History:
Often compared to Poison, Tuff played a similar brand of catchy pop metal -- although at times much darker. They had the pretty-boy good looks that were so popular in the glam years, but just arrived too late on the scene to make much of a commercial dent.
  Formed in Phoenix, Arizona; the band, which consisted of Jim Gillette (vocals), Jorge DeSaint (guitar), Todd Chase (bass) and Michael Lean (drums), decided to relocate to Hollywood and released a four song EP. Shortly after it's release Gillette departed the band for a solo career (and to later form Nitro) while Bret Michaels look-a-like Stevie Rachelle took over on the microphone. Tuff toured steadily for three years before finally landing a major label-recording contract, however their timing was very bad. Just as their first single, "I Hate Kissing You Goodbye", was roaring up the MTV charts, a band called Nirvana was breaking out of Seattle and would change the face of music forever. Tuff became one of the forgotten bands among the grunge movement, and was promptly dropped by Atlantic records.
  By 1993 both Chase and Lean had left the group to be replaced by Danny Wilder and Jimi Lord respectively. They toured for a short time before Wilder walked away and Jamie Fonte was brought in for the last version of Tuff. Fist First (an album that later became Religious Fix when three new tracks were added) would be the band's last studio effort and in 1995 Tuff called it a day.
  Rachelle continued on with a solo career and playing in bands such as Motley Priest. By 2001 a revamped Tuff emerged and made waves with the tongue-in-cheek rap metal parody "American Hair Band" which appeared on The History Of Tuff. Tuff continues to tour sporadically to this day, with Rachelle remaining the focal point and leader.

Links:
The Official Tuff Page

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