When you think of hard rock bands under the radar, you might envision an up-and-coming act struggling to get the recognition that they so richly deserve. There are an untold number of bands that fit into that category for one reason or another. Luck, or lack thereof, often contributes to which bands make it and which ones become a cautionary tale for aspiring artists with rock and roll dreams. It is rare for a band to have a lengthy career and still fly under the radar, but Tyketto is living proof that this phenomenon exists. The band recently released “DOCUMENTALLY YOURS 25th Anniversary DVD.”
How is it possible for a band to release a 25th anniversary DVD and still be a relative unknown within the hard rock community? Bad timing! As the saying goes, timing is everything, and Tyketto’s couldn’t have been worse. Their debut album, Don’t Come Easy – a prophetic title if ever there was one – was released in 1991, just as the grunge movement was starting to drive the final nail into the coffin of 80’s metal. But make no mistake, this band should have, and likely would have been huge if their album was released in the mid-80’s.
Don’t Come Easy is an outstanding hard rock album that has stood the test of time. Unfortunately, most hard rock fans have never heard it, or any other Tyketto album for that matter.
Tyketto has had its share of tribulations throughout the past 25 years, from lineup changes to record label problems, and eventually a breakup in 1996 that led the individual band members to pursue other projects.
In 2004, the original band reformed for a reunion tour, and then again in 2007 for one last hurrah under the Tyketto moniker, going so far as to release an album entitled The Last Sunset – Farewell 2007. However, the band has continued to play together in Europe and South America at various festivals.
The four original members – Danny Vaughn (vocals), Brooke St. James (guitar), Jimi Kennedy (bass) and Michael Clayton (drums) – released a new album in 2012 entitled Dig In Deep, an appropriate title given what the band has had to do to overcome the obstacles that they’ve faced throughout their career.
One of the saving graces for bands like Tyketto is that there is still a strong market for their style of music around the world. Given the difficulty in gaining traction in America, it is understandable why the band that started out in New York City is now based in Europe.
For more information about Tyketto, check out the band’s official website.
Check out the video for “Forever Young” below…
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Hard Rock Bands Under The Radar
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