Intro (Edit)

Kix is an American glam metal band who achieved their highest peak of popularity in the 1980’s. Their biggest hit was “Don’t Close Your Eyes” which peaked at Number 11 on the Billboard at 100 in 1988.

Kix was started by Ronnie Younkins and Donnie Purnell in December of 1977. Ronnie and Donnie started rehearsing with Brian “Damage” Forsythe, who was asked by Ronnie to join the band. Soon after they invited drummer Donnie Spence to join the band.

The guys met Steve Whiteman at a show in Ridgely, West Virginia. They had heard about him, and went to see him play with his old band. During a break in the gig, they played him a cassette of some of their songs. They asked him to join, and a week later Steve moved and joined the band.

The band earned a large local fan base by playing the local club circuit six nights a week for three years straight. After a while, Donnie Spence couldn’t do the drumming duties anymore, so Jimmy “Chocolate” Chalfant, joined the band.

By late 1979 the classic Kix lineup was complete. It included Steve Whiteman singing, Ronnie Younkins and Brian Forsythe playing guitars, Donnie Purnel playing bass, keyboards, and singing backing vocals, and Jimmy Chalfant playing drums and also singing backing vocals.

In 1980 the band began recording their debut album. The album, Kix, was released in 1981. Kix established a “tongue-in-cheek” style of rock ‘n’ roll with that album and their live performances.

In 1982, guitarist Ronnie Younkins was fired. He was replaced by Brad Divens.

The bands 1983 followup, Cool Kids, showcased a more commercial side of the band. The album featured the title track and the song “Body Talk.” Rumors were circulating that the bands label was pushing for some “steam” on the radio, so Kix responded with the song Body Talk.

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History (Edit)

In 1983, Ronnie rejoined Kix. This reunited the classic line-up.

In 1985, the band released the album Midnite Dynamite. The album featured songs such as the title track, Midnite Dynamite and Cold Shower.

The band packed-up and headed west to the Sunset Strip, where other glam metal bands rose to stardom.

In 1988, the bands released Blow My Fuse. Kix finally achieved fame and the album went platinum. The ballad, Don’t Close Your Eyes, was the bands most successful single. The song peaked at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Their next album, Hot Wire, was released in 1991. The album sold only 200,000 copies. But it was too late, the grunge movement had already started. While on tour in 1992, Kix released a live album called, Live. This album is also referred to as Contractual Obligation Live. This album was released in 1993.

In 1995, the band released the album, $how Bu$ine$$. The album was a commercial failure, due to the grunge movement.

In late 2003, a new version of Kix was reformed. The band booked some gigs in September of 2004. The line-up consisted of Steve Whiteman singing, Ronnie Younkins and Brian Forsythe playing guitars, Mark Schenker playing bass, and Jimmy Chalfant handling drumming duties.

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