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."
Miles Away
Winger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As you're walkin', out the door
The months go by, and I know for certain
It's not the love, I'm lookin' for
Some times, just for a moment,
I reach out, hope you're still there
No, you're never turnin' back,
I just can't wait anymore
Miles away,
Nothin' left of what we had,
Just when I needed you most
You were miles away
It's hard to tell, what you're goin' through
You kept your feelings locked inside of you
Open your heart, and chances are
What you're feelin', I'm feelin' too
If only, just for a moment
Hold on, to the dreams that we had
Miles away,
No, you're never turnin' back,
I just can't wait anymore
Miles away,
Nothin' left of what we had,
Just when I needed you most
You were miles away
When times were tough, and you were down and out
Who was there by your side?
Now you've gone, I'm so tired of bein' alone
With only your promises
The lonliness just fades away,
Thoughts of you, just memories
No cryin' now, for what we're missin'
Time won't forget what you meant to me
If you hold me, just for a moment
Hold on, to the dreams that we had
Miles away,
No, you're never turnin' back,
I just can't wait anymore
Miles away,
Nothin' left of what we had,
Just when I needed you the most, whoa-oh
Miles away,
No, you're never turnin' back,
I just can't wait anymore
Miles away,
Nothin' left of what we had,
Just when I needed you the most
You were miles away
The lyrics to Winger's "Miles Away" speak of a relationship in which one person is emotionally distant and physically absent. The singer expresses frustration and loneliness as they wait for their partner to return, but eventually comes to terms with the fact that their love is not enough to sustain the relationship.
The opening lines suggest that the singer's partner has just left them, and that they had believed in the relationship up until that moment. As time passes, however, they realize that their partner is not as committed to the relationship as they are, and that their feelings have changed. The singer longs to reconnect with their partner, even if it's only for a moment, but ultimately they are left alone and heartbroken.
The lyrics also touch on themes of communication and vulnerability. The singer notes that their partner had kept their feelings "locked inside," and urges them to open up and share their emotions. Despite their efforts to reach out and hold onto the dreams they once shared, the distance between them proves to be too great.
Overall, "Miles Away" is a poignant reflection on the difficulties of maintaining a relationship when one person is emotionally unavailable. While the singer hopes for a reconciliation, they ultimately come to accept that their partner is "miles away" and that it's time to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
So this is love, or so you tell me
You claim that what we have is love
As you're walkin', out the door
Leaving me behind
The months go by, and I know for certain
After some time has passed
It's not the love, I'm lookin' for
I realize that this is not what I want
Sometimes, just for a moment
On occasion, briefly
I reach out, hope you're still there
I attempt to connect with you and desire that you're receptive
Miles away,
Being far away from me
No, you're never turnin' back,
You're never coming back
I just can't wait anymore
I can't stay patient any longer
Nothin' left of what we had,
What we had is gone
Just when I needed you most
Precisely when I needed you
You were miles away
You were far from me
It's hard to tell, what you're goin' through
It's difficult to discern what you're feeling
You kept your feelings locked inside of you
You didn't share your emotions with me
Open your heart, and chances are
Be vulnerable and you might discover
What you're feelin', I'm feelin' too
I'm experiencing what you're experiencing
If only, just for a moment
I wish, however briefly
Hold on, to the dreams that we had
Let's maintain our aspirations
When times were tough, and you were down and out
During difficult moments when you were struggling
Who was there by your side?
Who supported you?
Now you've gone, I'm so tired of bein' alone
Now that you're gone, I'm weary of being by myself
With only your promises
With nothing except for what you promised
The loneliness just fades away,
The isolation eventually dissipates
Thoughts of you, just memories
Thinking of you only brings recollections
No cryin' now, for what we're missin'
There's no reason to mourn what we've lost
Time won't forget what you meant to me
I won't forget the significance you had in my life
If you hold me, just for a moment
If you could embrace me, briefly
Hold on, to the dreams that we had
Let us maintain our aspirations
Just when I needed you the most, whoa-oh
When I most required your presence
Miles away,
Far removed from me
Nothin' left of what we had,
There is no trace of what we shared
You were miles away
You were far from me
Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Paul Taylor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bamagal4vr
I am now 42 ,my sister which died of leukemia in 92 loved winger make a wish foundation granted her last wish it was to meet WINGER awesome guy
@annaliese257
hey, i am a 15 year old girl and i love 80s music. alot of kids at my high school are actually gravitating toward this kind of music
@dagobs23
My god I miss my youth. I'm 42 and I look in the mirror not the same man. This song came at a time in my life that was so amazing. I love my family so much but miss my past. Miss my friends. I wanted life to move on and now I want it to slow down.
@Smallimages10
Lord Please Bring The 80's Back!
@Jander80844
I grew up in the 80s so these are all memories for me. each song has a meaning for a time or place. It just takes me back.
@Tr0ika
Today, I discovered this song trhough my father's record collection. It was included on a Ballad Classics album together with (among others) Giant's I'll See You In My Dreams and Skid Row's Wasted Time. I wish I was young in those days - today's "rock" is not nearly as deep and breathtaking as this is...
@rocknrolla2767
WOW! This ballad like so many others was the reason why this genre of music was the GREATEST!
@Skleech22
The summer of 1991 when my girlfriend moved on to her career, I lived on this song! This song was therapy for me! Great music heals!
@JKerr312
1980's...Big Hair, Rock Ballad's, Stylish Clothes...Real Music was made and lasts through Today. I would LOVE to be a 1980's Radio Disc Jockey...Memories were made then with songs attached that Today I reminisce over and remember the past. Long Live the 1980's Music..
@aleatorynath
This band, this song, this vocalist... means so much to me. It's good to listen them again.