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."
Stone Cold Killer
Winger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's out of sight but knows your hunting
Once her bites have gone through ya
Her eyes shoot like a 44
Cold as ice forevermore
First she'll own your heart then your soul
She'll never let you go
She kills so good your dying for some more
Now your messin' with the stone cold killer
Your in the dead zone
Dressed to kill in her hot pink leather
She'll roll you over if you know your gonna blow
Once her laugh has gone through ya
A frozen soul a heart of stone
You feel her will down to the bone
Her diamonds cut so deep don't even known
(She'll never let you go)
Now your messin' with the stone cold killer
She kills so good your dying for some more
Now your messin' with the stone cold killer
Your in the dead zone
Her eyes shoot like a 44
Cold as ice forevermore
First she'll own your heart then your soul
She'll never let you go
Now your messin' with the stone cold killer
She kills so good your dying for some more
Now your messin' with the stone cold killer
She kills so good she'll have you diggin' up your bones
Now your messin' with the stone cold killer
Your in the dead zone
The song "Stone Cold Killer" by Winger talks about a seductive woman who is dangerous and cold-hearted, capable of leading men to their demise. The lyrics suggest that the woman the singer desires is a lethal threat. The woman is described as someone who is difficult to resist, entrancing the singer in her web of deceit. Her striking figure is accentuated by her hot pink leather dress, and her piercing eyes appear as if they shoot like a 44. Her willpower is described as being so potent that it penetrates the marrow of your bones.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the woman is insatiable and has an insatiable desire for carnage. The chorus warns that the singer is "messing with the stone-cold killer," who is so adept at killing that the singer "dies for more." The lyrics suggest that the singer is hooked on the woman, and there's no turning back. She exerts full control over his heart and soul, resulting in him being entrapped in the "dead zone."
Overall, "Stone Cold Killer" emphasizes the pitfalls of pursuing one's desires without considering the ramifications. The singer's attraction for the woman lures him into danger, eventually leading to his downfall. This song, therefore, warns against impulsive, spontaneous decisions, which oftentimes lead to undesirable consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
She's in your dreams and sees you coming
The woman haunts your subconscious and knows your intentions.
She's out of sight but knows your hunting
Although you can't see her, she senses your pursuit.
Once her bites have gone through ya
Once she has hooked you emotionally and romantically.
Her eyes shoot like a 44
Her gaze is deadly and powerful like a gun.
Cold as ice forevermore
She has no warmth or compassion, and her heart is frozen forever.
First she'll own your heart then your soul
She will take control of your emotions and then your very being.
She'll never let you go
She will never release her grip on you.
Now your messin' with the stone cold killer
You are in a perilous situation with a dangerous woman.
She kills so good your dying for some more
Her ability to manipulate and control is so powerful that you want more of it.
Your in the dead zone
You are in a lifeless, hopeless state trapped by her control.
Dressed to kill in her hot pink leather
She dresses in a way that is intended to lure and seduce.
She'll roll you over if you know your gonna blow
If you reveal any weakness, she will take advantage of it.
Once her laugh has gone through ya
Her laughter is piercing and can penetrate to the core of your being.
A frozen soul a heart of stone
She is devoid of feeling and utterly unforgiving.
You feel her will down to the bone
You feel her influence and control deeply in your being.
Her diamonds cut so deep don't even known
Her manipulations are so subtle that you don't even realize they're happening.
She kills so good she'll have you diggin' up your bones
The power of her control is so strong that you'll be left with nothing, even your own life.
Contributed by Levi T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.