ENUFF Z’NUFF
Finds out that Everything Works If You Let It
By Michelle M. Biggs
(from the May 1999 issue of the Midwest Beat , reprinted with author’s permission.)

Par-a-pher-na-lia: A) personal belongings, B) accessory items, C) The latest hit album from Enuff Z’Nuff.

If you picked (c) then you are one of the many Z’nuff fans that eagerly hit record stores May 4 to pick up the newest work from the Z’nuff boys. Chip, Donnie, Ricky and Monaco have done it again...

Enuff Z’nuff have become a well-wishing institution and a rock bed of inspiration that simply gets more comfortable and inviting as the years roll on. They have been around for 15 years now- with eight studio releases and one live album behind them. Paraphernalia hosts 13 new tracks from the band and one cover of Cheap Trick’s “Everything Works If You Let It.”

Why choose the name Paraphernalia? Well according to Chip Z’nuff “It’s quite interesting title don’t you think? It means a lot of different things- it’s just very open and vague. Obviously, there are other people who are going to look at the “other” connotations that the word brings up. Paraphernalia is just something that we all need - what ever form it may be in. It just seemed like a title that slipped right off the tongue...it felt right.”

Not only is this CD filled with great music, the Z’Nuff boys were able to get such Chicagoland greats as Rick Nielson (Cheap Trick), James JY Young (Styx) and Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins) to sit in on a few tracks. Nielson is the one playing the cool guitar parts on the opening track and first single, “Freak” Nielson also lends his talents on “All Alone” and “Unemotional.”

“We talked Rick into coming down and playing on one and then buffaloed him into playing on three.” laughs Z’nuff. “He came down with one of his vintage guitars - plugged it in and really just played these songs in one or two takes. He’s really an amazing guitar player and great song writer too...he’s got some great ideas.”

JY of Styx being a part of the recording process for Paraphernalia is not only a bonus for the fans, but was a special treat to Chip and the band, according to Z’nuff. “JY came down to the studio at the exact time as Rick Neilson came down -he participated on some rhythms and some solos on “Top Of The Hill” “Invisible” and “Save Me” (one of the bonus tracks). So it was nice that he came down with his Kramer, just plugged it into a Marshall and just immediately had that trademark JY tone. He’s always been the balls of Styx. With us, he played the way he always plays - he nailed it.” said Z’Nuff. “It was a total honor playing with them both - they are two of the greatest musicians that ever came out of Chicago...certainly the most commercial. Styx has sold over 40 million albums. Cheap Trick has sold about 35 million and the Pumpkins are right up there too. These guys have reached a lot of people with their music. It’s a total honor to work in the same room with three quality superstars.”

If you are wondering how Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins got thrown into the mix, it’s an interesting story. It seems that Chip caught up with him one night at the Metro in Chicago where Corgan was doing a special speaking engagement. Chip gave him an advance copy of some of the songs - told him that Nielson and JY were already guesting on it and that he would love to have him participate as well. After the Pumpkins tour ended, Chip received a phone call from Corgan and they scheduled a Sunday afternoon at CRC Studio to get together. Corgan volunteered to play with the band on one of his favorite tunes, the Cheap Trick cover “Everything Works If You Let It” The rest they say is history.

“It’s been a wonderful experience,” muses Z’nuff. “We had a chance to have some fantastic musicians sit in with us. We recorded and produced all the songs completely by ourselves, and then at the end we looked at the record and decided that if we had three of the best guitar players here in Chicago come down and play with us, to show first of all that everything we had done in the past wasn’t futile, wasn’t a lie, and could not be refuted, that would not be a bad thing. It would be something to show that we are still vital as a band.”

Other gems on the record include the Beatlesque heaven sent ballad “Someday” “(It’s) just one of those positive, spiritual, uplifting songs” said Z’nuff of that particular track. “(The message is that) things might not be going the way we would like them to go, but look ahead, because tomorrow is another day. If you wish and work hard at what you do, you can achieve whatever your dreams may be. Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.”

“Top Of The Hill” is a trashy rocker which marries (the sound) of the New York Dolls with the Stone Temple Pilots. “(It’s) a yin and yang song,” says Z’nuff. “There’s a good guy who goes to work, loves his girlfriend, loves his life. And then there’s another guy who’ll wreak anything he touches and anyone who gets in his way, a raging madman who’ll do whatever it takes to get to the top.”

Closing the album is “Loser Of The World,” a tune Z’nuff calls the perfect exclamation point. “We where in the studio about three in the morning, and Donnie presented the song and I didn’t let on the tape was rolling. I played it back for him, and we all decided it as the perfect finale to this record. It really touches myself and our band, and I think a lot of people can relate to the song. We’re always pointing fingers at each other’s integrity, and I think its fitting that the song is there, saying people, listen, you just might be a little bit like me too. You can feel the pain. because, we’ve all slipped and stumbled.

Making sure the sounds are as the band intended, Enuff Z’nuff once again enlisted mix wizard Chris Shepard, who’s worked with the Smashing Pumpkins, KMFDM, as well as having done the last three Wilco releases. “He has a terrific sense of balance,” offers Chip. “But it was great...we got to record at Chicago Recording Company, which is the best in town, a place where you can do good work, because you have all the equipment you need to make things happen the way you hear them in your head.”

The band has never been one to write for the radio, but with such a keen pop sense, it would be a shame to ignore the air waves, a medium almost charged with the spirit of the band. “Freak” Paraphernalia’s first single, a song with a knock- ‘em dead video(edited by the people who do the Jerry Springer Show), is a certifiable anthem which features two Rick Nielson cameos.

The video for “Freak” just started getting air play a few weeks ago. Some smaller stations around the nation have already jumped on it, including JBTV in Chicago. It seems that everything is starting over for Enuff Z’nuff again. “I feel that this year is a good year for us. We get another chance. That’s the best thing about a new record - it’s a fresh new start. I feel this is a third chance for us. There’s Rolling Stone Magazine, VH1, and MTV and that will definitely put us in the public eye” touts Z’nuff

The VH1 projects to which Chip referred are “Behind The Music” and “Where Are They Now” which are scheduled to air in June so be sure to catch both shows. There are alot of other things in the works for Enuff Z’nuff , but the band is keeping it on the QT so as not to jinx anything.

The Z’nuff boys have had their share of ups and downs. They recently switched record labels from Mayhem to Spitfire Records. It was through no fault of the bands though. It seems Mayhem just ended up folding and closing its doors , which left Z’nuff and the other Mayhem acts searching for a new home. So the guys shopped their new work with major and independent labels alike. There were four or five independent labels that were very interested in putting the record out. With all they had to choose from the band went with Spitfire. “Spitfire seemed the most honest about putting the record out - expectations were high for them, but it wasn’t so much pressure on the band to have to sell so many records immediately.” Spitfire is a subsidiary of Eagle Records which handles Z’nuff releases in Europe. “Paraphernalia was released not long ago in Europe, but it was nearly impossible to get as an import- only 12 songs of it have been available overseas. There are two bonus tracks on the U.S. release, so it’s still a fresh new record. “It was really hard to get as an import,” states Z’nuff. “We did that intentionally. Every year we put a record out. There’s more songs we put out in Japan and Europe so we switched it around this time and made sure that the States got the bulk of the material.”

The Z’nuff guys not only have musical talent, but they also have quite a business savvy. The band owns their songs. “Essentially what Enuff Z’nuff does and what we’ve been doing for the last 6 years is, just license our records to other record companies,” explained Z’nuff. “We piggy back them, use their distribution, and of course utilize other means which the label has, i.e. publicists, marketing people etc... In the long run, this way at least own our records. Which is something every artist for the last 70 years has complained about, not owning their music...so we always wanted to retain that. I think it’s really important to retain our catalogue. We do own most of it. We are just so comfortable having all the music under one umbrella.”

The guys are going through the usual routine when it comes to promoting their new CD. They are planning to tour here in the States the middle of June and early July, then they are heading over to Europe in late October through November. When asked if he had any expectations about touring, Z’nuff replied: “We do this every year. We make a record and go out and tour to support it. Hopefully there are some radio stations around the country who are receptive to it and like it. That’s all you can really ask for.”

“It would be nice to get out there and support this record a bit more extensively than we have in the past,” he continued. “We’d like get out and play where there is no perception before hand. Where image won’t over shadow the rock. Even though image is important, it shortens the run a little bit.”

The band has taken shows that might have been deemed questionable in the past. But it was fun for them to go out and meet different audiences. As Z’nuff said “We’re a diversified band that can play different styles.”

Enuff Z’nuff is as loyal to their home town as their fans are to their music. While most bands head to New York or Los Angeles to pursue their careers, the Z’nuff boys have their feet firmly planted in the Chicagoland area. Their management and record company may be in NY and LA, but the guys stay where their hearts are: “We love this town” says Z’nuff. “It’s culturally stocked with everything and our families and our friends are out here.” (Not to mention quite a few Enuff Z’nuff fans).

By all accounts, Enuff Z’nuff with a little help from their friends, has created another decorative, pop triumph. A record filled with good feelings, one that purifies and multiplies. Time for the Z’nuff boys to get their much deserved break. And with Paraphernalia being their strongest CD since 1993’s Animals With Human Intelligence it looks like it’s their time to shine...again!

Chip had one final message for us all and I felt the same sentiment. I found his closing quote to be a fitting way to close this article: “May the best thing that happened to everybody last year be the worst thing that happens to you this year...” ‘Nuff said!