Extreme: Whatever Happened To The Band Behind "More Than Words?" Gary Cherone & Nuno Bettencourt
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Whatever happened to the band Extreme, the group behind the hit 'More Than Words." and their frontman Gary Cherone and guitarist Nuno Bettencourt
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• Winger: Whatever Happe...
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#garycherone #morethanwords
I cite my sources and they may differ than other people's accounts, so I don't guarantee the actual accuracy of my videos.
Hailing from Boston, Extreme would come up with other alternative acts including Pixies, Throwing Muses and the Lemonheads. Extreme’s classic lineup would be made up of frontman Gary Cherone, guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, drummer Paul Geary and bassist Pat Badger. The four musicians had been circling one another playing in the boston music scene in other bands before coming together in 1985.. The principal songwriters of the band would be Cherone and Bettencourt and the band would nab a deal with a major label in the late 80’s.
Gary Cherone would tell loudersound what set Extreme apart from their peers in boston saying “We were the bastard children of Queen, Aerosmith and Van Halen. “Yeah, we looked the part. But we were never a party rock band. That stuck with us for a few years.”
As record labels were looking for fresh new blood they expanded beyond the likes of new york and los angeles and zeroed in on boston and found extreme. Bettencourt would tell loudersound “We signed that deal on air on a radio station, we’re bragging to everybody that our career is gonna take off,” “We start recording the album and we don’t like the way it sounds and the record company’s not happy with it. They tell us they’re gonna hold off on it because we missed all these deadlines. We went into this depression.”
The label would eventually release the group’s self titled debut album in 1989 which sold around 300,000. You have to remember back then labels nurtured bands and could stomach a slow start for an act. The single “Kid Ego,” a straight forward rocker put the band on the map, despite the fact that Gary Cherone told Rolling Stone he cringes when he hears the song and points to production problems during the making of their first record. The song Play with Me would appear in the film billy and ted’s excellent adventure. Extreme was making a name for themselves thanks to their live performances.
Extreme was given an opportunity record a follow up album, titled Pornograffitti from their label. Bettencourt would tell loudersound “When the first album was delayed, I said f*** it’ and kept writing,“By the time the first album came out, Pornograffitti was eighty or ninety per cent finished. Instead of crawling into a hole and moping, it gave us a different headspace. It was, like, ‘Fuck you - we’re nobody again.’ That’s why that album was so intense.”
By the band’s own admission they didn’t know that other popular bands like the Red Hot Chili Pepeprs and Faith No More were playing a style of music similar to them. It couldn’t have been more perfect timing. The resulting album would be Pornograffitti (or Extreme II: Pornograffitti (A Funked Up Fairytale) pleased critics and made many year end lists. The industry started to take notice of guitarist nuno bettencourt’s with guitar magazines featuring him on the cover and he soon earned his own guitar with Washburn.
But despite getting more attention the band’s second record’s sales seemed to plateau at 300,000 copies with the first two singles. “Decadence Dance” and “Get the Funk Out,” not garnering much airplay on radio or on mtv. The band was still building their audiences through live shows, but they were struggling to land opening slots on major tours. They would eventually hit the road with Winger. Side note guys i’ve done a whole video on Winger. The link is down below..Rolling Stone magazine would point to several reasons the band had struggled to connect with other bands, radio programmers and MTV - the band didn’t really have an identity or personality out of music, the band’s eclectic musical style was difficult to pinpoint and their lyrics were a little more on the conservative side especially with songs dealing with the themes of morality and being prolife.. Gary Cherone would tell Rolling Stone “There is a morality that I fight with, But I’m certainly not perfect. I could say I’m prolife, but to tell you the truth, if I knocked up my girlfriend and didn’t have the money, I might be going…’ Everyone’s human… There is a lot of contradiction on this record because human beings are contradictory.”
Пікірлер: 291
Was Extreme really More Than Words?
@Jason_Maier
Жыл бұрын
Sid, Yes .... Extreme II: Pornograffiti and III Sides to Every Story were well rounded concept albums. More depth than any "hair metal" bands could come up with. edit: This past September, they supported Aerosmith at Fenway Park so that's good :)
@brianwnc8168
Жыл бұрын
Do you have a link that states that Extreme "came up with" the Lemonheads and the Pixies. I am not convinced. Your wording is vague. Are you saying Extreme invented the pixies and lemonheads?
@BURNOUT3272
Жыл бұрын
@@Jason_Maier he’s saying they were a part of the same scene, like saying Motley Crue came up with quiet riot, Ratt etc
@bobthebear1246
Жыл бұрын
Are you really that childish? 🙄
@Glostaboy70
Жыл бұрын
Nunno hates playing More than Words
Their Queen tribute is a must see. They did an amazing job.
@ChampippleD
Жыл бұрын
That really was their peak, they were the best performance in the opening set.
@genghis_connie
Жыл бұрын
The Jack Black and Jimmy Fallon version of 'More Than Words' is hilarious in how spot-on it is; bother the song and the video I must find the Queen tribute. It's in my memory somewhere. Was this after the one with David Bowie and Annie Lennoc?.
@ChampippleD
Жыл бұрын
@@genghis_connie Yes. Search for “Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert”
@lightfeather9953
Жыл бұрын
I came to the comments to say this! It's the only way I've ever heard this band. Awesome performance, and fit perfectly in the set list order.
@brianmauk5126
Жыл бұрын
Extreme was one of the most pure music focused bands of that time. All four of them were incredibly proficient musicians and songwriters. It’s just too bad that grunge happened and derailed so many real musicians.
A band that doesn’t get enough credit. Nuno is an unreal player, writer and performer.
Waiting for the Punchline is a criminally underrated album. The track Midnight Express is a showcase of Nuno as a guitar virtuoso.
One of the greatest bands IMO. Funky, chunky and all around rocking the late 80's and early 90's, Extreme offered up more than words - they were the real deal for those who adored rock. Three Sides is still one of the most underrated rock albums of all time....
Nuno Bettencourt is a legend.
Gary Cherone has a wonderful voice.
III sides to every story is my favorite extreme album. Extremely underrated!!!
Get the Funk Out is just brilliant. That solo is just chef's kiss perfect.
Nuno got a great gig as Rhianna's guitarist and musical director. I'm surprised this wasn't mentioned. It definitely made him relevant to a new generation of guitarists.
@travismiles5885
Жыл бұрын
He also played with Janet Jackson
@joriankell1983
Жыл бұрын
What a waste!
I'm glad that you made a video about them, because their history deserves more than words...
@bobthebear1246
10 ай бұрын
Ba-dum-bum 🥁
It's a shame that Extreme is only really known for More Than Words, because Nuno has some serious guitar chops. Listen to the end of the album cut of More Than Words or the intro to He-Man Woman Hater, AKA Flight Of The Wounded Bumblebee.
@ivi13
Жыл бұрын
Dude Midnight Express
@southwestxnorthwest
Жыл бұрын
What? Haven’t you ever heard _”Hole Hearted”_
@Yosser70
Жыл бұрын
Serious chops! lol The dude is at least one of the top 10 guitarists of all time!
@Thomasmemoryscentral
Жыл бұрын
They kind of fell into the same trap Mr Big fell into, a ballad being their best known hit in spite of their heavy rock sound
@bobthebear1246
10 ай бұрын
@@ThomasmemoryscentralExactly.
I LOVE Extreme and 3 Sides is still one of my all time favorite albums. I was disappointed when they disappeared after that...hey, if you can make a song or album that 25 years later people are still listening to, you did something to be proud of. I miss music like this...
@krieng
Жыл бұрын
They didn't disappered they released forth album waiting for the punchline and then they were gone for hiatus till the fifth album, that was still good. They are still performing from time to time.
@TheConfusedJew
Жыл бұрын
@@krieng Thanks indeed! I'll check them both out...probably sound GREAT live...
@Dethmeister
Жыл бұрын
Yeah, I like Waiting For the Punchline.
Nuno is one of the most underrated guitarists out there
III Sides To every Story is one of the most beautiful rock albums top to bottom.
Im 18 and I was blown away when I picked up the extreme record from my recordstore. I had no idea who these guys were and love every track from their debut
I loved Three Sides to Every Story.
They were a better band than More than Words. That's why Nuno didn't want to do the VH1 reuniting the band episode. Gary told them that Nuno is "all about the music." The show just wanted them to play More than Words and Hole Hearted so Nuno turned it down. Same reason Radio Head doesn't play Creep anymore, they didn't want to be known for just one song. Extreme and Danger, Danger was my first concert. All ages show at The Ritz in Roseville, MI. I also got to see them with Saigon Kick and with DLR Band. The 90s were a pretty good time
@tud1366
Жыл бұрын
Actually, Gary and Nuno had some personal problems between them. I can understand why Nuno was no longer was willing to work with Gary. I personally would have killed him, but they grew up, made up and have been touring for the last 3, 4 years.
@sonicjet7759
Жыл бұрын
Extreme was a good bridge between late 1980s metal / hard rock music to early 1990s alternative punk rock / grunge music 😇
Three Sides to Every Story is a masterpiece.
@robertholston4708
Жыл бұрын
I was going to make this comment.
@antisocialite927
Жыл бұрын
@@robertholston4708 I was sure I'm not the only one. You have good taste.
@jerr7670
Жыл бұрын
I remember listening to that album, and was just blown away.
@Deathtank75
Жыл бұрын
yes!
@Tomas.X
Жыл бұрын
Easily in my personal Top 10. Fresh every time I listen to it. Falls into that "you must be out of your mind if you don't love this."
III Sides To Every Story is a criminally underrated album that was way before the time it was released. If it had been released in 2022 or 2023 it would have been one of the most commercially successful albums. Finally, there will be a new Extreme album released on June 9 and I can’t wait. ❤️🎸🎸🎸❤️
The late 80's through the early 90's was definitely the best time for music. The internet and now cellphones has destroyed everything that I used to love about discovering new music. Now everything is everywhere and nothing is special. I don't even listen to new music anymore. There's some good stuff out there. But it's just not as fun as it used to be
They have that new album done apparantly just sitting waiting to be released. Please guys, release it already! And don't forget to tour Montreal next tour! One of the most underrated group of musicians. Sad that they are rarely recognized for theie awesome musicianship.
Pornograffiti was my first exposure to Extreme, and I wore out the cassette tape listening to it all the way through the entire album, over and over and over again. Fantastic musicians, I'm going to try to see them on tour.
@Silverhands
Жыл бұрын
Same. Literally like two months ago.
@davedecker1725
Жыл бұрын
Saw this tour They were amazing! Opening act was a band from Seattle their first single was just getting traction Man in the box!
I really did enjoy that particular band for sometime. Especially with "He Man Woman Hater" that has one of the most gnarly guitars solos of all time. Thats like the most underrated band of the 90s. Nuno has been one of my all time favorite guitar players.
More Than Words is such a beautiful song. I still love it to this day
The band Gary did after VH (Tribes Of Judah) was amazing. That album was so good!
Great video! Quick note: The drummer in 6:57 is not Paul Geary. That's Mike Mangini, who replaced Geary for Extreme's 1995 album Waiting for the Punchline, and is currently the drummer of Dream Theater.
@j.d.7208
Жыл бұрын
Mangini is the goat
I LOVE EXTREME! Got to see them and meet them in the 80’s. Awesome band!
And btw, 3 sides to every story is so underrated! it's an amazing album!
Fun fact: Brian may of queen has gone on record to say "get the funk out" is one of his favorite guitar solos of all time.
Saudades de Rock is one of most greats albums of de 2000's
These guys got me into SLAYER,,,,, said no one.
@JaMeshuggah
Жыл бұрын
They did though. They're both tuned half a step down.
@MKYeahBuddy
Жыл бұрын
Haha. Love that.. Slayer is amazing!
Saudades de rock is great and the new album is incredible.. Go's Bless Extreme for keeping kick ass rock n roll alive
Pornograffitti is probably in my top 5 albums of all time. Thank God they are still touring.
I saw Extreme in '89 or so in Germany. They killed it. Saw them again at M3 in Maryland (I think it was' 09). They killed it. They looked super healthy, played their asses off. Ratt played this show, as did Kix, Twisted Sister, Steel Panther, Dokken, and a few others and Extreme was the best by far.
Grew up hearing this song. Always takes me back to those days. I miss the more normal days.
Extreme are a great band! That's not Paul Geary at 6:57 though, that's Mike Mangini from Dream Theater! 👍🏼
@victorpictoraerial8560
Жыл бұрын
Mangini was drumming in a few songs on the Punchline album, after Geary quit. He also did a tour with them.
My father is *really* good friends with Paul and Gary. So much so that in my grandfather's house, there's pictures of them as kids hanging out with my father lol
I love nirvana and grunge. But as a musician, I really hate seeing trends keep really good bands from making it because it’s not what’s big at the moment. It’s really sad. I listen to anything that sounds good and has soul. But I guess not everyone thinks as I do.
@imalwaysright
Жыл бұрын
real music fans do. the mediocrity society, media...maybe not
Still my favorite band of all time.
I had heard of Nuno Bettencourt from Steve Perry but had no idea what he looked like!! He is more than gorgeous,so talented and I love his guitar work.Thanks for this story.🇵🇹🤘🎸
I've heard wind of a possible new album.....So hoping cause I'll always loved this band! Love this channel..
Nuno made that band for me. That first album has some seriously killer guitar playing on it.
Love extreme. Would love to hear new material again
Dude, these are SO much better to watch now that you don’t start every other sentence with “And”. Great job here.
@rnrtruestories
Жыл бұрын
I appreciate that!
@Dethmeister
Жыл бұрын
@@rnrtruestories I'm disappointed you didn't say "And I appreciate that!". I never noticed that myself.
Amazing musicians
Extreme was a great band and Nuno is a kick ass guitarist.
@michaelharrington75
Жыл бұрын
I thought Nuno"s solo album was better than anything he did with Extreme.
Seen extreme many times , met them,awesome dudes ..Prof pic is me and Pat Badger
album that’s been out has been unbelievably brilliant, vocally, spectacular, harmonies, perfection, and lyrically there just as a word of how -_____ it yes so I’ll just leave that blank
I had some kinda hunch that Extreme had a lot more bite than just More Than Words. Their heavier stuff seems like the straightforward glam metal on the surface but is more nuanced with some experimental tendencies as they progressed. They've grown on me a lot lately and are definitely worth cranking!
Extreme was the first hair metal band to add fungky flavor to its music, that must something to do with next decade trends when Janes Addiction, Alice in Chains also have some fungky in their first records.
Their video to mother do want to go to school today was filmed in my Jr high. They came back and put on a free concert this was in 85' or 86' , wasn't really into them but still cool to see.
That song was a classic in the 90's. I remember singing along to that song thinking I could sing it just as good as them!
Sammy Hagar did a Rock'n'Roll Road Show episode not too, too long ago featuring Nuno & Gary where they let him preview a few of these tracks (which I'm presuming) would find inclusion on their , as yet , still unreleased newest LP , if it ever does in fact [🤞] find it's way to that concluding fruition, ...& Although the audio for those songs did not appear in that TV show, Sammy's honest to God, awe-inspiring reaction to what he heard that day, leads me to believe that this {mystery} material could be some of the BEST stuff E X T R E M E has ever concocted,. ..??!!!!!!?!???!?!? ⚠️💥❤️🔥🌟☝️
Very much a relevant band today
waiting for punchline..love it
Extreme is amazing! ❤
New Extreme album coming up! Can't wait! How good is the single!
Not much for the band as a whole, but Nuno Bettencourt is a spectacular musician.
I actually love Three Sides to Every Story, its my fave album of theirs.
One of the best bands ever! Nuno is killer 🤘
New album is on the way!
They are still kicking ass!!
I remember Extreme from one thing - A compilation album that was sold via commercial decades ago. They would play a very, very short clip of the chorus of "More Than Words".
Nuno is an insanely good guitarist so I can see him being lauded for his skills at the time. A lot of people thought his guitar solo during the montage in Bill & Ted was sped up but he played it every friggin' night note-for-note on tour so he wasn't F'ing around. Probably a good comparison for his time would be Paul Gilbert who seems to know everything about guitar and at the same time can play it.
Bill and Ted helped fuel my love for Extreme. Play with Me is such a killer tune with classical implementation.
You didn't risk saying "Saudades de Rock" lol That's one silly name but it makes sense since Nuno is Portuguese. It's silly, but it makes sense... "Rest in Peace" played nonstop on MTV! The clip is engraved in my brain... I really like "Hip Today" because it's catchy, I've seen critics bashing this song but the infamy of "Get the Funk Out" is not any better lol Extreme is really an uneven band but Cherone is a good singer, he should've recorded more... and Nuno is considered one of greatest guitarists in the world - at least that's what I read every time I'm researching this topic or researching Paul Gilbert.
Do you? Want to? Play?? These guys have some killer tracks.
Be sure to check out Nuno’s solo albums and his bands Mourning Widows and DramaGods, as well as Gary’s band Hurtsmile, who are about to release their third album.
Never really thought of Extremes sound being similar to Faith No More or Chilli Peppers but I can see it now .
Nuno is a way better player than what the mainstream realize’ he is so underrated and I’m sure everyone that knows his playing will agree 💪🔥✌️🎸
Representing Hudson Mass. They just played Fenway Park couple months back
I was in the NY NJ metal scene when this came out.. Extreme was hyped up big time.. Kid Ego really disappointed. They never lived up to the hype but... I give them respect. They got farther than my band did.
Between the amazing performance at the Queen tribute and the release of 3 sides they should have been HUGE. That album is completely underrated.
I loved Extreme. Great band.
I was never a fan but they ROCKED at the Freddie Mercury Tribute show . I saw Nuno played for Rihanna ,he was much better than Extreme days
@Dethmeister
Жыл бұрын
Which Rihanna songs have him playing guitar leads?
@nikkiwild4014
Жыл бұрын
@@Dethmeister Whole Show.. Nuno was a main tour guitarist
saw them when they opened up for Steve Miller and Bryan Adams...great show...
warheads is one of my favourite songs ever.
I had no idea that they were a rock band? I only knew them for More Than Words. I had heard Whole Hearted, but had no idea it was them🤔
Please tell me I’m not the only one singing more then words in my head as I watch this video 😂
Rest In Peace is one of the best rock songs ever. It’s perfect from start to finish.
@travismiles5885
Жыл бұрын
The video is based on a short anti-war filmed from 1952 by Norman McLaren called "Neighbours." I remember seeing the film on PBS or Canadian TV sometime in the late 80s or very early 90s and thinking it was pretty cool. Then years later Extreme released their video for Rest In Peace and I knew where they got their inspiration for the video
In the end, I personally feel extreme needed "More than words"
Cupid’s Dead is a masterpiece!!
Nunooooo te amo pra sempre lindo
Met Gary and Nuno when they started! I got a Kid Ego cd single from radio and they signed it. They stuck out as being different in a good way.
:,) favorite band
I'd like to see a story on how they got the Freddie Mercury Tribute gig, that would be super interesting, great vid as always!
I've always loved extreme a friend introduced me to their music when kid ego was out. I got to see them live opening for Bon Jovi in Charlotte North Carolina on the keep the faith tour. What a night extreme came out in just destroyed it I mean these guys were amazing and then of course Bon Jovi came on and just freaking blew the rest of the roof off the place. I played more than words so many times that one of my friends at work at the time said "please play any other song except that fucking song" needless to say I played pornography quite a few times. Great video
Labels loves when artist request the suite with a bass and drum section $$$$$
I bought the first extreme album for 7 bucks in a Walmart bargin bin around the time guitar hero rocks the 80s came out. A few months later I figured out it was the same band who wrote more than words and it broke my brain.
0:30 - Holy Tyler and Perry, Batman!!
He man woman hater has one of the best riffs I've ever heard. Nuno is such a chad
Saw them twice this summer and one was opening for Aerosmith at Fenway Park and they were incredible. Garry Cherone has got to do some serious yoga that guy can contort his body humanly impossible. Nuno is an under rated guitarist and Pat Badger doesn't get enough credit
Let's not forget the STELLAR STINT of Gary Cherone in VAN HALEN
So funny to see this in April 2023 after Extreme have released a new single that got 2 mio views of KZread and a new album is coming in june
@Twobarpsi
10 ай бұрын
Exactly!
They opened for ZZ Top on their Recycler tour.. Great double bill for the early 90's
When will bands learn that releasing a dark/concept album after your big pop hit almost never goes well.
@WinterInTheForest
Жыл бұрын
@@sstaners1234 None of those are concept albums. Also it's Etc. not Ect. 🙄NWA? Come on dude.
@WREDog
Жыл бұрын
@@sstaners1234 That's why I said "almost never" there are exceptions. Also Pinkerton is a terrible example, it wasn't well received upon release and that made Rivers put the band on hold for years.
@travismiles5885
Жыл бұрын
Kiss: The Elder has entered the chat
They recently opened for Aerosmith at Fenway Park! Bostons best!
Hilarious, I had Hole Hearted stuck in my head on Halloween for some reason.
What happened to them? I saw them twice a month ago and they're better than ever!