Winger released their debut album “Winger in 1988 and it scored the band its first platinum-selling album. Winger released its second album In the Heart of the Young in 1990 and it also went platinum. Since then the band has released the following albums: Pull (1993), IV (2006), Karma (2009), and Better Days Comin’ (2014). The band is currently in the studio finishing a new album for release in the near future.
Our article about Winger and Beavis & Butthead has been one of the most viewed in XS ROCK’s history. You can read it here: https://xsrock.com/how-beavis-butthead-ruined-wingers-coolness-at-the-peak-of-their-popularity/
And now for the big question, Winger…Where Are They Now?
Kip Winger
Kip Winger (real name Charles Frederick Kip Winger) got his first break co-writing the song Bang Bang for Kix’s “Midnite Dynamite” album and playing bass and providing backup vocals on the Alice Cooper albums “Constrictor” and “Raise Your Fist And Yell”. Alice Cooper suggested that the band change their name to “Winger” from “Sahara”, which is what the band was using n the early days. Winger found success with two platinum albums, but their third album “Pull” didn’t meet the sales of the albums before it and the band went in different directions pursuing solo careers for quite some time. Kip Winger married Beatrice Richter in 1991 but tragedy would strike in 1996 when she was killed in a car accident. Kip Winger released the following solo albums: This Conversation Seems Like a Dream (1997), Down Incognito (1999), Songs from the Ocean Floor (2001), From the Moon to the Sun (2008), Ghosts – Suite No. 1 (2010) and Conversations with Nijinsky (2016). In 2019 Kip composed the soundtrack to “Get Jack” a musical thriller about Jack The Ripper. Kip is currently working on finishing the latest Winger album.
Reb Beach
When Winger disbanded after the “Pull” album, Reb Beach (real name Richard Earl Beach Jr.) stayed very busy playing guitar for Alice Cooper and joined Dokken for the album “Erase The Slate” and also performed on their live album “Live From The Sun”. He would then go on to Whitesnake, where he still remains a member of the band as well as a member of Winger. Reb also has been in several so-called supergroups featuring all-star members from other well-known bands like The Mob and Black Swan. Reb Beach has also released several solo albums showcasing his guitar virtuoso skills with “The Fusion Demos”, “Masquerade”, and “A View From The Inside”.
Rod Morgenstein
Prior to joining Winger, drummer and percussionist Rod Morgenstein played with The Dixie Dregs and Steve Morse’s solo band. He’s also been involved as a member of several progressive rock groups like Platypus, Jelly Jam, and Rudess/Morgenstein Project alongside Dream Theater’s Jordan Rudess.
http://www.rodmorgenstein.com/
Paul Taylor
Paul Taylor (real name Paul Horowitz) was playing in Alice Cooper’s solo band alongside Kip Winger back in 1987. The two would work on original songs in their downtime and would later use many of those songs for the first Winger album. Paul played on the first two Winger albums Winger (1988) and In the Heart of the Young (1990). He has rejoined the band for different tours over the years. He played on Alice Cooper’s “Fistful Of Alice” (1997) and former Journey singer Steve Perry’s solo album “For the Love of Strange Medicine” (1994)
John Roth
Guitarist John Roth joined Winger after working with Kip Winger on several of his solo albums. Roth has played on the following Winger albums: Winger IV (2006)
Winger Live (2007), Karma (2009) Better Days Coming (2014). John Roth got his big break playing for Black Oak Arkansas when he was just 19. He has also toured and performed with the Starship, Eddie Money, Mike Reno of Loverboy, Taylor Dane, and more. He has also been in the critically acclaimed band Giant.
