Cinderella

Cinderella is a US hard rock and glam metal band from Clifton Heights, Pennsylvania, active from 1983 to 2017. The group is formed in Philadelphia in 1982 by vocalist Tom Keifer and bassist Eric Brittingham, and it becomes one of the better-known American hair metal acts of the 1980s.

Formation and early lineup

The first lineup includes Tom Keifer, Eric Brittingham, drummer Tony Destra and guitarist Michael Schermick. In 1985, Schermick and Destra leave and later join Britny Fox, another Pennsylvania hard rock band. They are replaced by guitarist Jeff LaBar and drummer Jim Drnec. This lineup records the band’s debut album, Night Songs, although session drummer Jody Cortez plays the drums on the recording.

Breakthrough with Night Songs

Fred Coury, formerly of London, joins shortly afterwards and appears as the drummer credited in the album’s liner notes. Night Songs is released in 1986 and becomes triple platinum. During the tour, Cinderella reaches a larger audience while supporting Bon Jovi on the Slippery When Wet tour and David Lee Roth on his Eat ’Em and Smile tour.

Later albums and touring

The second album, Long Cold Winter, is released in 1988. Its supporting tour lasts more than 14 months and includes the Moscow Music Peace Festival alongside Ozzy Osbourne, The Scorpions, Mötley Crüe, Bon Jovi and Skid Row. One stage feature from this period shows Keifer being lowered to the stage while playing a white piano during performances of “Don’t Know What You Got ’Til It’s Gone”.

The third album, Heartbreak Station, arrives in 1990 and is more strongly shaped by Keifer’s interest in blues. After the tour, Fred Coury leaves and later joins Stephen Pearcy in Arcade. Keifer then develops voice problems and undergoes several operations, which delays work on the next record.

Still Climbing and reunions

Still Climbing is finally released in 1994, but the album receives little backing from the band’s label and no support from MTV, and it quickly disappears from the charts. Cinderella reunites in 1997 and tours the United States the following year. Mercury Records then releases the greatest-hits compilation Once Upon a.... In 1999, Cleopatra Records issues Live at the Key Club. Around this time, the band is signed by John Kalodner to Portrait/Sony Records, but it is dropped before a new album is released. Further touring follows in 2000 and 2002.

Compilations and later activity

Mercury Records releases Rocked, Wired & Bluesed: The Greatest Hits on CD and DVD in 2005. In the summer of 2006, Cinderella tours with Poison to mark the 20th anniversary of both bands’ first albums, Night Songs and Look What The Cat Dragged In. The tour draws large crowds and becomes one of the most successful tours of that year.

Line-up

Members associated with Cinderella include Tom Keifer, Eric Brittingham, Jeff LaBar, Fred Coury, Michael Kelly Smith, Kevin Valentine, Ray Brinker and Tony Destra.