michael Thomas , Lonnie Paul , Chip Z'nuff and Steven Adler...
, which features former Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
drummer Steven Adler
Steven Adler
Steven Adler is an American musician. He is best known as the former drummer of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s...
. Z'Nuff has also been producing other artists and has recently released a solo project called "Johnnie Rotten Jr." Singer Donnie Vie is currently working on his second solo album and is touring in "The Donnie Vie Band," playing Enuff Z'Nuff staples and solo material. A new Donnie Vie record, titled "Wrapped Around My Middle Finger," is expected to be released in the Fall of 2011.
Studio albums
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US |
JP Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... |
UK |
||||||||||
| 1989 | Enuff Z'Nuff Enuff Z'nuff (album) Enuff Z'Nuff is the self-titled studio album by Enuff Z'Nuff, released in 1989 on Atco Records. This debut album continues to be the best selling album in the band's catalog. The album's first single, the rock song "New Thing," received steady radio and MTV airplay, peaking at #67 on the Billboard... |
74 | - | - | ||||||||
| 1991 | Strength | 143 | - | 56 | ||||||||
| 1993 | Animals With Human Intelligence Animals with Human Intelligence Animals with Human Intelligence is the third album by Enuff Z'nuff, which is also their first and only album on Arista Records. In addition to the promotional video "Right By Your Side," the band made a live appearance on Late Night With David Letterman, performing the song "Superstitious." The... |
- | 49 | - | ||||||||
| 1994 | 1985 | - | - | - | ||||||||
| 1995 | Tweaked Tweaked (album) Tweaked is the fifth studio album and first independently released collection of new material by American rock band Enuff Z'nuff.Having been earlier presented as a glam rock band in the midst of the grunge movement, Enuff Z'nuff adopted a heavier sound and less made-up image for their first proper... |
- | - | - | ||||||||
| 1996 | Peach Fuzz | - | 78 | - | ||||||||
| 1997 | Seven Seven (Enuff Z'nuff album) Seven is the 7th studio album by American rock band Enuff Z'Nuff, which was originally released in Japan as ‘Brothers’ under the band name "Chip & Donnie" in 1994. Seven was initially intended to form one half of a double-album for the Japanese market, paired with the record that would eventually... |
- | - | - | ||||||||
| 1999 | Paraphernalia Paraphernalia (album) This record is one of a string of mid-career recordings by Chicago natives Enuff Z'Nuff. Paraphernalia is arguably heavier in nature than many of their previous recordings... |
- | 86 | - | ||||||||
| 2000 | 10 10 (Enuff Z'Nuff album) -Personnel:*Donnie Vie – lead vocals, guitars and keyboards*Chip Z'Nuff – bass guitar, guitars and vocals*Monaco – lead guitar*Ricky Parent – drums-Liner Notes:Produced By : Chip and Donnie Mixed By : Chris Shepard... |
- | 60 | - | ||||||||
| 2003 | Welcome To Blue Island Welcome To Blue Island Welcome To Blue Island was the final recording of new studio material by Enuff Z'nuff before lead singer Donnie Vie left the group in 2002. As a result, Vie did not tour to support the album. However, the band continued playing shows at this time with lead guitarist Monaco taking over vocal duties... |
- | 90 | - | ||||||||
| 2004 | ? ? (Enuff Z'nuff album) Enuff Z'nuff's 11th studio album, simply titled ?, is an odds and ends collection of previously unreleased studio material recorded throughout the band's career. Although a few new tracks were recorded specifically for the album, the remainder of the songs were originally recorded during the... |
- | 177 | - | ||||||||
| 2010 | Dissonance Dissonance (album) Dissonance is the 12th studio album from the band Enuff Z'Nuff. The album reunites singers / songwriters Donnie Vie and Chip Z'Nuff after Vie's hiatus from the band of several years... |
- | 140 | - | ||||||||
| "—" denotes albums that did not chart or were not released in that territory. | ||||||||||||
Live albums
- Live (1998)
- One More For The Road (2005)
- Extended Versions (2006)
- Tonight, Sold Out (2008)
- Live And Peace 2009: 20th Anniversary Live At Club Citta (2009)
Compilation albums
- Favorites (2004)
- Favorites: Suck It & See (DVD) (2004)
- Greatest Hits (2006)
Singles
- New Thing (1989) (U.S. Hot 100 #67, U.S. Mainstream Rock #35 )
- Fly High Michelle (1990) (U.S. Hot 100 #47, U.S. Mainstream Rock #27)
- Mother's Eyes (1991) (U.S. Mainstream Rock #17)
- Baby Loves You (1991)
- Right By Your Side (1993)
- Innocence (1993)
- You Got A Hold Of Me (1994)
- Bullet From A Gun (1995)
- Life Is Strange (1996)
- Wheels (1997)
- Freak (1999)
- There Goes My Heart (2000)
Band members
- Donnie Vie - Song writer, lead vocals, piano, keyboards, guitar, and producer (1984–present)
- Chip Z'Nuff - Bass and vocals (1984–present)
- Randi Scott - Drums (2005–present)
- Tory Stoffregan - Lead guitar (2008–present)
Former members
- Derek Frigo (deceased) - Lead guitar (1988–1994)
- Vikki Foxx - Drums (1988–1992)
- Gino Martino - Lead guitar (1985–1988, 1994–1996)
- Ricky Parent (deceased) - Drums (1993–2004)
- Johnny Monaco - Lead guitar (1996–2008)
- B.W. Boeski - Drums (1985–1986)
- Alex Kane - Lead guitar (1987)
- Eric Donner - Drums (2005)