Kip Winger (real name Charles Fredrick Winger) was nominated for a Grammy in the classical music category this year (didn't win) for his album "C.F. Kip Winger: Conversations with Nijinsky" which was #1 on the Billboard Classic Album chart, pretty impressive for a guy that was bashed by Mike Judge (Bevis and Butthead), Joe Elliott (Def Leppard), & Metallica as a "no talent".

 

His first foray into classical music was a 30 minute piece called "Ghosts" written for strings, piano and harp for a ballet commission. It premiered with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra on November 14, 2009 and choreographer Christopher Wheeldon created the ballet "Ghosts", which premiered at the San Francisco Ballet on February 9, 2010, and as been performed all over the world.

 

C.F. Kip Winger: Conversations with Nijinsky, Ghosts & A Parting Grace - YouTube

 

Here's his interview with Eddie Trunk about the album....Kip Winger On His Classical Album Grammy Nomination - YouTube

He also performs his Winger music and his classic music with Symphony's across the country.

 

Winger guitarist Reb Beach accompanies him in the following video.

 

I'll grant he's a great musician even without listening to his classical music (because I'm not ready for bed yet), but I found the band Winger to be awful. Then again, there's a reason I got into hip-hop in the '80s. Just never cared for what metal became.

 

I'll also add that Stuart wearing the Winger T-shirt and taking barbs from Beavis and Butt-Head was right up my alley.

I'll grant he's a great musician even without listening to his classical music (because I'm not ready for bed yet), but I found the band Winger to be awful. Then again, there's a reason I got into hip-hop in the '80s. Just never cared for what metal became.

 

I'll also add that Stuart wearing the Winger T-shirt and taking barbs from Beavis and Butt-Head was right up my alley.

 

Give this a listen and tell if it's better or worse.......Love the lyrics of this one.

 

Give this a listen and tell if it's better or worse.......Love the lyrics of this one.

 

 

Winger is one of the most underrated bands of all time imo...

 

The band was more or less an All-Star lineup of highly sought after studio musicians... similar to the guys in Toto...

As a professional studio / touring drummer for nearly 30 years myself... I can tell you that Rod Morgenstein is a "monster" of a player. He got his start with the Dixie Dregs.. an unbelievably talented band featuring Steve Morse on guitar...

If you wanna know how talented Kip Winger is... ask Alice Cooper.

 

Reb Beach has too many studio credits to mention... off the top of my head... The Bee Gees, Roger Daltry, Chaka Khan, Howard Jones... etc.

 

I've done studio sessions locally, in New York City, Los Angeles, Nashville, etc...

I can tell you that guys in Winger have come up in many conversations I've had with engineers, producers, etc over the years... and not in a condescending way... those guys are highly respected in the Industry by real musicians, songwriters, producers, etc.

 

Winger was an attempt by some young and talented studio musicians to "cash in" on a trend... and for the most part they did that.

They make music together now when they want to, not because they have to or because they're trying to prove anything...

 

I for one respect them highly, especially Rod who I've spent time with over the years... great guy and a great musician. Period.

Give this a listen and tell if it's better or worse.......Love the lyrics of this one.

 

 

BigV likes! I think I like that as good...maybe even better than any of their old 80's stuff, and that coming from a Winger fan. For a new release it has that hard, raw edge that a lot of rock bands seem to lose in their "later in life" stuff.

Give this a listen and tell if it's better or worse.......Love the lyrics of this one.

 

 

I love you to death, but I think you underestimate how much I hated '80s hair metal and why I started listening to hip-hop. I am far more familiar with Winger (and Skid Row, and Bullet Boys, and Warrant, and all those others like them) than I ever wanted to be, considering I grew up in Gallatin Co.

 

Metal was great until MTV came along, and it was less about being good than it was about being pretty. For what it's worth, just so you don't think I'm picking on metalheads (I have many metalheads who are dear friends, and I have lots of legit metal in my record collection, albeit nothing recent), I have similar arguments about what popular country music became in the '80s when Garth Brooks and his ilk started up the "Hat'n'Buckle Of The Month" club and all the songs started to be written by a half-dozen different people.

My metal collection on vinyl would be far more impressive if my good buddy @FarBeyondDriven would've been less observant. I only managed to borrow (perhaps with no hastily intent toward their return) a couple of his.

 

Never could hold the Maiden records for very long without him asking for them back, daily, and that leaves me a big gap in the collection.

Winger is one of the most underrated bands of all time imo...

 

The band was more or less an All-Star lineup of highly sought after studio musicians... similar to the guys in Toto...

As a professional studio / touring drummer for nearly 30 years myself... I can tell you that Rod Morgenstein is a "monster" of a player. He got his start with the Dixie Dregs.. an unbelievably talented band featuring Steve Morse on guitar...

If you wanna know how talented Kip Winger is... ask Alice Cooper.

 

Reb Beach has too many studio credits to mention... off the top of my head... The Bee Gees, Roger Daltry, Chaka Khan, Howard Jones... etc.

 

I've done studio sessions locally, in New York City, Los Angeles, Nashville, etc...

I can tell you that guys in Winger have come up in many conversations I've had with engineers, producers, etc over the years... and not in a condescending way... those guys are highly respected in the Industry by real musicians, songwriters, producers, etc.

 

Winger was an attempt by some young and talented studio musicians to "cash in" on a trend... and for the most part they did that.

They make music together now when they want to, not because they have to or because they're trying to prove anything...

 

I for one respect them highly, especially Rod who I've spent time with over the years... great guy and a great musician. Period.

Loved the Dixie Dregs. Morgenstein was a monster behind the kit, actually played "backwards" by hitting snare with his right hand and high hat with his left. Yes, Kip Winger played bass for Alice at one time. World class musicians. I should add that Dregs guitarist Steve Morse has been a member of Deep Purple for about 20 years.

My metal collection on vinyl would be far more impressive if my good buddy @FarBeyondDriven would've been less observant. I only managed to borrow (perhaps with no hastily intent toward their return) a couple of his.

 

Never could hold the Maiden records for very long without him asking for them back, daily, and that leaves me a big gap in the collection.

 

Had to watch your sticky fingers . I wish I still had my vinyl!

I love you to death, but I think you underestimate how much I hated '80s hair metal and why I started listening to hip-hop. I am far more familiar with Winger (and Skid Row, and Bullet Boys, and Warrant, and all those others like them) than I ever wanted to be, considering I grew up in Gallatin Co.

 

Metal was great until MTV came along, and it was less about being good than it was about being pretty. For what it's worth, just so you don't think I'm picking on metalheads (I have many metalheads who are dear friends, and I have lots of legit metal in my record collection, albeit nothing recent), I have similar arguments about what popular country music became in the '80s when Garth Brooks and his ilk started up the "Hat'n'Buckle Of The Month" club and all the songs started to be written by a half-dozen different people.

I think you missed out on Skid Row. The Skid Row/Pantera tour in 92 was legendary.

I think you missed out on Skid Row. The Skid Row/Pantera tour in 92 was legendary.

 

I didn't miss out on Skid Row. I heard all I needed. Pantera is one I do have much respect for.

Had to watch your sticky fingers . I wish I still had my vinyl!

 

I know I have a copy of "Bark At The Moon" that belongs to you. There may be a Judas Priest record in my stack that has the R.R.R. thing on it. Not totally sure. Come do a bourbon distillery tour and you can look through the library. Make sure you have a few hours for BBQ and a few record spins.

Loved the Dixie Dregs. Morgenstein was a monster behind the kit, actually played "backwards" by hitting snare with his right hand and high hat with his left. Yes, Kip Winger played bass for Alice at one time. World class musicians. I should add that Dregs guitarist Steve Morse has been a member of Deep Purple for about 20 years.

 

Anyone who loves guitar and hasn't checked out Steve Morse... do yourself a favor and do it immediately... lol!

I know I have a copy of "Bark At The Moon" that belongs to you. There may be a Judas Priest record in my stack that has the R.R.R. thing on it. Not totally sure. Come do a bourbon distillery tour and you can look through the library. Make sure you have a few hours for BBQ and a few record spins.

Love good BBQ. Is that Priest record "British Steel"? Always wondered what happened to that! One if these days I will get down that way. We have a lot of catching up to do.