Y T Thathachari

Y&T

Y&T (originally known as Yesterday & Today) is a heavy metal band who formed in 1974. They hail from the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. The band put out two albums on London Records as Yesterday & Today in the 1970s, before shortening their name to Y&T and releasing several albums on A&M Records beginning in 1981, as well as albums on Geffen Records, Avex Records, and others. The band was originally co-managed by Herbie Herbert (who also managed Journey) and Louis "Lou" Bramy. The band has sold over 4 million albums to date worldwide.

History

Early years

Dave Meniketti (often mistakenly spelled Menketti) started his musical career in 1973, and in 1974 he formed Yesterday and Today. The band's name was inspired by The Beatles' album of the same name. The original members were Meniketti (lead guitar, lead vocals), Joey Alves (rhythm guitar), Phil Kennemore (bass), and Leonard Haze (drums).

The band released two 1970s albums on London Records. A new record deal in 1980 with A&M Records prompted the band to shorten their moniker to simply Y&T, and encores with fans chanting "Y&T, Y&T, Y&T" sealed the condensed name.

Commercial success

Y&T’s 1985 hit "Summertime Girls" received tremendous airplay worldwide, played frequently in the Baywatch television series and several feature films, remained at length in heavy rotation on MTV as well as MTV’s top video playlists, and the hit song gets regular airplay today on classic rock radio stations throughout the country alongside other Y&T hits. Y&T songs grace the soundtracks of numerous movies and television shows, and their popular videos for songs such as "Lipstick & Leather", "Don’t Stop Runnin'", "Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark", "Contagious", and "Summertime Girls" are still featured videos on VH1 today.

Later years

Leonard Haze was replaced by Jimmy DeGrasso in 1986, and Joey Alves was replaced by Stef Burns in 1989. Jimmy DeGrasso and Stef Burns later played together with Alice Cooper in the 1990s.

The last studio album this lineup recorded was Ten. This album features some ballad highlights, such as "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark", "Ten Lovers", and "Come in from the Rain", together with some real hard rock songs, including "City", "Surrender", and the fastest track Y&T ever recorded, the speed metal song "Goin' Off the Deep End".

Musical impact

With career accolades that include performing on American Bandstand, two Bammie Awards, five top 100 albums, songs that tipped into the 40s on Billboard charts, multiple national and international television appearances, and a worldwide fan base, Y&T has sold over four million albums and recorded 16 LPs and three greatest hits compilations since their 1974 inception. These rock 'n' roll pioneers survived disco fever, rode the crest of the 1980s hard rock insurgence, and remained faithful to melodic power ballads throughout the age of grunge. At any concert, you can hear fans calling out their requests including, "Rescue Me" from Earthshaker, "Forever" from Black Tiger, and "Mean Streak" from Mean Streak.

The band's signature hits include "Summertime Girls" (which reached #55 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1985) and "Mean Streak". Their 1984 Album In Rock We Trust was their highest-selling release, reaching #46 on the Billboard Album Charts and selling over 450,000 copies, coming close to gold certification. The album Earthshaker is still seen by many as one of the heaviest, and most honestly-produced albums in hard rock. It contains some top-songwriting, for example, with the songs "Rescue Me", "I Believe in You", "Hurricane", and "Squeeze". These, and other songs of the record, makeup an important part of the band's live shows. In 2006, a complete concert in the Netherlands was captured on the DVD One Hot Night.

Breakup and reformation

The band officially disbanded in 1991, concluding with the strong live album Yesterday & Today Live, but still continued to perform sporadically. They officially reunited in 2001 with a lineup of Dave Meniketti, Stef Burns, Phil Kennemore, and Leonard Haze. Stef Burns eventually left to join Huey Lewis and the News, and was replaced by rhythm guitarist/backing vocalist John Nymann, who was an old friend of the band, and previously sang backing vocals on Down for the Count. In 2006, Leonard Haze was asked to step down and was replaced by Mike Vanderhule on drums. Dave Meniketti and Phil Kennemore have been the only constant members of the band since it's formation in 1974.

Band members

Current members

Dave Meniketti – lead guitar, lead vocals (1974–1991, 1995–present)
John Nymann – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2001–present)
Phil Kennemore – bass guitar, backing vocals (1974–1991, 1995–present)
Mike Vanderhule – drums, percussion, cymbals, backing vocals (2006–present)

Former members

Leonard Haze – drums, percussion, cymbals, backing vocals, mayhem (1974–1986, 2001–2006)
Joey Alves – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1974–1989)
Jimmy DeGrasso – drums, percussion, cymbals, backing vocals (1986–1991, 1995–2001)
Stef Burns – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1989–1991, 1995–2001)

Session members

Robert Russ – piano on Struck Down (1978)
Galen Cook – organ on Struck Down (1978)
Cherie Currie – backing vocals on Struck Down (1978)
Adam Day – rhythm guitar on Down for the Count (1985)
Randy Nichols – keyboards on Down for the Count (1985)
Steffen Presley – keyboards on Down for the Count (1985)
Claude Schnell – keyboards on Down for the Count (1985)
Bill Costa – backing vocals on Down for the Count (1985)
John Nymann – backing vocals on Down for the Count (1985)

Lineups

(1974–1980) Yesterday and Today	Dave Meniketti – lead guitar, lead vocals Joey Alves – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Phil Kennemore – bass guitar, backing vocals Leonard Haze – drums, backing vocals
(1980–1986) Y&T	Dave Meniketti – lead guitar, lead vocals Joey Alves – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Phil Kennemore – bass guitar, backing vocals Leonard Haze – drums, backing vocals
(1986–1989) Y&T	Dave Meniketti – lead guitar, lead vocals Joey Alves – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Phil Kennemore – bass guitar, backing vocals Jimmy DeGrasso – drums, backing vocals
(1989–1991) Y&T	Dave Meniketti – lead guitar, lead vocals Stef Burns – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Phil Kennemore – bass guitar, backing vocals Jimmy DeGrasso – drums, backing vocals
(1991–1995) Y&T disbanded
(1995–2001) Y&T disbanded	Dave Meniketti – lead guitar, lead vocals Stef Burns – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Phil Kennemore – bass guitar, backing vocals Jimmy DeGrasso – drums, backing vocals
(2001) Y&T	Dave Meniketti – lead guitar, lead vocals Stef Burns – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Phil Kennemore – bass guitar, backing vocals Leonard Haze – drums, backing vocals
(2001–2006) Y&T	Dave Meniketti – lead guitar, lead vocals John Nymann – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Phil Kennemore – bass guitar, backing vocals Leonard Haze – drums, backing vocals
(2006–present) Y&T	Dave Meniketti – lead guitar, lead vocals John Nymann – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Phil Kennemore – bass guitar, backing vocals Mike Vanderhule – drums, backing vocals

Note: Y&T formed in 1974, disbanded in 1991, and began performing sporadically in 1995 until officially reuniting in 2001.
Note: In some places, it wrongly states Jimmy DeGrasso was drummer of Y&T from (1987–1990, 1995), but this is incorrect.
Note: Though Dave Meniketti began his musical career in 1973, Y&T wasn't formed until 1974.