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Boogie rockers
Jackyl were instantly lumped into the hair metal category upon their debut in 1992, but their sound was only vaguely reminiscent of the genre. Still, this label stuck with them after the sound became un-hip and their loud rock & roll was largely ignored by the mainstream. But due to the well-rounded Southern rock they were releasing throughout the '90s, they maintained a dedicated following that few other bands from the era could claim.
The band started in 1990, forming in Georgia out of vocalist
Jesse James Dupree, guitarist
Jeff Worley, drummer
Chris Worley, bassist Tom Bettini, and guitarist
Jimmy Stiff. The fivesome shared an enthusiasm for
AC/DC,
Lynyrd Skynyrd, and other like-minded artists, and were soon crafting their own blend of hard rock and Southern boogie around their native state. Record executives got hip to their live show, which included chain saws, among other things, and soon the band signed to Geffen.
A self-titled debut enjoyed several hit rock singles, including "When Will It Rain," "I Stand Alone," and "Down on Me." But the most attention was drawn by "The Lumberjack," an ode to burly chainsaw-wielders that witnessed a power tool solo by
Dupree. His chainsaw abilities became their recognized gimmick, and equally gimmick-crazy guitarist
Ted Nugent took the band on the road for a tour that included his own archery display as well.
This was good for their career in the short term, but their reputation as a hair metal band was cemented by the appearances with
Damn Yankees and Slaughter on the road. By the time 1994's
Push Comes to Shove was released, Geffen was firmly against promoting a group with that reputation and allowed the record to sink to the bottom of the charts. The group left the label and moved to Mayhem, marking the occasion with a live album before leaving the label only a year later for a jump to Sony. Arriving in 1997, Cut the Crap enjoyed play on rock radio, but was still overshadowed by popular alternative rock acts. Sony dropped
Jackyl, so they quickly signed to Shimmering Tone and began work on Stayin' Alive. The record came out to poor critical reception, and the cracks in the band's armor began to show.
A lineup change was necessary, so Bettini and
Stiff got the boot and former
Brother Cane guitarist
Roman Glick was drafted into the lineup. Writing tracks with
AC/DC vocalist
Brian Johnson, the band returned in 2002 with Relentless, followed by Live at the Full Throttle Saloon in 2004. Subsequent studio albums include
When Moonshine and Dynamite Collide (2010),
Best in Show (2012), and
Rowyco (2016). ~ Bradley Torreano