The Storm (American band)

The Storm
Company type	Supergroup
Industry	Music
Founded	1990 in San Francisco, California, United States
Founder	Gregg Rolie, Ross Valory, Steve Smith, Kevin Chalfant, Josh Ramos
Headquarters	San Francisco, United States
Products	Music albums and singles

The Storm was a rock supergroup originating from San Francisco during the early 1990s. Their initial single, a powerful ballad titled "I've Got a Lot to Learn About Love," climbed to No. 6 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and reached No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The lineup included three former Journey members: founding musicians Gregg Rolie (keyboards, lead and backing vocals), Ross Valory (bass guitar, backing vocals), and Steve Smith (drums). Vocals were led by Kevin Chalfant, who had previously scored a No. 12 rock chart hit in 1982 with the AOR group 707, while lead guitar duties were handled by Josh Ramos, whose style was influenced by Journey’s co-founder Neal Schon.

1990–1991: Formation

Following the release of an album with their side project The V.U., Chalfant and Valory sought a fresh musical direction. Rolie played a pivotal role in assembling the band and propelling their progress. Partnering with Chalfant, he forwarded the song "Show Me the Way" to producer Beau Hill. Around this time, Hill and Jimmy Iovine had established Interscope Records as a hard rock/AOR-focused label under Atlantic Records president Doug Morris. Interscope signed The Storm in 1990.

1991–1992: The Storm and Smith’s Exit

Produced by Beau Hill, The Storm's self-titled debut album was released in 1991 via Interscope and peaked at No. 133 on the Billboard album chart. It generated two mainstream rock singles: "I’ve Got a Lot to Learn About Love," which reached No. 6 on rock charts and No. 26 on the Hot 100, and "Show Me the Way," which hit No. 22. Late in 1991, Smith departed from the group and was succeeded by Ron Wikso, previously associated with Cher's band, in early 1992.

In March of that year, The Storm embarked on a U.S. arena tour supporting Bryan Adams, followed by tours alongside Peter Frampton, Eddie Money, and Tom Cochrane, interspersed with several headline performances.

1992–1993: Breakup and Subsequent Activities

Although a follow-up album titled Eye of the Storm was recorded for Interscope in 1993, it remained unreleased due to the label’s pivot away from mainstream rock toward gangsta rap, influenced by successes from artists like Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. Founded by Jimmy Iovine and Beau Hill, Interscope had also formed a partnership with Death Row Records. Eventually, Eye of the Storm was distributed by UK independent label Music for Nations in Europe, Avex Trax in Japan, and Miramar Records in the United States; it also appeared digitally on iTunes dated 1995.

By that point, members had moved on to different projects. Rolie briefly joined Abraxas Pool alongside original members of Santana before embarking on a solo career and later joining Ringo Starr's All Starr Band. Valory and Smith returned to a reformed version of Journey. Wikso collaborated with notable artists such as David Lee Roth, Foreigner, Richie Sambora, and the Steve Miller Band. Chalfant, whose vocal style bore resemblance to Perry’s, briefly worked with Journey until Perry’s return; he then partnered with Ramos to form Two Fires, releasing three albums before pursuing solo careers—Chalfant also performed with The Alan Parsons Project and Kansas City AOR outfit Shooting Star.

Toward the end of 1999, Rolie and Wikso co-produced Rolie’s solo record Roots, which came out in 2001 through 33rd Street Records (U.S.) and Sanctuary Records (Europe). They toured as the Gregg Rolie Band with members including Michael Carabello, Adrian Areas, Kurt Griffey, Alphonso Johnson, and Wally Minko. Additionally, Wikso has worked alongside REO Speedwagon guitarist Dave Amato and Styx bassist Ricky Phillips.

Band members

Last roster

Kevin Chalfant – lead vocals, acoustic guitar (1990–1993, 1995–1996)
Josh Ramos – lead, rhythm, and acoustic guitars (1990–1993, 1995–1996)
Gregg Rolie – keyboards, backing vocals, lead vocals (1990–1993, 1995–1996)
Ross Valory – bass guitar, backing vocals (1990–1993, 1995–1996)
Ron Wikso – drums (1992–1993, 1995–1996)

Previous members

Steve Smith – drums (1990–1991)

Discography

Year	Album	Billboard peak position	Record label
1991	The Storm	133	Interscope
1995	Eye of The Storm	N/A	Music For Nations

External links