Blue Tears
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Founder | Gregg Fulkerson, Mike Spears, Bryan Hall, Phil Johns |
| Defunct | 2009 |
| Headquarters | Henderson , United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Blue Tears was a hard rock ensemble originating from Henderson, Tennessee, primarily active during the late 1980s. Although they achieved some local acclaim, the band's commercial progress was hindered by the emergence of alternative and grunge genres, leading to their dissolution in 1993. They briefly reunited in 2006 to launch a new album but ultimately disbanded following the passing of frontman Gregg Fulkerson in 2009.
History
Formed in 1982 by lead guitarist Gregg Fulkerson alongside bassist Mike Spears, rhythm guitarist Bryan Hall, and drummer Phil Johns during their high school and college years, the group initially performed under the name Misfit. After several lineup adjustments and name changes, they adopted the moniker Blue Tears shortly before releasing their debut record.
One of their early tracks, "Stay With Me," received notable airplay regionally, which secured them a deal with MCA Records. Their self-titled debut album Blue Tears was unveiled in June 1990 and included singles such as "Rockin' With the Radio" and "Innocent Kiss," both supported by music videos. Despite these efforts, the band was often overlooked as part of the fading glam metal movement.
In 1991, Blue Tears recorded material for a follow-up album featuring songs like "Long Way Home" and "Follow Your Heart." However, MCA Records chose not to release it due to shifting industry trends. These unreleased tracks, along with solo recordings by Fulkerson, surfaced nearly fifteen years later.
Following their breakup, members engaged in various other musical ventures; notably, Fulkerson and Spears contributed to Stryper lead vocalist Michael Sweet's solo project in 1994. By 2002, they established Attraction 65 and leveraged Blue Tears’ dedicated fan base by issuing compilations titled Mad, Bad and Dangerous and Dancin' On the Back Streets under Sun City Records.
In 2006, Fulkerson resurrected Blue Tears as a solo project, delivering the album The Innocent Ones through AOR Heaven. The band’s activities concluded definitively after Fulkerson’s death on April 14, 2009, at age 44.
Final line-up
- Gregg Fulkerson – vocals, guitar, keyboards (1982–1993, 2005–2009)
- Bryan Wolski – bass guitar, backing vocals (2005–2009)
- Robert Streets – drums, percussion (2006–2009)
Former members
- Michael "Mike" Spears – bass guitar, backing vocals (1982–1993)
- Bryan Hall – guitar, backing vocals (1982–1993)
- Charlie Lauderdale – drums, percussion (1984–1993)
- Phil Jones – drums, backing vocals (1982–1984)
- Vicki Buckley – vocals (1982–1983)
- Pam Gleaton – vocals (1983–1984)
- Roger LaPointe – vocals (1983–1986)
- Paul Reeves – drums, backing vocals (1983–1984)
- Aaron Sain – guitar (1984)
- Larry Gilbow – drums, percussion (1988–1992)
Studio albums
- Blue Tears (1990)
- The Innocent Ones (2006)
Compilation albums
- Mad, Bad and Dangerous (2005)
- Dancin' On the Back Streets (2005)