Damn Yankees (band)
American rock supergroup formed in 1989.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Damn Yankees were an American rock supergroup that came together in New York City in 1989. The lineup featured Tommy Shaw (vocals, guitar, from Styx), Jack Blades (vocals, bass, from Night Ranger), Ted Nugent (guitar, from the Amboy Dukes), and Michael Cartellone (drums, later of Lynyrd Skynyrd). The band is best known for the early-1990s Top 40 hits "High Enough" and "Where You Goin' Now."
The group formed during a late-1980s trend of rock supergroups, alongside acts like Bad English, Mr. Big, and Badlands. Producer John Kalodner brought Shaw, Blades, and Nugent together in 1989 as their original bands faced declining commercial success. Their self-titled debut album, produced by Ron Nevison, came out in 1990 and eventually went double-platinum by 1994. Jack Blades' lead single "Coming of Age" peaked at No. 60 on the U.S. Hot 100 and hit No. 1 on AOR charts, while Tommy Shaw's "Come Again" got heavy AOR radio play. The power ballad "High Enough" became their biggest seller, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on AOR charts in early 1991—it was Ted Nugent's first mainstream top ten single. The band's songs also appeared on soundtracks for films like *Gremlins 2: The New Batch*, *Nothing But Trouble*, and *The Taking of Beverly Hills*.
After the debut, Damn Yankees embarked on an 18-month world tour with revamped versions of Bad Company, Poison, and Jackyl. Their U.S. tour coincided with the Persian Gulf War, during which the band displayed American flags and made patriotic statements. In 1992, their follow-up album *Don't Tread* went gold. The title track, sung by Blades, appeared on the *Barcelona Gold* compilation tied to the Barcelona Olympics. Nugent also appeared on *Rock the Vote*, voicing support for the GOP against Bill Clinton. Though *Don't Tread* didn't match the debut's success, it produced singles like "Mister Please," "Where You Goin' Now," and the power ballad "The Silence Is Broken," which was featured in the 1993 Jean-Claude Van Damme film *Nowhere to Run*.
By 1994, Warner Bros. had new leadership that wasn't interested in Damn Yankees' style. According to Jack Blades, the label paid the band a million dollars not to make another album. Nugent then revived his solo career, while Shaw and Blades formed the duo Shaw Blades. Their 1995 album *Hallucination* received little label support due to the industry's shift toward altern
- formed
- 1989
- origin
- New York City, United States
- genre
- Arena rock, pop metal
- known_for
- Songs "High Enough" and "Where You Goin' Now"
- label
- Warner Bros.
Lore & Background
In the late 1980s, the US rock music scene witnessed a trend for supergroups; Bad English, Mr. Big and Badlands were all formed around that time. Shaw, Blades and Nugent were put together by producer John Kalodner as Damn Yankees in 1989 in response to declining commercial success of their original bands. Produced by rock producer Ron Nevison, the newly formed band's self-titled debut album was released in 1990 and went double-platinum in 1994. Jack Blades's leading single "Coming of Age" hit No. 60 on the U.S. Hot 100 and No. 1 on the AOR charts, while Shaw-penned "Come Again" received extensive AOR airplay.
The power ballad "High Enough" became their best selling single, rising to No. 3 on U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on AOR charts at the beginning of 1991. "High Enough" was Ted Nugent's first mainstream top ten single. The band's songs appeared on several Hollywood film soundtracks, such as Gremlins 2: The New Batch, Nothing But Trouble and The Taking of Beverly Hills. After the release of their debut, Damn Yankees went on an 18-month world tour with a revamped Bad Company, Poison and Jackyl. Their US tour coincided with the Persian Gulf War, in which the band unfurled American flags and made patriotic statements.
In 1992, Damn Yankees went gold with their follow-up album Don't Tread. The title song, sung by Blades, was included on the album Barcelona Gold, released in coordination with the Barcelona Olympic Games. Nugent also appeared on Rock the Vote, voicing support for the GOP against Bill Clinton. Although the second release was not as successful as the first album, it spawned several popular singles, such as "Mister Please," "Where You Goin' Now" and "The Silence Is Broken," a power ballad featured in the 1993 Jean-Claude Van Damme film Nowhere to Run.
Reader's Guide
Damn Yankees emerged during a late-1980s trend of rock supergroups, combining members from Styx, Night Ranger, and the Amboy Dukes. Their self-titled debut album achieved double-platinum status by 1994, driven by the hit single "High Enough," which became Ted Nugent's first mainstream top ten single. The band's arena rock and pop metal style, characterized by sentimental ballads and radio-friendly songs, helped them secure soundtrack placements in several Hollywood films. Despite commercial success, changing tastes at Warner Bros. led the label to pay the band one million dollars not to record a third album, effectively ending the group's studio output. Subsequent reunion attempts in 1999 produced an unreleased album, though the members have reunited for occasional live performances, including a 2004 charity concert and a 2010 acoustic set. The band never formally disbanded, leaving the possibility of future activity open.
Did You Know?
- The band's debut album went double-platinum in 1994.
- "High Enough" was Ted Nugent's first mainstream top ten single.
- Warner Bros. paid Damn Yankees one million dollars not to record a third album.
- The band reunited on stage in 2004 at Alice Cooper's Christmas Pudding charity concert.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Damn Yankees (band)?
Damn Yankees is an American arena rock and pop metal supergroup that assembled in New York City in 1989. The project brought together established rockers from Styx, Night Ranger, and Ted Nugent's earlier band into a single high-profile lineup.
Who are the members of Damn Yankees?
The core lineup consists of Tommy Shaw on vocals and guitar, Jack Blades on vocals and bass, Ted Nugent on guitar, and Michael Cartellone on drums. Cartellone went on to play with Lynyrd Skynyrd after the supergroup era.
What songs is Damn Yankees most famous for?
The band scored two major Top 40 hits in the early 1990s: "High Enough" and "Where You Goin' Now." Those two tracks essentially define the group's commercial footprint on Warner Bros. Records.
How did Damn Yankees get formed?
Producer John Kalodner recruited Shaw, Blades, and Nugent together in 1989, riding the late-1980s wave of rock supergroups that also produced acts like Bad English, Mr. Big, and Badlands. The idea was to combine three already-famous frontmen and guitarists into one arena-ready package.
Why is Damn Yankees important in rock history?
The group is a textbook example of the late-'80s supergroup craze, pairing three already-legendary musicians into a single commercial vehicle. Their crossover Top 40 success in the early '90s showed that arena rock could still dominate mainstream radio, even as grunge was beginning to reshape the industry.
More in American heavy metal supergroups 1-24
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