Rough Cutt — Rough Cutt Wants You!

𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐘𝐏𝐓𝐒 - 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐁𝐔𝐌 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐊 & 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐋…

37 years ago this month, Rough Cutt said that they “Want You”!

In July 1986, Rough Cutt released their second full-length studio album, “Wants You!” via Warner Bros. Records. On certain versions/portions of the album, the full title appears as “Rough Cutt Wants You!”, as opposed to simply “Wants You!”.

Background:

Veteran producer Jack Douglas of Aerosmith fame guided the band's album “Wants You!” (1986). Rough Cutt joined Dio on the last date of their “Sacred Heart” tour at the R.C. Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico on October 10, 1986, and once again made their way to Japan.

While in Japan, Shortino made the decision to leave the band due to internal differences about what direction their music should take, Rough Cutt's manager Wendy Dio introduced Shortino to Quiet Riot and engineered a deal for him to step in as their new lead singer in place of Kevin DuBrow who had been fired. Shortino was briefly replaced by Parramore McCarty of Warrior before Rough Cutt called it quits.

Producer Jack Douglas previously worked with Cheap Trick, Aerosmith on “Rocks”, “Toys in the Attic” and “Draw the Line”, and on John Lennon's last record, “Double Fantasy”.

Rough Cutt Bio (1981-1985):

The first Rough Cutt line-up featured vocalist Paul Shortino, drummer Dave Alford, guitarist Jake E. Lee, keyboardist Claude Schnell, and bassist Joey Cristofanilli. Both Lee and Alford had also previously been in another Los Angeles band, RATT. Both Schnell and Cristofanilli had previously been in the band Magic.

Two other former RATT members and bandmates in Sarge, guitarist Chris Hager and bassist Matt Thorne a.k.a. Matt Thorr (who replaced Cristofanilli) would also soon join Rough Cutt. After his departure, Cristofanilli temporarily joined RATT himself, later joining forces with members of the band Sin who went on to release the album “Made In Heaven” under the name Jag Wire in 1985.

Lee left Rough Cutt in 1982, auditioned for, and was hired briefly by the band Dio, and then replaced the deceased Randy Rhoads as Ozzy Osbourne's guitarist. Lee in turn was replaced by Craig Goldy, formerly of the San Diego band Vengeance. Ronnie James Dio greatly influenced the development of the band. Dio's wife Wendy Dio was the group's manager, and Dio himself helped write one of the band's songs. Rough Cutt contributed two tracks, "A Little Kindness" and "Used & Abused", both produced by Dio and featuring Jake E Lee on guitar, to the compilation album “L.A's Hottest Unsigned Bands”, issued in 1983.

Another Dio-produced track, "Try A Little Harder", with Goldy on guitar featured on the “KLOS 95 1/2: Rock to Riches” compilation, along with another Wendy Dio project NuHaven, released later on in 1983. Goldy soon left the band, and went on to play in Giuffria, and later in Dio's band. Goldy was replaced by Amir Derakh, another San Diego band alumnus.

With the line-up solidified with Shortino, Alford, Derakh, Hager, and Thorne, Rough Cutt was signed to Warner Bros. Records in 1984. The band gained national exposure when they appeared on the 'Rock Palace' TV show performing the songs "Crank It Up", "Dreamin' Again", "Street Gang Livin'", and "Try A Little Harder." Hosted by comedian Howie Mandel, the recording took place on January 1, 1984, at the Hollywood Palace, now the Avalon Hollywood. Rough Cutt also made their way to Europe showcasing at London's famed Marquee Club on April 13, 1984, and playing a badly promoted show at the Fabrik in Hamburg, Germany, both well in advance of recording their first studio album.

After waiting around for a year to work with producer Ted Templeman, who had signed the band to Warner Bros. but was busy with David Lee Roth, Eric Clapton and Aerosmith at the time, Rough Cutt decided to record their debut album, “Rough Cutt” (1985), with Tom Allom (of Judas Priest fame) instead. The band toured extensively in the United States as an opening act supporting Krokus on their “The Blitz” tour, alongside ACCEPT, followed by an extensive trek with Dio on their “Sacred Heart” tour, which lasted from August through December 1985.

Rough Cutt were also part of the Super Rock '85 festival bill on August 10, 1985, at Odaiba-Undohiroba in Odaiba, Tokyo, Japan, sharing the stage with headliners Dio, Foreigner, Mama's Boys, Sting, and Japanese act, Earthshaker.

The show was commemorated with a VHS release titled “Super Rock In Japan '85”; Rough Cutt was featured with four songs from their debut album, "Black Widow", "Take Her", "Dreamin' Again", and "Piece of My Heart."

Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:

Click this link to listen to “Rough Cutt Wants You!” via Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/wants-you/421724416

Click this link to listen to “Rough Cutt Wants You!” via Spotify: Rough Cutt Wants You https://open.spotify.com/album/1zpyCv7tKjsFPhMjCAxuA7

Click this link to watch the official music video for “Double Trouble”: https://youtu.be/iVZufC2Zv8w

Click this link to follow the Rough Cutt page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realroughcutt/

Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. — E.N. Wells

Rough Cutt — Rough Cutt Wants You!

Background:

Rough Cutt Bio (1981-1985):

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