Kix

Formed in Hagerstown, Maryland, in 1976, Kix originally performed as The Shooze and The Generators.

They built a massive local following on the Mid-Atlantic club and bar circuit by playing blistering, high-energy covers of AC/DC, Aerosmith, and Led Zeppelin songs.

Their ferocious live sets caught the attention of major labels, and they signed with Atlantic Records, releasing their self-titled debut album in 1981. The album failed to capture radio attention, and their 1983 follow-up, Cool Kids, displayed a more commercial, new-wave pop direction at the insistence of their label.

Unbeknownst to the band, Atlantic was cutting promotional support while charging them all touring costs.

By the time they released their heavier, harder-rocking third album, Midnite Dynamite (1985), the band was buried in over $800,000 of debt to the label.

Everything changed with their fourth studio album, Blow My Fuse (1988), which spawned the power ballad Don’t Close Your Eyes, which exploded on MTV and pop radio and peaked at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100.

In 1991, Kix released Hot Wire, an album that many critics consider their best-sounding work.

However, its release coincided exactly with the rise of Nirvana and the Seattle grunge movement, which instantly made 1980s hair metal unfashionable.

Sales plummeted, and Atlantic quietly dropped the band. After releasing one final indie album, Show Business (1995) – which completely flopped – Kix officially disbanded in 1996.

The band reunited (minus Donnie Purnell) in 2003 and discovered that a massive, nostalgic cult following was waiting for them.

In 2014, they shocked the industry by releasing Rock Your Face Off, their first studio album in nearly 20 years.

It was a critical triumph, debuting at #1 on Amazon’s Hard Rock and Metal chart and cracking the Billboard Top 50.

Kix spent the next decade touring packed venues and headlining rock festivals.

Citing health concerns and a desire to go out on top while they could still deliver a high-energy show, Kix officially retired and played their final farewell concert in September 2023.

Steve Whiteman
Vocals, harmonica
Donnie Purnell
Bass, keyboards, vocals
Ronnie “10/10” Younkins
Guitar, vocals
Brian “Damage” Forsythe 
Guitar, vocals
Jimmy “Chocolate” Chalfant
Drums, vocals
Donnie Spence
Drums, vocals