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1995 was also the year of the launch of Stoney Records,
Chip Z'Nuff's own record label. The premier release was Junebug's "Ticket To Hell" LP. On
top of producing and releasing the album, Chip also co-wrote 8 of the 10 tracks. It was also around this time when several bands gave Enuff Z'Nuff their nod by recording material written by Chip and Donnie, including The Nelson Brothers, James Young Group, The Tuesdays, Paul Gilbert, and The Wildhearts. |
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| Ken Harck of Off Broadway joined the James Young Group through a recommendation by Chip. As James Young recalled, "Chip had been a fan of mine for a long, long time. I grew up in an area near to where he grew up and our paths crossed frequently over the years and we shared mutual musical friends. He and Donnie are very prolific writers and when he heard I was doing a record, he sent me a tape of about ten songs and the two we wound up recording (Amazing Grace and Faith, Love, and Hope) really caught my attention." Young would later appear on 3 tracks of Enuff Z'Nuff's Paraphernalia album. |
| Chip also accepted an invitation to join The Wild Bunch. The alternative supergroup was organized by Material Issue's Jim Ellison. The Wild Bunch included Pat Dinizio (Smithereens), Gilby Clarke (Guns N' Roses), Nash Kato (Urge Overkill), Mars Williams (Psychedelic Furs), Clem Burke (Blondie), Mike Zelenko (Material Issue), Fever (the new Catherine guitarist), and more. Unfortunately, the tour was cut short due to the untimely death of Jim Ellison. There are rumors of a possible Wild Bunch reunion tour, and The Smithereens' Pat Dinizio mentioned the possibility during an internet chat in January 2001. During live shows, The Wild Bunch would often open with Chip performing vocally on The Jean Genie, a David Bowie cover which would later be recorded by Enuff Z'Nuff on their 10 album. |
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With the success of Enuff Z'Nuff's 1985 album, Big Deal/Caroline
asked the band if they had any more older material they'd be willing to release. The band,
having tons of tunes, quickly responded with a group of songs that would become known as the
Peach Fuzz album. Consisting mostly of unused pop songs from the Animals With Human
Intelligence sessions, the album was released in early 1996 to more critical acclaim,
including praise from Chris Nadler of Request and Creem who penned the liner notes. The Japanese
release featured the bonus track "Video Man," and the U.S. version was released with a track
reshuffling and a new mix of "Kitty," featuring Charles Fleischer (the voice of Roger Rabbit). '96 also brought more personnel changes. When the boys were playing Cricket Hill in the summer of '95, they met their future guitarist Monaco. Legend says that Monaco was hanging in the front of the stage begging for his girlfriend's forgiveness. The band was quite amused and soon found out that he already knew almost every Enuff Z'Nuff riff and solo, and was a great singer. Since Gino had decided he was unable to go on tour out of state, Monaco was a natural replacement. |
| Part VI |