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Y&T

From Alfawiki
Y&T
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded1972 in Oakland, California, United States
Headquarters
Oakland
,
United States
ProductsMusic albums, singles, live performances

Y&T—initially known as Yesterday & Today—is a hard rock and heavy metal band originating from Oakland, California. The group's classic lineup was solidified in 1974. During the 1970s, they issued two studio albums under the name Yesterday & Today through London Records before shortening their moniker to Y&T. Beginning in 1981, they released multiple albums on A&M Records, followed by projects on Geffen Records, Avex Records, among others. Early management was handled by Herbie Herbert and Louis "Lou" Bramy. To date, Y&T has sold over four million records globally, including 18 studio albums, three greatest hits compilations, and a boxed collection.

Formative period (1972–1983)

In 1972, Leonard Haze, Bob Gardner, and Wayne Stitzer formed a cover band in Oakland that remained unnamed until Dave Meniketti joined as lead guitarist and vocalist. The band chose the name Yesterday & Today inspired by a Beatles album playing during rehearsal. After several lineup changes—Phil Kennemore took over bass duties and Joey Alves replaced Gardner on guitar in 1974—the group began creating original songs.

They toured alongside prominent bands such as Journey and Queen, which led to them being signed by London Records' president. Their initial two albums, Yesterday & Today (1976) and Struck Down (1978), were released through London. Unfortunately, London's strategic decision to drop rock artists limited promotion for Struck Down. Nevertheless, the band maintained an active touring schedule, opening for major acts like Kiss and AC/DC.

The transition to A&M Records in 1980 coincided with the band's rebranding as Y&T, a name inspired by fan chants during encore performances. Their first two releases on A&M—Earthshaker (1981) and Black Tiger (1982)—received international critical praise although they saw modest exposure in the United States; tracks from these albums remain fixtures in their live sets. Black Tiger, produced by Max Norman at Ridge Farm Studios in England, also introduced the band's distinctive logo. During this period, Y&T performed their first shows overseas in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

By 1983, Y&T was performing in larger venues across both America and Europe with acts such as AC/DC, Alice Cooper, Dio, Iron Maiden, and Mötley Crüe. Their popularity was notably stronger in Europe and Japan than in their home country. The band's third A&M album, Mean Streak (1983), garnered increased radio play in the US despite limited promotional backing from the label.

Peak success and temporary break (1984–1991)

The band's sixth studio album, In Rock We Trust (1984), became their highest-charting effort, reaching No. 46 on the Billboard 200 chart and selling over 450,000 copies. It featured their first significant radio hit, "Don't Stop Runnin'," with outside songwriter Geoffrey Leib contributing for the first time. The album also charted at No. 77 in Canada. Y&T's profile expanded through arena and stadium tours opening for bands like Rush and Dio, alongside an appearance at the 1984 Monsters of Rock festival.

In 1985, the single "Summertime Girls" from their live album Open Fire and studio record Down for the Count became Y&T's most successful hit, peaking at No. 55 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 16 on the Mainstream Rock chart. The track received worldwide airplay, featured in movies such as Real Genius, and enjoyed heavy rotation on MTV. Despite touring with bands like Mötley Crüe and Aerosmith, frustration over A&M Records' insufficient US promotional efforts led to no follow-up singles being issued. Meniketti later described Down for the Count as "a sort of wasted record" due to this neglect. Nevertheless, songs from this album continue to be part of their live repertoire.

Y&T signed with Geffen in 1986. That year saw drummer Leonard Haze dismissed due to substance abuse issues; he was replaced by Jimmy DeGrasso. Their eighth album, Contagious, was released in 1987. In 1989, guitarist Joey Alves was fired for similar reasons and succeeded by Stef Burns; both DeGrasso and Burns went on to collaborate with Alice Cooper during the 1990s.

The 1990 release Ten blended ballads such as "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark"—the album's only single—with harder rock tracks like "Hard Times" and "Goin' Off the Deep End." Meniketti praised its music video but lamented its lack of MTV exposure amid grunge's rise. With no further singles promoted, Y&T performed seven shows in California before entering a hiatus in 1991, concluding with the live release Yesterday & Today Live. Soon after, Meniketti declined an invitation to join a supergroup with Peter Frampton.

Resurgence (1995–present)

In 1995, Y&T reunited with the lineup of Meniketti, Burns, Kennemore, and DeGrasso, subsequently releasing the albums Musically Incorrect (1995) and Endangered Species (1997). Throughout the late 1990s, the group performed intermittently. Original drummer Leonard Haze rejoined in 2001; however, Burns departed in 2003 due to obligations with Huey Lewis and the News and Vasco Rossi. His role was filled by longtime friend John Nymann, who had previously toured alongside the band.

The band resumed international touring activities in 2003. In 2006, Mike Vanderhule replaced Haze on drums amid ongoing personal challenges. By 2009, Y&T commenced work on their twelfth studio project, Facemelter, which was released in May 2010 through their own US label and licensed internationally via Italy's Frontiers Records. This release marked their first studio album after a thirteen-year hiatus.

During their 2010 tour supporting Facemelter, Y&T appeared at prominent European festivals including Sweden Rock, Download Festival, and Hellfest. Midway through the US segment of the tour, bassist Phil Kennemore was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer and withdrew to undergo treatment. Brad Lang from Jet Red stepped in to complete the tour and subsequently became the official bassist following Kennemore's passing in January 2011. Since the band's inception in 1974, Kennemore and Meniketti had been its only consistent members.

In October 2013, former guitarist Stef Burns rejoined Y&T for a brief four-song performance in Italy. Aaron Leigh took over bass duties in April 2016 after Lang departed to focus on overcoming alcohol dependency; this change was mutually agreed upon and announced in June of that year.

Leonard Haze, the original drummer, passed away in September 2016 due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Joey Alves, original rhythm guitarist, died in March 2017 from ulcerative colitis and inflammatory bowel disease. These losses left Meniketti as the sole surviving member of Y&T’s classic lineup.

January 2018 saw the release of Y&T's first acoustic EP, Acoustic Classix Vol. 1, with Meniketti indicating plans for additional acoustic projects later that year.

On November 26, 2019, the fan-supported documentary On With The Show premiered, celebrating the band's enduring influence and career.

Legacy

The track "Summertime Girls" was featured on the soundtrack of the 1985 film Real Genius and appeared in Season 1 of HBO's Peacemaker (TV series).

In the documentary Anvil! The Story of Anvil, Metallica’s Lars Ulrich acknowledges Y&T as a significant inspiration, recalling a performance they gave at a Hollywood club in 1980 as pivotal to his decision to pursue music professionally.

Band members

Current members
  • Dave Meniketti – lead guitar, lead vocals (1974–present)
  • John Nymann – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2003–present)
  • Mike Vanderhule – drums, backing vocals (2006–present)
  • Aaron Leigh – bass, backing vocals (2016–present)
Former members
  • Leonard Haze – drums, backing and lead vocals (1974–1986, 2001–2006; died 2016)
  • Phil Kennemore – bass, keyboards, backing and lead vocals (1974–1991, 1995–2011; died 2011)
  • Joey Alves – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1974–1989; died 2017)
  • Jimmy DeGrasso – drums (1986–1991, 1995–2001)
  • Stef Burns – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1989–1991, 1995–2003)
  • Brad Lang – bass, backing vocals (2010–2016)
Session members
  • Robert Russ – piano on Struck Down (1978)
  • Cherie Currie – backing vocals on Struck Down (1978)
  • Galen Cook – organ on Struck Down (1978)
  • Randy Nichols – keyboards on Down for the Count (1985)
  • Steffen Presley – keyboards on Down for the Count and Contagious (1985, 1987)
  • Claude Schnell – keyboards on Down for the Count (1985)
  • Adam Day – rhythm guitar on Down for the Count (1985)
  • Bill Costa – backing vocals on Down for the Count (1985)
  • Steve Smith – drums on multiple tracks from Ten (1990)
  • Loren Gold – keyboards on Facemelter (2010)
  • Ross McEwen - guitar at Ramblin' Man Fair and Rock and Blues Custom Show Festivals (July 28 & 29, 2017)

Studio albums

Extended plays

  • Acoustic Classix Vol. 1 (2018)

Live albums

  • In Concert (1984) (BBC Transcription Services - recording intended solely for radio broadcast)
  • Open Fire (1985) (US chart position No. 70)
  • Yesterday & Today Live (1991)
  • Live on the Friday Rock Show (1998) (recorded in 1982 and 1984, reissued in 2000 as BBC Live in Concert)
  • Live at the Mystic (2012)
  • Free to Roll (Live 1985) (2022)

Compilation albums

  • Forever - Best of Y&T (1987) (exclusive to Japan)
  • Anthology (1989) (available only in the UK)
  • Best of '81 to '85 (1990)
  • Ultimate Collection (2001)
  • Unearthed Vol. 1 - Demos & Unreleased Recordings from 1974 Through 2003 (2003)
  • Unearthed Vol. 2 - Demos & Unreleased Recordings from 1974 Through 1989 (2004)
  • Earthquake - The A&M Years 1981-1985 (2013) (four-CD box set)

Singles

Year Single Highest Chart Positions Album
US US Main. Rock
1977 "Earthshaker" — — Yesterday and Today (Yesterday and Today album)
1977 "Alcohol" — — Yesterday and Today (Yesterday and Today album)
1981 "I Believe in You" — — Earthshaker (album)
1981 "Rescue Me" — — Earthshaker (album)
1981 "Dirty Girl" — — Earthshaker (album)
1982 "I Don't Wanna Lose" — — Black Tiger (album)
1982 "Forever" — — Black Tiger (album)
1983 "Mean Streak" — 25 Mean Streak
1984 "Don't Stop Running" — 33 In Rock We Trust
1985 "Open Fire" — — Open Fire
1985 "Summertime Girls" 55 "16" 'Open Fire'
'85 'All American Boy' '—' '48' 'Down for the Count'
'85 'Face Like An Angel' '—' '—' 'Down for the Count'
'87 'Contagious' '—' '41' 'Contagious'
'90 "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" '—' '31' 'Ten'
'91 'Hurricane' '—' '—' 'Yesterday & Today Live'
'91 "Don't Stop Runnin" '—' '—' 'Yesterday & Today Live'


Contributions

Videography

Video Releases
  • Live at the San Francisco Civic (1985)
DVD Collections
  • One Hot Night (DVD) (2007)
  • Documentary - Y&T: On With the Show (DVD) (2019)
Official Promotional Videos
  • "Mean Streak" (from Mean Streak, 1983)
  • "Don't Stop Runnin'" (from In Rock We Trust, 1984)
  • "All American Boy" (from Down For The Count, 1985)
  • "Summertime Girls" (from Open Fire, 1985)
  • "Lipstick & Leather" (from In Rock We Trust, 1984; footage sourced from Live at the San Francisco Civic, 1985)
  • "Contagious" (from Contagious, 1987)
  • "Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark" (from Ten, 1990)
  • "I'm Coming Home" (from Facemelter, 2010)

External links

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