As requested, here’s the now hard to find FnA Records remastered release of American female-fronted melodic hard rockers FUNHOUSE 1989/1990’s recordings under the title ”Welcome To The Funhouse”.
Funhouse began when virtuoso guitarist Mike Stanley, and Berkley College of Music Alumni, Jimmy “Bushman” Adams of Philadelphia (well respected area drummer from many bands such as Kashmir, Silencer and The Flow) joined forces in 1987. They started the band adding charismatic female vocalist Sindi Raymond from the band Silencer, and studio session bass player Matt Harrigan.
Their debut album 1989’s ‘Hazardous To Your Health’ generated controversy for its explicit lyrics, got banned at many States, and sported a big ‘Parental Advisory’ sticker on the cover. Anyway, what matter is the music, and this is well written and executed US Melodic Hard with Sindi’s powerful, distinctive voice.
This FnA release “Welcome To The Funhouse” compiles the 1989 plus unreleased 1990 recordings (professionally done). Compared to the original late Eighties release, the remaster has done miracles as the songs now sound vital, clearer.
Since 1988 Funhouse played and worked their way up to major clubs in Philadelphia and surrounding area like the Red Garter, Troceder , TLA, Galaxy and Empire Rock Club earning enough cash to buy a van and hit the road on a five state tour included their favorite home-away-from-home New York City venues; Cat Club, L’Amour’s, and Zone DK and to Maryland’s Rage club.
In the middle of all the excitement the band managed to snag a record deal with Wolf Records in 1989 and recorded their first album which was considered by some to be controversial and risqué; albeit cassettes and CD’s were distributed and sold in well-known national music stores.
“Welcome To The Funhouse” rocks, and rock hard, we never have enough female-fronted melodic hard rock bands and Funhouse are one of ’em. Numbers like ‘Hell’s Kitchen’, the David Lee Roth styled ‘La Bonita’, the bouncy ‘Big and Bounty’, the fun ‘To Hell With Stryper’, and especially the melodic ‘Coming Back’ showcase Funhouse’s credentials.
The band has continued to play events and reunion shows to present day, and Sindi fronts her own Sindi Raymond Band.
Highly Recommended
01 Funhouse
02 Coming Back
03 Uncle Dad
04 Hell’s Kitchen
05 Bondage Binge
06 Gay Bash
07 La Bonita
08 Big and Bounty
09 Snowblind
10 To Hell With Stryper
11 Kiss and Kill
12 Pussywhipped
13 Daddy’s Girl
14 Nasty Suicide
15 Freak Show
16 Skin Tight
17 Let’s Go Crazy