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."
In For The Kill
Winger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We'd best beware
The world is in the electric chair
The state holds out its loving cup
Singing power to the people
But their power's corrupt
Burning crosses and secretly
Carry swastikas and M-16's
It just keeps repeating, keeps repeating
It's always the same
Seems like nothing will ever change
We pay to wear the blindfold
But look out 'cause they're movin'
In for the kill
In for the kill
Yankee Doodle leadin' lambs to slaughter
Just for the thrill
Good things come to those who wait
good advice just a bit too late
Any chance for trust went up in smoke
When a preacher's lust was sponsored by Coke
Day after day
It's always the same
We pay to wear the blindfold
Baby look out 'cause they're movin'
In for the kill
In for the kill
Disbelievers drink the poisonwater
Time stands still
Don't fill my eyes, fill my head
'Til I'm overloaded
You talk and you talk and you talk
But I don't hear anything
Times are changin'
There ain't no cure
It's a wasteland
One thing's for sure
Ain't no gold to grind the axe
So keep your fingers crossed
While you're crossin' the tracks
'Cause good blind faith ain't good enough
Baby's heat crumbled to dust
Hooray for the Outlaw
Keeps movin'
In for the kill
In for the kill
Yankee Doodle leadin' lambs to slaughter
Just for the thrill
Don't fill my eyes, fill my head
'Til I'm overloaded
You talk and you talk
You know I don't hear it anymore
But you keep on movin'
In for the kill
In for the kill
Yankee Doodle leadin' lambs to slaughter
Just for the thrill
My word's no good, it's not enough
The song "In For The Kill" by Winger talks about the changing times and the corrupt power of the state that is blindly followed by people. The lyrics suggest that history keeps repeating itself, and nothing seems to change. The state holds out its loving cup and sings power to the people, but it's all a facade because their power is corrupt. The song suggests that people are paying to wear the blindfold and not be aware of what's happening around them. The words "It's always the same; seems like nothing will ever change" portray the frustration of the songwriter about the state of affairs.
Further, the song mentions how people blindly follow those in power, even if they perform actions that are detrimental to society. The lyrics mention burning crosses, carrying swastikas and M-16's, which suggest that people continue to follow the same regressive and harmful ideologies. The lyrics "Yankee Doodle leading lambs to slaughter, just for the thrill" suggest that powerful people in society can manipulate the naive and the ignorant to do their bidding.
The song also portrays a sense of hopelessness because the songwriter believes that there is no cure for the situation. The words "Times are changin', there ain't no cure, it's a wasteland, one thing's for sure" suggest that the situation is becoming worse and that there is no hope for people who blindly follow those in power.
Line by Line Meaning
Times are changin'
The world is evolving.
We'd best beware
We should be careful.
The world is in the electric chair
The world is on the brink of destruction.
The state holds out its loving cup
The government gives the impression that they care about the people.
Singing power to the people
The government promises to empower the people.
But their power's corrupt
The government is corrupt.
Burning crosses and secretly
Discrimination and hate crimes are still prevalent.
Carry swastikas and M-16's
Violence and hate are still a part of society.
Nevermind the pages of history
We ignore the lessons of history.
It just keeps repeating, keeps repeating
History repeats itself.
It's always the same
Nothing ever changes.
Seems like nothing will ever change
There is no hope for change.
We pay to wear the blindfold
We are ignorant of the truth and choose to remain so.
But look out 'cause they're movin'
The government is up to something nefarious.
In for the kill
The government is making a power play.
Yankee Doodle leadin' lambs to slaughter
The government is leading the people to their doom.
Just for the thrill
The government enjoys causing harm to people.
Good things come to those who wait
Patience is a virtue.
Good advice just a bit too late
It is too late to take action now.
Any chance for trust went up in smoke
Trust has been lost.
When a preacher's lust was sponsored by Coke
Moral corruption is rampant in society.
Day after day
Every day.
Disbelievers drink the poisonwater
Skeptics believe the lies of the government.
Time stands still
Nothing changes with the passage of time.
Don't fill my eyes, fill my head
I don't want to be blind, I want to know the truth.
'Til I'm overloaded
I want to know everything there is to know.
You talk and you talk and you talk
You never stop talking.
But I don't hear anything
I am not listening anymore.
There ain't no cure
There is no solution to the world's problems.
It's a wasteland
The world is a hopeless, desolate place.
One thing's for sure
There is one thing that is certain.
Ain't no gold to grind the axe
There is no reward for hard work.
So keep your fingers crossed
Hope for the best.
While you're crossin' the tracks
While you are on your journey.
'Cause good blind faith ain't good enough
Believing blindly is not enough.
Baby's heat crumbled to dust
The passion and hope of youth has disappeared.
Hooray for the Outlaw
Praise for the rebels and non-conformists.
Keeps movin'
Never stop fighting for what you believe in.
My word's no good, it's not enough
My promises mean nothing.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: BEACH WINGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind