Rock Hard Forever: Tesla

The band formed in 1984 in Sacramento as City Kidd, and was renamed Tesla during the recording of their first album, 1986's Mechanical Resonance, on the advice of their manager that City Kidd was not a great name. Mainstream hard rockers, Tesla's blue-collar music turned them into superstars in the early 90s. They were one of the few groups that remained successful as musical tides changed around them.

Formed in Sacramento, California by Jeff Keith (vocals), Tommy Skeoch (guitar), Frank Hannon (guitar), Brian Wheat (bass) and Troy Luccketta (drums), the band helped usher in a return to roots-oriented rock, and it paid off as early as the debut album which went platinum. The sophomore effort went top 20 in America and wielded the top 10 single "Love Song", also on its way to platinum success. The band wasn't afraid to experiment, as Five Man Acoustical Jam was an all acoustic live album, released long before the highly popular MTV Unplugged show became a household word. It would prove to be the group's most successful album, as their remake of the song "Signs" would hit #8 on the Billboard singles charts. Tesla had become one of the heavyweights of the hard rock genre.

Future albums wouldn't be as huge, but still managed to do more then respectable business considering grunge had all but killed the genre Tesla was attached to. In 1994 the band took a hiatus to support Skeoch with his substance abuse, but the band fell apart shortly after. In the aftermath Keith and Skeoch formed Bar 7, Hannon created Moon Dog Mane and Luccketta joined Soulmotor. In late 2000 however the group reformed for a few live gigs and released a live album. In 2004 their first studio album in ten years proved that Tesla never missed a beat. Dave Rude would then replace Skeoch on guitar as the band released a covers album entitled Real To Reel.

It has been confirmed that Tesla is going to play at the Sweden Rock Festival in June 2008 as well as Rocklahoma 2008 in Pryor, Ok in July 2008. In March 2008, Tesla helped fund and headlined a benefit concert for victims of the Station nightclub fire. The show was broadcast by VH1 Classic. Tesla played two songs: "Love Song" and "Signs."

Current Members

Jeff Keith – lead vocals (1984-1994, 2000-present)
Frank Hannon – guitars, piano, organ, hammond organ, backing vocals (1984-1994, 2000-present)
Dave Rude - guitars, backing vocals (2006-present)
Brian Wheat – bass, piano, backing vocals (1984-1994, 2000-present)
Troy Luccketta – drums, percussion (1984-1994, 2000-present)

Former Members

Tommy Skeoch – guitars, backing vocals (1984-1994, 2000-2006)

Discography

Mechanical Resonance (1986)
The Great Radio Controversy (1989)

Five Man Acoustical Jam (1990)
Psychotic Supper (1991)
Bust a Nut (1994)
Into the Now (2004)

Times Makin' Changes - The Best of Tesla (1995)

Replugged Live (2001)

20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Tesla (2001)

Standing Room Only (2002)
Real to Reel (2007)
A Peace of Time (2007) (iTunes exclusive release)
Time Machine (2008)

Website: http://www.teslatheband.com/

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