On Friday, August 30 Franklin, Ohio and everyone else came to stand in the sands at J.D. Legends filling the outside environment to watch local lads Guilty Pleasure and ‘80s-modern day rockers Winger. Call them glam, call them the dreaded h—rmetal label, call them MTV played, but in 2024 they’re still recording and touring, blasting out the classics, favorites, deep cuts and new heavier material. Celebrating 35 years and counting.
Winger has been applauded, lauded and lambasted for their look, and songs. Though their classic library is considered glam, they still get airplay on HairNation with several records released since the mid-90’s when grunge took over and eventually died.
Kip and the boys are having the last laugh, still active as several of their MTV-Headbangers Ball era contemporaries are. It’s safe to say, they ‘made it,’ while embracing what brought them to arenas and world touring, they’re building a bigger library of new, modern day material for fans of all ages and hair lengths to enjoy.
Guilty Pleasure warmed up the crowd and evening air with a setlist gathering some of the best ‘80s anthems and glam goodies, and a few heavier hits and classics, breathing some musical hairspray into the air. For those that experienced the decade of decadence, it was an Aqua Net, sold out arena sized tribute to the rock n’ roll and hard rock Gods of guitar riffs from the early ‘80s to early ‘90s. For those that YouTubed and Googled MTV, Headbangers Ball and glam, glitz and glamour.
Things got hard and fast, with roses and talk’n dirty with Poison and “Love On The Rocks.” Decline of Western Civilization alumni Faster Pussycat are undisputed kings of sleaze and lavatory invites. Though what happens behind closed doors, any doors, is left for Hollywood Babylon.
The Electric Gypsy’s of L.A. rode into town with engines roaring and it was “Never Enough” for the crowd. It wasn’t a slashing lullaby or heaven sent rocker but it wasn’t love either though the song said different.
A colorful glammed flashback to the ‘60s “Enuff Z’ Nuff style flew high, spirited at 6AM and under the influence of the music, helmed by Michelle. They played homage to the Great White memory of Jack Russell and “Mista Bone.”
The classic theater-fueled Crüe, sang the “Home Sweet Home” intro into “Don’t Go Away Just Go Away.” Tesla’s “Little Suzi” is still working it for the camera with all she’s got! Warrant sang the heavenly hymn of Jani’s angelic home, Ratt will perpetually go “Round and Round” as long as records are played, with a crowd sing along. They got Headbangers Ball Heavier with Accept’s “Balls to the Wall” and Australian road dogs AC/DC set the road ablaze on the “Highway to Hell” Hysteria ensued with the Sheffield Leppard Letting It Rock.
With the emblazed eagle spreading its wings high, flying with fire Winger opened with album Seven killer blood spiller, “Stick The Knife In And Twist,” giving the crowd a quick little taste of new material. They quickly went to ’80s signature “Seventeen.” Daddy doesn’t say she’s too young anymore as middle age creeps up but the song still kicks immortal ass. She’s still younger than “Christine Sixteen.”
The early ‘90s came jamming back, in full sun-blazoned heat, hey hey, and we still “Can’t Get Enough” of Kip and Co. It was very hot, hot enough to make guitar picks stick to packaging. They took Franklin on a trip down south, to get the Pull, “Down Incognito.”
Robotic hearts pumped cybernetic wires, with ballad-like keyboard notes on “Miles Away.” “Proud Desperado” showed a more heavy and serious side, showing while they acknowledge their early era hits, they’re not defined by them and are happy to play it forward with different and new material.
Another Pull of the leash came, showing their heavier side even back in the ‘90s, putting everyone face to face with the growling, snarling “Junkyard Dog.” He’s still hungry, angry and ready to devour.
Reb Beach’s hand and fingers took over the show and the crowds eyes and ears, playing his ass off spellbound by (not Slayer) “Black Magic”.
It wasn’t Dream Theater but things got a little heavy and karmatic stepping back a few years on “Pull Me Under.”
“Time To Surrender” got some debut deep cut love while “Headed For A Heartbreak” was a spiraling trip back to the classic MTV glam ballads. If you ever want to see a time capsule of a band having almost too much fun on stage watch, “Easy Come Easy Go.” It will keep you young at heart.
The crowd sang along to the riff as Kip screamed out the ageless intro, as “Madalaine” went back to the beginning and the first sight and sounds of the black cat in disguise. Decades later, she’s still to hard to tame.
No encore came but the crowd got what they came for and a few extra’s though it would’ve been totally excellent to hear “Battle Stations” or Jimi in spirit on “Purple Haze.” While not played and should’ve been, “Voodoo Fire” and “Tears of Blood” gives the modern Winger a heavier, darker vibe.
Images & words – Mike Ritchie
Winger – www.facebook.com/WingerTheBand, www.wingertheband.com
Guilty Pleasure – www.facebook.com/GP80srock
