Rough Cutt

Rough Cutt is the Los Angeles band's debut for Warner Bros. The turnover it took to get here is a miniature of 1980s LA in itself: Jake E. Lee left for Ozzy Osbourne, and Craig Goldy and Claude Schnell both left for Dio. Those who remained — Paul Shortino (vocals), Amir Derakh (guitar), Chris Hager (guitar), Matt Thorr (bass) and Dave Alford (drums) — cut the record at The Record Plant in Los Angeles. After waiting a year for Ted Templeman, who had signed them but was tied up with Van Halen and others, production went instead to Tom Allom of Judas Priest fame. The band was mentored by Ronnie James Dio. His wife Wendy managed them, and Ronnie himself co-wrote “Take Her,” which slips a nod to Grieg's “In the Hall of the Mountain King” into its ending. “Dreamin' Again” and “Black Widow” are Wendy's co-writes. “Piece of My Heart” was first sung by Erma Franklin and made famous by Janis Joplin, while “Never Gonna Die” is a cover of Australia's Choirboys. Shortino's gritty, lingering voice ties that scattered material into one line. The band then toured the US opening for Krokus, Accept and Dio.