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."
Deal With The Devil
Winger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Elvis Presley was the king
He had the money the girl and the stretch limousine
There was drums and guitars
then the beatles and stones
and a million girls never left them alone
Traded my soul for rock and roll
Fortune and fame, fire and flames
I made a deal with the devil
Teased by the fruit and lead to temptation
It was my school boy dream
I had to rock the nation
I got an electric guitar and joined a rock and roll band
On a world wide tour of the promise land
Party all night, sleep all day
In a rock and roll heaven there's a hell to pay
Traded my soul for rock and roll
I made a deal with the devil
Fortune and fame, fire and flames
I made a deal with the devil
Living in sin, let the party begin'
I made a deal with the devil
Come on, let's go, it's a rock and roll show
Red hot flames will light the sky
These immortal souls
we will walk on hot coals
In a land were you live and never die
(solo)
Come on girl, just follow me
I'm gonna take you down, down, down
Traded my soul for rock and roll
I made a deal with the devil
Fortune and fame, fire and flames
I made a deal with the devil
Bottles of booze and girls with tattoos
I made a deal with the devil
sex and guitars just to be a rock star
I made a deal with the devil
The lyrics of Winger’s “Deal With The Devil” are about the temptations of a rockstar’s lifestyle and the sacrifices that come along with it. The song depicts the singer starting off as a young boy idolizing Elvis Presley and his success, leading him down the path to becoming a rockstar himself. He trades his soul for fortune, fame, and the lifestyle that comes with it. However, with this deal comes a life of sin, partying, and excess, leading to a “rock and roll heaven” that has a “hell to pay”. The song also touches on the toll this life can take, including hot coals, the difficulties of a relationship, and the struggle to hold onto one's soul.
The chorus of “Traded my soul for rock and roll, I made a deal with the devil. Fortune and fame, fire and flames, I made a deal with the devil” captures the intensity of the song's message. The singer knowingly and willingly underwent this Faustian bargain, sacrificed their soul for the love of rock and roll, and are now living in a world of sin and excess. The song’s solo reflects the intense passion and emotion that a rock and roll show can bring, while the ending suggests an ongoing cycle of repeatedly selling one's soul.
Line by Line Meaning
I was just a young boy
I was a young boy at a time when Elvis Presley was very popular.
Elvis Presley was the king
Elvis Presley was the most popular musician of that time.
He had the money the girl and the stretch limousine
Elvis Presley had a lot of money, always had women around him, and rode in an extravagant limousine.
There was drums and guitars
Musical instruments like drums and guitars were very popular at that time.
then the beatles and stones
Later, the Beatles and Rolling Stones became popular musicians.
and a million girls never left them alone
The Beatles and Rolling Stones were so famous that they always had girls around them.
Traded my soul for rock and roll
I was so passionate about rock and roll that I would do anything to become a famous rock star.
I made a deal with the deviil
I was so desperate to become famous that I made an agreement with the devil (not literally).
Fortune and fame, fire and flames
In exchange for my soul, I was promised great fortune and fame, but also the risk of destruction (fire and flames).
Teased by the fruit and lead to temptation
I was tempted by the idea of becoming a rock star.
It was my school boy dream
Becoming a rock star was always my dream, even when I was just a boy.
I had to rock the nation
I was determined to become so famous that I would be known throughout the entire nation.
I got an electric guitar and joined a rock and roll band
I learned how to play the electric guitar and started playing in a band that played rock and roll music.
On a world wide tour of the promise land
My band went on a tour around the world, trying to make it big.
Party all night, sleep all day
Being a rock star included partying all night and sleeping all day.
In a rock and roll heaven there's a hell to pay
Even though being a rock star may seem like heaven, it can come with a lot of negative consequences.
Living in sin, let the party begin'
Rock and roll life is full of sin, but we always partied anyway.
Come on, let's go, it's a rock and roll show
We were ready to put on an unforgettable rock concert.
Red hot flames will light the sky
Our concert will be amazing, with pyrotechnics and lights that will light up the entire sky.
These immortal souls
Rock stars are seen as immortal in the eyes of their fans.
we will walk on hot coals
We are willing to go through anything to put on a successful show.
In a land were you live and never die
Rock and roll music provides a place of escape where fans can feel alive forever.
(solo)
An instrumental solo will play here.
Come on girl, just follow me
I am asking a girl to come with me and enjoy the rock star lifestyle.
I'm gonna take you down, down, down
I am going to show her the wild side of living like a rock star.
Bottles of booze and girls with tattoos
Living like a rock star means having alcohol around and being around girls with tattoos.
sex and guitars just to be a rock star
Sometimes, in order to become a famous rock star, it is necessary to use sex and guitars to attract attention.
Contributed by Connor D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@bradcarr2444
One of the most under rated bands of the 80s .
@1970geodude
Not just the 80s and 90s, but all the 21st Century. All the shit they call music nowadays is laughable post produced shit.
@ttfd
Absolutely
@DK-mc1yr
Kip Winger is, without question, the singular rock singer/writer of the 80's era. The classical composition stuff is just frosting on the cake...
@MarkBlumenthal1
Check out his solo acoustic tour work on YouTube.. Amazing
@drcrutch
Listen up children: This is what talent sounds like.
@marjoriekrambule7969
Got that right! To bad they don't know how hot the chicks got for long hair and moves like he had! If he can still sound this good I can only imagine if he still can dance like he used to?
@slothenberry9691
I know Kip and his band take on a lot of crap but I’m glad to see Kips talents being recognized over the last decade or two with his other musical efforts.
@gavinagus9453
Ain’t that the truth
@williamsimmons4678
Hell ya bro saw em 3-4x before they split in 95
Top notch band love em!