1) Kix is an American hard roc… Read Full Bio ↴Multiple artists exist by this name.
1) Kix is an American hard rock band, being best known for the popular singles "Blow My Fuse", "Cold Blood", and "Don't Close Your Eyes". Carving out a nice niche in the booming 80s glam metal movement yet being bitten on the backside hard by record company games, the guys originally called themselves "The Shooze" before changing that to "The Generators" (and, for a couple of weeks, "The Baltimore Cocks") before settling on "Kix".
Donnie played in a band called Kicks and in a band called Jax, so he kind of combined those two things; he liked the three-letter thing, so he just made KIX.
The Baltimore-based band garnered quite a reputation for themselves as one of Maryland's most exciting live cover bands prior to signing to Atlantic Records in 1981. Led by frontman Steve Whiteman and creative mastermind/bassist Donnie Purnell, the band rounded itself out by taking in drummer Jimmy Chalfant as well as guitarists Ronnie Younkins (nicknamed "10/10") and Brian Forsythe.
The band hit the ground running after their 1978 formation. Playing the club circuit six nights a week for three straight years or so resulted in the band cultivating a huge local fan base and finally led to a contract with the Time Warner affiliate. Releasing their self-titled debut in 1981, the band showed off a desire to mix tongue-in-cheek humor with bombastic riffs and take influence from a wide variety of past influences in hard rock, punk music, and other styles. Kix's playlists featured what were to become live favorites such as "Atomic Bombs", the glorious "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah", and "The Kid". To support the release, the quintet set out to hit every club up and down the East Coast. Although often viewed as a part of the booming 80s heavy music scene, the guys featured more of a brash style reminiscent of AC/DC that mixed a tough attitude with catchy hooks, carving a nice niche for themselves.
Still, the guys' 1983 follow-up, titled 'Cool Kids', played up the more commercial side of the band, as shown by their collaboration with "Hot Child in the City" singer-songwriter Nick Gilder and move to a pop-influenced glam rock sound. Single "Body Talk" in particular found the group trying their hand at a dance music kind of style; rumors ran rampant that the song was written solely to appease the band's label. Said record company people were also said to have, eager to capture some steam at radio, also forced the band into shooting a horrendous video for the song which featured the band commiserating with ladies in full-on workout garb. Other songs such as "Restless Blood" and "Mighty Mouth" had a pop metal vibe with far more bite.
Eager to get back in the studio, Kix partnered up with Ratt producer Beau Hill (who'd also later work with Warrant and Winger) and released 'Midnite Dynamite', which the guys would call their "self-proclaimed favorite record ever." The 1985 album featured a great single in "Cold Shower"" and some other notable cuts such as "Sex" and "Bang Bang (Balls of Fire)". At the time, other energetic hard rock groups such as Quiet Riot had broke through in a big way, and the members of Kix wanted to step beyond mere underground acclaim to taste the big time. Nonetheless, a funny thing happened on the way to commercial success with album number three.
As the band got ready for a brief West Coast jaunt, which took them quite a ways from their East Coast home, the guys kept hearing some fishy stuff about another young, good-looking vocalist by the name of Bret Michaels. A big hoopla had started to form that this young upstart had stolen singer Steve Whiteman's stage act. Rumor became fact as the members of Kix discovered that the band Poison had, prior to relocating to California from the Harrisburg, PA area, often come out to see Kix perform live. Now local heroes in their own right, Bret Michaels and his band-mates had more than borrowed a few stage moves from the charismatic Kix lead singer as well as adopted things from several other artists. Sadly, when Kix got the opportunity to open for Poison at L.A.'s Country Club, their fears materialized in the flesh; though having a far lighter, pop-fueled style more in the vein of energetic rock n roll than metal, the Poison line-up had incorporated Kix's whole stage act. The guys felt stunned.
Weathered but not to be counted out, Kix returned to the studio in not too long, and the guys brought in hard rock veteran Tom Werman for assistance. Thankfully, the band achieved the massive commercial breakthrough that they had been hoping for. The band's fourth effort, 1988's 'Blow My Fuse', featured a monstrous hit in the power ballad "Don't Close Your Eyes". As the song raced up the charts, the guys began to garner the recognition that they had fought so long and so hard for. Many other excellent cuts also permeated 'Blow My Fuse', and the album itself earned serious praise from several music critics. The powerful tunes "Cold Blood," "Blow My Fuse," "Red Lite, Green Lite, TNT," and "No Ring Around Rosie" all showcased the band doing what it does best.
Kix finally graduated to large scale arenas. For the next year and a half, the band would open for heroes AC/DC and Aerosmith, as well as a slew of others including David Lee Roth, Ratt, and Britny Fox. KIX were on top of the world -- if only momentarily. Much larger problems were looming on the horizon. The old adage of "more money, more problems" had materialized itself as a stone around KIX' collective necks for years and years. The band's financial matters were now in a state of complete disarray. Now severely indebted to Atlantic Records, the band faced a painful wake up call when they realized that they hadn't made a penny off Blow My Fuse. To make matters even worse, the label had plans to shift KIX from their roster to the label's new imprint EastWest Records America. This proved to be disastrous move for the quintet as they now had to deal with a new regime to work their yet-to-be released fifth record.
By the time Hot Wire finally hit record stores in 1991, the musical climate had shifted dramatically. "Hair bands" were now a thing of the past. Grunge was all the rage, making a band like KIX a laughingstock. The new trend made it virtually impossible for KIX to garner the radio support necessary for them to prosper commercially. In hindsight, Hot Wire may have proven to be the band's best sounding record ever. Bolstered by a little MTV airplay, the album's first single "Girl Money" showcased everything that made KIX a first-rate bar band. With double-entendre verses in the vein of classic Bon Scott-era AC/DC, great musicianship, and a hearty sense of humor to boot, the track would have probably been huge in 1989. Selling just under 200,000 units, the album came and went and KIX returned to doing what it had done all along -- hitting the road.
The band then toured the Orient and recorded a live record at the University of Maryland's Cole Field House in 1992. It would be released by Atlantic in 1993 under the uninventive moniker, KIX Live. The 12-track live album would finally fulfill the band's contractual obligation to the label. By the time KIX Live was released, founding member and guitarist Brain Forsythe had quit the band returning to the fold in 1994 in time to record Show Business, the band's ill-fated debut on CMC. Released in 1995, Show Business tanked and the band was history.
Other projects (1996–2002)
In 1996, Steve Whiteman formed a band called Funny Money in Baltimore. Jimmy "Chocolate" Chalfant joined Funny Money as their drummer in 2003.
In 1998, Brian "Damage" Forsythe teamed up with ex-White Sister and Tattoo Rodeo drummer Rich Wright, and erstwhile Rhino Bucket members rhythm guitarist/lead vocalist Georg Dolivo and bassist Reeve Downes to forge Deep Six Holiday. He joined Rhino Bucket full-time in 2001.
Ronnie "10/10" Younkins relocated to Baltimore City, and would be part of the rock 'n' roll act Jeremy and the Suicides. He then moved to L.A., then wrote, recorded, and released the album The Slimmer Twins: Lack of Luxury, as a collaboration with vocalist Jeremy L. White in 2000. Back on the East Coast, he founded The Blues Vultures in 2002, maturing into the lead vocalist and primary songwriter, and in 2005, released the album The Blues Vultures: Cheap Guitars & Honky Tonk Bars.
Reunion (2003–present)
Kix reformed in late 2003 without songwriter and band leader Donnie Purnell. Kix then lined-up shows for September 2004, the line-up consisting of Whiteman (lead vocals), Younkins (guitars), Brian "Damage" Forsythe (guitars), Jimmy "Chocolate" Chalfant (drums, backing vocals), and Funny Money bassist/vocalist/songwriter Mark Schenker in place of Donnie Purnell.
On August 7, 2012, Frontiers Records announced that it had signed Kix; the band subsequently released a live CD/DVD, titled Live in Baltimore, in September, with a new studio album to follow in 2013.
On April 16, 2014, it was announced that the band had signed with Loud & Proud Records to release the band's first studio album in 19 years. On June 18, 2014, it was announced that the band would release this album - their seventh studio album - titled Rock Your Face Off, on August 5. Upon release, it debuted at No. 49 on the Billboard Top 200 (the band's second highest-charting record after 1988's Blow My Fuse), while debuting at No. 1 on Amazon Hard Rock, remaining there for more than three weeks. It was well-received by fans and critics alike. The hard rock webzine Sleaze Roxx published that Rock Your Face Off was awarded No. 1 in the Top Ten Albums of 2014 by editors and staff as well as No. 1 in Top Ten Albums of 2014 in the Sleaze Roxx Reader's Poll. The first time in the web site's history that an album has taken the top spot in both categories. Stereogum.com chose Rock Your Face Off as Album of the Week.
In February 2017, it was announced that Kix would headline the first night at Rockingham Festival 2017, which was held at Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom.
Original Shooze drummer Donnie Spence died at the age of 64 on January 19, 2018 in Hagerstown, Maryland. On September 21, 2018 a 2 CD anniversary edition set named Fuse 30 Reblown – 30th Anniversary Special Edition was released. Producer Beau Hill who previously worked with Kix on their 1985 album, Midnite Dynamite remixed the original 24 track recordings. Fuse 30 Reblown is the original concept of current guitarist Schenker, who with help from record executive Madelyn Scarpulla, was able to obtain digital transfers from the original analog master recording reels. Schenker was also instrumental in rescuing the original 8-track demo reels and to digitally enhance and rescue the original 2-track demos. The second disc contains the 10 demo recordings for each one of the album tracks."
In 2020 the previous album Midnight Dynamite was remixed and re-released; called Midnight Dynamite Re-Lit, it is, to date, only available as a digital download. Beginning in November 2020, guitarist Ronnie Younkins took a leave of absence from touring and beginning in May 2021, Bob Paré began performing live with Kix.
In late February 2022, Ronnie returned to live performances with his own band. He remains on hiatus from live performances with Kix. On November 18, 2022, drummer Jimmy Chalfant suffered an apparent severe cardiac event while on stage at the Tally Ho Theater in Leesburg, VA, Matt Starr filled-in for Chalfant for live performances.
On May 7, 2023, from the stage at the M3 Festival, KIX announced their final show is scheduled for September 17, 2023 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD.
KIX played their final concert Sunday, September 17 at the Merriweather. The show featured a special setlist along with appearances from KIX's former guitarists Ronnie Younkins and Brad Divens.
Final setlist
01. Atomic Bombs (with Ronnie Younkins on guitar)
02. The Kid (with Ronnie Younkins on guitar)
03. Midnite Dynamite
04. No Ring Around Rosie
05. Red Hot (Black & Blue) / Body Talk / Ball Baby / Luv-A-Holic / Love At First Sight / Love Pollution (instrumental medley)
06. Red Lite, Green Lite, TNT
07. Scarlet Fever
08. Don't Close Your Eyes
09. Girl Money
10. Book To Hypnotize / Cool Kids / Cold Chills / Bang Bang (Balls Of Fire) (instrumental medley)
11. The Itch
12. For Shame (with Brad Divens on guitar)
13. Mighty Mouth (with Brad Divens on guitar)
14. Cold Shower
15. Cold Blood (with Ronnie Younkins guitar intro and drum solo outro)
16. Blow My Fuse (with Ronnie Younkins on guitar)
17. Tear Down The Walls / Walkin' Away (with Ronnie Younkins and Brad Divens on guitar)
18. Yeah Yeah Yeah (with Ronnie Younkins and Brad Divens on guitar)
Discogs
Kix - 1981
Cool Kids - 1983
Midnite Dynamite - 1985
Blow My Fuse - 1988 - US: Platinum
Hot Wire - 1991 - US: 200,000+
Live - (1993 - Live album
$how Bu$ine$$ - 1995
The Essentials - 2002 - Compilation
Thunderground - 2004 - unofficial bootleg of demos
Rhino Hi-Five - 2006 - EP
Live in Baltimore - 2012 - Live
Rock Your Face Off - 2014 - US: 20,000+
Fuse 30 Reblown - 2018 - 30th Anniversary Special Edition of Blow My Fuse album
Midnight Dynamite - Re-Lit - 2020 - Midnight Dynamite remixed for 35 year Anniv.
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2) Kix, is a little known one off alias of Tom Middleton, with one release, the "To tha Beat" Ep.
Boomerang
Kix Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Still on my tippy toes
You know I should have left you baby
A long long time ago
I sat there on my doorstep baby
Crying in the rain
But oh the crazy dream
She's a boomerang
Keep comin' back to me
She's a boomerang
Keep comin' back to me
You know sometimes you're just so damned hard to please
If I give my heart away
Would it break these chains
If I cried a million tears
Would it drown the flame
You know you set my soul on fire
But there's nothing left to burn nothing left to burn
You're just a boomerang
Throw it out watch it turn turn
Boom boom boom boomerang
She's a boomerang
Boom boom boom boomerang
She's a boomerang
Nothing will shock you baby
Stop look around
Well I was out with the boys last night
They said your babies back in town
The lyrics of Kix's song "Boomerang" tell the story of a tumultuous relationship that keeps coming back around. The singer is torn between his desire for the woman and the pain that she causes him. He acknowledges that he should have left her a long time ago, but he can't help being drawn back to her. He describes her as a "boomerang" that keeps coming back to him, even though he knows she's not good for him. Despite the heartache she causes, he can't seem to let go of her.
The singer's desperation is evident in lines such as "If I give my heart away, would it break these chains?" and "If I cried a million tears, would it drown the flame?" He's not sure whether he can handle another round of this relationship, but he can't resist the temptation to try again. However, by the end of the song, he starts to realize that he needs to throw the "boomerang" away and move on.
Overall, "Boomerang" is a poignant meditation on the difficulty of letting go of a toxic relationship. The repeated refrain of "boom boom boom boomerang" adds to the sense of cyclical inevitability, as if the singer is stuck in an endless loop of pain and desire.
Line by Line Meaning
I turn and start to shake you baby
I confront you, trembling with anger and frustration
Still on my tippy toes
Despite feeling unsteady and off-balance, I'm standing my ground
You know I should have left you baby
I acknowledge that it's long overdue for me to end this toxic relationship
A long long time ago
I've been aware of this fact for much longer than I care to admit
I sat there on my doorstep baby
I was so heartbroken that I couldn't even go inside my own home
Crying in the rain
My tears were mixing with the downpour, and no one could see me in such misery
But oh the crazy dream
Despite everything, I keep holding onto an unrealistic hope that things will somehow improve
I watched my tears run down the drain
My sadness was literally going down the drain, but my pain was not so easily washed away
She's a boomerang
Referring to the tumultuous nature of the relationship, as she keeps coming back and forth
Keep comin' back to me
No matter how many times we break up or how many negative experiences we have, we keep being drawn back to each other
You know sometimes you're just so damned hard to please
I'm expressing my frustration that my partner is constantly unsatisfied and demanding
If I give my heart away
This is a hypothetical scenario, questioning whether or not the relationship can even survive if I give it my all
Would it break these chains
Reveals that I feel trapped and shackled in this relationship, and I'm hoping my partner can understand and see that
If I cried a million tears
Another hypothetical situation about whether or not my tears and sadness would make a difference in the outcome of the relationship
Would it drown the flame
I'm questioning if sadness and despair can put out the passionate intensity that we have for each other
You know you set my soul on fire
Acknowledging the emotional power and intensity of the relationship, despite its difficulties
But there's nothing left to burn nothing left to burn
Metaphorically comparing the relationship flame to fire that was once bright and fierce, but now it's all burnt out
You're just a boomerang
Referring to the partner's tendency to come back and forth, unable to break free of the repeated cycle
Throw it out watch it turn turn
Implying that it's time to let go of the relationship, throwing the boomerang out and watching it spin away
Nothing will shock you baby
My partner is now so desensitized to everything that it would take something extreme to truly surprise them
Stop look around
Advising my partner to take a step back and gain some perspective on the situation
Well I was out with the boys last night
Revealing that I've been trying to move on and spend time with my friends instead of being consumed by the relationship
They said your babies back in town
The people around me are pointing out that my partner is back in town again, drawing me back into the cycle
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DONALD KEVIN PURNELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind