The Tracks
Lit Up
Crushed
Dead Again
Check Your Head
Dirty Mind
For The Movies
Lawless and Lulu
Related
Borderline
Get Back
Baby
Drink The Water
Check out lit-up.com
Buckcherry bio c/o Dreamworks
"We're into all those naughty pleasures no one likes to talk about,"
says Buckcherry guitarist Keith Nelson. "We were living and breathing
rock n' roll when it wasn't in style, and in 10 years, when it is out
of style again, we'll still be doing it." Adds singer Joshua Todd:
"For awhile there, it wasn't cool to be happy about sex because people
were terrified by it. Now, people have been dealing with AIDS for awhile
and they've learned to live with it and be sexy again...they're not
afraid to express their dirty little minds."
With Lit Up serving as their calling card, Buckcherry may well be the
much needed black eye on the woe-is-me musical outlet of the 90's. Ditching
contrived angst in favor of streetwise attitude and rowdy fun, this
11 track disc spews a glorious blast of trashy garage punk and whiskey
drenched rock swagger. Producers Terry Date and Steve Jones helped Lit Up
a short fused scorcher reminiscent of Buckcherry's combustible live show.
"Steve Jones is a rock n' roll animal," testifies Nelson. "He brings an
amazing vibe. This record wouldn't be what it is without him. Also working with
Terry brought out the heavier side of us. There's an immediacy, an attack, an
explosion when we play live, and I think Terry captured that."
Buckcherry formed in Los Angeles during the summer of 1995 when Nelson and Todd
met through their tattoo artist. The duo hammered out a few demo tapes on a cheap
4 track recorder, drawing on an influence as diverse as KISS to Smokey Robinson
for inspiration. "I use to listen to punk rock and then got turned on to Prince
and Billy Idol." Todd explains, "I always had this weird mix going on but it was
the best of both worlds."
The band was completed by bassist Jonathan (J.B.) Brightman, drummer Devon Glen
and guitarist Yogi. J.B. met Todd and Nelson at a downtown Los Angeles rehearsal
space. He'd been listening to them through a wall and was intrigued by what he heard.
Glenn's arrival seemed fated too-he was the first and last drummer the group considered.
Yogi is a more recent addition, but his diverse musical background clicked immediately
with that of the other members. He was also quick to join in his new mates' collective
approach to songwriting.
With assistance from Hollywood recording studio owner Bruce Bouillette, the fledgling band
gained invaluable experience and encouragement and was soon generating a buzz around LA
thanks to the heavily bootleged demo tape and a swelling reputation as a must-see live act
"I was always inspired by live performance," says Todd "The energy loud music gives me
allows me to get out what's inside me. I like to dance. This band is about movement, garb
and style. It's all about ripping your fucking head off."
And the name? "Our LA shows were getting packed," Nelson recalls. "And there was this
transvestite named Buckcherry who always use to bum cigarettes off me outside the shows.
He was a nice guy, but a complete Hollywood freak." Which, to Buckcherry, is a good thing.
