1) Formed in Phoenix, Arizona, the band, which consisted of Jim Gillette (vocals), Jorge DeSaint (guitar), Todd Chase (bass) and Michael Lean (drums), decided to relocate to Hollywood and released a four song EP. Shortly after it’s release Gillette departed the band for a solo career (and to later form Nitro) while Bret Michaels look-a-like Stevie Rachelle took over on the microphone. Tuff toured steadily for three years before finally landing a major label-recording contract, however the timing was unfortunate. Just as their first single, “I Hate Kissing You Goodbye,” was roaring up the MTV charts, the music industry closed its doors to glam metal bands in favor of the grunge trend. Tuff became one of the forgotten bands among the grunge movement and was promptly dropped by Atlantic records. By 1993 both Chase and Lean had left the group to be replaced by Danny Wilder and Jimi Lord respectively. They toured for a short time before Wilder walked away and Jamie Fonte was brought in for the last version of Tuff. Fist First (an album later renamed Religious Fix when three new tracks were added) would be the band’s last studio effort. In 1995 Tuff called it a day. Rachelle continued on with a solo career, playing in bands such as Motley Priest. By 2001 a revamped Tuff emerged and made waves with the tongue-in-cheek rap metal parody “American Hair Band” which appeared on The History Of Tuff. Tuff continues to tour sporadically to this day, with Rachelle remaining the focal point and leader Stevie Rachelle flies the glam/hair metal flag at www.metalsludge.tv 2) Tuff is a Swedish industrial punk band featuring Daniel Engman. |
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