Cinderella

This Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA-based band was formed in 1983 by Tom Keifer (guitar/vocals), Eric Brittingham (bass) and Michael Kelly Smith (guitar) and Tony Destra (drums). The latter pair soon left to form Britny Fox, and it was a line-up comprising Keifer, Brittingham, Jeff LaBar (ex-White Foxx) and Jody Cortez that signed to PolyGram Records. The label acted on Jon Bon Jovi’s recommendation after the singer had witnessed a particularly wild Philadelphia club gig by Cinderella. Fred Coury replaced Cortez after the recording of Night Songs, which, while hardly original, ably demonstrated Keifer’s songwriting abilities. The band’s style, which blended elements of AC/DC and Aerosmith, proved highly popular, with raucous live shows helping to make ‘Nobody’s Fool’ a number 13 hit, as the debut album climbed to number 3 in the US charts. Long Cold Winter established a more individual sound, as Cinderella adopted a classy blues rock style that ideally suited Keifer’s throaty tones; ‘Don’t Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone)’ (US number 12), ‘The Last Mile’, ‘Coming Home’ and ‘Gypsy Road’ continued their ascent. Heartbreak Station, featuring R&B elements that gave the album a Rolling Stones feel, was less successful, although ‘Shelter Me’ provided another Top 40 hit. Coury’s departure to Arcade (ex-Shadow King drummer Kevin Valentine and then Ray Brinker replaced him) and throat problems for Keifer necessitated a lengthy break before Still Climbing, a strong comeback that built on the more powerful approach of Long Cold Winter. The band’s retirement was prematurely ended when Keifer, Brittingham, LaBar and Coury were reunited in November 1996 at a benefit show in Oaklyn, New Jersey. Following further surgery on Keifer’s troublesome vocal chords, the quartet embarked on their Unfinished Business tour in autumn 1998 and signed a new recording contract.

Source: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin. Licensed from Muze.