KIX Brian "Damage". "Getting signed was just the beginning"

[@scottankers6690]

The most underrated band of the era. They were so much better than a lot of the bands that had more commercial success than they did. Midnight Dynamite is one of the best albums of the era. I'm from Maryland and saw them many times from small clubs to big arenas.

[@daveg4236]

Hate the word underrated but I have to agree. They were poorly managed

[@Mitzi73]

They didn’t realize it at the time but it is true that their band was better than anything that came out of the 90’s scene.

[@kmortensen]

Dirty Looks was also underrated.

[@ricardolobatos]

Totally true

[@j.reveille6815]

I’m from Lancaster , saw them at an all ages show double header at the chameleon winter 83 …I think. Loved them since.

[@JB-he1jt]

Great band...Kix is till one of my all time favorites!!

[@williamtobin7282]

Saw " Dont close your eyes" in LA circa 84-85 and I was captivated by the band. I'd seen and heard a lot of bands so this one was going on my " listen too for life" list...

[@michaelr.4878]

Possibly the greatest channel on KZbin. These interviews are incredible. The guest selection is fabulous.

[@davidhill7234]

Absolutely!

[@ddwalker3744]

Man I'm 47 and I been a huge Kix fan since the 80s, I love there sound

[@scottlee7458]

Baltimore born and raised. Seen Kix many times growing up. Along with Child's Play. Another great Baltimore band. Sure miss those Seagull Inn days.

[@evetsk77]

But they aren't a Baltimore band. Hagerstown

[@capnkirk933]

And Wrathchild America at HammerJacks Kix rocked everytime

[@23nacho23]

Crack the sky

[@leightnite3056]

Tragically underrated, true rock group!

[@michaelmcnair7624]

Saw them in Brooklyn at a famous rock club called L'AMOUR over 25 years ago! They were freaking amazing! Loud....clear, just like their albums...I remember Steve screaming, 'KIX ARE FOR KIDS!!' and throwing the Kix cereal all over the crowd....lol

[@OrieCipollaro]

I was selling his merch that night! That was a long time ago

[@stephenmills9782]

First saw KIx at the Seagull Inn, 1977. They were the Shooze back then. Still kickin' ass. Thank you guys.

[@gwts1171]

I've always thought of these guys as being closer to Cheap Trick than Skid Row. Such a great band. I've been a fan since "Cool Kids".

[@cancelbubble6535]

I know it's cliche to say, but man, what an underrated band that should have been much bigger than they were. Love, love, love Kix. Really wish you would post up longer form interviews.

[@23nacho23]

The best live band I ever saw, KIX. Wow I miss Hammerjacks

[@23nacho23]

Ditto

[@tbury2516]

Don't Close your Eyes is on of my all time favorite songs. I remember being a Sophomore in 1982 and a Senior I had a class with was always yelling "Kix are for Kids!" in class, had no idea what he was talking about till I saw Kix ads in Hit Parader magazine. Awesome times, Saw Kix with Ratt and Britny Fox in 89 and still have the Blow My Fuse shirt from the show.

[@screamingcheemie2338]

I’m a Baltimore native , grew up with Kix !! Great band with unmatchable energy !!

[@nahnotsomuch2292]

Saw these guys for the first time a 2-3 years ago at RockFest in Cadott, WI. They didn't sound like they missed a single step. They blew the crowd away and sounded fucking amazing. One of the big highlights of the weekend for me.

[@rrfields65]

The Best East Coast band Ever !!! Bon Jovi had nothing on them !

[@kevinblake839]

Great live band. Brian and Ronnie were a kickass guitar tandem.🤘🎸⚡🔊🔥

[@viktorportmann1221]

Brian is a great guitar player. I saw him with Rhino Bucket last week in Switzerland - Teli and Vox AC30, what class and sound! I hope KIX will visit us too.

[@NightFly216]

KIX is simply put on of the greatest bare bones hard rock n roll bands to ever take the stage. These guys had it all - talent and the ability to gel and play well as a band, like a well oiled machine, they had the “look” if you will and the ability to put on a balls to the wall killer show every time you see them, they always delivered. If you ever left a KIX show without a big smile on your Face I’d have to question if you had a pulse. The band has historically always had to fight for their place at the table even though having talent that is leaps and bounds beyond most of their peers. But in the end all that hard work has proven to only fine tune this band to the absolute explosion of a rock n roll show that they still are to this day. Here’s to the best damn rock n roll band in the land, KIX!

[@bryanjackson405]

I live in No. Va. and use to go see them all time in DC at The Bayou back before they got big! Was always a great show!

[@allthecolors6900]

How can you NOT love Kix? Unique sound, both vocals and guitars. Blow My Fuse!

[@seagullpoet]

Dynamite, Fuse, Hot Wire…….3 incredible releases in a row.

[@ccdrums1290]

Great rock and roll band. Arguably one of the best rock singers and front men of that era. They had it all, looks, songs, stage persona….the best live band I ever saw, hands down. Brian and Ronnie were great together.

[@ericroll]

I totally agree. Steve Whiteman's vocals are killer! I've recently seen vocalists on KZbin doing a cover of Don't Close Your Eyes -- they're OK, but they can't compete with the original.

[@robertpierce1981]

I was present for the first few rounds of Kix reunion shows. Ran spotlight. Crowd reaction was overwhelming. I’m just a fanboy who was lucky to be drafted to help. Thanks Frank.

[@mantleisking2301]

Best live band I have ever seen..With Donnie @ the 9:30 and without Donnie numerous times.....Just a great band...

[@jimrocker6027]

Hello everyone, I’m originally from Maryland and now reside in Southern California and I loved the Kix band. Had the pleasure to see, “The Dirty Boys from Baltimore , but they were originally from Hagerstown, Maryland. They have always headlined the M3 Rock Festival in Columbia, Maryland and Blew my Fuse each time!!! 👍🎶🤘

[@lancemcdaniel2576]

Seems like every one of these interviews brings me back to parts of my youth in the best ways. I grew up listening to all the people you interview. So awesome. We need these parts of history retold. Great stuff. Thanks!

[@tswilde8]

Was not a big Kix fan, until I saw them live opening for tesla. They are awesome! A must see act live. Under rated band!

[@brianmckenzie1318]

They put on a GREAT show! Remember seeing them a couple of times in club during the late 80's when they rolled through Raleigh.

[@TheTmhartjr]

18 years old in Hagerstown, Md. in 1979 and the boys living in the house on the corner of Va. Ave and Armstrong street get signed. Many a wild and crazy night at the Mountain View Inn 79 80, 81 and 82. Awesome music happening at the Mt. View during this period. Rhett Forrister went on to Riot and a 16 year old drummer and local boy by the name of Shannon Larkin goes on to hit it big with Godsmack.

[@jaray7710]

I was right there with you at The Mountain View. My ex husband played with Shannon in the original Wrathchild. They all practiced at Shannon’s house on Warms Spring Ave. Martinsburg WV.

[@nicolasrodriguez3499]

Unbelievably underrated. I see Kix at the Bottle and Cork in Dewey Beach every year.

[@ericroll]

Brian, your father was a teacher of mine at Montgomery College (Harvard on the Pike). You had just released your first album and we talked about how much we liked KIX. He mentioned he had to intervene to make sure you guys got paid for local gigs in Maryland every now and then. Oh those unscrupulous nightclub owners! Anyway, listening to The Itch always takes me back to those carefree college days. I saw you play at the University of Maryland and of course Hammerjacks!

[@kevinraimond7658]

Always enjoyed the dang Kix band!

[@rrfields65]

@Fryx Ur : silly Fryx ! KIX is for KIX!

[@Malama_Ki]

For Shame @ Hampton Coliseum, VA 2/17/90 opening for Whitesnake. The lighters lit, the crowd singing, the vibe. They rocked! Steve is a great harmonica player.

[@josephmodico7184]

Great story ! You guys got great interviews keep them coming. 🤘😁

[@ninamc6116]

They were better than alot of the bands then. Brian & Ronnie were 🎸🎸🎸 awesome. Cold Shower, Blow my Fuse, Midnite Dynamite. Hard hard rockers! Steve’s voice was great too

[@bshoe45]

Midnite Dynamite... one of the most underrated albums of that era

[@seanevertts2735]

True but their first self-titled album is their best in my own opinion.

[@capnkirk933]

I spent many of nights in HammerJacks in Baltimore watching Kix Awesome band

[@10INCHCRUSHER]

Such a great club. God, I miss the inner Harbor.

[@23nacho23]

Long live Hammerjacks. Oh no, they tore it down and made it a parking lot. But we still have the memories. Oh so many memories.

[@billtownbiker]

Man, I've been to over 100 concerts in my life. I've seen Kix and these guys know how to party.

[@davidstandard4842]

Man, Kix were one of my favorites,. Saw them at Red Rocks with Great White. What a show that was. Brian was super cool after the show. Hooked me up with a guitar pick. Lol. Thanks B.

[@tbury2516]

Nice, what year? I saw them at McNichols arena with Ratt and Britny Fox in 89,

[@Prospectgirl]

Such a fun band. Always great shows. Nice bunch of guys too.

[@craigswensen434]

Such a cool guitarist, love his style.

[@BUNKERJR53]

Brian, Frederick, Md. born and raised. I remember seeing this teenager playing a Gibson SG standing near the back of this band. I also went to school with his older brother and the night of Graduation Brian was walking around their home messing with "Bubble Plastic". That was 1971.

[@MrNealb5150]

Brian has soooo much talent and never seeking the "SPOTLIGHT"

[@cryptojoecoin5480]

Always love the Merry Kixmas shows in Brunswick MD. Thanks for keeping it going guys!

[@saltpeter7429]

I'm still rockin Blow My Fuse, and Hot Wire is a great album! Doesnt matter what decade it is, this music delivers. Strange that AC/DC was impervious to trends, but other great bands were hostage to the winds of popularity. But I remember in the late 90's Maiden were barely filling clubs on the east coast. Look at em now, Stay the course.

[@dizzyred1390]

This band delivered the goods... Unfortunately in that Era, it was more about looks and appeal on MTV than raw true talent... KIX rocked

[@davidhill7234]

Ive always liked kix from the very 1st time i heard them!

[@jwon5614]

Absolutely ❤ Kix!!!! Still can’t get why they never made it huge!!!!! Awesome band!!!!!😂

[@jeremygillihan]

One of my favorite guitarists, along with Ronnie Younkins 🤘

[@zakkjagneaux2600]

I wore my Blow My Fuse cassette out , summer age 12 .

[@brickrodgers]

Met Brian once at the Satellite Amp shop, very cool dude and absolute monster guitarist!!!

[@robertthorn8233]

Albums were great/live they were amazing.🤟🏻X

[@williamdecastroferreira5617]

Oh How I love this guy and his band!!!

[@TheJackflash85]

At the end of the night - When a band needs a real meat and potatoes, songwriting, lead guitarist! Brian Forsythe is that guy. A decent man with a good heart. My friend Damage!

[@Davo-gj7gl]

Great interview cheers 👍🏻

[@SWIFTY5150]

KIX should have been so much bigger than they were. They were a solid band in every way.

[@daviclar867]

I remember watching their "Midnight Dynomite" vid on head bangers ball. Adam Curry was the host then who was cool and wished he had stayed with MTV. Very few bands back then had a fighting chance to make it big from that genre. If you look at all those bands that had some commercial success from that era then after the second record or third took a nose dive and never gained that success again. Ratt, Dokken, Queesryche to name a few of my favorites. Someone I heard said that the record people at the start of every decade look for new bands out there to make famous that has a particular sound. Then once they start gaining momentum other bands come out of the woodwork as copies. And it takes about a decade for that to get where it really gets old, then it's time to change it up and start fresh again.

[@rrfields65]

Atlantic Records did not promote these guys like they should have! But Mtv Headbangers Ball did !!!

[@dragonqueen6589]

@@rrfields65 Yes, it’s too bad. They seemed to be entirely focused on Ratt, so these guys were overlooked massively. MTV & Headbanger’s ball were always there to help promote awesome yet overshadowed bands. I wonder if Beau Hill felt cheated somehow, since Midnite Dynamite was produced by him, just like Invasion of your privacy was - and he wouldn’t have been the type to show abject favoritism, as this would’ve been seen as unprofessional… he’s just a talented producer, even if he tended to get too involved with the recording, if what Juan Croucier (Ratt’s bassist) has said is to be believed.

[@shawnstarks1743]

If you know what I know and seen what I seen. YOU WOULD KNOW, NO BAND WANTED TO GO ON STAGE AFTER KIX. (They were that good)

[@bocagoodtimes1460]

Blow my Fuse ReBlown! - by Beau Hill is simply amazing!

[@jaray7710]

I hung out with the guys when they first started playing at The Mountain View Smithsburg, MD.

[@charleswilson4526]

Hotwire is a great record. Tear down the walls was a great ballad… great band, underrated as hell.. but like he said, nevermind came out (great record too) and all of the media and record companies said “yep, we’re changing everything”

[@hoosierdaddy2308]

Very cool. ♥️🤘♥️

[@estudiandoaprendo4365]

Best channel on KZbin!!

[@arthurmurfitt7698]

Congrats on getting sober, Brian. I got sober four years ago, after decades of hard drinking, hard drugs, and livein’ the so-called rock ‘n’ roll life.

[@BinksyBoi]

Congratulations to both of you. ❤️

[@wesseboyman]

i think they peaked around blow my fuse songwriting wise...too bad they never toured scandinavia what i know..:(

[@jelkel25]

They were a great band. I seem to remember you had to buy their stuff on import in the UK. Imports were very expensive so they didn't have the exposure they deserved and many rock bands broke in the UK not long after.

[@stevenr6874]

Red light green light TNT

[@littleclay5875]

... I had enough money to last like two weeks - The rest is history

[@JohnViguerie]

Good for Him

[@oldmountainmarineandmetals9736]

My old band Southbound played at the same place one night in Southern Md. called The Club Sunrise, I like to refer to it as they closed for us instead of we opened for them... Lol!

[@thebuzztone]

Wow, back in the day, you could count on KIX at Hammerjacks

[@lancelucifer4851]

Cool

[@gunnerseven7724]

Brian looks young as hell.

[@22Blimp]

KILLER BAND!!!!!

[@mikegayda715]

Just a cool rock and roll band

[@jabberdouche]

I saw Rhino Bucket open for someone in 90 - 92, maybe. I cant remember who. LA Guns, maybe?

[@rrfields65]

I use to see the God Damn KIX band at the Switch in Raleighwood NC and the Attic in Greenville NC ! Saw them about at least a 100 times... and they KIX'd asses and took names!!!

[@jasonpoole5132]

Atlantic had other bands of the genre that had big success before Skid Row. Ratt, White Lion, Quiet Riot, Winger and so on all had success on Atlantic before Skid Row’s debut in 1989 so not sure why Damage is claiming the label didn’t know wha to do with Kix. That said, Kix definitely rocked and could bring it live.

[@michaelschmidt9708]

Not bad if you can play in 2 of the greatest rock'n'roll bands of all time - KIX and RHINO BUCKET.

[@doctorfeelfunny584]

Did you get Donnie Purnell? He was a very important member of the band and passive fans might not know that.

[@mjklewin]

Kix was legit!

[@xjbomb4463]

These guys worked so hard .and the record company just put them in debt

[@juancarlosibarra3245]

Blow my Fuse and High Wire are great rock and roll records.

[@joehobbs3277]

It’s cool to hear about kix always liked them and to be honest them quiet riot and motley crue predate hair metal it’s a shame kix were left behind

[@larrylambert1220]

I blinked, and the whole era was gone.

[@BROU-bb2uc]

What are you doing now Brian since Rhino Bucket is no more?

[@Sprenklefish]

The first and second albums will always be my faves. Poppy, structured, hard rocking and full of huge hooks. They really were something different and so fresh. They got too metal and repetious for me after that. Too AC/DC sounding. Still, much respect!

[@lowzsims5740]

I loved those first two albums. They had something really unusual and cool.

[@craigmachen]

I absolutely love these interviews, but it's always the same tragicomic story - everything was going pretty, pretty, pretty good... and then Nirvana showed up.

[@vicburke8479]

Kix,kid tested,mother approved

[@tbury2516]

Kix are for Kids!

[@ZipZopZipZop]

Cold blood

[@hellboundTX333]

Fred Armisen was in KiX… who knew it? Lol.

[@hilalabbas2648]

Whats great and also pisses me off is that all these bands survived and went back. Where are the grunge bands? They ruined music and then went kaboom (literally in some cases).

[@MrAirblown2009]

Yes management has a lot to do with the success of the band, but it doesn't trump being able to write more than a couple of great songs

[@theSword-]

Brian, Kix is not Kix with you.

[@rockstardrummer80s]

It’s a sad thing. But management can make or break you. And now today. You can not even make money from selling records. You have to play live and sell merchandise to make a living at music. Yeah you meet lots of ppl and travel lots of miles. But the money part is hard today. And it’s not all about the money. But you do need money to promote the band and play shows. I don’t think today you really need a record company. You can promote yourself. But that takes money. And time. We can go on and on talking about music today !!!! And the bands I been in and out of. Trying to make money.

[@roy1531]

With the band members being so old now, Girls School has kind of a creepy vibe! Hahahahahahaha

[@occultdominionofficial]

Not one mention of Donnie ? Sacrilege. He Was Kix. ☠️

[@JimmyPellechia]

There comes a time when yer age catches up to you and the young mans hairdo just doesn't work with the wrinkled old face...

[@mach5895]

@TheGreedyHand Way to focus on what is important, lol. I’ve heard Brian talk in numerous interviews and, for a rock and roll musician who has achieved a modicum of fame, have always been impressed by his forthrightness, intellect and humility. But, you do you, boss.

[@dowens3781]

All of these 80's hard rock, glam metal and pop metal bands blaming Nirvana and the grunge movement for their declining success - what a load of bullshit.

[@80smetalrecyclebin]

Sounds like you know what really happened. What would you say it was D??

[@BurnLikeAFlame]

Except Geffen was particularly nasty. They didn't just release Nirvana's Nevermind, but the second it became a hit they dropped all promotion for every other band like Kix, including several just releasing their debuts on the same label. They stopped all promotion for anything that wasn't grunge, and gave no support on touring and such. They stopped pushing singles to radio, pushing Nirvana and other grunge instead. 80's hard rock didn't die, it was murdered by bandwagon-jumping labels and radio stations. The 2000's resurgence of many 80s-influenced rock bands now that both labels and radio have less influence is just added proof.

[@philmccracken8947]

The fact is that in almost every single interview on this channel, the person references grunge (Nirvana usually by name) as the point when their band’s career took a turn for the worst at the very least. Many of the bands called it quits for a while, including Kix. Is Nirvana the only reason for all of it…no. But the people who come on here and comment as if it had absolutely nothing to do with the early 90s nosedive in popularity clearly just don’t like this style of music. If you read the posts they generally are very transparent in their comments as to their hatred of this genre, including this thread. Whatever, fact is grunge had a massive impact on pop culture period, and pretending it didn’t just because this music isn’t what you’re into is the real load of bullshit!

[@dowens3781]

@@80smetalrecyclebin By the late 80's, fans of edgier rawer hard rock and metal (such as myself) were getting sick to death of all the glam and pop metal bands such as Poison, Warrant, White Lion, Winger (lots of W bands back then - lol) who had taken over the scene and FM rock radio with their polished lightweight songs (many of which were cheesy syrupy ballads) and bands like Guns 'N' Roses and The Cult who had a more raw bluesy 70's hard rock influenced sound were gaining popularity, as were heavier bands such as Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax. So grunge bands like Soundgarden, Alice In Chains (both of whom's major label debuts came out before Nevermind), Pearl Jam and Nirvana just continued that trend and drove the final nails in glam/pop metal's coffin. I loved Don't Close Your Eyes by Kix, however - it was a dark powerful ballad, not a cheesy lightweight one.

[@dowens3781]

@@80smetalrecyclebin Also, most thrash metal and punk fans got into grunge, while most fans of traditional metal and glam/pop metal didn't.

[@TMoody]

Nice wig.