Stevie Rachelle | Tuff | March 2000 |

 

I have been sooo freakin busy, and had soo many computer problems..that I missed a month of interviews,so here you go..and Ill try and get 2 up for this month.. Stevie has been someone Ive been a fan of for a long,long time..
I think Tuff didnt get the exposure they should of, and they certainly should have had a heavier first single..
Cause the heavy stuff rocks! anyway, Stevie is still out there..pluggin away..
and hes here to tell you about the rise and fall of the band..and the many new adventures on his own..
enjoy....

 

J-how long were you in the band before they got signed?
S-I joined Tuff in July of 1987 and we got signed in the summer/fall of 1990. Our debut release on Atlantic Records "What comes around...goes around" came out in May of 1991.

 

J-how did everyone get along in the band?
S-We all got along great. But like all bands, families and relationships thing got tense at times. Myself & Michael looked at everything in a different light than Todd & Jorge did, and we all had our own little jobs in the band.

 

J-How important was the look of the band in those "hair band days" compaired to the music...?
S-The look was very important back then. Just as the dragons & castles played an important role in Dios album covers, song titles, stage set, etc...Alot of people wanted to point out image related issues about Poison, Warrant, Tuff & anyone who looked better than the average rock band. Fact is Iron Maiden had an identity along with Judas Priest and even Tesla. We all did our own thing and people categorized accordingly. I read reviews of ours that talked about the shape of Jorges guitars and what color head band I was wearing. Never even mentioning weather we sounded tight or if I sang in key or not. 

 

J-do you ever look back at some pictures and say "what was i thinking?
S-"Yes. But then I slap myself and say "I was 21 and thats what was going on in 1987". I also look at my high school photos of me with feathered hair and a members only jacket and say the same thing. "What the f**k"!

 

J-what was the biggest crowd you played for?
S-Probably about 5,000 or so with Tuff. Oddly enough C.W.A. played to about 10,000 in San Diego at The Super Bowl pep rally in 1998!

J-Whats the craziest thing a fan has ever done to meet you?
S-Knocked on my Hotel room door to ask for asprin. She said she had a headache so I let her in, gave her some tylenol and then we had sex. I guess Tylenol really works.

J-In the late 90's the members started to change in the band..tell us why..and who changed..
S-Todd Chase quit in December of 1991. Me & Todd had butted heads alot more often as the years wore on, eventually he got fed up with me and quit. We are better friends today then we were then. Michael Lean quit in August of 1993. He left because he was trying to start a business and raise his son. Tuff had scheduled a fall tour and I know he really wanted to go but it just would'nt work with his new project so he said you gotta fine someone else. Michael and I still talk quite often. Jorge & I played with 2 different drummers and 2 different bass players up until the fall of 1995.

 

J-How many cds did you record w/the new lineups..and how did the music change? 
S-Tuff recorded several songs in so many situations its hard to define it all. Some of our CDs had multiple drummers, bass players and producers on them. Its safe to say that we got much harder as time passed. Tuff in 1987 was a very pop/glam sounding band. Also very young & very novice. The whole band could'nt legally get into bars at that time. By early 1990 we had been influenced by Skid Row, GNR & Metallicas heavier approach. Even though our most recognized song was a ballad we had some much harder tracks that went un-noticed. Spit Like This & Good Guys Wear Black were live faves to our male fans.

 

J-How about a reunion..? any plans? even just to record some stuff..
S-No, No & maybe. There are a few old tracks from 1992 that never got finished. No vocals but everything else. I'm trying to locate them and If I do, I plan to record my vocals and possibly release them. .

 

J-now..onward...when and why did tuff finally call it a day?
S-On November 18th 1995 in Cleveland Ohio Tuff was laid to rest. Like I said early, It was just time to move on.

 

J-and since then you have released a solo album, whats that cd like for someone who hasnt heard it?
S-My debut solo CD Stevie Rachelle "Who the Hell am I?" is kinda mellow compared to Tuff. Its like a Brian Adams or John Cougar sounding CD. Very acoustic, all american type songs. I also did a piano & strings version of the Tuff song "So Many Seasons". There are some sound samples of it at the site. 

J-What gives you ideas for your songs?
S-Life. I'm usually influenced by things around me. Family, friends, my dogs and situations.

 

J-you also did a side project as a joke and ended up doing well..cheeseheads w/attitude...tell us about that...
S-Its basically a Weird Al kinda thing. We do parody songs. Someone elses hit song and our new lyrics. Very cool & very funny. We sound like The Beastie Boys I guess. Go visit the site and check it out

 

.J-how many cds have you released w/them?
S-C.W.A. has released 3 CDs & 1 Home Video. Also The Trailer Park Posse has released 1 CD.

 

J-What other music stuff have you been doing?
S-Singing on some tribute CDs. I sang Red Hot / Motley Crue, You're Crazy / GNR, Blackout / The Scorpions & Too Late For Love / Def Leppard. All for the Cleopatra/Deadline Records Label. Also sang on the Shameless Compilation CD lfrom Germany last year and doing it in March of 2000 again. For more info. visit my site and go to the links section to find out more about these projects.

 

J-Any new solo cds in the works?how is the musical style of what your doing now...and when will it be out?
S-The new solo CD is called Stevie Rachelle "Since Sixty Six". It will be available in May of 2000.  It's 10 tracks and rocks much harder than my debut. I plan to have some real audio clips up soon on my site.

 

J-any touring plans?
S-I'd love to but no plans yet.

 

J-What kind of new bands are you into...?
S-Mandy Moore, Lit, Neve & Kid Rock. 

J-and what do you think of 80% of the old 80's bands getting back together?
S-Cool. Maybe they'll let me open some shows.

 

J-Since the internet is taking over the world, do you get alot of fan mail?
S-Somedays I'll get 10 e-mails some days I get 30, it all depends.

 

J-and do you care if your email is posted w/this interview?Go for it. 
S-srachelle@earthlink.net

 

J-do you have any websites you would like to let people know where you are?
S-Hey everyone please visit  www.tuffcds.com  or www.stevierachelle.com   they both go to the same page. The entire Tuff catalog is available on CD & Video along with C.W.A. & my solo stuff. T-shirts too! I also have an online credit card company to do sales online so order away.

 

J-and one last thing is there anything you would like to say to your fans reading this?
S-Thanks a million for supporting Tuff over the years and hope to see you all soon.

Thanks again Stevie..he was the quickest to answer my emails yet.. and I love it! also everyone check out his solo stuff..its i bit different..but give it a chance! youll love it!