Tuff, a glam metal band from Phoenix, Arizona, once proudly declared themselves “the biggest unsigned band in the world.” Bold claim, right? But where did that confidence come from? Well, let’s just say they had the hair, the attitude, and the sound to back it up—sort of.
When I first saw pictures of Tuff back in the late ’80s, I couldn’t help but think of Poison. The lead singer, Stevie Rachelle, had that same Bret Michaels vibe going on—bandana, big hair, and all.
And their music? Straight-up glam metal with a pop-metal twist. But here’s the kicker: by the time Tuff hit the scene, the hair metal wave was already starting to crash. Timing, as they say, is everything.
Almost Made It
Tuff’s story is a classic tale of “almost made it.” They had their moments, but they were never quite able to break through to the big leagues. And let’s be honest, they didn’t always get the best press. In fact, they were so used to being trashed by critics that they even released a compilation album called “Decade of Disrespect”. Ouch.
Speaking of disrespect, let’s talk about Stevie Rachelle and his infamous run-in with a music critic. Back in 1989, a writer named Hot Rod Long (yes, that was his name, real name is Christopher Ellington) had been tearing into Tuff in several local LA magazines. He didn’t hold back, calling Stevie “talentless” and basically saying the band was a waste of space. Naturally, this didn’t sit well with Stevie.
One night, Stevie tracked down Hot Rod at a pub. Now, Stevie’s not exactly a giant—he described Hot Rod as a “big, nerdy guy”—but that didn’t stop him from confronting the critic. Words were exchanged, punches were thrown, and Stevie ended up shattering Hot Rod’s glasses with a well-placed hit.
When Hot Rod hit the floor, Stevie allegedly kicked him in the head a few times for good measure. Security had to step in, and Stevie walked away with a reputation for being, well, a bit aggressive. Rock ‘n’ roll, right?
TUFF the Band
Stevie wasn’t even Tuff’s original lead singer. The band formed in 1985 in Phoenix, with Jorge DeSaint on guitar and Todd Chase on bass. Their first singer was Jim Gillette, who later went on to form the band Nitro with guitarist Michael Angelo Batio.
During the self-released Knock Yourself Out (1986) EP, Jim Gillette was the lead singer and Michael “Lean” Raimondo was the drummer.
When listening to the song, it feels like another version of Poison. During this time, Tuff performed in clubs all over Phoenix and occasionally moved to other places. They then moved to Hollywood, California, but Jim, the lead singer, left to pursue a solo career and later formed the Nitro band with Michael Angelo. Stevie Rachelle was the replacement.
Stevie, a punk rock-loving skateboarder from Chicago, only joined after seeing a flyer looking for a singer “like David Lee Roth or Vince Neil.” He auditioned, got the gig, and within six weeks, he was on stage opening for Warrant at The Roxy Club in LA. Not bad for a newbie.
By 1987, Tuff was a regular on the Sunset Strip, playing alongside other hair metal bands. They even appeared in the legendary music documentary The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years.
Almost Famous
But despite their self-proclaimed title as “the world’s most famous unsigned band,” they struggled to land a record deal. They recorded demos at Sound City Studios (yes, the same place where Nirvana later recorded Nevermind), but talent scouts kept telling them their songs weren’t hit material. Ouch again.
In 1990, Tuff finally caught a break and signed with Titanium Records, a small label backed by Atlantic. The deal was worth 75,000 for seven albums—wa ymore than Poison got for their first deal with Enigma (23,000), but peanuts compared to what Guns N’ Roses scored with Geffen.
Their debut album, What Comes Around Goes Around, dropped in 1991 and featured the ballad “I Hate Kissing You Goodbye,” which actually got some attention. But by then, the grunge wave was crashing down, and hair metal bands were being shown the door. Tuff’s timing couldn’t have been worse.
Titanium Records went bankrupt in 1992, and Tuff was left without a label. Members started leaving, and by 1995, they were playing to crowds as small as 40 people. The final nail in the coffin? A gig in Ohio where only two people showed up. Two. That’s when Tuff called it quits.
But Stevie Rachelle wasn’t done with the music world. In 1998, he founded Metal Sludge, a rock music website that became a go-to spot for hard rock and glam metal fans. It’s packed with juicy gossip, band histories, and even Stevie’s own “Tuff Diaries.” In 2000, Stevie revived Tuff (sans most of the original members) and released History of Tuff, a compilation album that included a hilarious parody of Kid Rock’s “American Bad Ass” called “American Hair Band.” The lyrics are a riot, poking fun at the glory days of hair metal.
Why Matters
Tuff might not have been the biggest band of the ‘80s, but they’re a perfect example of the era’s excess, ambition, and, let’s face it, chaos. They had the look, the sound, and the attitude, but they were just a few years too late to ride the hair metal wave to stardom. Still, their story is a reminder of how tough the music industry can be—and how sometimes, even the most confident bands can’t catch a break.
So, here’s to Tuff: the “biggest unsigned band in the world” that almost was. They may not have topped the charts, but they sure left their mark on the Sunset Strip—and gave us one hell of a story.
Read More Tuff’s Diary
