The Greg Kihn Band

The Greg Kihn Band is an American band that was started by frontman Greg Kihn and bassist Steve Wright. Their most successful singles include "The Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em)" (Billboard Hot 100 #15) and "Jeopardy" (Billboard Hot 100 #2). The band's musical style and genres comprise rock,[1] pop rock[2] and power pop.[3]

The Greg Kihn Band
The Greg Kihn Band in 2008
The Greg Kihn Band in 2008
Background information
OriginSan Francisco, California, U.S.
Genres
Years active1976 (1976)–present
LabelsBeserkley
Members
Past members
Websitegregkihn.com

History

Promotional photo of The Greg Kihn Band in 1983. From L to R: Larry Lynch, Gary Phillips, Greg Kihn, Greg Douglass, Steve Wright.

Greg Kihn began his career as a singer-songwriter in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland. He started writing songs and playing coffee houses while still in high school in the Baltimore area. When he was 17 his mother submitted a tape of one of his original songs to the talent contest of local Top 40 radio station WCAO, in which he took first prize and won a typewriter, a stack of records, and a Vox electric guitar.

He moved to San Francisco in 1972 and worked painting houses, singing in the streets, and working behind the counter at a Berkeley record store with future bandmate and Earth Quake keyboardist Gary Phillips. The following year, he was signed to Matthew "King" Kaufman's Beserkley Records. Along with Jonathan Richman, Earth Quake, and The Rubinoos, Kihn helped to develop the label's sound.

In 1976, after his debut on the compilation album Beserkley Chartbusters Vol. 1, Kihn formed the Greg Kihn Band, with Steve Wright on bass. Wright became the most influential member of the Greg Kihn band, co-writing Kihn's songs. Kihn recorded his first album, Greg Kihn, with his own band, now named The Greg Kihn Band, consisting of Wright, Robbie Dunbar on guitar, and Larry Lynch on drums.

Dunbar, already a member of Earth Quake, was replaced by Dave Carpender in time to record their second album, Greg Kihn Again. The lineup of Kihn, Wright, Lynch, and Carpender lasted until 1982 (changing to a quintet in 1981 with the addition of Phillips). Guitarist Greg Douglass replaced Carpender before the band's 1983 Kihnspiracy album.[4]

Throughout the 1970s, Kihn released an album each year and became better known during promotional touring, becoming Beserkley's biggest seller. In 1981, Kihn earned a Top 20 single, "The Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em)," from the RocKihnRoll album.

Kihn continued in a more commercial vein through the 1980s with a series of pun-titled albums: Kihntinued (1982), Kihnspiracy (1983), Kihntagious (1984), and Citizen Kihn (1985). His second successful single was 1983's "Jeopardy" (rising to number two) from the Kihnspiracy album. "Jeopardy" was spoofed by "Weird Al" Yankovic as "I Lost on Jeopardy" on Yankovic's album "Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D. Kihn made a cameo appearance in the music video. In 1983, the groundbreaking "Jeopardy" video became an MTV favorite.

In 1985, Kihn broke with Beserkley Records and signed with EMI. Matthew Kaufman continued to produce Kihn's albums. "Lucky" (1985) broke the top thirty and a video sequel was made to the original "Jeopardy" video. In 1986 Joe Satriani replaced Greg Douglass on lead guitar, Tyler Eng replaced Larry Lynch on drums, and Pat Mosca replaced Gary Phillips on keyboards. This is the lineup that went into the studio to record the 1986 album Love and Rock & Roll. Satriani left the band to pursue his solo career in 1987 and was replaced by former Eddie Money lead guitarist Jimmy Lyon. Greg Kihn returned to Baltimore to record a pair of solo acoustic albums at the studios of his friend Jack Heyrman for Clean Cuts Records, Mutiny in 1994 and Horror Show in 1996.

The Greg Kihn Band continues to play with a lineup consisting of Greg's son Ry Kihn on lead guitar, Dave Danza (from Eddie Money) on drums, Dave Medd (from The Tubes) on keyboards, and Robert Berry (from Hush) on bass. Every year KFOX hosts a concert at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California, called the "Kihncert" featuring The Greg Kihn Band. The Kihncert has always featured Greg Kihn as the show opener and sometime emcee, along with other KFOX FM air personalities. In addition to the Kihncert, Greg Kihn performs private, public, charity and KFOX FM-sponsored or promoted events.

Members

Current members

  • Greg Kihn – lead vocals, guitar (1976–present)
  • Ry Kihn – guitar (1996–present)
  • Dave Medd – keyboards (1996–present)
  • Robert Berry – bass (1996–present)
  • Dave Danza – drums (1996–present)

Former members

  • Robbie Dunbar – guitars, backing vocals, keyboards (1976–1977)
  • Steve Wright – bass, backing vocals, keyboards (1976–1996; died 2017)
  • Larry Lynch – drums, backing vocals (1976–1986)
  • Dave Carpender – guitar (1977–1983; died 2007)
  • Gary Phillips – keyboards, backing vocals (1981–1986; died 2007)
  • Greg Douglass – guitar, backing vocals (1982–1986)
  • Tyler Eng – drums (1986–1996)
  • Dennis Murphy – bass (2004–2008)
  • Pat Mosca – keyboards (1986–1996)
  • Joe Satriani – guitar (1986–1987)
  • Jimmy Lyon – guitar (1987–1996)

Discography

Albums

Year Album Billboard 200 AUS[5]
1976 Greg Kihn
1977 Greg Kihn Again
1978 Next of Kihn 145 85
1979 With the Naked Eye 114
1980 Glass House Rock 167
1981 RocKihnRoll 32 72
1982 Kihntinued 33
1983 Kihnspiracy 15 76
1984 Kihntagious 121
1985 Citizen Kihn 51
1986 Love and Rock and Roll
1989 KihnSolidation: The Best Of Greg Kihn
1991 Unkihntrollable (Greg Kihn Live)
1992 Kihn of Hearts
1994 Mutiny
1996 King Biscuit Flower Hour
1996 Horror Show
2000 True Kihnfessions
2004 Jeopardy
2006 Greg Kihn Live, Featuring Ry Kihn
2011 Kihnplete (Post Beserkley Records)
2012 Greg Kihn Band: Best of Beserkley, '74–'85
2017 Rekihndled

Chart singles

Year Song US Hot 100 US M.S.R. US Dance AUS[5] UK Album
1978 "Remember" 105 Next of Kihn
1981 "The Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em)" 15 5 14 Rockihnroll
"Sheila" 102 39
"The Girl Most Likely" 104 57 55
1982 "Testify" 5 Kihntinued
"Happy Man" 62 30 68
"Every Love Song" 82
1983 "Jeopardy" 2 5 1 11 63 Kihnspiracy
"Love Never Fails" 59
1984 "Reunited" 101 9 Kihntagious
"Rock" 107
1985 "Lucky" 30 24 16 Citizen Kihn
"Boys Won't (Leave The Girls Alone)" 110
1986 "Love and Rock & Roll" 92 50 Love and Rock & Roll

Music videos

Year Video Director
1981 "The Breakup Song"
1982 "Happy Man" Joe Dea
1983 "Jeopardy" Joe Dea
1983 "Tear That City Down" Bob Hart
1984 "Reunited" Joe Dea
1985 "Lucky" Joe Dea
1985 "Boys Won't (Leave The Girls Alone)" Joe Dea
1986 "Love and Rock & Roll"

References

  1. Cindy Laufenberg (1 September 1994). 1995 Songwriter's Market: Where & How to Market Your Songs. Writer's Digest Books. p. 368. ISBN 978-0-89879-676-6.
  2. Cary Darling (6 September 1980). "Talent in Action". Billboard. p. 49. ISSN 0006-2510.
  3. Patricia Romanowski; Holly George-Warren; Jon Pareles, eds. (1995). The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll. Fireside. p. 26. ISBN 978-0-684-81044-7.
  4. "Greg Kihn Band Pt.1 10/82 52". YouTube.
  5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 166. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
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