Metal Sludge Gossip Board

Of course, as usual, I'll say that I'm not from the States, so things (and success) can vary, but I always wonder how bands like Saliva and The Wallflowers and Coal Chamber and Ennuff Znuff (I like their songs!) and Crash Test Dummies -to exemplify different genres- could have "long" careers.
I mean, do they sell more than 50 tickets if they play on their own in, let's say, Tallahassee? Do they always have to pair themselves up with many similar bands?
Do they have that many "underground" fans to manage a tour?

I'm just guessing on all this. I would say The Wallflowers are a legit, B level band that can tour & make cash doing it whenever they want. Saliva, maybe a C- level band, are 2 bands now, so whatever buzz they would generate, which wouldn't be a ton, is cut in half. Coal Chamber I think is just 1 guy & he's also the 1 guy in Devil Driver. Both D- level bands but I would say the one guy, Dex?, probably makes some cash, but has to be on the road & releasing product constantly.

They don't have them for hard rock that I'm aware of, but those Freestyle shows, where if you had one hit ever, you get a slot? Those guys can tour every year it seems.

Who has 1/2 hit? That’s Enuff Z Nuff

Wallflowers 4x platinum cd- 1 gold- singer dad is super famous
Crash Test Dummies only Double Platinum
Coal Chamber does reunion shows does HOB venues
Dez tried to hide his past when he wanted to become Phil Anselmo Jr…but he always goes back to Coal Chamber…the band that bought his house with Gold cd

Saliva tours nonstop seems like
Click Click Boom..whatever

LAglamrocker wrote: ↑Tue Sep 02, 2025 4:29 pm Who has 1/2 hit? That’s Enuff Z Nuff

This right here - the only reason they had whatever "career" they had is because they never gave up pursuing what never happened for them ITFP.

Enuff Z Nuff has to be the smallest band that tours constantly. I enjoy seeing them, they draw like 40 people.

Props to Chip for being so persistent.

tooth wrote: ↑Tue Sep 02, 2025 3:24 pm I'm just guessing on all this. I would say The Wallflowers are a legit, B level band that can tour & make cash doing it whenever they want. Saliva, maybe a C- level band, are 2 bands now, so whatever buzz they would generate, which wouldn't be a ton, is cut in half. Coal Chamber I think is just 1 guy & he's also the 1 guy in Devil Driver. Both D- level bands but I would say the one guy, Dex?, probably makes some cash, but has to be on the road & releasing product constantly.

Dez from Coal Chamber is also Cradle Of Filth's manager and there's another thread just now about how 2 band members have just quit due to nearly all the money going to him and the singer.

I expect nearly all those people have regular jobs either with generous employers that allow touring time, or they work for themselves - whether something they can do extra hours on dueing their non-band time like Joey from Manowar installing drywall, or something they can still do on the road like IT stuff or marketing,

The Wallflowers had at least a handful of hits, Saliva had a couple (few?). So your examples aren’t great and don’t match the title/question at all.

Yes. Nada Surf is one of my favourite bands. They had a small hit with their first single Popular. However they have been together over 30 years, with the same lineup too. I'm finally seeing them live this month, but they have toured a lot in Europe over the years. They have made ten records, which don't really sound like their only hit.

Trixter? They had 3 songs played to death on MTV, but never went top 40.

tooth wrote: ↑Tue Sep 02, 2025 3:24 pm Joey from Manowar installing drywall, or something they can still do on the road like IT stuff or marketing,

Joey from Manowar didn't install drywall. He writes all the songs, produces, manages the band and owns the studio they record in and also produces other bands, does public speaking and he also did a Ph.D. in Music. So he keeps busy and has income streams outside the band. It was one of the other guys, maybe Scott Columbus?

Chip is very affordable. but sadly we didn't jump on his mini tour dates a couple of years ago

Bow Wow Wow never had a top 40 hit in the US, just a lot of MTV play for "I Want Candy" and a couple of their originals. They have been doing the nostalgia circuit since the 90s and now there are two touring versions of the band, one with the singer and one with the bass player, that do a lot of 80s package shows/tours. Modern English is another one that does a lot of package shows and still release albums from time to time even though they never hit the top 40.

Bono Nettencourt wrote: ↑Tue Sep 02, 2025 5:02 pm

LAglamrocker wrote: ↑Tue Sep 02, 2025 4:29 pm Who has 1/2 hit? That’s Enuff Z Nuff

This right here - the only reason they had whatever "career" they had is because they never gave up pursuing what never happened for them ITFP.

I just checked and both New Thing and Fly High Michelle were Top 40 on the Mainstream Rock chart so that’s TWO half hits.

Real fans of the band know those 2 songs are not even their best though.

Good point that “they” never gave up. “They” being Chip. Derek and Ricky are both RIP. Vik is MIA. Donnie gave up many times. Why hasn’t Johnny Monaco re joined the band? I saw that version with him, Chip and Ricky. They sounded fantastic. The Chip version is no good unfortunately but still giving him credit for hanging on.

Wicked Game came out 35 years ago ( ), and Chris Isaak is on tour playing 1-2k venues right now.

So yeah, you can make a hell of a good living.

DonJuanDeMarco wrote: ↑Wed Sep 03, 2025 6:54 am

Bono Nettencourt wrote: ↑Tue Sep 02, 2025 5:02 pm

LAglamrocker wrote: ↑Tue Sep 02, 2025 4:29 pm Who has 1/2 hit? That’s Enuff Z Nuff

This right here - the only reason they had whatever "career" they had is because they never gave up pursuing what never happened for them ITFP.

I just checked and both New Thing and Fly High Michelle were Top 40 on the Mainstream Rock chart so that’s TWO half hits.

Real fans of the band know those 2 songs are not even their best though.

Good point that “they” never gave up. “They” being Chip. Derek and Ricky are both RIP. Vik is MIA. Donnie gave up many times. Why hasn’t Johnny Monaco re joined the band? I saw that version with him, Chip and Ricky. They sounded fantastic. The Chip version is no good unfortunately but still giving him credit for hanging on.

The Enuff Z'Nuff trio (with Monaco on vocals and guitar) sounded 100x times better than the current shit show with Chip on "vocals". I meet them (Chip, Monaco, and whoever the drummer was) and asked if they planned to record with that line-up, Monaco said something like "that would be cool", while Chip looked at me like if I had just insulted his Mother.............

Love_Industry wrote: ↑Wed Sep 03, 2025 4:17 am

tooth wrote: ↑Tue Sep 02, 2025 3:24 pm Joey from Manowar installing drywall, or something they can still do on the road like IT stuff or marketing,

Joey from Manowar didn't install drywall. He writes all the songs, produces, manages the band and owns the studio they record in and also produces other bands, does public speaking and he also did a Ph.D. in Music. So he keeps busy and has income streams outside the band. It was one of the other guys, maybe Scott Columbus?

Actually it was Eric Adams: https://metalinquisition.blogspot.com/2 ... rt_20.html. I remember when this article first came up on the gossip boards, I just forgot the detail of the contents.

Joey lived in his parents' basement. Possibly still does. Or maybe, 16 years on, they've passed and he gets to come upstairs now.

Chubby Checker has been doing the twist for about 1,000 years.

Can you name anything else he's sang?

How about a guy like Jeff Scott Soto? Amazing singer but really I don't think he has any charting singles at all. Maybe the early Yngwie stuff. Or maybe something overseas but for a guy that has been around so long, he doesn't have the Greatest Hits to rely on.

Same with Joe Lynn Turner (I think). Maybe Yngwie Heaven Tonight and Rainbow Street of Dreams. Has he had other legitimate hits? Stone Cold? He was in DP but can't take credit for Smoke on the Water!

Glenn Hughes?

Johnny Gioeli from the band Hardline is another one! Hardline, Axel Rudi Pell and Crush 40. Probably others too. No hits! Even his hit "Hot Cherie" wasn't a hit and it was a cover song!

Michael Bormann is another amazing singer with a huge catalog but no hits.

Even Michael Monroe, really!

Benny Mardones gets honorable mention because Into the Night was a hit twice yet nobody seems to know who he is. personally, I thought the self titled record was an AOR gem and one of his last albums Let's Hear it for Love is a heartbreaker.

I think even the CEO himself would qualify here.

So the answer is YES!

Fat_Elvis wrote: ↑Tue Sep 02, 2025 4:09 pm They don't have them for hard rock that I'm aware of, but those Freestyle shows, where if you had one hit ever, you get a slot? Those guys can tour every year it seems.

Freestyle is awesome and all those songs are bangers. They deserve it. Unless you’re from NYC or Miami you wouldn’t understand.

TravisBicklesMohawk wrote: ↑Wed Sep 03, 2025 11:27 am Chubby Checker has been doing the twist for about 1,000 years.

Can you name anything else he's sang?

Umm...Let's Twist Again? I got nothin' lol

tooth wrote: ↑Tue Sep 02, 2025 3:24 pm ICoal Chamber I think is just 1 guy & he's also the 1 guy in Devil Driver. Both D- level bands but I would say the one guy, Dex?, probably makes some cash,

You mean Dez, and other than Rayna it's been the exact same band.

prog wrote: ↑Wed Sep 03, 2025 3:31 pm

Fat_Elvis wrote: ↑Tue Sep 02, 2025 4:09 pm They don't have them for hard rock that I'm aware of, but those Freestyle shows, where if you had one hit ever, you get a slot? Those guys can tour every year it seems.

Freestyle is awesome and all those songs are bangers. They deserve it. Unless you’re from NYC or Miami you wouldn’t understand.

I've been to several. And I'm from Los Angeles.

HORRORHOLIC1979 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 03, 2025 6:12 pm

tooth wrote: ↑Tue Sep 02, 2025 3:24 pm ICoal Chamber I think is just 1 guy & he's also the 1 guy in Devil Driver. Both D- level bands but I would say the one guy, Dex?, probably makes some cash,

You mean Dez, and other than Rayna it's been the exact same band.

Thanks for the heads up as I saw Coal Chamber many years ago. I do remember they did like a "tattoo reveal" situation at the end of the show. IIRC, they all went to the front of the stage and showed off that they all had either the same tattoo or they all had different tattoos but they all made sense when you looked at them together.

Wild Obsession wrote: ↑Wed Sep 03, 2025 9:13 am

DonJuanDeMarco wrote: ↑Wed Sep 03, 2025 6:54 am

Bono Nettencourt wrote: ↑Tue Sep 02, 2025 5:02 pm

This right here - the only reason they had whatever "career" they had is because they never gave up pursuing what never happened for them ITFP.

I just checked and both New Thing and Fly High Michelle were Top 40 on the Mainstream Rock chart so that’s TWO half hits.

Real fans of the band know those 2 songs are not even their best though.

Good point that “they” never gave up. “They” being Chip. Derek and Ricky are both RIP. Vik is MIA. Donnie gave up many times. Why hasn’t Johnny Monaco re joined the band? I saw that version with him, Chip and Ricky. They sounded fantastic. The Chip version is no good unfortunately but still giving him credit for hanging on.

The Enuff Z'Nuff trio (with Monaco on vocals and guitar) sounded 100x times better than the current shit show with Chip on "vocals". I meet them (Chip, Monaco, and whoever the drummer was) and asked if they planned to record with that line-up, Monaco said something like "that would be cool", while Chip looked at me like if I had just insulted his Mother.............

If its and buts.... Chip is the only way EZ are playing, There is no other form of EZ. There will be no other "saviors" to come to the aid of Chip and bring EZ back to stadiums. Enjoy what you have. 2 of the past members are dead. Donnie might as well be.

DonJuanDeMarco wrote: ↑Wed Sep 03, 2025 11:59 am How about a guy like Jeff Scott Soto? Amazing singer but really I don't think he has any charting singles at all. Maybe the early Yngwie stuff. Or maybe something overseas but for a guy that has been around so long, he doesn't have the Greatest Hits to rely on.

IMO, Jeff Scott Soto would be a good fit for a project with Slash, and/or a more blues/classic rock based hard rock project. He has this soulful powerhouse voice that would be perfect for "classic"/blues based hard rock, but it seems like he goes for this AOR/Eurometal vocal style/delivery, and aside from some of the Talisman stuff, most of his catalog is forgettable garbage.
The guy seems way more talented than his discovery/various projects he has been involved with.

Ok maybe because Im not in the US but elsewhere no one has ever heard of Saliva - I mean, I guess Enuff Znuff would draw more people than Saliva in Brazil, for example. Yes, people, but Saliva would sell tickets.
The Wallflowers have only one song that people recognize. They wouldnt even fill a pub in Southamerica but maybe in the Us is a whole other scene.

I wonder if Crash Test Dummies more well known than Toad the Wet Spocket in the us. At least they had one BIG song.

TravisBicklesMohawk wrote: ↑Wed Sep 03, 2025 11:27 am Chubby Checker has been doing the twist for about 1,000 years.

Can you name anything else he's sang?

I caught Chubby Checker by accident at a free show at Mohegan Sun Casino about 3 months ago. We actually had free tickets to the Village People on the outside patio stage and when it was over Chubby was playing inside for free at the Wolf Den stage.

Initially I was interested in what besides "YMCA" and "In The Navy" the Village People would sing. I did recognize a couple of others, and the rest just sounded a lot like the songs they are famous for. Overall, it was entertaining enough, but I certainly wouldn't have spent $ to see them.

But when we walked back inside and saw Chubby was on stage we went and checked it out. The dude was awesome! He looks great and sounds great. He played about 20-25 songs. I knew them all. I don't know how many of them were actually songs he wrote or and/or were originally performed by him, but I knew them all.

He was phenomenal, the songs were great, and it was fun. I would recommend anyone check him out even if you had to pay.

Of course, he ended with an extended version of The Twist and had a whole bunch of people come up on stage and "Do the twist."

To answer the question, first explain what the difference is between a half hit wonder and a one hit wonder.
What is half a hit?
So far the only bands mentioned are one hit wonders or no hit wonder crap like Enuff Znuff