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Extreme is an American rock band formed in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1985, that reached the height of their
popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s. They have released six studio albums, two EPs (in Japan) and two
compilation albums since their formation. The band was one of the most successful rock acts of the early 1990s,
selling over 10 million albums worldwide.[4]
Extreme achieved their greatest success with their 1990 album Pornograffitti, which peaked at number 10 on the
Billboard 200, and was certified gold in May 1991 and double platinum in October 1992.[5] The album featured
the acoustic ballad single "More Than Words", which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United
States.
History
1985–1989: Formation and debut album
Extreme was formed in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1985.[6] Vocalist Gary Cherone and drummer Paul Geary were in a
band together called "Adrenalin" in 1979. Then they were also members of a band called The Dream, in 1980• [7]
Guitarist Nuno Bettencourt was in a band called Sinful, and bassist Pat Badger was playing with a Berklee
College-based act called In The Pink. Bettencourt joined Cherone and Geary in a new group in 1985, followed by
Badger in 1986. The four chose the name "Extreme" as it sounded like "ex-Dream," a reference to Geary &
Cherone's past band, "The Dream." Gary & Nuno crossed paths numerous times as Gary's brother Mark & Nuno's
brother Paulo were in a well known local Boston band together called, "Flesh."
Cherone and Bettencourt began writing songs together and the band performed continuously in the New England
area. Extreme grew a large regional following and were named "Outstanding Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Act" at the
Boston Music Awards in 1986 and 1987.
The band had accumulated several original songs by the time A&R director Bryan Huttenhower signed them to A&M
Records in 1987 (which was soon sold to PolyGram in 1988). The band recorded their self-titled debut album
which was issued in March 1989.[7] The first single was "Kid Ego", a song that Cherone would later admit made
him cringe. The final track on the album, "Play with Me", was used as the "mall chase" song in the film Bill &
Ted's Excellent Adventure.[7]
1990–1993: Pornograffitti, III Sides to Every Story, and mainstream success
Sales of Extreme's first record were sufficient to support a second release. Michael Wagener, who had
previously worked with Dokken and White Lion, was hired to produce the band's Extreme II: Pornograffitti album
in 1990.[7]
The record, which showcased Cherone's lyrics, and Bettencourt's guitar-playing, was a mixture of funk, pop and
glam metal sounds. "Decadence Dance" and "Get the Funk Out" were released as singles. "Get the Funk Out"
reached No. 19 in the UK charts in June 1991. Neither single was initially successful in the United States,
however, and the album had fallen off the charts when A&M sent the third single to a number of US radio
stations.[citation needed]
The acoustic ballad "More Than Words" entered the Hot 100 on March 23, 1991, at No. 81. It later became a huge
smash, hitting No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.[7] The subsequent single, "Hole Hearted",
another acoustic track, was also successful, rising to No. 4 on the same pop chart.
The band began recording their third album in 1992. Their appearance at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in
April 1992 interrupted the recording sessions, but it gave the band considerable exposure beyond the heavy
metal fraternity.[7] By playing a medley at the tribute, as well as "Love of My Life" and "More Than Words"
acoustically, Extreme gained a considerable number of fans along with the Queen fan base. At the introductory
speech before they played, Brian May noted that they were "possibly more than any other group on this planet,
the people that understand exactly what Queen have been about all these years, and what Freddie was about all
these years".[8]
III Sides to Every Story was released on September 22, 1992.[7] The first single from the album, "Rest in
Peace", had an accompanying video clip inspired by a film short by the National Film Board of Canada called
Neighbours.[9]
1994–1996: Lineup change and Waiting for the Punchline
Prior to the band's appearance at Donington's Monsters of Rock festival in the summer of 1994, Geary left the
band to pursue a career in artist management. Mike Mangini succeeded him on drums.[7]
Waiting for the Punchline, the first record to feature Mangini on three tracks (Paul Geary played on the rest
of the album before departing), was released on February 7, 1995. The singles "Hip Today", "Unconditionally",
and "Cynical" were released, but the album was not a commercial sales success. Extreme disbanded after the tour
in 1996, on amicable terms, when Bettencourt decided to leave to pursue a solo career.[7]
1997–2003: Split and Van Halen
On the recommendation of former Extreme manager Ray Danniels, in 1996, Gary Cherone joined one of the world's
most successful rock acts, Van Halen. During 1996, Van Halen's fan-base weathered the acrimonious departures of
two of rock's most successful lead singers: first David Lee Roth, the band's original frontman (1974-1985), and
then Sammy Hagar, who had fronted Van Halen since 1985. Into this fractious, and very public, situation entered
Cherone, whom guitarist Eddie Van Halen later called a "musical soulmate".[10] In 1998, the Cherone-fronted Van
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Halen released Van Halen III.
Van Halen III was a departure for the band—experimental, sometimes acoustic, and socially conscious, lyrically.
It bore little resemblance to the band's earlier, riff-driven classic rock.
Van Halen III reached No. 4 on Billboard's top 200 album charts, and sold over 500,000 copies in the U.S.
alone; however, by Van Halen's standards, it was a failure. All 12 of their previous albums had all sold over
two million copies in the U.S. alone, with two selling over ten million in the U.S. alone—and the previous five
studio albums had all reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album charts. Van Halen's tour was successful;
however, not as successful as in previous years.
In late 1999, after Van Halen's second album with Cherone was "sent back" by Warner Bros. Records,[citation
needed] Cherone left the band. He later formed Tribe of Judah, which released an album called Exit Elvis in
2002. In 2005, Cherone released a four-song sampler CD, entitled Need I Say More.
