The band formed in 1984 in Sacramento as City Kidd, and was renamed Tesla during the recording of their first album, 1986's Mechanical Resonance, on the advice of their manager that City Kidd was not a great name. The band derived their name, certain album and song titles, and some song content from events relating to Nikola Tesla, a Serbian inventor and electrical engineer born on the border of Serbia and Croatia in the 19th century.
The band's original line-up consisted of vocalist Jeff Keith, guitarists Frank Hannon and Tommy Skeoch, bassist Brian Wheat and drummer Troy Luccketta.
Tesla's music is often referred to as heavy metal, but is better described as hard rock with a bluesy feel. The band's lyrics also strayed from the themes popular in heavy metal, particularly in the 1980s at the beginning of their career. A further distinction from their comtemporaries was their T-shirt-and-jeans image which was in strong contrast to Glam Metal bands of the time, which were characterized by big hair, leather pants and flashy-make up. Also in the early days of their career, Tesla toured with David Lee Roth, Def Leppard and Poison which incorrectly resulted in the band being categorized as a Glam metal band. The band's members resented this labelling.[1] [2] Tesla have always been proud of the fact that their music has always been just guitars and drums, with an occasional piano from guitarist Hannon and/or bassist Wheat and occasional organ from Hannon, with no synthesizers or anything to distort their sound. Their albums always proudly proclaimed, "No Machines", referring to that fact. However, the band's 2004 album, Into the Now, included synthesized beats.
It was three years before the band released their second album, The Great Radio Controversy. The album help solidify the band growing reputation and fanbase. The album produced the hit single "Love Song".
In 1990, Tesla released Five Man Acoustical Jam, a live album featuring acoustic renditions of hits such as "Comin' Atcha Live," "Gettin' Better," "Modern Day Cowboy," and "Love Song". The album also featured a number of covers most notably a version of "Signs", a song by the Five Man Electrical Band.
In 1992 the band released their third studio album Psychotic Supper. The band themselves consider this to be their best album according to their official website. The 1998 Japanese reissue import of Psychotic Supper contains three previously unreleased songs, including "Rock the Nation", "I Ain't Superstitious" and "Run Run Run."
In 1994 the band released their fourth studio album Bust a Nut. The 1998 Japanese reissue import of Bust a Nut contains the previously unreleased cover of Led Zeppelin's "The Ocean."
After 1994's Bust a Nut, the band took a hiatus to support Skeoch during his struggle with substance abuse. However, it wasn't long before Skeoch briefly joined up with solo artist Marshall Coleman's band to support his solo career, only to see a departure of Marshall soon after. This band eventually morphed to include vocalist Jeff Keith & resurfaced as Bar 7 with a single "Four Leaf Clover", from the album The World Is A Freak. Bassist Brian Wheat formed "Soul Motor", Frank Hannon "Moon Dog Mane" while Drummer Troy Luccketta worked with several local artist including the Bay Area's "One Thin Dime."
After a break of six years the band reformed in 2000 and recorded the double live album Replugged Live. In 2002 they were featured in the Rock Never Stops Tour alongside other 80s rock bands.
2002 saw the release of a further live album Standing Room Only which is just a single cd version of Replugged Live.
In 2004 they released their fifth studio album Into the Now which debuted on the Billboard album chart at number 30. The album was well received by fans and the band was featured on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
In the summer of 2006, the band embarked on the Electric Summer Jam Tour and put the following statement on their web site: "We would like you to join us in welcoming guitarist Dave Rude, who will be hitting the road with us for the 2006 Electric Summer Jam Tour as Tommy Skeoch will not be performing with us. Please also join us in congratulating Tommy and his wife on the birth of their new baby boy. We wish the whole family the best."
An article in the Deseret Morning News (June 16, 2006) that featured an interview with Wheat clarified the situation: "The tour is also a chance to introduce the newest member of the band, guitarist Dave Rude, who replaces Tommy Skeoch. Skeoch has been in and out of the band since 1994, addressing substance-abuse problems". "But with a new baby at home", Wheat said "this time Skeoch's departure is full-time". "He just wanted to spend more time with his family after all these years. It's hard. He'll always be a part of Tesla history."
"Cumin' Atcha Live" appeared in the 2002 video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.
Tesla have recorded a covers album titled Real to Reel, which was released on June 5, 2007. The recording is available as a 2 CD set. The first CD (containing 13 songs) is sold in a case with a blank slot for the second CD. The second CD (containing 12 additional songs) will initially be available to concert goers in the USA at no additional charge beyond the cost of a ticket. The second CD was also given away with the August edition of Classic Rock magazine in Europe
At the end of August Tesla announced their first world tour in 16 years with dates in Australia, Japan and Europe in October and November 2007.
It has been confirmed that Tesla is going to play at the Sweden Rock Festival in June 2008 as well as Rocklahoma 2008 in Pryor, Ok in July 2008.
In March 2008, Tesle help fund a benefit conert for the lives lost during a fire during a great white show. The show was broadcasted on t.v. And featured such artists as dee snider and mr. big. Tesla played two songs. Love Song and Signs.
Discography
Studio Albums
1986 Mechanical Resonance
1989 The Great Radio Controversy
1992 Psychotic Supper (a Japanese Import of the album contained the songs "Rock the Nation", "I Ain't Superstitious" and "Run Run Run.")
1994 Bust a Nut (a Japanese Import of the album contained a cover of Led Zeppelin's "The Ocean")
2004 Into the Now
2007 Real to Reel
2007 A Peace Of Time - iTunes exclusive release
Compilation/Live
1990 Five Man Acoustical Jam (1990, live)
1995 Times Makin' Changes - The Best of Tesla (1995, best of 1986-1994) (US - Gold)
2001 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Tesla (2001)
2001 Replugged Live (2001, 2-CD Live Set)
2002 Standing Room Only (2002, Live)
2008 Time Machine (2008, Box-Set)
The band's original line-up consisted of vocalist Jeff Keith, guitarists Frank Hannon and Tommy Skeoch, bassist Brian Wheat and drummer Troy Luccketta.
Tesla's music is often referred to as heavy metal, but is better described as hard rock with a bluesy feel. The band's lyrics also strayed from the themes popular in heavy metal, particularly in the 1980s at the beginning of their career. A further distinction from their comtemporaries was their T-shirt-and-jeans image which was in strong contrast to Glam Metal bands of the time, which were characterized by big hair, leather pants and flashy-make up. Also in the early days of their career, Tesla toured with David Lee Roth, Def Leppard and Poison which incorrectly resulted in the band being categorized as a Glam metal band. The band's members resented this labelling.[1] [2] Tesla have always been proud of the fact that their music has always been just guitars and drums, with an occasional piano from guitarist Hannon and/or bassist Wheat and occasional organ from Hannon, with no synthesizers or anything to distort their sound. Their albums always proudly proclaimed, "No Machines", referring to that fact. However, the band's 2004 album, Into the Now, included synthesized beats.
It was three years before the band released their second album, The Great Radio Controversy. The album help solidify the band growing reputation and fanbase. The album produced the hit single "Love Song".
In 1990, Tesla released Five Man Acoustical Jam, a live album featuring acoustic renditions of hits such as "Comin' Atcha Live," "Gettin' Better," "Modern Day Cowboy," and "Love Song". The album also featured a number of covers most notably a version of "Signs", a song by the Five Man Electrical Band.
In 1992 the band released their third studio album Psychotic Supper. The band themselves consider this to be their best album according to their official website. The 1998 Japanese reissue import of Psychotic Supper contains three previously unreleased songs, including "Rock the Nation", "I Ain't Superstitious" and "Run Run Run."
In 1994 the band released their fourth studio album Bust a Nut. The 1998 Japanese reissue import of Bust a Nut contains the previously unreleased cover of Led Zeppelin's "The Ocean."
After 1994's Bust a Nut, the band took a hiatus to support Skeoch during his struggle with substance abuse. However, it wasn't long before Skeoch briefly joined up with solo artist Marshall Coleman's band to support his solo career, only to see a departure of Marshall soon after. This band eventually morphed to include vocalist Jeff Keith & resurfaced as Bar 7 with a single "Four Leaf Clover", from the album The World Is A Freak. Bassist Brian Wheat formed "Soul Motor", Frank Hannon "Moon Dog Mane" while Drummer Troy Luccketta worked with several local artist including the Bay Area's "One Thin Dime."
After a break of six years the band reformed in 2000 and recorded the double live album Replugged Live. In 2002 they were featured in the Rock Never Stops Tour alongside other 80s rock bands.
2002 saw the release of a further live album Standing Room Only which is just a single cd version of Replugged Live.
In 2004 they released their fifth studio album Into the Now which debuted on the Billboard album chart at number 30. The album was well received by fans and the band was featured on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
In the summer of 2006, the band embarked on the Electric Summer Jam Tour and put the following statement on their web site: "We would like you to join us in welcoming guitarist Dave Rude, who will be hitting the road with us for the 2006 Electric Summer Jam Tour as Tommy Skeoch will not be performing with us. Please also join us in congratulating Tommy and his wife on the birth of their new baby boy. We wish the whole family the best."
An article in the Deseret Morning News (June 16, 2006) that featured an interview with Wheat clarified the situation: "The tour is also a chance to introduce the newest member of the band, guitarist Dave Rude, who replaces Tommy Skeoch. Skeoch has been in and out of the band since 1994, addressing substance-abuse problems". "But with a new baby at home", Wheat said "this time Skeoch's departure is full-time". "He just wanted to spend more time with his family after all these years. It's hard. He'll always be a part of Tesla history."
"Cumin' Atcha Live" appeared in the 2002 video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.
Tesla have recorded a covers album titled Real to Reel, which was released on June 5, 2007. The recording is available as a 2 CD set. The first CD (containing 13 songs) is sold in a case with a blank slot for the second CD. The second CD (containing 12 additional songs) will initially be available to concert goers in the USA at no additional charge beyond the cost of a ticket. The second CD was also given away with the August edition of Classic Rock magazine in Europe
At the end of August Tesla announced their first world tour in 16 years with dates in Australia, Japan and Europe in October and November 2007.
It has been confirmed that Tesla is going to play at the Sweden Rock Festival in June 2008 as well as Rocklahoma 2008 in Pryor, Ok in July 2008.
In March 2008, Tesle help fund a benefit conert for the lives lost during a fire during a great white show. The show was broadcasted on t.v. And featured such artists as dee snider and mr. big. Tesla played two songs. Love Song and Signs.
Discography
Studio Albums
1986 Mechanical Resonance
1989 The Great Radio Controversy
1992 Psychotic Supper (a Japanese Import of the album contained the songs "Rock the Nation", "I Ain't Superstitious" and "Run Run Run.")
1994 Bust a Nut (a Japanese Import of the album contained a cover of Led Zeppelin's "The Ocean")
2004 Into the Now
2007 Real to Reel
2007 A Peace Of Time - iTunes exclusive release
Compilation/Live
1990 Five Man Acoustical Jam (1990, live)
1995 Times Makin' Changes - The Best of Tesla (1995, best of 1986-1994) (US - Gold)
2001 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Tesla (2001)
2001 Replugged Live (2001, 2-CD Live Set)
2002 Standing Room Only (2002, Live)
2008 Time Machine (2008, Box-Set)
DETAIL DISCOGRAPHY :
Mechanical Resonance - 1986
Tesla's first album cruised to #32 on the Billboard charts on the strength of fan favorites Cumin' Atcha Live, Modern Day Cowboy, Little Suzi and Getting' Better. Jeff says of the songs from the debut album, "I think they all stand the test of time. I think that's one of the best things about Tesla." Then he adds, "There's a lot of songs I like on that album. Before My Eyes has a hypnotic feel. I love 'em all."
Five Man Acoustical Jam (1990)
Bust A Nut - 1994
"One of my favorite songs on the album was Try So Hard, which Brian wrote," remembers Troy. "I liked it because it was different, all the changes, diversions and acoustics. If we had a Band on the Run, it was that song. It was Brian expressing himself and all of his Paul McCartney and Beatle influences. I could see him living his dream through that, so I was excited to share that with him."
Best of Tesla - 2001
Into The Now (2004)
The Great Radio Controversy - 1989
While this album might be best known for Love Song, some of the band's best live songs are found here. Heaven's Trail (No Way Out), Hang Tough and The Way It Is kick up the energy for fans and the band alike. "I think that was the album that put us on the map with Love Song. When you get a Top Ten single that will really open things up," Jeff states. "It's one of my favorite albums."
Psychotic Supper - 1992
"This is probably our best record," says Tommy. "It was really us. It was a rawer record, less produced and it reminds me more of how we are live. We didn't really go for a bunch of overdubs, we just kind of kept it real." One of the most interesting things about this album is the diversity - from the rockin' Change In The Weather to the touching What You Give. "It is our best record and I wouldn't change a thing about it," Brian adds. "The performances are nailed. The songs are nailed. The sound is nailed. That was the record that captured what we do live, because people would always say that our records sounded really good, but live we shredded. I think we nailed that one."
Time's Makin' ChangesThe Videos & More DVD (1995)
RePlugged Live (2001)
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