Artist: WINGER
Album: IV (CD)

Release date: 2006
Media type: CD

The multi-platinum WINGER was one of the slickest of the 80s hair bands, making a sizeable impression based not only by embracing the genre look wholeheartedly but backing it all up with some inspired musicianship and song-writing. WINGER evolved in the wake of bassist / vocalist Kip Winger (real name Charles Kip Winger) and keyboard player Paul Taylor fulfilling their touring roles with ALICE COOPER on the man's 'Constrictor' tour. Kip knew guitarist REB BEACH from some studio sessions the pair had worked on previously. The trio enrolled drummer Rod Morgenstein upon their arrival back in New York. Morgenstein had first come to prominence with Steve Morse's Jazz Rock virtuoso outfit DIXIE DREGS prior to joining German Pomp Rockers ZENO for live work.

Originally using the band name of SAHARA, the quartet changed titles on the eve of the first album's release, to the point where the name appears in the cover art, choosing to go with Kip Winger's surname instead. WINGER worked with noted Metal producer Beau Hill on the first album, released in 1988. Hill had produced demos for Kip back in the late 70's when the pair lived in Denver, Colorado and Beau was a member of AIRBORNE.

In the first year WINGER toured North America with OZZY OSBOURNE, SCORPIONS, KING'S X and on a triple bill with CINDERELLA and the BULLETBOYS. The debut album made a major US impact boosted by hit singles 'Seventeen' and 'Headed For A Heartbreak'. Despite this activity REB BEACH found time to donate some guest guitar work to demos from New Jersey's TRIK BLUE.

WINGER's sophomore, 1990's 'In The Heart Of The Young', was an even slicker affair than the first and easily broke into the American top 20. Sales were reinforced with the single success of the ballad 'Miles Away', a song adopted by separated families of American forces at the time fighting in the Gulf war. Touring saw the departure of Taylor and the band drafted John Roth as replacement. WINGER's third album 'Pull' was released into the teeth of the Grunge backlash and soon fell into obscurity. The beating from the media was so savage the band split.

Morgenstein fell back into the DIXIE DREGS camp and was to issue a 1997 album under the handle RUDES MORGENSTEIN PROJECT.

Beach and Taylor were reunited in ALICE COOPER's 1997 touring band and midway through the world tour Beach and Taylor announced the intention of a reformation of WINGER.

In the interim, Beach had been touting the heavy Blues based REB BEACH TRIO in Pittsburgh clubs. As it transpired Beach joined DOKKEN for their renaissance 'Erase The Slate' album. KIP WINGER himself embarked on a mellower solo career starting with the 'This Conversation Seems Like A Dream' album.

Rumours surfaced in late 2000 of a full blown WINGER reunion and sure enough the four members, with REB BEACH during the interim leaving DOKKEN and cutting a solo album, reconvened to score new material. The October 2001 compilation 'The Very Best Of Winger' would include the new song 'On The Inside'. Two unused WINGER compositions, 'Without Warning' and 'Written In The Wind', would turn up as cover versions on the debut 2002 KHYMERA album.

During 2005 the WINGER triumvirate of KIP WINGER, REB BEACH and Rod Morgenstein all guested on the XCARNATION 'Grounded' album mentored by Turkish guitarist Cenk Eroglu.

May 2006 found Kip Winger, Reb Beach, Paul Taylor and Rod Morgenstein reuniting under the WINGER banner. Signing to the Italian Frontiers label a new album was constructed also featuring another former WINGER member, guitarist John Roth, along with Cenk Eroglu handling keyboards. In October 2006, as the new WINGER 'IV' album was launched, Winger vocalised on a cover version of the JOURNEY classic 'Send Her My Love' featured on the Cleopatra Records homage collection '80s Metal Tribute To Journey'.

TRACKLIST:

1. Right Up Ahead
2. Blue Suede Shoes
3. Four Leaf Clover
4. M16
5. Your Great Escape
6. Disappear
7. On A Day Like Today
8. Livin' Just To Die
9. Short Flight To Mexico
10. Generica
11. Can't Take It Back

LINE-UP:

Kip Winger (vocals/ bass)
Reb Beach (guitar)
Paul Taylor (keyboards/ guitar)
Rod Morgenstein (drums)