dvd_luver

Courtesy of Bilboard.com:

November 26, 2007, 12:00 AM ET
Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

Boston-based rock outfit Extreme is reuniting for its first studio album in 13 years and world tour in 2008, Billboard has learned. The group, best known for the 1991 No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit "More Than Words," disbanded in 1996 but reformed briefly in 2004 and 2006.

Details are pending on the album, which is being produced by guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, and the tour dates. Extreme now includes original members Bettencourt, frontman Gary Cherone and bassist Pat Badger, along with new drummer Kevin Figueiredo.

Of late, the band has reached a new audience thanks to the inclusion of its song "Play With Me" in the video game "Guitar Hero." "We realized, not only are the people starved for rock'and'roll, so are we," Bettencourt says. "Let's eat."

Extreme will perform Saturday (Dec. 1) at the Boston Music Awards.

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I am a fan of this band, looking forward to a fifth album from this amazing rock band. All four of their albums some of the best rock albums of the 1990's imo. A new album and tour was long, long overdue.

The band members also have engaged in other musical ventures since the last time they recorded. Nuno released a solo project titled Schizophonic, formed some cool bands Mourning Widows, Population 1, Dramagods and recently teamed up with Perry Farrell for his project Sattelite Party. Gary was in Van Halen briefly and departed the band and made his own band Tribe Of Judah, and than released a solo EP, and has another band titled "Hurtsmile". Pat Badger has been taking care of family and raising Alpaca's on his Alpaca farm. The new drummer for Extreme Kevin Figueiredo, has played with Nuno in Dramagods and was the drummer for Perry Farrell's Sattelite Party. Nuno's wife is Suze Demarchi and she just recently reunited with her band Baby Animals, she is an Australian native. As you can see these guys have kept busy the past 13 years since Extreme's 4th album, Waiting For The Punchline.

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Oh and for all of you who just know of this band for the #1 acoustic hit "More Than Words" and the top 10 hit "Hole Hearted", those 2 songs were just departures from their rock sound.

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NICE TO HAVE YOU BACK EXTREME! ROCK ON! and if you don't like what you see here "Get The Funk Out". Nuno and Gary rock.

Click here for discography, a fifth album is on the way finally!
http://www.mothermetal.com/TBS/Bands...me/Extreme.htm

EdTheRipper

That's great news. I was always a big fan of these guys.

Rogue588

Guess Nuno got over himself? I still remember his reaction when he was on that Bands Reunited show on VH-1.

Then again, he did get bumrushed..

vedderstapp

Why did I get a mental picture of some quasi-Boyz II Men type band when I read the title?

zombiezilla

Well, if these were "departures from their rock sound", why would they agree to push these as singles? That's just stupid marketing, IMNSHO, and a good example as to why this group could never headline arenas back in their heyday. I mean, if you have chick-friendly mega-selling top 40 songs, and you come out and play heavy metal at your live shows, you will fuck up your career. And the metal crowd will simply laugh at you if you try to have sappy top 40 singles, and then try to be "legit" in your live shows. There are some exceptions, but they are few and far between.

In the poll, I had to choose "never heard any of their albums", because the kind of stuff they are known for, but apparently don't "REALLY" sound like, is not my cup of tea; hence, I would never have sought their LPs out to listen to.

I actually saw Cherone live with VH, and thought he should've done better with them than he did, though.

I guess that what I'm trying to say about this news is....meh.

DVD Josh

Wow do you have it backwards. It's brilliant marketing, and put the albums into people's homes that never would have bought it otherwise. And Extreme played some very large venues back in their heyday.

I'm pumped about this news. I still listen to III sides on a fairly regular basis. Nuno is one of the great rock guitarists of this era, and Cherone is just a monster vocal talent.

Kal-El

Love 'em, and I hope they make a stop in NorCal. Pornograffiti is great. And not just because of More Than Words. And yes, Nuno is a freakishly good guitarist.

Mordred

Man this is huge! I love Extreme and have been waiting for something like this to happen for a few years (the band has done a few one off shows in the past). Hopefully the album will be of a similar quality to their first three albums.

dvd_luver

This is a better article from the Gauntlet:

EXTREME REJOIN FORCES FOR NEW ALBUM AND TOUR

EXTREME are set to return in the spring of 2008 with their first album of all new material in 13 years. The band features original members NUNO BETTENCOURT (guitar), GARY CHERONE (vocals) and PAT BADGER (bass), along with new drummer KEVIN FIGUEIREDO.

In the coming weeks, EXTREME will announce their plans for a world tour in 2008 as well as a release date and label for the as yet untitled album, which is being produced by BETTENCOURT, who says: "It will have all the ingredients of an EXTREME record. The music is always Funkier than most rock bands-and born a Bipolar Bastard child of Mr. Zeppelin and Mrs. Beatles."

The Grammy-nominated EXTREME have released four albums, plus two greatest hits sets-selling over 10 million records worldwide-and completed multiple world tours. They also achieved a #1 hit single, "More Than Words"-from their 1990 multi-platinum album Extreme II: Pornograffitti-on the Billboard Hot 100, which they followed with the Top Five "Hole Hearted." Although these two acoustic hits brought the band great mainstream success, it overshadowed the band's trademark sound: a mix of hard rock funk in the spirit and style of their predecessors Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Queen and Van Halen-fueled by BETTENCOURT's signature guitar flights and CHERONE's resonant vocals-and matched with a social consciousness in their lyrics. A career highlight came for EXTREME when Queen's Brian May asked them to perform at the Freddie Mercury Tribute concert in 1992, which gave the band considerable credibility beyond the hard rock fraternity.

EXTREME have been introduced to a new generation of music fans who are connecting with the band through MySpace as a result of the inclusion of their song "Play With Me" on 2007's "Guitar Hero" video game. Outside of EXTREME, CHERONE joined Van Halen as lead singer in 1998, co-writing the Van Halen III album and touring the world with them. BETTENCOURT joined up with Jane's Addiction front man Perry Farrell to form the band Satellite Party and co-produce their album Ultra Payloaded. Satellite Party also consisted of drummer KEVIN FIGUIEREDO, whom was previously in a band with BETTENCOURT called Dramagods.

Through the years, BETTENCOURT and CHERONE have remained close and continued to collaborate on occasion. But what exactly inspired them to rejoin forces as EXTREME?

"Rock and Roll Famine...I know it might sound crazy, but there is a massive shortage of rock and roll on this planet," says BETTENCOURT. "It's almost extinct. I mean the true spirit of quality rock and roll-you know, Musicianship, when you would give up every moment of your day to master your instrument and create your own identity and sound so as to respectfully outdo all your past heroes whilst proudly wearing the badge of their influences."

"Passion," says BETTENCOURT, is what drives EXTREME. "To do whatever it takes, with integrity, to bring music to the people, not because of fame...but just cause you simply couldn't wait to share it with them."

"We realized," adds BETTENCOURT, "not only are the people starved for rock and roll...So are we. Let's eat."

Look for the Boston-based group to perform Saturday, December 1 at the Boston Music Awards at the Orpheum Theatre.

source:
http://www.thegauntlet.com/article/3...0/Extreme.html

Hollowgen

is michael anthony going to play for them?

snoogins

It's too bad they didnt get Paul Geary back. In the VH1 Bands Reunited thing, he seemed pretty eager to get back together with the guys, despite a good career in managing bands.

Otherwise, awesome news!

zombiezilla

1. It's wonderful marketing if you want to "trick" top 40 fans into buying your one hit record; it's terrible marketing if you want a long career as "serious musicians". The people who "never would have bought it otherwise" were most likely very turned off by the rest of the record if they bought it for the hit singles which are not representative of the band's sound. They probably wouldn't buy the next one because "the last one only had one or two good [read: top 40] songs." And hard rock/metal fans wouldn't buy it for the same reason I didn't: "More Than Words". Come on now!

2. I never heard of Extreme playing any big venues unless they were opening for another act/acts (I call big venues 10,000+ seats).

3. I still say "meh."

dvd_luver

Haha. lol. Nope, original bassist Pat Badger.

Also someone brought this up, but I recall Extreme selling out Wembley Stadium in the UK in 1992 or 1993 as the headlining act in support of the bands third album, III Sides To Every Story. I believe that stadium seats well over 12,000 or something. How many bands sell out Wembley? not many. They did a reunion show in 2006 at Boston's Bank Of American Pavillion where they headline, that may have sold out. Not sure.

It's just that Extreme has not done anything in the studio since 1995. Glad they are back and ready to let us feed on a new album (if you read what Nuno said about being hungry for rock n roll, let's eat, you will get what I mean't).

I read a rumor someplace that, yes, he may be managing them. no shit. just a rumor until further details follow. However I can really see this as a sure possibility considering the close ties he has to the band and it's 3 original band members. Extreme also is close to Godsmack, whom he manages, so it would work realistically. I can see this happening for sure.

dvd_luver

Extreme excitement over BMA rock reunion
by Michael Marotta, of the Boston Herald

Twenty years ago, Extreme was named Outstanding Hard Rock/Heavy Metal band at the Boston Music Awards.

And this weekend, the local rockers - except for drummer-turned-manager Paul Geary - will reunite and return to their rock ’n’ roll roots.

On Saturday, Nuno Bettencourt, Gary Cherone, Pat Badger and new sticksman Kevin Figueiredo will take the stage at the Orpheum to blow the roof off of the BMAs - the first step to a 2008 world reunion tour and new album.

“We weren’t gonna do it until we had a record out,” said the raspy-voiced Bettencourt from his home studio in Los Angeles. “But (Aerosmith drummer and the BMAs honorary chairman) Joey Kramer reached out to us. He wanted to make the BMAs special like they used to be, so we figured why not?”

The as-yet-untitled studio album with all-new material - the band’s fifth - will drop sometime in spring 2008. A massive tour will follow, said Nuno.

Bettencourt described the new album as a “straight up rock record” that expands on Extreme’s funk-metal sound.

The new album was the key to getting back together as a full-time band, he said. Extreme did a handful of gigs this summer, including a gig at the Bank of America Pavilion in July, but Bettencourt wasn’t interested in becoming a permanent part of a nostalgia act.

“Even though we wanted to do something for years, we had to have something new to offer,” he said. “In the last six months we started writing some great songs. If they weren’t, we wouldn’t be doing this.”

Malden’s own Gary Cherone, a former frontman for Van Halen, and bassist Pat Badger are Extreme-ly happy to get back together with Bettencourt, but original drummer Paul Geary, who manages Godsmack out in L.A., decided to opt out of the reunion. But there’s no hard feelings.

“Paul’s a manager now, he doesn’t play much,” Bettencourt said. “He knew straightaway he wasn’t able to do it, (but) the blessing is definitely there.”

Filling in for Geary is Figueiredo, a Hudson homey who jammed with Bettencourt in his previous project, the Perry Farrell-fronted Satellite Party.

“It felt a little-bit lacking from a rock ’n’ roll aspect,” said the diplomatic Bettencourt of his short-lived stint with Satellite Party.

source:
http://news.bostonherald.com/track/c...icleid=1047228

dvd_luver

This new Extreme album is gonna kick some serious ass.

MovieExchange

You seem to be under the belief that the band controls the singles. Not true, unless it's a major act.

As for Cherone with VH, he was damned good... but the fans were pig-headed in their refusal to accept someone new, and the album itself was sabotaged from the beginning as Gary was handed an album written for Sammy Hagar's singing style. He did the best with what he could, and their live show was amazing.

brainee

After this long off I really don't have any expectation for the new album. But there's so much talent there, it's good to see them getting back together for another go.

I voted for 3 Sides as my favorite. Though it flirts with pretentiousness (with all the "message" songs, the themed sides, and the closing suite), it just works for me. Rock solid set of songs - great songwriting and performing ... no filler out of 70 minutes. And the closing epic is a bombastic stunner - great stuff that stood out from the "grunginess" that was dominating mainstream rock at the time.

It's a shame it sold so (relatively) poorly, which must have dictated the band to release the grunge-styled "Waiting for the Punchline" - easily my least favorite Extreme CD. It wasn't just it that the band seemed to sell out and go with what was seen to be the popular sound of the day. But the songs were tuneless and forgettable. To hear they broke up after this wasn't surprising at all.

Pornograffiti is a close second as my favorite. Great set of songs - fun funk-metal, with great hooks and performances. It's a shame the record company didn't push harder for one of the "rockers" to be a single too, to give the audience a better idea of what they were about.

Extreme had a decent career, but I think they would've been huge if started out earlier in the 80's - at the start of the hair/glam metal period rather than at the end of it.

A-aron

Count me among those excited by this news. I still love all of the albums and they get lots of play on my Zune. I wonder if the number five will play into the title somehow.

I never got to see them live (though they opened for Def Leppard in my area once) and I certainly hope to see them this time around.

bunkaroo

Very good news indeed.

III Sides is definitely one of those under-appreciated masterpieces.

I remember when the record came out, the cassette actually had one more song and was one of those super-long cassettes (42 minutes a side).

Then I got a CD player in my car, got the CD, and realized the song "Don't Leave Me Alone" was missing. Thankfully I found it on CD as an extra track on the Stop The World CD-single. I've since made my own 2-CD version of the record with DLMA back where it belongs.

I think I'll pop in my Extreme CD's today.

brainee

Also, consider the circumstances of those singles. The CD, Pornograffiti, had been out for almost a year in the US. The first 2 singles, the rockers "Get the Funk Out" and "Decadence Dance", bombed in the US (though who knows how much effort the record company put into it - I don't even remember those songs getting airplay at the time). The album was falling off the charts, and the studio made a last-ditch effort with the "ballad" to get some airplay. Even if the band was completely behind the marketing, I don't see how you can blame anyone. If there was a mistake, it was maybe not pushing for a rocking follow-up to "More Than Words", rather than another ballad. And for not being 5-7 years in the past, when any of a number of Extreme's fun anthemic melodic rockers would've fit right in with what was dominating the radio and charts.

MovieExchange

Good points all around.

I still remember the place Pornograffiti has in retail history around here. One of the big chain stores (Record Land, I believe it was called) had a monthly "buy it and try it" pick, where you could buy the selected album, listen to it, and return it for a refund if you didn't like it. Extreme was the choice of the month just when More Than Words hit the air. It flew off the shelf and set a record for most copies returned when people realized the entire album wasn't like that.

bunkaroo

Funny story!

But seriously, who would want a whole record full of songs like "More Than Words"? It's the variety on Extreme's records that made them great IMO.

EdTheRipper

WAAF out of Boston played them quite a bit but they were a local band so they were pretty much destined to get major airplay.

dvd_luver

As an Extreme fan that thought makes me cringe. Yes, they do other things away from the funk metal or what Nuno said on the Photograffitti vid about More Than Words, "somedays your sick of loud shit and you just pick up something and play". Some stuff on Extreme 1 I liked away from the funk metal, like Rock A Bye, Bye. They can even play funk metal and make it somewhat different like on the 1st album, Watching Waiting. Of course on Pornograffitti we got More Than Words, Hole Hearted, but less discussed is the fancy, Sinatra-esque When I First Kissed You, a great different track for Extreme (what comes on right after, a song called Suzie (Want her all day what?). On III Sides To Every Story, they made an album that musically had a little bit of everything on it. The first 6 tracks are funk metal, the Mine side has what could have easily been a top 40 hit in Seven Sundays, with great keyboard/Piano work, up next is Tragic Comic, an acoustic track with percussion that really is different than anything they did before. Our Father got into the funk metal a bit but still different, even Stop The World to. Than we got God Isn't Dead, a very sad dark moody piano based song about God. Don't Leave Me Alone was on the cassette and it sounds very exotic. Than comes the three track song with the Orchestra, Everything Under The Sun. Let me say that no band or artist since has ever come anywhere near touching this kind of musical brilliance. Love it or hate it, it's f**king a brilliant 20 mins of music with Rise N Shine, Am I Ever Gonna Change? and the very dark Who Cares?. On Waiting For The Puncline we had the brilliant solo by Nuno, Midnight Express, the bluesy Naked and the sad Unconditionally which would even appeal to fans of More Than Words. I love that track but the title track on the album, Waiting For The Punchline delivered. That was a heavy album, so Extreme can mix funk metal with all kinds of different sounds. Alienated many, but for those who appreciated that they did all kinds of different styles, one of the reasons to appreciate them all the more.

This next album will probably have a few surprises, but since it has been 13 years since Waiting For The Punchline was released I expect the band to be fresh and this album like all the other ones will be different from the other. Judging by what Nuno said, this will be alot funkier. Which, even as a fan is one of the reasons why I love Extreme. I hope mostly it's all funk metal.

I also would love a 2-cd of songs.

nothingfails

come on, you're not being fair to Extreme. You speak as if they're the only hard rock band whose biggest hit was nonrepresentative of their sound. I mean, if Extreme are soft rock crap because of "More Than Words", then I guess Van Halen are synth-rock because "Jump" was their biggest hit, and Kiss was a mixture of light rock and disco seeing that "Beth" and "I Was Made For Loving You" were their biggest hits. Aerosmith? Seeing that "I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing" was their biggest hit, I guess they're a lite rock ballad-heavy 80's Chicago-ish band. Correct?

Granted, Kiss, Van Halen and Aerosmith were much bigger than Extreme but judging Extreme's merits off the one song that was by far their biggest hit is the same thing as determining what Kiss sounds like because of Beth or I Was Made For Loving You or what Van Halen sounds like over Jump (I personally love Jump, but I know it's not very representative of the VH sound).