Winger disbanded in 1994. In 2001 they reunited and have since conducted several successful tours. In 2006, the band's 1993 touring line-up (minus Paul Taylor but including John Roth) reunited to record the band's first studio album in over 13 years, IV, and toured in support of the album into 2008.
In 2009, the band released their fifth album, Karma. As of 2013, Winger was performing on mini-tours, festivals and private events. Their most recent album, Better Days Comin', came out in 2014.
History:
Main career and break-up (1987–1994).
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. On February 11, 1989, the album peaked at number 21 on the Billboard 200, and was in various places on the chart for 63 weeks. 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 that tour, Winger released its second album In the Heart of the Young, which went 1-and-1/2 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".
Winger followed the release of its second album with a 13-month world tour, playing over 230 dates with Kiss, Scorpions, ZZ Top, Extreme and Slaughter. Paul Taylor left the band after the tour, citing exhaustion after years of touring. Their third studio album, Pull, produced by Mike Shipley, was recorded in 1992/1993 as a three-piece band. It was originally to be called Blind Revolution Mad, after the opening song. Reportedly, Kip Winger, anticipating that critics would dismiss the album out of hand, renamed it Pull as a tongue-in-cheek reference to the CD being used by critics as a skeet-shooting target. The album was not as successful as the previous albums sales wise, but gained solid reviews. On the following tour, John Roth was called in to replace Paul Taylor on rhythm guitar. The album coincided with the rise of grunge, which swept aside the brand of melodic pop metal that Winger represented.
In the 1990s, Winger was subject to mockery from MTV's animated series Beavis and Butt-head. Series creator Mike Judge later revealed that he had been incorrectly informed that Kip Winger had asked the network not to make jokes about the band on the series, which led to further jokes about the band, but later learned from Winger himself that he had never made any such stipulation. “Stewart”, an early character from the TV show, wore a Winger t-shirt during the shows original run on MTV during the early 90s.
After disbanding in 1994, bassist/lead vocalist Kip Winger went on to a solo career, guitarist Reb Beach went on to touring projects with artists Dokken, Alice Cooper and has held a permanent guitar spot in Whitesnake since 2002. The band's other members pursued or resumed careers as session musicians.
Reunions (2001–present)
In 2001, it was announced that all original members of the band would return to the studio to record the song "On the Inside" for The Very Best of Winger. In 2002, all five members embarked on a reunion tour of the U.S. and Canada on a bill with Poison. According to Kip Winger, in a 2008 interview with rock and roll comic C.C. Banana, it was important to include all five members because "it was the big, long-awaited reunion so I wanted to include everybody who had ever been in the band." In 2003, it was confirmed that activity had been halted due to Reb Beach's touring commitment with Whitesnake as well as his solo album "Masquerade" and involvement with "super-group" project The Mob with King's X frontman Doug Pinnick and Night Ranger drummer Kelly Keagy.
On July 16, 2005, it was announced that Kip Winger would perform as the lead singer for the Alan Parsons Live Project at the Common Ground Music Festival in Lansing, Michigan. In May 2006, it was confirmed that Winger had reformed without one of its original members Paul Taylor, 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 25, 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 23, 2008. In late 2009, it was confirmed that Winger would record a fifth album Karma, with a tour to support it. Most recently, John Roth became the guitarist for Giant and would appear on their forthcoming album Promise Land then set for release in February/March of 2010.
Winger released their sixth studio album titled, Better Days Comin' in April 2014, after teasers were published on Kip Winger's website and on the official Winger Facebook page as well.
As of late 2018, Winger was playing club dates. They were scheduled on Dec 29, 2018 in Westland, Michigan.
Style and influences.
The band's musical style combines elements of glam metal and progressive metal. Kip Winger, in description of the band's musical ability and style, said, "Our band was known to musicians, and a lot of musicians showed up to see me play — watching, trying to figure out how I'm playing. We were like the 'hair band' (version of) Dream Theater."
Battle Stations
Winger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Breakin' out, I'm on a mission,
Been caught between heaven and hell.
My guitar is my ammunition,
Raise the flag, sound the mission bell.
Everybody always wants control of me,
The only way to get it's over my dead body.
Battle stations!
Someone's trying to brainwash me,
Battle stations!
Six-string shooter, hear it screaming,
Slicing your head like a laser beam.
It's true love when I'm cranking the metal,
It makes me, makes me, makes me cream.
Never let you get between me and my guitar.
No use to keep trying, you won't get very far.
Take no prisoners, open fire,
Battle stations!
Someone's trying to brainwash me,
Battle stations!
Open fire, raise your fist,
Battle stations!
It's the season to resist,
Preprogrammed morons,
Computer sleaze.
Oh, yeah yeah yeah yeah!
Never let you get between me and my guitar,
No use to keep trying, you won't get very far.
Take no prisoners, open fire,
Battle stations!
Someone's trying to brainwash me,
Battle stations!
Back off, baby!
Take no prisoners, open fire!
Battle stations! Battle stations!
Take no prisoners, open fire!
Preprogrammed morons,
Computer sleaze.
Whoa! You're mine baby! Oh! Oh! Oh! Whoa!!!!
The lyrics to Winger's song Battle Stations describe the struggles of a musician caught in the middle of two worlds - heaven and hell. He sees his guitar as his weapon and refuses to let anyone control him, even to the point of death. The chorus emphasizes the theme of resistance and taking no prisoners - this musician is ready for battle.
The second verse is where the lyrics become more abstract, using metaphors to describe how the musician's guitar playing is like a laser beam slicing through everything in its path. He also compares his love for heavy metal music to true love. The bridge emphasizes that no one will come between him and his guitar and that preprogrammed morons and computer sleaze won't succeed in brainwashing him.
Overall, the lyrics to Battle Stations represent a musician's defiance against those who would try to control or manipulate him. The guitar is not just an instrument, but a symbol of resistance and independence.
Line by Line Meaning
H yeah! Hit it!
Starting the song full of energy and enthusiasm.
Breakin' out, I'm on a mission,
I am leaving and starting an important task.
Been caught between heaven and hell.
I have been experiencing a difficult situation.
My guitar is my ammunition,
I use my guitar as a weapon to fight my battles.
Raise the flag, sound the mission bell.
Announcing my intentions to others and getting ready to fight.
Everybody always wants control of me,
People try to manipulate and dominate me.
The only way to get it's over my dead body.
I won't allow anyone to have control over me, even if it means I have to die.
Take no prisoners, open fire,
I am ready to attack and defend myself.
Battle stations!
A call to mobilize for battle.
Someone's trying to brainwash me,
I am being manipulated and controlled.
Six-string shooter, hear it screaming,
My guitar is my weapon and it makes a powerful sound.
Slicing your head like a laser beam.
My guitar's sound is powerful enough to cut through anything.
It's true love when I'm cranking the metal,
Playing heavy music is my passion and true love.
It makes me, makes me, makes me cream.
Playing heavy music gives me immense pleasure.
Never let you get between me and my guitar.
No one can come between me and my music.
No use to keep trying, you won't get very far.
People trying to control me won't succeed.
Open fire, raise your fist,
I am attacking and inciting others to join me.
It's the season to resist,
It's time to fight against oppression and control.
Preprogrammed morons,
People who are easily manipulated by others.
Computer sleaze.
People who use technology to manipulate others.
Back off, baby!
A warning to people trying to control me.
Whoa! You're mine baby! Oh! Oh! Oh! Whoa!!!!
Enjoying the pleasure of playing music and expressing my passion.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: CHARLES FREDERICK WINGER, DOUG PINNICK, RICHARD E BEACH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alex Morris
Nostalgia overkill!
TOTALLY remember watching Bogus Journey back in 91' or 92' after we rented it from Blockbuster.
I totally remember the Bill & Ted Bogus Journey movie poster, and standing cardboard cutout of Arnold with his red eye from T2 in Blockbuster!
Same year or so (91-92), remember we picked up Terminator 2 & Suburban Commando and ordered pizza! What an epic night that was for myself as a 3-4-year-old!
Lol, I also blasting this a lot in 2012+ while playing World of Tanks!
TAKE NO PRISONERS, OPEN FIRE, BATTLE STATIONS!
Cameron McIsaac
Most heinous that this masterpiece isn't on Spotify
Naigus
OMG I literally came here for this very reason. Was not expecting to see a comment about it xD
Jim Morrell
check bill and ted bogus journey soundtrack, might be labelled under that
Foustdoodles98
Thank you!!!😭😭
01 CumminsHO
Watched Bill & Teds Bogus Journey today (for like the 15th time) and I don’t think I ever paid attention to how good this song is. Most excellent!
David Jones
Righteous
Lilith Matriarch
Heinous.
Postalferret Withrum
Okay, you're alright you are.
Orca Brigade
Quite literally me, just now. Indeed, this was a most excellent find, rather, a re-find, duder.
Rick Wright
Station!