Radio friendly hard rock with pop overtones and pretty boy good looks made Winger MTV darlings in the early 90's. However they represented everything the grunge invasion stood against, and became whipping boys when the glam music scene went into recession. Formed in New York City by Kip Winger (vocals/bass) and Paul Taylor (guitar/keyboards) who had both toured and recorded with Alice Cooper during his mid-eighties comeback. Session guitarist Reb Beach and ex-Dixie Dregs drummer Rod Morgenstein rounded out the band.
The debut album, Winger, was released on August 10, 1988 on Atlantic Records. The record was a success, achieving Platinum status in the United States, and Gold status in Japan and Canada. Radio and MTV hits from the album included "Madalaine", "Seventeen", "Headed for a Heartbreak", and "Hungry". In 1990, the band was nominated for an American Music Award for "Best New Heavy Metal Band". Shortly after, Winger released its second album In the Heart of the Young, which went double Platinum in the U.S. and Gold in Japan. Hit radio tracks and MTV videos included "Can't Get Enuff", "Miles Away" and "Easy Come Easy Go". Heavy MTV rotation for songs such as "Headed For A Heartbreak", "Seventeen", "Easy Come Easy Go" and "Miles Away" pushed their first two albums over the million sales mark.
Wanting to explore new interests, Taylor left in 1991 and was replaced by John Roth for the tour supporting Pull. Pull took over a year to write, and in that time the music scene had changed completely. When the album was released it showed Winger rocking harder then ever, but quickly disappeared due to lack of promotion, as radio and TV that had once embraced the band now turned their backs. The band officially broke up in 1993. Kip Winger went on to record as a solo artist. Morgenstein reformed the Dixie Dregs and Beach joined Dokken for one album and tour before also going solo.
The band reformed to record a new song for the Very Best Of Winger album, and then did a full scale tour (with all five former members) with the Poison festival in 2002. A brand new recording called IVCenk Eroglu. In 2002 they reunited to tour the US and Canada on a bill with Poison, but they once again disbanded afterwards.
Kip performed as the lead singer for the Alan Parsons Live Project, for their July 16, 2005 show at the Common Ground Music Festival in Lansing, Michigan USA. In May 2006, a press release announced that Winger has reformed to record another album and tour Europe. The album IV was released in Europe in October and the nine-country "Winger IV Tour" ran in the last two weeks of the same month.
On February 25th 2008,the band performed in Providence Rhode Island as part of a benefit for survivors of the Station Nightclub fire.The concert, along with other artists was debuted on VH1 Classic on March 23rd 2008. The band has booked tour dates into 2008.
Members
Kip Winger
Reb Beach
Rod Morgenstein
John Roth
Cenk Eroglu
Former members
Paul Taylor
Discography
Winger (album) (1988) (also known as Sahara)
In the Heart of the Young (1990) (also know as Winger II: In the Heart of the Young)
Pull (1993)
IV (2006)
The Very Best of Winger (2001)
Demo Anthology (2007)
Winger Live (2007)
Official Website: http://www.wingertheband.com/
Listen to Winger Music!
Watch Winger Video!
Seventeen
Headed For A Heartbreak
Miles Away
Hungry
Can't Get Enuff
Easy Come Easy Go
Madalaine
Down Incognito
Spell I'm Under
Who's the One
In My Veins
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