Kix (band)

Kix
Kix performing in 2009
Background information
Also known as	The Shooze (1977-1979) The Generators (1980) The Baltimore Cocks
Origin	Hagerstown, Maryland, USA
Genres	Glam metal, hard rock
Years active	1977–1996, 2003–present
Labels	Atlantic, East West, CMC International, Loud and Proud Records
Associated acts	Funny Money, The Blues Vultures, The Snakehandlers, Rhino Bucket (Deep Six Holiday), Jeremy and the Suicides, Jeremy L. White, Souls at Zero, Wrathchild America, Silent Old Mtns
Website	kixband.com
Members	Steve Whiteman Jimmy "Chocolate" Chalfant Brian "Damage" Forsythe Ronnie "10/10" Younkins Mark Schenker
Past members	See: Former members

Kix is an American hard rock band that achieved popularity in the early 1980s. Band members have continued to record and tour, including the Rocklahoma festival in 2008 in Oklahoma and are a consistent presence at the annual M3 Rock Festival in the band's home state of Maryland.

Kix was formed by Ronnie Younkins, Brian Forsythe and Donnie Purnell in December 1977 in Hagerstown, Maryland. In 1981, they released their self-titled debut album, Kix, featuring "Atomic Bombs", "Heartache", "Contrary Mary", "The Itch", and "The Kid". "Love at First Sight" instantly became a concert favorite. "Kix Are for Kids" creatively merged the name of the band with two popular cereals of the 1960s and 1970s, Kix (that featured an atomic bomb commercial) and the Trix Rabbit ("Silly rabbit, Trix are for kids!"). "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah" became the band's most popular concert song, always with a unique ad-lib performance by lead vocalist Steve Whiteman, of Piedmont, WV. With this album, the tongue-in-cheek rock and roll style of Kix was established.

Originally calling themselves Shooze and eventually changing their name to the Generators and ultimately, Kix, Baltimore's favorite hard rock band garnered quite a reputation for themselves as one of Maryland's most exciting live bands, covering influences AC/DC, Aerosmith, April Wine, Led Zeppelin and others, prior to signing with Atlantic Records in 1981.

Led by frontman Steve Whiteman and creative mastermind/bassist Donnie Purnell, the band is rounded out by drummer Jimmy "Chocolate" Chalfant and guitarists Ronnie "10/10" Younkins and Brian "Damage" Forsythe. Hitting the club circuit six nights a week for three straight years resulted in the band cultivating a huge local fan base and led to a contract with Time Warner affiliate Atlantic Records. Releasing their self-titled debut in 1981, Kix featured live favorites like "Atomic Bombs," "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah" and "The Itch". To support the release, the quintet set out to hit every club up and down the East Coast. Their 1983 follow-up, Cool Kids, showcased a more commercial side of the band. Spearheaded by the single "Body Talk," rumors circulated that the song was written to appease the band's label, who, eager to capture radio airplay, also forced the band into shooting a blatantly commercial video for the song which featured the band in full-on workout mode. Other songs like "Restless Blood" and "Mighty Mouth" fared a little better. Eager to get back in the studio, Kix partnered up with Ratt and future Warrant producer Beau Hill and released Midnite Dynamite — their self-proclaimed "favorite record ever." The album spawned two singles: "Midnite Dynamite" reached #18, followed by "Cold Shower," which reached #23, both on the Hot Mainstream Rock chart. Other notable cuts are "Sex" and "Bang Bang (Balls of Fire)."