Cinderella (band)

Cinderella

Company type	Private
Industry	Music
Founded	1983 in Clifton Heights, Pennsylvania, United States
Founder	Tom Keifer, Eric Brittingham
Headquarters	Philadelphia suburbs , United States
Products	Music albums, live performances
Number of employees	4 (core lineup)

Cinderella emerged as an American rock ensemble originating from the suburbs of Philadelphia in 1983. The group gained significant recognition during the mid-1980s through multi-platinum records and popular singles, bolstered by frequent exposure on MTV. Initially identified with a glam metal style, Cinderella evolved their sound toward blues rock in the early 1990s.

Their prominence waned by the mid-1990s, influenced by personal difficulties and transformations within the music scene. After a short break, they reunited in 1996 and resumed live shows, though no new studio albums followed their 1994 release Still Climbing. Lead vocalist Tom Keifer's official site reports that Cinderella has sold 15 million albums globally. Post their 2014 performance at the Monsters of Rock Cruise, the band became dormant once more. In November 2017, Keifer confirmed there are no intentions for future reunions.

Formation and Early Years (1983–1985)

Cinderella was established in 1983 in Clifton Heights, Pennsylvania, a suburb near Philadelphia, by singer-songwriter, keyboardist, and guitarist Tom Keifer alongside bassist Eric Brittingham. The original lineup also featured guitarist Michael Schermick and drummer Tony Destra.

In 1985, Schermick and Destra departed to create another Philadelphia-based glam metal group, Britny Fox. The band rehearsed in the attic of an American Legion hall located in Wayne, Pennsylvania. In a 2014 interview, Tom Keifer revealed that Kiss bassist Gene Simmons initially showed interest and attempted to secure them a contract with PolyGram, but the label declined. Subsequently, after witnessing their performance at Philadelphia’s Empire Rock Club, Jon Bon Jovi recommended them to his A&R representative, Derek Shulman, who eventually signed them to a development deal.

By 1985, as negotiations with Mercury/Polygram Records were progressing toward a recording contract, guitarist Jeff LaBar and drummer Jim Drnec joined the band.

Night Songs and Long Cold Winter Era (1986–1989)

While recording their debut album Night Songs, session drummer Jody Cortez and lead guitarist/songwriter Barry Benedetta contributed to various tracks. Following these sessions, original drummer Drnec was replaced by Albie "Al" Barker, who nearly appeared on the album cover. Eventually, Fred Coury became the permanent drummer, featuring in all MTV videos and tours. Released on August 2, 1986, Night Songs achieved triple platinum certification and peaked at sales of 50,000 copies weekly. The album reached No. 3 on the Billboard charts by February 1987. Later that year, a video compilation titled "Night Songs" was issued containing promotional clips and live footage from their 1986 tour.

Cinderella’s debut tour in 1986 saw them opening for Japanese heavy metal band Loudness alongside glam metal group Poison. In 1987, they progressed to performing in large arenas as support for former Van Halen vocalist David Lee Roth over five months and subsequently for seven months with Bon Jovi during their Slippery When Wet Tour. Their touring schedule also included international stops in Japan and Scandinavia as well as appearances at the UK and Germany editions of the Monsters of Rock festivals.

The band's sophomore album Long Cold Winter, released in 1988, displayed a stylistic shift towards blues rock while maintaining elements of glam metal. To promote this record, Cinderella undertook an extensive tour consisting of 254 shows spanning over fourteen months. In August 1989, they participated in the prominent Moscow Music Peace Festival, sharing the stage with major acts such as Ozzy Osbourne, Scorpions, Mötley Crüe, Bon Jovi, and Skid Row. Their live performances incorporated dramatic effects including frontman Tom Keifer’s descent onto stage seated at a white piano during their hit "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)". On April 17, 1990, they released a video compilation entitled Tales from the Gypsy Road, which featured four promotional videos from Long Cold Winter alongside two live medleys including a rendition of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama".

Heartbreak Station, Still Climbing, and the band's hiatus (1990–1995)

Cinderella's third studio release, Heartbreak Station (1990), incorporated stronger blues elements largely influenced by Keifer. Following the tour supporting this album, drummer Fred Coury departed to become a member of Arcade. The song "Hot and Bothered" appeared in the movie Wayne's World as well as its official soundtrack.

In 1991, Tom Keifer experienced vocal cord paresis that necessitated several surgical procedures, postponing the production of their fourth album, Still Climbing. When it was finally released in 1994, featuring Kenny Aronoff on drums, it quickly fell off the charts. Shortly thereafter, Mercury Records ended their contract with Cinderella, leading to a band hiatus beginning in 1995.

Reunion period (1996–2009)

Cinderella returned to activity in 1996. The following year, Mercury Records released a greatest hits collection titled Once Upon A..., accompanied by a video compilation of their early promotional clips. The band toured across the United States in 1998; one concert was captured and released as Live at the Key Club (1999) through Cleopatra Records.

Around 1999, after signing with Sony Records under John Kalodner’s leadership, Cinderella was dropped prior to issuing new recordings, which resulted in three years of legal disputes. The band resumed touring in 2000 and again in 2002.

In 2005, Cinderella served as headliners for the VH1 Classic Rock Never Stops Tour, sharing the stage with FireHouse, RATT, and Quiet Riot. That year also saw Mercury Records release the compilation Rocked, Wired & Bluesed: The Greatest Hits on both CD and DVD formats.

The following year, Cinderella toured alongside Poison to commemorate the 20th anniversaries of their debut albums. Plans for a 2008 tour featuring Warrant, Lynch Mob, and Lynam were canceled after manager Tim Heyne announced that Keifer suffered a hemorrhage on his left vocal cord rendering him unable to sing. LaBar mentioned ongoing challenges with record labels since parting ways with Sony and concentrated on his new project Freakshow; meanwhile, Eric Brittingham pursued his band Naked Beggars. By spring 2009, Keifer’s voice had improved sufficiently. Although they were slated to perform at the Rock Gone Wild Festival that year, the event was ultimately canceled.

Increased touring activity and final shows (2010–2014)

In 2010, Cinderella confirmed a tour including two warm-up performances plus appearances at Rocklahoma in Pryor, Oklahoma, and Sweden Rock Festival. On February 26 of that year, they were announced as headliners for the MSC Poesia cruise departing from Fort Lauderdale in November. In July, original members Tom Keifer, Eric Brittingham, Jeff LaBar, and Fred Coury opened for Bret Michaels at Michigan’s Common Ground Music Festival. This was followed by fourteen U.S. dates supporting Scorpions on their farewell tour titled Get Your Sting and Blackout.

Cinderella also took part in the Download Festival in the United Kingdom (June 2010), performed at Rock Jam near Grand Junction, Colorado (August), and played at the Oregon State Fair (September). In November 2010, they joined other hard rock artists on the "ShipRocked" cruise.

The band embarked on a world tour celebrating their 25th anniversary in 2011 with twenty confirmed shows between April and July, including headlining Germany’s first-ever "Shout It Out Loud" Festival. During summer 2012, they led a U.S. tour with Sebastian Bach from Skid Row opening.

Although scheduled to perform at the 2013 Monsters of Rock Cruise alongside Tesla, Kix, and Queensrÿche, Cinderella withdrew due to illness affecting Tom Keifer. Their final live appearances occurred during the 2014 Monsters of Rock cruise.

Aftermath and LaBar's passing (2017–2021)

In November 2017, Keifer announced that Cinderella would not be reuniting, attributing this decision to unresolved conflicts among the members that could not be mended.

On July 14, 2021, guitarist Jeff LaBar passed away at the age of 58. Coincidentally, former long-time touring keyboardist Gary Corbett also died on the same day.

Band members

Core lineup

• Tom Keifer – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, saxophone, harmonica, steel guitar, mandolin, dobro (1983–2014)
• Eric Brittingham – bass guitar, backing vocals (1983–2014)
• Jeff LaBar – guitar, backing vocals, slide guitar (1985–2014; deceased 2021)
• Fred Coury – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1986–1991, 1996–2014)

Touring personnel

• Rick Criniti – keyboards, piano, organ, synthesizer, backing vocals (1986–1995)
• Garry Nutt – bass guitar (1989, 2000, 2008)
• Gary Corbett – keyboards, backing vocals (1990–1995, 1998–2014; deceased 2021)
• Kevin Valentine – drums, percussion (1991–1993)
• Roberta Freeman – backing vocals (1990–1991)
• Dianne Jones – backing vocals (1990–1991)
• Charles Lawrence – keyboards, backing vocals (1991)
• Ray Brinker – drums, percussion (1994–1995)
• Phillip Calfy – drums, percussion (2006)
• John Rogers – drums, percussion (2009–2010)
• Paul Taylor – keyboards, backing vocals (2012, 2014)

Session musicians

• Jody Cortez – drums, percussion (1985–1986)
• Barry Benedetta – guitar (1986; deceased 2022)
• Jeff Paris – keyboards (1986)
• Cozy Powell – drums (1987–1988; deceased 1998)
• Denny Carmassi – drums (1988)
• Kevin Conway – drums, percussion (1990–1991)
• Kenny Aronoff – drums, percussion (1994)
• Ken Hensley – keyboards (1990; deceased 2020)
• Rod Roddy – piano (1990)

Members before recording

• Michael Schermick – guitar, backing vocals (1983–1985)
• Sam Smith – bass guitar, backing vocals (1983–1984)
• Tony Destra – drums, percussion (1983–1985; deceased 1987)
• Jim Drnec – drums, percussion (1985–1986)
• Albie "Al" Barker – drums, percussion (1986)

Discography

Studio releases

• Night Songs (1986)
• Long Cold Winter (1988)
• Heartbreak Station (1990)
• Still Climbing (1994)

See also

• List of blues rock musicians
• List of glam metal bands and artists

External links

• [ Billboard artist page]