Child's Play (band)
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1983 |
| Headquarters | Baltimore , United States |
| Products | Music albums, EPs |
Child's Play (presented as Child'ƨ Play) was a rock group originating from Baltimore, Maryland, established in 1983. The founding members consisted of Larry Hinshaw (vocals), Brian Jack (guitar), Phil Wiser (bass), Jimmy Schaefer (guitar), and Chad Channing (later replaced by Steve Albinak) on drums. After Albinak's departure, John Allen took over drumming duties, and Nicky Kay joined as an additional guitarist. This formation recorded and released their debut EP, Ruff House, in 1986.
In 1987, the ensemble underwent changes with Idzi assuming the bass role and Brian Jack switching to lead vocals. The band secured a contract with Chrysalis Records in 1989. Their first album under a major label, Rat Race, produced by Howard Benson, was released on June 26, 1990. They embarked on a U.S. tour during 1990 and 1991, sharing co-headlining status with Cold Sweat.
Brian Jack died on April 17, 2012; a Facebook memorial page was created to commemorate his contributions.
Band members
Current Members
- Larry "L.H." Hinshaw – lead vocals (1983–1988, 2013, 2015, 2022, 2023-present)
- Phil Wiser – bass guitar, backing vocals (1983–1987, 2023-present); rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2022, 2023)
- John Allen – drums, backing and lead vocals (1984–1995, 2003–2005, 2011–2012, 2013, 2015, 2022, 2023-present)
- Nicky Kay – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1984–1995, 2003–2005, 2011–2012, 2013, 2015, 2022, 2023-present)
- Jason Heiser – drums, backing vocals (2022, 2023-present)
Former Members
- Brian Jack – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1983–1988); lead vocals, lead and rhythm guitar (1988–1991, 1994, 2003–2005, 2011–2012)
- Jimmy Schaefer – lead and rhythm guitar (1983–1984)
- Chad Channing – drums (1983)
- Steve Albinak – drums (1983–1984)
- Idzi – bass guitar, backing vocals (1987–1995, 2003–2005, 2011–2012, 2013, 2015, 2022, 2023)
- Ty Crook – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1991–1992)
- Tommy McRae – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1993–1995)
- Bobby Wilson – drums (1991)
Timeline
<timeline> ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:20 PlotArea = left:90 bottom:60 top:0 right:20 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1983 till:01/01/2026 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1983 ScaleMinor = increment:2 start:1985
Colors =
id:LVocals value:red legend:Lead_vocals id:Guitars value:green legend:Guitar id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass_guitar id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums id:BVocals value:pink legend:Backing_vocals id:Studio value:black legend:Studio_albums
LineData =
layer:back color:Studio at:20/05/1990 at:24/04/1993
BarData =
bar:Hinshaw text:"Larry Hinshaw" bar:Jack text:"Brian Jack" bar:Crook text:"Ty Crook" bar:McRae text:"Tommy McRae" bar:Shafer text:"Jimmy Shafer" bar:Kay text:"Nicky Kay" bar:Wiser text:"Phil Wiser" bar:Idzi text:"Idzi" bar:Channing text:"Chad Channing" bar:Albinak text:"Steve Albinak" bar:Allen text:"John Allen" bar:Heiser text:"Jason Heiser"
PlotData=
width:11
color:LVocals bar:Hinshaw from:start till:01/01/1988 bar:Hinshaw from:01/01/2013 till:01/01/2013 bar:Hinshaw from:01/01/2015 till:01/01/2015 bar:Hinshaw from:01/01/2022 till:01/01/2022 bar:Hinshaw from:01/01/2023 till:end
width:3 color:LVocals bar:Jack from:01/01/1988 till:01/01/1991 bar:Jack from:25/03/1994 till:25/03/1994 bar:Crook from:01/01/1991 till:01/01/1993 bar:McRae from:01/01/1993 till:01/01/1995 bar:Jack from:01/01/2003 till:01/01/2005 bar:Jack from:01/01/2011 till:17/04/2012 bar:Allen from:start till:end
color:Guitars width:11 bar:Jack from:start till:end bar:Shafer from:start till:01/01/1984 bar:Kay from:start till:end bar:Crook from:start till:end bar:McRae from:start till:end bar:Wiser from:start till:end
color:Bass bar:Wiser from:start till:end bar:Idzi from:start till:end
color:Drums bar:Channing from:start till:end bar:Albinak from:start till:end bar:Allen from:start till:end bar:Heiser from:start till:end
width:3 color:BVocals bar:[Wiser] from:start till:end bar:[Kay] from:start till:end bar:[Idzi] from:start till:end bar:[Allen] from:start till:end bar:[Heiser] from:start till:end
</timeline>
Extended plays
- Ruff House (1986)