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."
Junkyard Dog
Winger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The lifestyle that seemed so charmin'
You couldn't see
They saw you comin'
Buried you in their sin
Promisin' ecstasy
You were so blind
Look out 'cause now the dog's inside you
Ain't no master of the Junkyard Dog
How does it feel to live
Where there's no dimension
I wonder if it was ever your intention
A straight A student
Straight down the drain
Master of the mainline
Keeper of the ball and chain
You were so blind
Look what you've done now
Rolled the dice
For paradise
Damn you for taking bad advice
Frozen there jackknifed forever
In the foaming jaw
And invisible claw
Ain't no master of the Junkyard Dog
Ain't no master
Now you're gone
What an irony
My friend I feel not much sympathy
No one could tame you
You wouldn't listen
Voices in your head
Screaming absolute submission
And now the dog's inside you
The Junkyard Dog speaks for you
Ain't no master of the Junkyard Dog
Frozen there jackknifed forever
In the foaming jaw
And invisible claw
Ain't no master of the Junkyard Dog
You were blind
Look what you've done now
Rolled the dice
For paradise
Damn you for taking bad advice
Baby ain't no master of the Junk
I guess my pride got the best of me
But it would have taken a war
To get through to you
I know I'd walked out too soon
When I found you on the floor
No it's never been the same
The dreams they come
They never change
Nothing left but my tears falling on stone
No it's never been the same
Guess I've only got myself to blame
See the nest
The bird has flown
There's nothing left
But my tears falling on stone
Say goodbye....
I guess my pride got the best of me
There's nothing left but the tears
Falling on stone
Damn you for taking bad advice
The song Junkyard Dog by Winger appears to be about the consequences of drug addiction. The lyrics suggest that the singer was lured into a lifestyle of drugs, initially finding it charming, but eventually getting buried in the sin of those who peddled it to him. The addict is shown as being blind to the dangers of drug addiction, and unable to recognize the damage it does to his body as well as his relationships. The "Junkyard Dog" seems to be a metaphor for the addict's dependence on drugs, which consumes and controls him.
The song also explores the mental and emotional turmoil that drug addiction can cause. The addict hears voices in his head that "scream for absolute submission," suggesting that the addiction has taken over his psyche. The lyrics also suggest that the singer was a straight-A student who went downhill quickly, becoming the "keeper of the ball and chain." The addiction is portrayed as a dangerous, uncontrollable force that can destroy lives and relationships, leaving nothing behind but tears and regret.
Overall, the song is a cautionary tale about the dangers of drug addiction, and encourages listeners to avoid getting involved in such a lifestyle. It highlights the importance of being vigilant, making good choices, and seeking help as soon as one realizes that they have a problem.
Line by Line Meaning
So you never meant lettin' it go this far
You did not intend to go so deep into this destructive lifestyle.
The lifestyle that seemed so charmin'
The lifestyle you once found attractive.
You couldn't see
You were blind to the consequences of your actions.
They saw you comin'
Those with ill intentions saw you as an easy target.
Buried you in their sin
They pulled you into their depraved actions.
Promisin' ecstasy
Leading you to believe that their actions would bring happiness.
You were so blind
You were completely unaware of the danger you were in.
Look out 'cause now the dog's inside you
You are now consumed by the dangerous lifestyle you once dabbled in.
The Junkyard Dog speaks for you
Your actions now reflect the destructive influence of those around you.
Ain't no master of the Junkyard Dog
You are no longer in control of your own actions.
How does it feel to live
Where there's no dimension
How does it feel to exist in a world without any meaning or purpose?
I wonder if it was ever your intention
A straight A student
Straight down the drain
Did you ever intend to throw away your future and your intelligence?
Master of the mainline
Keeper of the ball and chain
You became addicted to drug use and are now trapped by the addiction.
Look what you've done now
Rolled the dice
For paradise
You took a huge risk for the sake of temporary happiness.
Damn you for taking bad advice
You regret following the advice of those who led you down the wrong path.
Frozen there jackknifed forever
In the foaming jaw
And invisible claw
Ain't no master of the Junkyard Dog
You are trapped and stuck in your self-destructive behaviors, which are now a part of you.
Now you're gone
What an irony
My friend I feel not much sympathy
Your death is ironic, but it is difficult for me to feel much sympathy for you.
No one could tame you
You wouldn't listen
Voices in your head
Screaming absolute submission
And now the dog's inside you
The Junkyard Dog speaks for you
No one could get through to you - you refused to listen and are now consumed by the negative influences around you.
Baby ain't no master of the Junk
I guess my pride got the best of me
But it would have taken a war
To get through to you
I know I'd walked out too soon
When I found you on the floor
I couldn't control the situation, even though I tried. I gave up too soon and now it's too late.
No it's never been the same
The dreams they come
They never change
Nothing left but my tears falling on stone
Things will never be the same and the future is uncertain. All that remains is sadness and regret.
Guess I've only got myself to blame
See the nest
The bird has flown
There's nothing left
But my tears falling on stone
Say goodbye....
I realize that I am responsible for my part in your downfall. You have passed away and there is nothing left for me.
Damn you for taking bad advice
This line is repeated multiple times throughout the song, as a reminder of the regret and frustration with following poor advice.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: CHARLES WINGER, RICHARD E BEACH JR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind