- Source: Tuff Darts
- Source: Tuff Darts!
Tuff Darts was an American punk rock band. They were one of the first bands to establish an audience at CBGB. They reached their greatest fame in the mid-late 1970s with such songs as "Slash", "(Your Love Is Like) Nuclear Waste" and their biggest single, "All for the Love of Rock and Roll", which was originally recorded by Ram Jam. The band appeared at popular New York City clubs like Max's Kansas City and CBGB and featured Robert Gordon (vocals), Jeff Salen (guitar), Bobby Butani (guitar), John DeSalvo (bass), and Jim Morrison (drums). This was the original band that was on the Live at CBGB's compilation record in 1976. After parting ways with Gordon, John Morelli (an Ian Hunter protégé'), replaced Jim Morrison on drums and the band eventually found new lead singer Tommy Frenzy (Frenesi). In 1978, the group released their debut album Tuff Darts!, on Sire Records, produced by Bob Clearmountain and Tony Bongiovi, shortly before disbanding.
Tuff Darts reunited in 2002 to play a gig upon the release of Tuff Darts! on compact disc. They subsequently played several additional shows and recorded one more album, 2007's You Can't Keep A Good Band Down. It was only released in Japan.
In 2009, Spectra Records released two albums worldwide, Here Comes Trouble and You Can't Keep a Good Band Down. Tuff Darts!, You Can't Keep a Good Band Down and Here Comes Trouble are now available as downloads.
Jeff Salen, founder and lead guitarist of the band, died of a heart attack on January 26, 2008, at age 55.
Tuff Darts have been performing since 2011 with a reformed lineup in and around New York City.
References
External links
www.tuffjeffsalen.com
VH1 Tuff Darts Bio
Tuff Darts! is a 1978 album by American punk rock band Tuff Darts. It was released on the Sire Records label. Mick Rock was responsible for the sleeve design and photography.
Track listing
"Rats" (Butani, Salen) - 2:59
"Who's Been Sleeping Here?" (Mikael Kirke, Salen) - 3:00
"Here Comes Trouble" (Frenzy) - 2:12
"She's Dead" (Frenzy, Salen) - 2:39
"Phone Booth Man" (DeSalvo, Salen) - 3:37
"(Your Love Is Like) Nuclear Waste" (DeSalvo, Salen) - 2:57
"My Guitar Lies Bleeding in My Arms" (DeSalvo, Morelli) - 3:17
"Love and Trouble" (Salen) - 3:46
"Head Over Heels" (Jeff Salen) - 2:44
"Slash" (DeSalvo) - 3:31
"Fun City" (DeSalvo) - 2:57
"All for the Love of Rock N'Roll" (Butani, Salen) - 3:18
Personnel
Tommy Frenzy - Vocals
Jeff Salen - Lead Guitar
Bobby Butani - Guitars
John DeSalvo - Bass
John Morelli - Drums
Source: Tuff Darts "Tuff Darts!" album cover
Reception
Robert Christgau gave the record a C grade, stating: "Maybe Robert Gordon left this band to escape resident sickie John DeSalvo, one of those guys who sounds like he deserves to get fixed by the knife-wielding lesbians he has nightmares about. The only way to make their record more depressing would be to add a hologram of Gordon's replacement, Tommy Frenzy, whose slick blond hair and metal teeth now set the band's android-delinquent "image." Then again, you could take away Jeff Salen's guitar."