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Biography
Infobox musical artist| name = Y& T| image =| caption =| image_size =| background = group_or_band| origin = Oakland , California | genre = Heavy metal music|Heavy metal , hard rock | years_active = 1972–present| label = London Records|London , A& M Records|A& M , Universal Music Group|Universal , Geffen Records|Geffen , Metal Blade Records|Metal Blade , Avex Group|Avex , Hip-O Records|Hip-O , Frontiers Records|Frontiers | associated_acts =| website = http://www.YandTRocks.com/ Official website| current_members = Dave Meniketti John Nymann Mike Vanderhule Brad Lang| past_members = Leonard Haze Bob Gardner Wayne Stitzer Phil Kennemore Joey Alves Jimmy DeGrasso Stef Burns Y& T (originally known as Yesterday & Today ) is an American hard rock / Heavy metal music|heavy metal band formed in 1974. They hail from Oakland , California .cite web|url= http://www.meniketti.com/bioyt.html |title=bioyt |publisher=Meniketti.com |date=2010-05-26 |accessdate=2010-12-27 The band released two studio albums on London Records as Yesterday & Today in the 1970s, before shortening their name to Y& T and releasing several albums on A& M Records beginning in 1981, as well as albums on Geffen Records , Avex Group|Avex Records , and others. The band was originally co-managed by Walter Herbert (manager)|Herbie Herbert (who also managed Journey (band)|Journey ) and Louis "Lou" Bramy. The band has sold over 4 million albums worldwide to date.
Biography
Early years (1972–1983)
In 1972, Leonard Haze , Bob Gardner , and Wayne Stitzer had a band in Oakland, CA playing cover tunes. Dave Meniketti auditioned for the job of guitar player in 1973. Shortly after, the band received a call for their first gig, but they needed a name. According to Meniketti and Haze, Leonard chose the name of the album that was playing on his turntable at that moment--"Yesterday & Today"--an early album from The Beatles ' LP of the Yesterday and Today|same name . The first lineup—which only played cover tunes ( not original music)--consisted of Haze on drums, Stitzer on piano, Gardner on bass, and Meniketti on lead vocals and lead guitar. After Wayne Stitzer quit the group, Bob Gardner went from bass to rhythm guitar and piano, and Phil Kennemore was brought in on bass. In 1974, Gardner left the group and was replaced by Joey Alves . The band, then, began writing original material.
The band released their first two studio albums, their Yesterday & Today (Y& T album)|self-titled debut and Struck Down , through London Records in 1976 and 1978 respectively. A new record deal in 1980 with A& M Records prompted the band to shorten their moniker to simply Y& T, and encores with fans chanting "Y& T, Y& T, Y& T" sealed the condensed name.Citation needed|date=December 2008 The band's first three studio albums under A& M, Earthshaker (album)|Earthshaker , released in 1981, Black Tiger (album)|Black Tiger , released in 1982, and Mean Streak (album)|Mean Streak , released in 1983, did not gain mainstream exposure, but are regarded as some of the band's best work. Songs off the record Earthshaker make up an important part of the band's live shows.
Commercial success and breakup (1984–1991)
Y& T's sixth studio album, In Rock We Trust , released in 1984, became the band's highest charting and selling album, reaching #46 on the Billboard 200 . The album produced Y& T's first big radio hit ''Don't Stop Runnin' ; the rights to She's A Liar were purchased by Dr Pepper and used in an ad campaign. To date, In Rock We Trust has sold over 450,000 copies, close to reaching RIAA certification|gold certification status. This album was the only Y& T album to chart in Canada, reaching #77 on the RPM chart.
The band's 1985 hit " Summertime Girls ", off their seventh studio album Down for the Count (album)|Down for the Count , became the band's highest charting hit to date, reaching #55 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #17Citation needed|date=December 2008 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks|U.S. mainstream rock charts . It received tremendous airplay worldwide, played frequently in the Baywatch television series, is graced in several feature films, received heavy rotation on MTV as well as MTV’s top video playlists, and gets regular airplay today on classic rock radio stations throughout the United States.
Leonard Haze was replaced by Jimmy DeGrasso in 1986 and Joey Alves was replaced by Stef Burns in 1989. DeGrasso and Burns later played together with Alice Cooper in the 1990s.
Y& T's last studio album before their breakup was Ten (Y& T album)|Ten , released in 1990. The album features some ballad highlights, such as "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark", "Ten Lovers", and "Come in from the Rain", together with a few straightforward hard rock songs, including "Hard Times", "City", "Surrender", and the fastest track Y& T ever recorded, the speed metal song "Goin' Off the Deep End".
The band officially disbanded in 1991, concluding with the strong live album Yesterday & Today Live .
Reunion (1995–present)
Y& T temporarily reformed in 1995 with a lineup of Dave Meniketti, Stef Burns, Phil Kennemore, and Jimmy DeGrasso, and performed sporadically afterward. The band officially reunited in 2001 with the same lineup, only with Leonard Haze replacing DeGrasso. Stef Burns left later on that year to join Huey Lewis and the News , and was replaced by rhythm guitarist/backing vocalist John Nymann , who was an old friend of the band, previously singing backing vocals on Down for the Count . In 2006, Haze was asked to step down and was replaced by Mike Vanderhule on drums. Dave Meniketti and Phil Kennemore have been the only constant members of the band since its formation in 1974.
In 2006, a complete concert in the Netherlands was captured on the live DVD One Hot Night .
In 2009, Y& T inked a deal with Italy's Frontiers Records for the release of the band's twelfth studio album to be released in May 2010.cite web|url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.Net/news.aspx? mode=Article& newsitemID=131830 |title=BLABBERMOUTH.NET – Y& T: New Studio Album Due In May |publisher=Roadrunnerrecords.com |date= |accessdate=2010-12-27cite web|url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.Net/news.aspx? mode=Article& newsitemID=133296 |title=BLABBERMOUTH.NET – Y& T Continuing Work On New Album |publisher=Roadrunnerrecords.com |date= |accessdate=2010-12-27cite web|url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx? mode=Article& newsitemID=136131 |title=BLABBERMOUTH.NET – DAVE MENIKETTI Says New Y& T Album 'Is Not Gonna Suck' |publisher=Roadrunnerrecords.com |date= |accessdate=2010-12-27 Titled Facemelter ,cite web|url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx? mode=Article& newsitemID=137857 |title=BLABBERMOUTH.NET – Y& T To Release 'Facemelter' In May |publisher=Roadrunnerrecords.com |date= |accessdate=2010-12-27 it is their first proper studio album in thirteen years (since 1997's Endangered Species (Y& T album)|Endangered Species ).
Y& T played the Download Festival , at Donington Park in June 2010.
Legacy
"Summertime Girls" remains as the band's most widely recognized song, along with fan favorites such as "Mean Streak," "Rescue Me," "Forever" to name a few. Music videos for songs such as "Summertime Girls," "Mean Streak," "Lipstick & Leather," "Don't Stop Runnin'," "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark," and "Contagious" are still featured videos on VH1 Classic .
Band members
;Current members
Dave Meniketti – lead guitar, lead vocals (1973–present)
John Nymann – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2001–present)
Mike Vanderhule – drums, percussion, backing vocals (2006–present)
Brad Lang – bass guitar, backing vocals (2010–present)
;Former members
Leonard Haze – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1972–1986, 2001–2006)
Bob Gardner – bass guitar (1972–1973); rhythm guitar, piano (1973–1974)
Wayne Stitzer – piano (1972–1973)
Phil Kennemore – bass guitar, backing vocals (1973–2011) Phil Kennemore also performed lead vocals and keyboards on "Nowhere Land" from Musically Incorrect (1995)
Cherie Currie – backing vocals on Struck Down (1978)
Galen Cook – organ on Struck Down (1978)
Mike Hagen – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1982–1986)
Randy Nichols – keyboards on Down for the Count (album)|Down for the Count (1985)
John Nymann – backing vocals on Down for the Count (1985)
Steffen Presley – keyboards on Down for the Count (1985); Contagious (Y& T album)|Contagious (1987)
Claude Schnell – keyboards on Down for the Count (1985)
Adam Day – rhythm guitar on Down for the Count (1985)
Bill Costa – backing vocals on Down for the Count (1985)
Kevin Elson – backing vocals on Contagious (1987)
Steve Smith (musician)|Steve Smith – drums on "Hard Times", "Lucy", "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark", "Girl Crazy", "Come in from the Rain", "Red Hot & Ready", "Let It Out", "Ten Lovers", and "Surrender" from Ten (Y& T album)|Ten (1990)
Loren Gold – keyboards on Facemelter (2010)
Discography
;Studio albums
Yesterday & Today (Y& T album)|Yesterday & Today (1976)
Struck Down (1978)
Earthshaker (album)|Earthshaker (1981)
Black Tiger (album)|Black Tiger (1982) - UK Albums Chart|UK #53
Mean Streak (album)|Mean Streak (1983) - UK #35
In Rock We Trust (1984) - Billboard 200|US #46; UK #33
Down for the Count (album)|Down for the Count (1985)
Contagious (Y& T album)|Contagious (1987)
Ten (Y& T album)|Ten (1990)
Musically Incorrect (1995)
Endangered Species (Y& T album)|Endangered Species (1997)
Facemelter (2010)cite book
| first= David | last= Roberts | year= 2006 | title= British Hit Singles & Albums | edition= 19th | publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London | isbn= 1-904994-10-5 | page= 613
;Live albums
Open Fire (Y& T album)|Open Fire (1985)
Yesterday & Today Live (1991)
BBC in Concert: Live on the Friday Rock Show (2000)
;Compilation albums
Anthology (Y& T album)|Anthology (1989)
'' Best of '81–'85 (1990)
Ultimate Collection (Y& T album)|Ultimate Collection (2001)
Unearthed Vol 1 (2003)
Unearthed Vol 2 (2004)
;Singles
"Alcohol" - U.S.A. – London 5N-250 – with "25 Hours a Day" (1976)
"Earthshaker" – Japan – London CM-1048 - with "Alcohol" (1976)
"Rescue Me" – Japan - A& M AMP-738 - with "Knock You Out" (1981)
"Rescue Me" – Holland - A& M AMS-9213 - with "Shake It Loose" (1981)
"I Believe In You" - U.K - A& M AMS 8229 - with "Rescue Me" (1981)
"Forever" – Japan - A& M AMP-750 - with "Hurricane" (1982)
"Forever" - U.S.A. - A& M 2516-S – with "Black Tiger" (1982)
"Don't Wanna Lose" - U.K. - A& M AMS-8251 - with "Squeeze" (1982)
"Don´t Wanna Lose" – South Africa - A& M AMRS-1395 - with "Black Tiger" (1982)
"Mean Streak" - U.K. - A& M AM-135 - with "Straight Thru the Heart" (1983) - UK Singles Chart|UK #41
"Midnight In Tokyo" - U.K. - A& M AM-161 - with "Barroom Boogie" (1983)
"Midnight In Tokyo" – Japan - A& M AMP-783 - with "Mean Streak" (1983)
"Don't Stop Running" - U.S.A. - A& M AM-2669 - with "Forever" (1984)
"Don't Stop Running" – Japan - A& M AMP-799 - with "R & R Gonna Save The World" (1984)
"Rock & Roll Gonna Save The World" - Holland.- A& M-AMS-9791 with "Forever" (1984)
"Lipstick And Leather" (1984)
"Summertime Girls" (1985)
"All American Boy" (1985)
"Fight For Your Life" (1987)
"Contagious" (1987)
;B-sides
"Summertime Girls" (live)
"Go for the Throat"
;Contributions
'' Hear 'n Aid (1986)
Videography
;Videos
Live at the San Francisco Civic (1985)
Summertime Girls & All American Boys (1987)
;DVDs
One Hot Night (DVD)|One Hot Night (2007)
References
Reflist
External links
http://www.yandtrocks.com Official website
http://www.myspace.com/yandtrocks Y& T at Myspace
http://www.myspace.com/LeonardHaze Leonard Haze at Myspace
http://www.onamrecords.com/gallery/view/Y%26T A& M Records artist page
http://www.joekleon.com/yt.html 1990 & 2006 radio interviews with Dave Meniketti
http://www.metalsymphony.com/galeria/thumbnails.php? album=191 Photographs from a Y& T concert in Madrid
http://www.ironcityrocks.com/podcast/episode042.mp3 Interview with Dave Meniketti on IronCityRocks.com
Category:Heavy metal musical groups from California Category:American hard rock musical groups Category:Glam metal musical groups Category:Music of the San Francisco Bay Area Category:Musical groups established in 1974 Category:Musical quartets
ca:Y& T cs:Y& T de:Y& T es:Y& T fr:Y& T it:Y& T nl:Y& T ja:Y& T no:Y& T pt:Y& T fi:Y& T sv:Y& T
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