Kik Tracee

Kik Tracee was a 1990s hard rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1988, during the last years of the glam metal movement, before the influx of grunge and alternative rock.[1]

Kik Tracee
Kik Tracee, 1991.
Background information
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Years active1988–1993
Labels
Associated acts
Past membersStephen Shareaux
Rob Grad
Gregory "Hex" Offers
Michael Marquis
Johnny Douglas
Scott Donnell

History

The band was formed in a Los Angeles suburb in 1988 by guitarists Gregory "Hex" Offers and Michael Marquis, bassist Rob Grad, and drummer Scott Donnell. The four had played the Los Angeles club scene from the age of 16. Singer Stephen Shareaux hailed from Minneapolis, MN, and joined the group that would become Kik Tracee. Drummer Johnny Douglas replaced Donnell during recording of the first album, citing creative differences with producer Dana Strum. The band was sometimes accused of being a clone of Guns N' Roses. Others argue that the band's complexity and depth placed them on a higher level than the average L.A. rock band.[2] Despite such accolades, Kik Tracee were one of many third-wave glam metal bands in the early 1990s swept out of commercial visibility due to the popularity of the alternative music scene. The band saw a very short run on MTV's Headbangers Ball in the 1990s, their sound having been described as similar to that of L.A. Guns, Britny Fox, and Faster Pussycat.

Dana Strum of Slaughter fame produced Kik Tracee's 1991 album No Rules for BMG Music, spawning the singles (and accompanying videos) "You're So Strange" and "Don't Need Rules."

Kik Tracee released the Chris Goss-produced EP Field Trip in 1992. A video was shot for the track "In Trance."

Kik Tracee, along with producer Garth Richardson, began work on their second full-length release titled Center of a Tension, but the band broke up during the recording process, and the unfinished album was shelved.

Post-breakup

In 2002 Shareaux was one of many singers who auditioned for the Slash, Duff Mckagan, and Matt Sorum effort "The Project" (later dubbed Velvet Revolver). His audition was featured in the documentary "The Rise of Velvet Revolver." He submitted the track "Stripper Girl," but was rejected in favor of Scott Weiland.

Shareaux joined Flipp before creating a new psychedelic band called Revel 8, while bassist Grad is currently fronting the band Superfine, and guitarist Hex pursued placements in film and TV, as well as a project called Deep Audio. Shareaux also recorded with former Tomorrow's Child and Engines of Aggression guitarist Rik Schaffer under the name Nectar; their sole album, Afterglow, was released in 1997 by German-based label Dream Circle.[3]

In 1997, Superfine appeared on the TV show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” with Rob Grad in the role of a band member in the episode "Teacher's Pet." In 2010, Grad left Superfine and released a solo album.[4]

In November 2013, Shareaux released his debut solo album, Golden; former Small Faces and Faces keyboardist Ian McLagan makes a guest appearance on the song "R&R."[5]

In 2015 Shareaux began performing acoustic shows with Drew Fortier, in which Kik Tracee songs were heard live for the first time in over 20 years.[6][7]

Fortier and Shareaux also formed Zen From Mars, an alternative rock band featuring former members of Enuff Z'Nuff, Fear Factory, and Flipp. Their debut album The Ultra Head Frequency was mixed and mastered by Richard Easterling for a projected mid-2018 release.[8]

In 2017 Kik Tracee signed with EMP Label Group and released Big Western Sky, a two-disc collection of demos, rarities, and b-sides.[9]

Accolades and legacy

Their single "You're So Strange" peaked at #47 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in September 1991.[10][11]

No Rules, Kik Tracee's debut album, landed at #46 on Rolling Stone's Top 50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums of All Time list.[12]

Kik Tracee appeared at #78 in VH1's Hair Metal 100 Countdown list.[13]

Power Chord TV listed Kik Tracee #2 on their list of Hollywood bands that should have been hugely successful.[14]

Members
  • Stephen Shareaux - lead vocals (1988-1993)
  • Rob Grad - bass guitar (1988-1993)
  • Gregory "Hex" Offers - rhythm guitar (1988-1993)
  • Michael Marquis - lead guitar (1988-1993)
  • Scott Donnell - drums (1988-1991)
  • Johnny Douglas - drums (1991-1993)

Discography

Albums
  • No Rules (1991)
  • Center of a Tension (1993) [unreleased]

EP's
  • Field Trip (1992)

Compilations
  • Big Western Sky (2017)

References
  1. "Kik Tracee: True Hollywood Story | Amplified Edge". Amplified Edge. 2014-09-26. Retrieved 2018-06-01.
  2. Prato, Greg. "Kik Tracee | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-06-01.
  3. "Where Are They Now? Rob Grad of Kik Tracee". Noisecreep. Retrieved 2018-06-01.
  4. "Former KIK TRACEE Guitarist To Release Solo Album". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. 2010-02-13. Retrieved 2018-06-01.
  5. Michelle Nati (January 27, 2014). "Stephen Shareaux Is Golden: Former Kik Tracee Vocalist Discusses Release Of New Solo LP". The Los Angeles Beat.
  6. "Kik Tracee Frontman Teams Up With Bang Tango Guitarist For Acoustic Gig – Sleaze Roxx". sleazeroxx.com. Retrieved 2018-03-08.
  7. "DON'T NEED RULES: Stephen Shareaux and Drew Fortier To Embark On Acoustic Tour". Icon vs. Icon. 2017-03-26. Retrieved 2018-03-08.
  8. "KIK TRACEE, ENUFF Z'NUFF, FEAR FACTORY Members Join Forces In ZEN FROM MARS Project". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. 2016-08-09. Retrieved 2018-02-24.
  9. bravewords.com. "KIK TRACEE - Big Western Sky Tracklisting Revealed, Pre-Order Launched". bravewords.com. Retrieved 2018-03-08.
  10. "Kik Tracee You're So Strange Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
  11. "Kik Tracee Songs ••• Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". www.musicvf.com. Retrieved 2018-06-01.
  12. "50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2018-02-24.
  13. "The Hair Metal 100: Ranking the '80s Greatest Glam Bands, Part 2". VH1 News. Retrieved 2018-03-22.
  14. "Top 5 Hollywood Bands That Should Have Been Huge". Power Chord TV. Retrieved 2018-06-01.
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