Y&T

Y&T (originally known as Yesterday & Today) is an American hard rock/heavy metal band formed in 1974. They hail from the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. The band released two studio albums on London Records as Yesterday & Today in the 1970s, before shortening their name to Y&T and releasing several albums on A&M Records beginning in 1981, as well as albums on Geffen Records, Avex Records, and others. The band was originally co-managed by Herbie Herbert (who also managed Journey) and Louis "Lou" Bramy. The band has sold over 4 million albums worldwide to date.

Biography


Early years (1974-1983)

Yesterday and Today was formed in 1974 by Dave Meniketti (often mistakenly spelled Menketti), who started his musical career in 1973. The band's name was inspired by The Beatles' album of the same name.[citation needed] The original lineup consisted of Meniketti on lead vocals and lead guitar, Joey Alves on rhythm guitar, Phil Kennemore on bass, and Leonard Haze on drums.

The band released their first two studio albums, their self-titled debut and Struck Down, through London Records in 1976 and 1978 respectively. A new record deal in 1980 with A&M Records prompted the band to shorten their moniker to simply Y&T, and encores with fans chanting "Y&T, Y&T, Y&T" sealed the condensed name.



The band's first three studio albums under A&M, Earthshaker, released in 1981, Black Tiger, released in 1982, and Mean Streak, released in 1983, did not gain mainstream exposure, but are regarded as some of the band's best work. Songs off the record Earthshaker makeup an important part of the band's live shows. Commercial success and breakup (1984-1991)

Y&T's sixth studio album, In Rock We Trust, released in 1984, became the band's highest charting and selling album, reaching #46 on the Billboard 200. To date, it has sold over 450,000 copies, close to reaching gold certification status. This album was the only Y&T album to chart in Canada, reaching #77 on the RPM chart.
The band's 1985 hit "Summertime Girls", off their seventh studio album Down for the Count, became the band's highest charting hit to date, reaching #55 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #17 on the U.S. mainstream rock charts. It received tremendous airplay worldwide, played frequently in the Baywatch television series, is graced in several feature films, received heavy rotation on MTV as well as MTV’s top video playlists, and gets regular airplay today on classic rock radio stations throughout the United States. Leonard Haze was replaced by Jimmy DeGrasso in 1986 and Joey Alves was replaced by Stef Burns in 1989. DeGrasso and Burns later played together with Alice Cooper in the 1990s. Y&T's last studio album before their breakup was Ten, released in 1990. The album features some ballad highlights, such as "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark", "Ten Lovers", and "Come in from the Rain", together with a few straight-forward hard rock songs, including "Hard Times", "City", "Surrender", and the fastest track Y&T ever recorded, the speed metal song "Goin' Off the Deep End". The band officially disbanded in 1991, concluding with the strong live album Yesterday & Today Live. Reunion (1995-present) Y&T temporarily reformed in 1995 with a lineup of Dave Meniketti, Stef Burns, Phil Kennemore, and Jimmy DeGrasso, and performed sporadically afterward. The band officially reunited in 2001 with the same lineup, only with Leonard Haze replacing DeGrasso. Stef Burns left later on that year to join Huey Lewis and the News, and was replaced by rhythm guitarist/backing vocalist John Nymann, who was an old friend of the band, previously singing backing vocals on Down for the Count. In 2006, Haze was asked to step down and was replaced by Mike Vanderhule on drums. Dave Meniketti and Phil Kennemore have been the only constant members of the band since its formation in 1974. In 2006, a complete concert in the Netherlands was captured on the live DVD One Hot Night.
In 2009, Y&T inked a deal with Italy's Frontiers Records for the release of the band's twelfth studio album to be released in May 2010. Titled Facemelter, it will be their first proper studio album in thirteen years (since 1997's Endangered Species).

Y&T are confirmed to play the Download Festival, at Donington Park in June 2010.

Influence and legacy

With career accolades that include performing on American Bandstand, two Bammie Awards, five top 100 albums, songs that tipped into the 40s on Billboard charts, multiple national and international television appearances, and a worldwide fan base, Y&T has sold over four million albums and released eleven studio albums since their 1974 inception. The band has survived disco fever, survived New Wave's peak in popularity, rode the crest of the 1980s hard rock and glam metal insurgence, outlasted the age of grunge, and continue to perform today, remaining faithful to melodic power ballads. At any of their concerts, fans can be heard calling out their requests including "Rescue Me" from Earthshaker, "Forever" from Black Tiger, and the title track from Mean Streak. Several songs by the band are also included in the soundtracks of numerous movies and television shows.

"Summertime Girls" remains as the band's most widely recognized song, along with fan favorites such as "Mean Streak," "Rescue Me," "Forever" to name a few. Music videos for songs such as "Summertime Girls," "Mean Streak," "Lipstick & Leather," "Don't Stop Runnin'," "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark," and "Contagious" are still featured videos on VH1 today.

Band members

Current members

* Dave Meniketti – lead guitar, lead vocals (1974–1991, 1995–present)
* John Nymann – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2001–present)
* Phil Kennemore – bass, backing vocals (1974–1991, 1995–present)
* Mike Vanderhule – drums, percussion, backing vocals (2006–present)

Former members

* Leonard Haze – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1974–1986, 2001–2006)
* Joey Alves – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1974–1989)
* Jimmy DeGrasso – drums, percussion, cymbals, backing vocals (1986–1991, 1995–2001)
* Stef Burns – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1989–1991, 1995–2003)

Session members

* Robert Russ – piano on Struck Down (1978)
* Galen Cook – organ on Struck Down (1978)
* Cherie Currie – backing vocals on Struck Down (1978)
* Adam Day – rhythm guitar on Down for the Count (1985)
* Mike Hagen - rhythm guitar backing vocals (1982-1986)
* Randy Nichols – keyboards on Down for the Count (1985)
* Steffen Presley – keyboards (1985)
* Claude Schnell – keyboards on Down for the Count (1985)
* Bill Costa – backing vocals (1985)
* John Nymann – backing vocals on Down for the Count (1985)

Lineups

(1974–1980)
Yesterday and Today

* Dave Meniketti – lead guitar, lead vocals
* Joey Alves – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
* Phil Kennemore – bass guitar, backing vocals
* Leonard Haze – drums, backing vocals

(1980–1986)
Y&T

* Dave Meniketti – lead guitar, lead vocals
* Joey Alves – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
* Phil Kennemore – bass guitar, backing vocals
* Leonard Haze – drums, backing vocals

(1986–1989)
Y&T

* Dave Meniketti – lead guitar, lead vocals
* Joey Alves – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
* Phil Kennemore – bass guitar, backing vocals
* Jimmy DeGrasso – drums, backing vocals

(1989–1991)
Y&T

* Dave Meniketti – lead guitar, lead vocals
* Stef Burns – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
* Phil Kennemore – bass guitar, backing vocals
* Jimmy DeGrasso – drums, backing vocals

(1991–1995)
Y&T disbanded
(1995–2001)
Y&T partially disbanded

* Dave Meniketti – lead guitar, lead vocals
* Stef Burns – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
* Phil Kennemore – bass guitar, backing vocals
* Jimmy DeGrasso – drums, backing vocals

(2001)
Y&T

* Dave Meniketti – lead guitar, lead vocals
* Stef Burns – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
* Phil Kennemore – bass guitar, backing vocals
* Leonard Haze – drums, backing vocals

(2001–2006)
Y&T

* Dave Meniketti – lead guitar, lead vocals
* John Nymann – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
* Phil Kennemore – bass guitar, backing vocals
* Leonard Haze – drums, backing vocals

(2006–present)
Y&T

* Dave Meniketti – lead guitar, lead vocals
* John Nymann – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
* Phil Kennemore – bass guitar, backing vocals
* Mike Vanderhule – drums, backing vocals

Note: The band itself formed in 1974, disbanded in 1991, and began performing sporadically in 1995 until officially reuniting in 2001.

Discography

Studio albums

* Yesterday & Today (1976)
* Struck Down (1978)
* Earthshaker (1981)
* Black Tiger (1982)
* Mean Streak (1983)
* In Rock We Trust (1984) US #46
* Down for the Count (1985)
* Contagious (1987)
* Ten (1990)
* Musically Incorrect (1995)
* Endangered Species (1997)
* Facemelter (2010)

Live albums

* Open Fire (1985)
* Yesterday & Today Live (1991)
* BBC in Concert: Live on the Friday Rock Show (2000)

Compilation albums

* Best of '81–'85 (1990)
* Anthology (1992)
* Ultimate Collection (2001)
* Unearthed Vol 1 (2003)
* Unearthed Vol 2 (2004)

Singles

* "Rescue Me" (1981)
* "Mean Streak" (1983)
* "Don't Stop Runnin'" (1984)
* "Lipstick And Leather" {1984)
* "Summertime Girls" (1985)
* "All American Boy" (1985)
* "Fight For Your Life" (1987)
* "Contagious" (1987)