Derek Frigo and Enuff Z'Nuff

Much have been written about Derek Frigo's death in 2004 on apparent drug overdose and his band Enuff Z'Nuff but not about his virtuosity. Currently, I'm listening to Enuff Z'Nuff's self-titled debut (which pushes me to write about them) and really enjoying it. It can be said that the band belongs to the "hair metal"/"hair band" crop of the 80s but the music herein is not like what you expect from your ordinary hair band. When I first got a hold and listened to this CD, my first thought that they don't have that "take-a-look-at-us, we're-bad-boys" attitude. Some may even say that the album is boring for it's not choked-full with fast songs about sex, drugs and rock n'roll. Though it also has some fast moments like Hot Little Summer Girl, Little Indian Angel and Kiss The Clown, you'll know that they are not after what the other "glam bands" like Nitro and even the great Shotgun Messiah are after. This is not who can play the most notes in the most bizzare way, what can of sleazy environment they live in and how many drugs they've already taken but about song writing. Theirs is a reminder of the Beatles. I absolutely love the lyrics in "For Now" with lines that go: "... for now you are the sale, there is no other buy". And Derek's playing didn't overcome any songs unlike that of other virtuoso guitarists' songs, he just played FOR the songs. And one thing that really pissed me off is that he's not as respected as others who have less talent but more popular than him. Tell me how many times you've seen Warren DeMartini on the cover of some guitar magazine and how many times you've seen even just a small article about Derek Frigo.

The way I put it why this album didn't become a monster seller is that it is way more than the average "hair metal"/"hair band" fan could ever enjoy.