Damn Yankees were an American rock supergroup formed in New York City, in 1989. Consisting of singer/guitarist Tommy Shaw of Styx, singer/bassist Jack Blades of Night Ranger, guitarist Ted Nugent of the Amboy Dukes, and drummer Michael Cartellone (who would later join Lynyrd Skynyrd).
They are remembered for the songs "High Enough" and "Where You Goin' Now", both Top 40 hits in the early 1990s.
History
In the late 1980s, the US rock music scene witnessed a trend for supergroups; Bad English, Mr. Big and Badlands were all formed around that time. Shaw, Blades and Nugent were put together by producer John Kalodner as Damn Yankees in 1989 in response to declining commercial success of their original bands. Produced by rock producer Ron Nevison, the newly formed band's self-titled debut album was released in 1990 and went double-platinum in 1994. Jack Blades's leading single "Coming of Age" hit No. 60 on the U.S. Hot 100 and No. 1 on the AOR charts, while Shaw-penned "Come Again" received extensive AOR airplay.
The power ballad "High Enough" became their best selling single, rising to No. 3 on U.S. Billboard Hot 100<blockquote>The new regime came in, and they didn't want to do anything with that style of music. And in fact, they paid Damn Yankees a million dollars not to do another Damn Yankees record. We're like, 'Really? OK, we'll just take the check. Why not?' That was how it was because Damn Yankees had sold so many records and we were so recouped, so in our contract the next thing was like 'We get a million bucks to do an album,' and they just paid us the million dollars NOT to do the record. That's how much nobody wanted anything to do with that era and style of music.</blockquote>
Subsequently, Nugent revived his solo career, leaving Tommy Shaw and Jack Blades to record their own album as the duo Shaw Blades. Released in March 1995, Hallucination received very little support from its label as the personnel change brought in industry executives more sympathetic to alternative and grunge bands. The band played "Don't Tread", "High Enough" and "Coming of Age".
On January 15, 2010 at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, California, the original members of Damn Yankees made a surprise appearance at the Taylor Guitars exhibit. Jack Blades, Tommy Shaw, Ted Nugent and Michael Cartellone performed an acoustic set on the Taylor Stage, including hits such as "Coming of Age", "High Enough" and the Ted Nugent anthem "Cat Scratch Fever".
In 2011 Nugent joined Jack Blades' band Night Ranger to record an extended version of "Coming of Age" as a B-side for their album "Somewhere in California." In place of his original solo, Nugent plays a version of the guitar solo from "Stranglehold."
In May 2017 Cartellone joined Night Ranger at the Wildflower Festival in Richardson, Texas for a performance of "Coming of Age."
As far as a potential Damn Yankees reunion goes, Cartellone told Cleveland NBC affiliate WKYC that he and other members of the band have continued to meet and write over the years. While a new album has yet to materialize, he says that does not mean the Damn Yankees are finished. They never purposefully disbanded and are keeping a reunion an open door to this day.
Musical style
AllMusic said the band's styles were arena rock and pop metal. Their songs are considered to be friendly for radio appeal. The band's recorded catalog contains sentimental ballads.
Band members
Former members
- Tommy Shaw – rhythm & lead guitars, lead & backing vocals (1989–1994, 1998–2001, 2004, 2010)
- Jack Blades – bass guitar, lead & backing vocals (1989–1994, 1998–2001, 2004, 2010)
- Ted Nugent – lead & rhythm guitars, backing & lead vocals (1989–1994, 1998–2001, 2004, 2010)
- Michael Cartellone – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1989–1994, 1998–2001, 2004, 2010)
Session members
- Robbie Buchanan – keyboards on Don't Tread (1992 — multiple tracks)
Discography
Studio albums
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2" scope="col" style="width:12em;"| Title
! rowspan="2"| Album details
! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peak chart<br />positions
! rowspan="2"| Certifications
|-
! scope="col" style=font-size:90%;"| US
|-
! scope="row"| Damn Yankees
|
- Release date: March 13, 1990
- Label: Warner Bros.
- Formats: LP, CD, CT
| 13
|
- RIAA: 2× Platinum
|-
! scope="row"| Don't Tread
|
- Release date: August 11, 1992
- Label: Warner Bros.
- Formats: CD, CT
| 22
|
- RIAA: Gold
|}
Live albums
- Extended Versions (2008)
Compilation albums
- The Essentials (2002)
- Rhino Hi-Five: Damn Yankees EP (2005)
- High Enough - Best of: Damn Yankees (2019)
Singles
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2" scope="col" style="width:12em;"| Title
! rowspan="2"| Release
! colspan="3" | Peak chart<br />positions
|-
! scope="col" style=font-size:90%;"| US
! scope="col" style=font-size:90%;"| US<br />Main
! scope="col" style=font-size:90%;"| AUS<br />
|-
! scope="row"| "Coming of Age"
| rowspan="2"| 1990
| 60
| 1
| -
|-
! scope="row"| "High Enough"
| 3
| 2
| 57
|-
! scope="row"| "Come Again"
| rowspan="3"| 1991
| 50
| 5
| —
|-
! scope="row"| "Runaway"
| —
| 9
| —
|-
! scope="row"| "Bad Reputation"
| —
| 31
| —
|-
! scope="row"| "Where You Goin' Now"
| rowspan="2"| 1992
| 20
| 6
| —
|-
! scope="row"| "Don't Tread on Me"
| —
| 3
| —
|-
! scope="row"| "Silence Is Broken"
| rowspan="2"| 1993
| 62
| 20
| —
|-
! scope="row"| "Mister Please"
| —
| 3
| —
|}
Soundtrack appearances
- "Bonestripper" (from Nothing but Trouble) (1991)
Videography
Music videos
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="width:12em;"|<br />Title<br /><br />
! rowspan="1"| Release
! rowspan="1"| Director
|-
! scope="row"| "High Enough"
| rowspan="2"| 1990
| Larry Jordan
|-
! scope="row"| "Coming of Age"
| rowspan="2"|Ethan Russell
|-
! scope="row"| "Come Again"
| 1991
|-
! scope="row"| "Don't Tread on Me"
| rowspan="2"| 1992
|
|-
! scope="row"| "Where You Goin' Now"
|Larry Jordan
|}
References
External links
- It's Just Them Damn Yankees
- It's Just Those Damn Yankees