Rough Cutt
Encyclopedia
Rough Cutt was an American heavy metal band from San Diego, California in the 1980s. They were based in Los Angeles
after signing a recording contract with Warner Brothers. Despite having a roster of musicians who later found greater success in other groups, Rough Cutt never achieved the popular success enjoyed by many other Los Angeles bands of that time.
, guitarist Jake E. Lee
, keyboardist Claude Schnell
, bassist Joey Cristofanilli
, and drummer Dave Alford
. Both Lee and Alford had also previously been in another San Diego band, Mickey Ratt, which later shortened its name to Ratt
. Both Schnell and Cristofanilli had previously been in the band Magic.
Two other former Mickey Ratt members, guitarist Chris Hager
and bassist Matt Thorne aka Matt Thorr
(who replaced Cristofanilli) would also soon join Rough Cutt. After his departure, Cristofanilli joined 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, very briefly played in 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. 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
radio sponsored “Rock to Riches” compilation, 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.
With the lineup solidified with Shortino, Derakh, Hager, Thorne, and Alford, Rough Cutt was signed to Warner Bros. Records in 1984 and recorded two albums Rough Cutt
produced by Tom Allom and Wants You!
produced by Jack Douglas. The band toured extensively in the United States, Europe and Japan as an opening act for Foreigner, Dio, Krokus and others.
Shortino left in the band in 1987 to replace Kevin DuBrow as singer of Quiet Riot
. He was briefly replaced by Parramore McCarty of Warrior
before Rough Cutt called it quits. Derakh, Thorne and Alford regrouped with singer Danny Simon and guitarist Michael Raphael to form Jailhouse, which released a live EP “Alive in a Mad World” in 1989. Derakh was later guitarist for the nu-metal band Orgy
.
Shortino reformed Rough Cutt in 2000 with an all-new lineup that included former Aerosmith guitarist Jimmy Crespo
, keyboardist J.T Garrett, Shortino's former Quiet Riot bandmate bassist Sean McNabb
, and Magnitude 9 drummer John Homan, and recorded an EP Sneak Peak. The album was produced by former Rough Cutt bassist Matt Thorne (produced/engineered; The Eels, Trapt, Ratt, Warrant, Badlands, The Donnas, etc.) http://www.BlueThumbProductions.com. The band planned on recording a studio album titled Rough Cutt III, but apparently this ended up not happening. The band soon shortened its name to simply The Cutt.
The best known line-up of Rough Cutt reformed for a one-off reunion show in October 2002 at the Viper Room
in Hollywood with Shortino, Derakh, Hager, Thorne, and Alford performing together one last time.
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.
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
after signing a recording contract with Warner Brothers. Despite having a roster of musicians who later found greater success in other groups, Rough Cutt never achieved the popular success enjoyed by many other Los Angeles bands of that time.
History
The first Rough Cutt lineup featured vocalist Paul ShortinoPaul Shortino
Paul Shortino is a singer who has sung for several bands, including Rough Cutt/The Cutt, Quiet Riot, Bad Boyz, and Shortino. He's recorded with JK Northrup as Shortino/Northrup. He's also recorded as a solo artist. He also did the theme song for Dr...
, 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 :...
, keyboardist Claude Schnell
Claude Schnell
Claude Schnell is a keyboardist who has been a member of the hard rock/heavy metal bands Magic, Rough Cutt, and Dio. He also played on the Y&T album Down For The Count.Claude Schnell joined Dio in May 1983...
, bassist Joey Cristofanilli
Joey Cristofanilli
Joey Cristofanilli is a bassist who played in the bands Magic, Rough Cutt, Ratt, and Jag Wire.With the bands Magic and Rough Cutt, he was bandmates with keyboardist Claude Schnell, who later became famous for playing keyboards in the band Dio....
, and drummer Dave Alford
Dave Alford
Dave Alford is a drummer who has played in the bands Max Havoc, Mickey Ratt , Rough Cutt, Jailhouse, and Kryme.-With Mickey Ratt:* The Garage Tape Dayz 78-81 * In Your Direction -With Rough Cutt:...
. Both Lee and Alford had also previously been in another San Diego band, Mickey Ratt, which later shortened its name to Ratt
Ratt
Ratt is an American heavy metal band that had significant commercial success in the 1980s. The band is best known for songs such as "Round and Round," "Wanted Man," "Lay It Down," "You're in Love", "Slip of the Lip", "Back For More", "Dance", "Body Talk", "I Want a Woman", and "Way Cool Jr." Ratt...
. Both Schnell and Cristofanilli had previously been in the band Magic.
Two other former Mickey Ratt members, guitarist Chris Hager
Chris Hager
Chris Hager is a guitarist who played in Mickey Ratt , Ratt, and Rough Cutt., a Warner Bros recording artist. He also released an album titled Trash with his former Mickey Ratt bandmate Stephen Pearcy as Pearcy/Hager...
and bassist Matt Thorne aka Matt Thorr
Matt Thorr
Matt Thorne a.k.a. Matt Thorr is a bassist who has played in Ratt, Rough Cutt, and Jailhouse. He co-wrote the song "Back For More" with Stephen Pearcy on Ratt's album Out of the Cellar...
(who replaced Cristofanilli) would also soon join Rough Cutt. After his departure, Cristofanilli joined 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, very briefly played in the band Dio
Dio (band)
Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
, and then replaced the deceased Randy Rhoads as 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...
's guitarist. Lee in turn was replaced by Craig Goldy
Craig Goldy
Craig Goldy is an American guitarist, mostly notably of the band Dio.Before Dio, he played in the bands Vengeance, Rough Cutt, and Giuffria. He replaced Jake E. Lee in Rough Cutt and was himself replaced by Amir Derakh in this group. Prior to joining Rough Cutt, he had played in the band Vengeance...
, formerly of the San Diego band Vengeance. Ronnie James Dio
Ronnie James Dio
Ronald James Padavona , better known as Ronnie James Dio, was an American heavy metal vocalist and songwriter. He performed with, amongst others, Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, and his own band Dio, which means God in Italian. Other musical projects include the collective fundraiser...
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
KLOS
KLOS is an FM rock music radio station based in Los Angeles, California, that debuted in 1969. The station is owned by Cumulus Media. It is home to the nationally broadcast Mark & Brian radio show, and Off The Record host Uncle Joe Benson.-History:...
radio sponsored “Rock to Riches” compilation, released later on in 1983. Goldy soon left the band, and went on to play in Giuffria
Giuffria
Giuffria was an American rock band that was formed in 1982 by Gregg Giuffria after his departure from the band Angel, a glam rock/heavy metal band from Washington, D.C..- History of the band :...
, and later in Dio’s band. Goldy was replaced by Amir Derakh
Amir Derakh
Amir Davidson is an American musician. He is currently guitar/synthesizer player for the band Orgy and guitar player for the band Dead by Sunrise...
, another San Diego band alumnus.
With the lineup solidified with Shortino, Derakh, Hager, Thorne, and Alford, Rough Cutt was signed to Warner Bros. Records in 1984 and recorded two albums Rough Cutt
Rough Cutt (album)
Rough Cutt is the self-titled debut album of the 80's hard rock/heavy metal band of the same name. It was produced by Tom Allom who is most famous for producing Judas Priest.The song "Take Her" was co-written by Ronnie James Dio....
produced by Tom Allom and Wants You!
Wants You!
Wants You! is the second album of the band Rough Cutt. Producer Jack Douglas also worked with Cheap Trick, Aerosmith on "Rocks", "Toys in the Attic" and "Draw the Line", and on John Lennon's last record "Double Fantasy".-Track listing:...
produced by Jack Douglas. The band toured extensively in the United States, Europe and Japan as an opening act for Foreigner, Dio, Krokus and others.
Shortino left in the band in 1987 to replace Kevin DuBrow as singer of Quiet Riot
Quiet Riot
Quiet Riot is an American Heavy Metal band. They are best known for their hit singles "Metal Health" and "Cum On Feel the Noize". They were founded in 1973 by guitarist Randy Rhoads and bassist Kelly Garni, under the original name Mach 1, before changing the name to Little Women and finally Quiet...
. He was briefly replaced by Parramore McCarty of Warrior
Warrior (band)
-History:Warrior is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California formed in 1982.As was the case with contemporaries Ratt and Rough Cutt, the group's core - guitarists Joe Floyd and Tommy Asakawa, bassist Rick Bennett and vocalist Parramore McCarty - was made up of San Diego, CA...
before Rough Cutt called it quits. Derakh, Thorne and Alford regrouped with singer Danny Simon and guitarist Michael Raphael to form Jailhouse, which released a live EP “Alive in a Mad World” in 1989. Derakh was later guitarist for the nu-metal band Orgy
Orgy (band)
Orgy is an American synth rock band formed in 1996, from Los Angeles, California. Orgy described their music as "death pop".-History:Orgy was formed in 1996 by vocalist Jay Gordon and guitarist Ryan Shuck. Bassist Paige Haley, guitarist Amir Derakh, and drummer Bobby Hewitt soon completed the line-up...
.
Shortino reformed Rough Cutt in 2000 with an all-new lineup that included former Aerosmith guitarist Jimmy Crespo
Jimmy Crespo
James "Jimmy" Crespo Jr. is an American guitarist. He was the lead guitarist for the hard rock band Aerosmith from 1979 until 1984. Jimmy co-wrote Rock in a Hard Place with Steven Tyler...
, keyboardist J.T Garrett, Shortino's former Quiet Riot bandmate bassist Sean McNabb
Sean McNabb
Sean McNabb is an American actor, musician and singer.McNabb was born in South Bend, Indiana. At age 21, he became the bass player of the 80s metal band Quiet Riot, replacing Chuck Wright. As a bassist and vocalist, McNabb has worked with House of Lords, Badd Boyz, Great White and Rough Cutt...
, and Magnitude 9 drummer John Homan, and recorded an EP Sneak Peak. The album was produced by former Rough Cutt bassist Matt Thorne (produced/engineered; The Eels, Trapt, Ratt, Warrant, Badlands, The Donnas, etc.) http://www.BlueThumbProductions.com. The band planned on recording a studio album titled Rough Cutt III, but apparently this ended up not happening. The band soon shortened its name to simply The Cutt.
The best known line-up of Rough Cutt reformed for a one-off reunion show in October 2002 at the Viper Room
Viper Room
The Viper Room is a nightclub located on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California. It was opened in 1993 and was partly owned by actor Johnny Depp until 2004. The club became known for being a hangout of Hollywood elite, and was the site where actor River Phoenix died of a drug overdose on...
in Hollywood with Shortino, Derakh, Hager, Thorne, and Alford performing together one last time.
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.
Mk. 1 (1982-1983)
- Paul Shortino: Lead Vocals
- Jake E. Lee: Guitar
- Claude Schnell: Keyboards
- Joey Cristofanilli: Bass
- Dave Alford: Drums
Mk. 2 (1983-1984)
- Paul Shortino: Lead Vocals
- Craig Goldy: Guitar
- Chris Hager: Guitar
- Matt Thorr: Bass
- Dave Alford: Drums
Mk. 3 (1984-1987)
- Paul Shortino: Lead Vocals
- Amir Derakh: Guitar
- Chris Hager: Guitar
- Matt Thorr: Bass
- Dave Alford: Drums
Mk. 4 (1987)
- Parramore McCarty: Lead Vocals
- Amir Derakh: Guitar
- Chris Hager: Guitar
- Matt Thorr: Bass
- Dave Alford: Drums
Mk. 5 (2000)
- Paul Shortino: Lead Vocals
- Jimmy Crespo: Guitar
- J.T. Garrett: Keyboards
- Sean McNabb: Bass
- John Homan: Drums
Discography
- "Used And Abused" and "A Little Kindness" (1983)
- "Try A Little Harder" (1983)
- Fiddler's Studio Sessions 1984
- Rough CuttRough Cutt (album)Rough Cutt is the self-titled debut album of the 80's hard rock/heavy metal band of the same name. It was produced by Tom Allom who is most famous for producing Judas Priest.The song "Take Her" was co-written by Ronnie James Dio....
(1985) US #210 - Wants You!Wants You!Wants You! is the second album of the band Rough Cutt. Producer Jack Douglas also worked with Cheap Trick, Aerosmith on "Rocks", "Toys in the Attic" and "Draw the Line", and on John Lennon's last record "Double Fantasy".-Track listing:...
(1986) - 1987 Sessions
- Rough Cutt LiveRough Cutt LiveRough Cutt Live is a live album by the American heavy metal band Rough Cutt. The live album contains three studio tracks.-Track listing:#"Let 'em Talk"#"Bad Reputation"#"We Like It Loud"#"Double Trouble"#"Black Widow"#"Take Her"#"Dreamin' Again"...
(1996) - Sneak Peek EP (2000)
- AnthologyAnthology (Rough Cutt album)Anthology is an anthology of previously unreleased Rough Cutt material.The Fiddler's Studio Sessions were recorded before the band's first album was recorded.-Fiddler's Studio Sessions 1984:# Take Her# Stranger/Dressed To Kill# Dreamin' Again...
(2008)
Compilations
- LA's Hottest Unsigned Rock Bands (Backhouse Records, 1983) w/ Jake E Lee on guitar
- Rock to Riches (Starstream Records, 1983) w/ Craig Goldy on guitar
External links
- http://www.paulshortino.com Paul Shortino's website
- http://www.roughcutt.com Rough Cutt official website(owned by Shortino)
- http://www.dukefame.com Duke Fame (Shortino) website
- http://www.musicworks1.com Paul Shortino's Personal Label website