Cinderella

Cinderella was an American rock band formed in the suburbs of Philadelphia in 1983. The band emerged in the mid-1980s with a series of multi-platinum studio albums and hit singles whose music videos received heavy rotation on MTV. Cinderella initially had a glam metal sound in the late 1980s before incorporating a more blues rock-oriented style during the early to mid-1990s.

Music journalists have also noted elements of roots music in the band's sound, as well as its use of ballads. Jeff Mezydlo of Yardbarker wrote that although the band "looked the part of hair rockers", its music had a heavier sound than that of some other bands of the era. VH1 described Cinderella as "Philadelphia's most illustrious contribution to glam." The band has been described by some sources as one of the prominent glam metal acts of the 1980s.

By the mid-1990s, Cinderella's commercial success had declined amid changes in the American music industry and various difficulties affecting the band. After a brief hiatus, Cinderella resumed performing in 1996 but did not release another studio album following "Still Climbing" in 1994. According to Tom Keifer's official website, the band has sold 15 million records worldwide. Cinderella became inactive after performing on the 2014 Monsters of Rock Cruise. In November 2017, Keifer stated that the band had no plans to reunite.

Cinderella was formed in 1983 in Clifton Heights, Pennsylvania, a Philadelphia suburb, by singer-songwriter, keyboardist and guitarist Tom Keifer and bassist Eric Brittingham. The original lineup also included guitarist Michael Schermick and drummer Tony Destra. In an early publicity effort, the band filmed a commercial for the local fast food restaurant Pat's Chili Dogs, which advertised on MTV.

In 1985, Schermick and Destra left Cinderella and subsequently formed Britny Fox, another Philadelphia-based glam metal band. Cinderella rehearsed in the attic of the American Legion building in Wayne, Pennsylvania. According to a 2014 interview with Keifer, Kiss bassist Gene Simmons initially took an interest in the band and attempted to secure a record deal with PolyGram, but the label declined. Jon Bon Jovi later saw Cinderella perform at the Empire Rock Club in Philadelphia and spoke to his A&R representative Derek Shulman about the band. Shulman initially proposed a six-month development deal, but following negotiations, Cinderella was signed. Guitarist Jeff LaBar and drummer Jim Drnec joined the band in 1985 as work proceeded on a recording contract with Mercury/PolyGram Records.

During the recording of Cinderella's debut album, "Night Songs", studio drummer Jody Cortez and lead guitarist and songwriter Barry Benedetta contributed to the sessions. After the recording was completed, Drnec was replaced by Albie "Al" Barker, who did not appear on the album cover or in the album's credited lineup. Fred Coury subsequently joined the band and appeared in its MTV videos and on its subsequent tours. "Night Songs" was released on August 2, 1986, and eventually achieved triple-platinum status. The album reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200 in February 1987. In late 1987, the band released a video compilation titled "Night Songs", which included promotional videos from the album and three live performances recorded during the 1986 tour.

Cinderella's first tour took place in 1986, when the band opened for Poison and Loudness. In 1987, Cinderella undertook further tours, including a five-month run opening for former Van Halen singer David Lee Roth and a seven-month tour supporting Bon Jovi on the "Slippery When Wet" tour. Later that year, the band performed in Japan and Scandinavia and appeared at the Monsters of Rock festivals in the United Kingdom and Germany.

Cinderella's second album, "Long Cold Winter", was released in 1988. The album incorporated a stronger blues rock influence while retaining elements of glam metal. A tour in support of the album lasted more than 14 months and included 254 shows. In August 1989, Cinderella performed at the Moscow Music Peace Festival alongside Ozzy Osbourne, the Scorpions, Mötley Crüe, Bon Jovi and Skid Row. During the tour, Keifer performed "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)" while being lowered onto the stage playing a white piano. On April 17, 1990, the band released the video compilation "Tales from the Gypsy Road", which included four promotional videos from "Long Cold Winter" and two live medleys, one of which included a cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama".

Cinderella's third studio album, "Heartbreak Station", was released in 1990. The album contained a greater influence from blues music. Following the accompanying tour, Fred Coury left Cinderella and joined Arcade, the band formed by former Ratt vocalist Stephen Pearcy. Cinderella's song "Hot and Bothered" was featured in the 1992 film "Wayne's World" and its soundtrack.

In 1991, Keifer developed paresis of his vocal cords and underwent several operations to treat a vocal cyst and haemorrhage. The condition contributed to delays in recording Cinderella's fourth studio album, "Still Climbing". The album was released in 1994 and featured Kenny Aronoff on drums. It received limited chart success, and Mercury Records subsequently dropped the band. Cinderella entered a hiatus in 1995.

Cinderella resumed activity in 1996. In 1997, Mercury Records released the compilation album "Once Upon A..." and a video compilation containing the band's promotional videos from its first three albums. The group toured the United States in 1998, and one concert from the tour was recorded for the live album "Live at the Key Club", released by Cleopatra Records in 1999.

Around 1999, Cinderella signed with Sony Records after being brought to the label by record executive John Kalodner. The label dropped the band before a new album could be released, resulting in several years of litigation. Cinderella subsequently toured in 2000 and 2002.

In 2005, Cinderella headlined the VH1 Classic Rock Never Stops Tour and also toured with FireHouse, Ratt and Quiet Riot. Mercury Records released the compilation "Rocked, Wired & Bluesed: The Greatest Hits" on CD and DVD. In 2006, Cinderella toured with Poison, with both bands marking the 20th anniversaries of their respective debut albums, "Night Songs" and "Look What the Cat Dragged In".

Cinderella planned to tour with Warrant, Lynch Mob and Lynam in 2008, but the tour was cancelled after Keifer suffered a haemorrhage of his left vocal cord. Jeff LaBar subsequently stated that the band wanted to record another album but faced difficulties, including the absence of a record contract following its departure from Sony. LaBar also noted his involvement with Freakshow, which included Quiet Riot drummer Frankie Banali, while Brittingham was involved with Naked Beggars. In 2009, a message on Cinderella's official message board stated that Keifer's voice had returned to normal. The band was scheduled to perform at the 2009 Rock Gone Wild Festival, but the festival was cancelled.

Cinderella confirmed plans to tour again in 2010. The band was announced for Rocklahoma 2010 in Pryor, Oklahoma, and the 2010 Sweden Rock Festival. In February 2010, Cinderella was also announced as the headliner of a cruise aboard MSC Poesia scheduled for November of that year. In July, the band performed at the Common Ground Music Festival in Lansing, Michigan, before undertaking a 14-date United States tour supporting the Scorpions on their "Get Your Sting and Blackout" farewell tour.

Cinderella performed at the Download Festival in the United Kingdom in June 2010, as well as the Rock Jam festival near Grand Junction, Colorado, and the Oregon State Fair. In November 2010, the band participated in the ShipRocked cruise.

In 2011, Cinderella undertook a 25th-anniversary world tour, with 20 shows confirmed between April and July. During the tour, the band headlined the inaugural "Shout It Out Loud" Festival in Germany. In summer 2012, Cinderella headlined a United States tour with former Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach as the opening act.

In March 2013, Cinderella was scheduled to perform on the Monsters of Rock Cruise alongside Tesla, Kix and Queensrÿche, among others, but withdrew because Keifer was ill. In 2014, the band performed its final concerts on the Monsters of Rock Cruise.

In November 2017, Keifer stated that Cinderella had no plans to reunite, citing unresolved issues among the band members. On July 14, 2021, Jeff LaBar died at the age of 58. Former long-term touring keyboardist Gary Corbett also died on the same day.

Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinderella_(band)

Studio albums Night Songs (1986) Long Cold Winter (1988) Heartbreak Station (1990) Still Climbing (1994)