| In late 1993, Enuff Z'Nuff's manager Herbie Herbert enlisted the help of Chip and Donnie for his musical project, The Sy Klopps Blues Band. The record, "Walter Ego," was released on Guitar Recordings and featured Herbert on vocals with fellow members of Journey, The Steve Miller Band, Europe, Sly & The Family Stone, The Tubes, Enuff Z'Nuff, and more as guest players. The record was produced by Chip Z'Nuff and featured both Chip and Donnie on backing vocals, bass guitar, and rhythm guitars. The Sy Klopps Blues Band also recorded a tune written by Donnie and Chip called "Round and Round" on the album. Chip |
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would go on to produce Sy Klopps' 1995 release "Old Blue Eye Is Back," on Sy Records.
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Unwilling to let the Enuff Z'Nuff name go quiet, the band
quickly sets forth to release an album on an independent label. Choosing Big Deal/Caroline
(Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins) out of New York in the States, and Far East Metal Syndicate (FEMS)
overseas, "1985" became the fourth Enuff Z'Nuff album. Released in May 1994,
"1985" was really the release of Enuff Z'Nuff's very first recordings, originally titled
"Hollywood Squares." The album featured liner notes by Howard Stern and the first single was "You Got A Hold Of Me." This song was a bonus track that Donnie wrote for his girlfriend on Valentine's Day, unlisted and hidden on track 11 of the album because it was a recent recording. When asked why the band released the material, Chip would joke about how the master tapes were forgotten about and holding up the end of his couch. He and Donnie explained on Howard Stern that nothing was changed or re-recorded, they just remixed it and released it just exactly as it was.
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The result was another critical success that Billboard Magazine
called "a genuine rock'n'roll marathon." The album was commercially successful as well. When
asked, Chip commented that "No one expected it to do anything. We did like 100,000 worldwide
and I'm sure a lot of that had to do with Howard." When asked on the Stern show if "You Got A Hold Of Me" was a marriage proposal, Donnie admitted that it wasn't, saying, "No, but it sounded good in the song." The Japanese version of "1985" also included "Hide Your Love Away," a Beatles' cover performed live on the Lonn Friend Pirate Radio Show. However, "1985" wasn't the only project that Enuff Z'Nuff was focusing on, as they were working overtime in the studio to release a new double album for Japan. It was during this recording process when Derek left the band for good, due to drug abuse and constant fighting with the band. Original EZN guitarist Gino Martino agrees to fill in during for touring.
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Instead of a double album, "Tweaked" and
"Chip and Donnie: Brothers" are released seperately in Japan in late 1994. As Chip explained, "Originally, we wanted this to be a double
record, and it's funny because the Smashing Pumpkins came out with their double record along
the same lines, but Herbie (Herbert) said no. "We made an eclectic record that shows a lighter side of us, we made it a Chip and Donnie record. We kept some songs for the 'Tweaked' record because it was more during our problematic time. We're a band with the propensity to get in trouble at any time, but we're the nicest guys..."
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Both albums are critically applauded in Japan (Chris Nadler of
Rolling Stone even penned the liner notes for "Brothers") and the band works on getting
"Tweaked" released domestically, signing to Mayhem Records in 1995. The band soon learns of a lawsuit
from Madonna over her depiction on the "1985" liner, but it will eventually be dropped.
To celebrate the U.S. release of Tweaked, the band decides it's time to put their gear on the bottom of the tour bus and go out on the
road. Going out on their own for two and a half months with no financial backing from anyone,
Enuff Z'Nuff plays several shows to promote their new album. The album does well, considering
an almost complete lack of radio support.
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| Part V |