FANFICTION 

1989: The band makes the musical scene with "New Thing" in mid-summer. Supported by heavy video play and moderate single sales, the song reaches no.27 on the Billboard charts. Their self-titled debut album enters the Billboard 200 album charts at no.176. In September, EZ'N makes the promotional rounds and Atco releases "For Now" as the second single. More radio friendly than "New Thing," it climbs up to no.6 on the charts. Enuff Z'Nuff goes on tour, opening for several high-profile artists as their album reaches no.42. In late November, Atco is forced to release "I Could Never Be Without You," due to radio demand. Leaving the girls swaying and crying and the guys grabbing their lighters, "...Never Be Without You" is a show-stopper live. During Christmas, "I Could Never Be Without You" reaches no.1. After three weeks on top and a gold certification, it yields to Paula Abdul's "Opposites Attract." The album has by now climbed to a new peak of no.4 and gone platinum.

1990: In March, "Fly High Michelle" is released as the fourth and final single. Despite heavy MTV and radio play, most folks are now buying the album and "Fly High Michelle" peaks at no.18. In September the album is certified double-platinum.

1991: After much anticipation (during the Winger/Warrant/Slaughter/Steelheart boom), "Mother's Eyes" hits radio and video outlets. While EZ'N aren't at Bon Jovi status, the song makes an impressive debut at no.37 in April. MTV does a nice story on the frenzy at record stores as people snatch up the 'Strength' album. Thanks to the use of Soundscan on the Billboard album charts, and the band's first national headlining tour, 'Strength' debuts at no.1 after selling 312,00 copies its first week (but after only one week, Skid Row takes over the top with 'Slave To The Grind'). "Mother's Eyes" loses sales points to the album and drops from no.26. In August, following a cover story in Rolling Stone magazine, "Goodbye" spends two weeks at no.2, unable to dislodge Bryan Adams' "Everything I Do (I Do It For You)." "Baby Loves You," the third single, reaches no.39 in late October as 'Strength' goes double-platinum. In December, Nirvana releases "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and everything changes...

1992: The final single from 'Strength,' "Blue Island," stalls at no.55 on the charts thanks to the domination of grunge. Things look rough for the band after Vikki Foxx jumps ship to hook up with the Vince Neil Band (on the Bad Decision Scale of 1-10? It's a 35). Derek Frigo has a growing chemical dependency that the band keeps out of the headlines but which affects the recording of their third album. Late in the year, Clive Davis buys out EZ'N's Atco contract and signs them to Arista, confident the boys can survive the flannel onslaught of Pearl Jam.

1993: Enuff Z'Nuff, with new drummer Ricky Parent, launch 'Animals With Human Intelligence' in March with the single "Right By Your Side." Going for the big ballad first, Arista expects a no.1 hit. But grunge and R&B have taken over pop radio and "Right By Your Side" is the dying gasp of the 'power ballad,' peaking at no.7 on the charts. 'Animals...' is released the day before the band's world tour with Mr. Big begins, and enters the Billboard 200 at no.9. It sinks quickly, going gold before falling off the charts. "Innocence" climbs to no.21 in August, and "Bring It On Home" (Arista's attempt to put a grunge/metal spin on the band's promotion) falters at no.63 in November. The band doesn't like being marketed as a 'hair-metal' hold-over and buys out their contract. Derek Frigo leaves the band before year's end. '94 may be rough...

1994: Unhappy with Arista's 'hair-band' promotion and coping with Derek's leaving, Enuff Z'Nuff amicably end their contract with Arista. While they adjust to their personal situation, the band issues '1985' for the fans on independent Big Deal/Caroline Records. While some pop stations play "Day By Day" and rock leans towards "Catholic Girls," no singles are officially released from the album. Other than some guest stints on MTV's 'Lip Service,' Chip, Donnie, and Ricky do no promotion. Still, '1985' enters the Billboard album chart at no.32---an excellent showing for an independent album. While 'hair-metal' has long since been over, bands like Collective Soul and the Gin Blossoms have kept Enuff Z'Nuff's pop sound on the air. FORTUNATELY, listeners are smart enough to appreciate the difference between cornball metal and Enuff Z'Nuff's Beatles-esque pop/rock sound [If only that were REALLY true!-eric].

1995: Despite the turmoil of the last year, Enuff Z'Nuff survives. And like true artists, they're able to channel their problems into their music. In the fall, the band releases 'Tweaked.' The album has a harder sound and is much darker than previous releases. It also features the return of original guitarist Gino Martino and begins the band's association with Mayhem Records. Like Ani DiFranco and The Artist Formerly Known As Prince, Enuff Z'Nuff prove that success can be maintained outside of the mainstream music biz. The eagerly awaited album is previewed by "Bullet From A Gun." Rock radio and MTV put it into active rotation, and pop programmers begin adding "Has Jesus Closed His Eyes?". As Joan Osborne is riding the charts with "One Of Us," "...Jesus Closed..." is part of the religious-themed boom on pop radio. It also helps cement pop/rock's return to radio. Following the success of Hootie & the Blowfish and the Rembrandt's "I'll Be There For You," radio has finally returned to the melodic rock EZ'N long ago mastered. With both pop and rock fans interested, 'Tweaked' enters the albums charts at no.16, going gold before the end of the year. As personal and professional problems continue to plague the band, they are unable to launch a full-scale tour. Several intimate dates and appearances on Howard Stern's Show are as close as fans can get during this period. In late November, Mayhem issues a commercial single of "Has Jesus Closed His Eyes?/Mister Jones." The song debuts at no.28, but airplay has already peaked and the song only makes it to no.22. Still, it marks EZ'N's first major hit in two years.

1996: Gino leaves the band (again), and is replaced by John Monaco. Chip oversees the release of 'Peachfuzz.' "You're Not Me" climbs to no.29 on the rock charts and "Happy Holiday" becomes a Christmas staple on pop/AC stations, but no singles are released. 'Peachfuzz,' mostly a trinket for fans, debuts and peaks at no.65 on the album charts. Not being an official new studio album, it's chart position is still seen as a success for an independent album. Before the end of the year, the band scores a top ten rock track with "Bring It On Home" after it's included in the smash film "Jerry Maguire." Since it was not specifically written for the film, the guys aren't eligible for an Oscar nomination.

1997: Enuff Z'Nuff ushers in the new year with "Wheels," the first single from their upcoming album 'Seven' (maybe Garth Brooks is influenced when he releases 'Sevens' in November?). 'Seven' is actually an album Chip and Donnie released oversees in '94 while working out their American contract with Big Deal. "Wheels" is released as a single in late January and zooms to no.3 (unable to get past Puff Daddy & the Spice Girls---aaaggghhh!!!). Radio chooses "It's No Good" as the next single by mid-February and Mayhem releases it. "It's No Good" is climbing up the charts in early March when 'Seven' enters the Billboard 200 at no.4 (appropriately, the following week, it slips to no.7). "It's No Good" peaks at no. 10 in late April. During the summer, the band hits the road in support of 'Seven' and rock stations latch onto "So Sad To See You." The next pop single, "Jealous Guy," debuts at no.9 on the pop charts and peaks at no.4 a few weeks later. By the end of '97, 'Seven' is hovering near double-platinum; fourth single "Downhill" has peaked at no.14; and every magazine in the world is trumpeting Enuff Z'Nuff as the comeback of the year (Comeback? I didn't know they ever left 8^).

1998: Hard at work on new material, the band releases 'Live' to coincide with a VH-1 "Behind The Music" special on Enuff Z'Nuff. 'Live' enters the Billboard charts at no.26. The live versions of "New Thing" and "Fly High Michelle" get some airplay but aren't commercially released.

1999: The band wraps up the decade with 'Paraphernalia,' a collaboration with fellow Chicago-ite(?) Billy Corgan, and possibly a boxed set and another studio album. We'll just have to wait and see!