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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZKIHN, Greg(b '52, Baltimore) Singer, songwriter. Began as folksinger; moved to San Francisco at behest of fellow Baltimorean Matthew King Kaufman, manager of hard- rockers Earth Quake and founder of Berserkley label. First recordings on label sampler Berserkley Chartbusters: backed by Earth Quake, also on Jonathan Richman's "Roadrunner', later a single hit. Formed band playing rhythm guitar, with Larry Lynch, drums; Steve Wright, bass; Earth Quake's Robbie Dunbar on lead guitar for Greg Kihn '76, replaced by Dave Carpender for Greg Kihn Again '77, which moved toward harder sounds with rocky covers of Bruce Springsteen's "For You' and Buddy Holly's "Love's Made A Fool Of You'. Next Of Kihn '78 made top 200 LPs USA, as did With The Naked Eye '79 incl. another Springsteen cover "Rendezvous'; three singles almost made Hot 100 '78-81, but band remained cult favourite. After Glass House Rock '80 slipped in LP chart, ex-Earth Quake keyboardist Gary Phillips was recruited and fortunes changed: single "The Breakup Song (They Don't Write "Em)' made no 15, from LP Rockihnroll '81, which made top 40 LPs; concert taped for infant MTV brought solid live act to wider audience (clips still used years later); Carpender replaced after Kihntinued '82 by Greg Douglass, former Steve Miller band acolyte. Disco-styled "Jeopardy' (from LP Kihnspiracy '83) reached no. 2 USA, only '63 UK despite popularity in the rest of Europe (shared UK-only live LP with Rubinoos '78 when Berserkley bands toured, also Powerlines '80). Continued punning ways with Kihntagious '84 (slipped badly in USA LP charts), solo album Citizen Kihn '85 on EMI/America (no. 51). Mutiny appeared on Clean Cuts CD; live Unkihntrolable and Best Of Kihnsolodation on Razor & Tie. |