Early years (1976–1987) Brian "Damage" Forsythe's originally played drums then later guitar. His first band was Vanilla Grass as drummer; this band morphed into different things, and around late 1975 he left school to tour the south with two musician friends. The band Atlas Ram (featuring Jimmy "Chocolate" Chalfant) stole Brian Forsythe's rhythm guitarist, breaking up his band. The very first lineup of what became KIX permanently formed in
Hagerstown, Maryland and featured Donnie Purnell (from the band Jaxx), Tee, Tunes, and Donnie Spence, and very briefly used the name
KIX, but soon went by the name
Tee and Tunes. In December 1976, Ronnie "10/10" Younkins joined Donnie Purnell and the rest. Tee and Tunes soon left as they were commuting from Pittsburgh. Younkins soon had a chance encounter with Brian "Damage" Forsythe (who had auditioned for a cover band that Younkins had recently left), who he already knew. Drummer Jimmy "Chocolate" Chalfant (who had previously played with Donnie Purnell in "Fire and Rain", "Starship", and "Jaxx") joined in 1979, completing what would become the band's classic lineup. Later, they had a stint using the name
The Generators, before eventually reverting back to
KIX. The band got a contract with Time Warner affiliate
Atlantic Records. Also in 1981, they released their self-titled debut album,
Kix, which featured favorites from their live shows like "Atomic Bombs," "The Itch," and "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah." With a unique ad-lib performance by lead vocalist Whiteman, the latter became one of the band's most popular concert songs. Another track, "Love at First Sight," also became a concert favorite. The album established the
tongue-in-cheek rock and roll style of Kix. Their 1983 follow-up,
Cool Kids, showcased a more commercial side of the band and included three cover songs. Spearheaded by the single
"Body Talk", a cover of a 1981
Nick Gilder song, rumors circulated that the song was covered to appease the band's label, who was eager to capture radio airplay. Other songs like "Restless Blood" and "Mighty Mouth" fared a little better. This album was also the only Kix record to feature guitarist
Brad Divens, who replaced Younkins for what would ultimately be a brief departure. Eager to recapture the harder rock vibe of their earlier work, and with Younkins having returned to the lineup, Kix partnered with then
Ratt and future
Warrant producer
Beau Hill and hit songwriter
Bob Halligan Jr., releasing
Midnite Dynamite in 1985. On April 16, 2014, it was announced that the band had signed with Loud & Proud Records to release the band's first studio album in 19 years. On June 18, 2014, it was announced that the band would release this album - their seventh studio album - titled
Rock Your Face Off, on August 5. Upon release, it debuted at No. 49 on the
Billboard Top 200 (the band's second highest-charting record after 1988's
Blow My Fuse), while debuting at No. 1 on Amazon Hard Rock, remaining there for more than three weeks. It was well-received by fans and critics alike. The hard rock webzine
Sleaze Roxx published that
Rock Your Face Off was awarded No. 1 in the Top Ten Albums of 2014 by editors and staff as well as No. 1 in Top Ten Albums of 2014 in the
Sleaze Roxx Reader's Poll. The first time in the web site's history that an album has taken the top spot in both categories.
Stereogum.com chose
Rock Your Face Off as Album of the Week with high praise saying "...all of it is delirious and catchy, and it proudly flaunts its out-of-fashion party-hard spirit. It’s glittering trash, made by guys in their fifties who probably hold down day jobs these days and who have no business making this vigorous and fun anymore. Its mere existence is an inspirational thing, and it’s a reminder that sometimes exploring new musical space isn’t the most important thing. Sometimes, songs are the most important thing." In February 2017, it was announced that Kix would headline the first night at Rockingham Festival 2017, which was held at Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom. Original Shooze drummer Donnie Spence died at the age of 64 on January 19, 2018 in Hagerstown, Maryland. On September 21, 2018 a 2 CD anniversary edition set named
Fuse 30 Reblown – 30th Anniversary Special Edition was released. Producer
Beau Hill who previously worked with Kix on their 1985 album,
Midnite Dynamite remixed the original 24 track recordings.
Fuse 30 Reblown is the original concept of current bassist Schenker, who with help from record executive Madelyn Scarpulla, was able to obtain digital transfers from the original analog master recording reels. Schenker was also instrumental in rescuing the original 8-track demo reels and to digitally enhance and rescue the original 2-track demos. The website
Metalnation.com reported "Hill does a masterful job on Fuse 30, bringing the album into the new millennium without taking away from eclectic elements and raucous energy that made the original so memorable. Jay Frigoletto came in to master the album. The second disc contains the 10 demo recordings for each one of the album tracks." In 2020 the previous album Midnight Dynamite was remixed and re-released; called Midnight Dynamite Re-Lit, it is, to date, only available as a digital download. Beginning in November 2020, guitarist Ronnie Younkins took a leave of absence from touring and beginning in May 2021, Bob Paré began performing live with Kix. Soon after, it was revealed that Younkins' absence was because he had been placed under house arrest after repeatedly getting in trouble with the police. In late February 2022, Ronnie returned to live performances with his own band. He remains on hiatus from live performances with Kix. On November 18, 2022, drummer Jimmy Chalfant suffered an apparent severe cardiac event while on stage at the Tally Ho Theater in Leesburg, VA. Drum tech Sam Stilwell and others assisted with attending to Jimmy, but the band did not finish the performance. From March 2023 until May 2023,
Matt Starr filled-in for Chalfant for live performances and is currently on standby in case Chalfant's health deteriorates. Chalfant notably does not sing backing vocals, with Paré continuing to provide that support. On May 7, 2023, during an appearance at the M3 Rock Festival at the
Merriweather Post Pavilion in
Columbia, Maryland, Steve Whiteman announced that Kix would call it quits and would perform their final show on September 17 at the same venue. The band disbanded following the performance, with guitarist Ronnie Younkins and former guitarist Brad Divens performing with the band. == Musical style and influences ==