Kip Winger facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kip Winger
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Kip Winger in 2007
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Charles Frederick Winger |
| Born | June 21, 1961 Denver, Colorado, U.S. |
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| Occupation(s) | Musician |
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| Years active | 1978–present |
| Labels | Frontiers Records |
Charles Frederick Winger (born June 21, 1961), known as Kip Winger, is an American musician. He is a talented singer and bass guitarist. Kip is famous for being part of the rock band Winger. He also has a successful career as a solo artist. Before forming his own band, he played bass for the legendary rock musician Alice Cooper. He worked on Cooper's albums Constrictor (1986) and Raise Your Fist and Yell (1987).
Kip Winger's Musical Journey
Early Life and Music
Kip Winger was born in Colorado. Both of his parents were musicians. This meant music was a big part of his life from the start. When he was 16, Kip started studying classical music. He was inspired by composers like Debussy and Stravinsky. He even sent a demo tape to famous producer Alan Parsons.
As a teenager, Kip played in a band called Blackwood Creek. His brothers Nate and Paul were also in the band. They played in the Denver area. Later, this band changed its name to Winger for a live recording.
In 1982, Kip moved to New York City. He worked as a waiter while studying music composition.
Finding Success in Rock
Kip Winger's big break came in 1984. He helped write the song "Bang Bang" for the band Kix. During this time, he worked with producer Beau Hill. Kip recorded bass and vocals for many songs.
In 1985, Kip joined Alice Cooper's band. He toured and made two albums with Alice Cooper. In 1987, Kip decided to leave and start his own band. He wanted to focus on his own music.
Kip teamed up with guitarist Reb Beach. They started writing songs together. Soon, Paul Taylor and drummer Rod Morgenstein joined them. They first called their band Sahara. But Alice Cooper suggested they use the name Winger.
The band Winger released three popular albums. These were Winger (1988), In the Heart of the Young (1990), and Pull (1993). After these albums, the band members started their own solo projects.
Solo Career and New Music
After Winger, Kip moved to New Mexico. He focused on his solo music. He also studied at the University of New Mexico.
He recorded three solo albums there. These included This Conversation Seems Like a Dream and Down Incognito. In 2002, Kip moved to Nashville, Tennessee. He worked on his fourth solo album, From the Moon to the Sun (2008).
Winger Reunites
In 2006, the band Winger got back together. They recorded their fourth album, IV. They also went on tour to support the album. During this tour, they recorded a live album and DVD called Winger Live.
In 2009, Winger released their fifth album, Karma. Many fans thought it was one of their best. The band toured across the US, Europe, and South America.
Exploring Classical Music
After his solo album From the Moon to the Sun, Kip Winger went back to studying classical music. He composed a thirty-minute piece called "Ghosts." It was written for a ballet. The Tucson Symphony Orchestra performed it in 2009.
A famous choreographer, Christopher Wheeldon, created a ballet called "Ghosts." It premiered at the San Francisco Ballet in 2010. Kip was even nominated for an award for his music.
Kip then composed another classical work. It was called C.F. Kip Winger: Conversations with Nijinsky. This piece honored the ballet dancer Vaslav Nijinsky. The San Francisco Ballet Orchestra recorded it. The album even reached the top of the classical music charts on Billboard.
Conversations with Nijinsky was nominated for a Grammy Award. This was for Best Classical Contemporary Composition.
Get Jack, A Musical Thriller
Kip Winger also writes for theater. He created a musical thriller called Get Jack. It tells the story of the five victims of Jack the Ripper. These women come back to get revenge.
Get Jack is still being developed. A concept album for the musical was released in 2019. It reached number 7 on Billboard's Cast Albums chart.
Interesting Facts
Kip Winger's song "Blue Suede Shoes" honors US armed forces. He received an award for this song.
You might have seen a character named Stewart Stevenson on the TV show Beavis and Butt-Head. He often wears a Winger T-shirt.
Kip has also been a counselor at the Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy Camp. He helps people learn from famous musicians. He even appeared on the TV show Pawn Stars helping Rick Harrison at the camp.
In the early 1990s, the Jackson Guitar Company made a special Kip Winger Signature Bass.
Discography
Studio 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)
- Conversations with Nijinsky (2016)
Soundtrack albums
- Get Jack with Damien Gray (2019)
Box sets
- Solo Box Set Collection (2018)
with Winger
- Winger (1988)
- In the Heart of the Young (1990)
- Pull (1993)
- IV (2006)
- Karma (2009)
- Better Days Comin' (2014)
- Seven (2023)
with Alice Cooper
- Constrictor (1986)
- Raise Your Fist and Yell (1987)
- Trash (1989)
- Welcome 2 My Nightmare (2011)
with Fiona
- Heart Like a Gun (1989)
with The Mob
- The Mob (2005)
with Blackwood Creek
- Blackwood Creek (2009)
Other contributions
- Kix – Midnite Dynamite (1985)
- Fiona – Beyond the Pale (1986)
- Alice Cooper – Trash (1989)
- Kane Roberts – Kane Roberts (1987)
- Twisted Sister – Love Is for Suckers (1987)
- Bob Dylan – Down in the Groove (1988)
- Various artists – Hearts of Fire soundtrack (1987)
- Blue Yonder – Blue Yonder (1987)
- Orange Swirl – Orange Swirl (1998)
- Seven Days – Ride (1998)
- Rob Eberhard Young – Speak (1999)
- Under Suspicion – Under Suspicion (2001)
- Jordan Rudess – Rhythm of Time (2004)
- Twenty Flight Rockers – The New York Sessions 1988 (2004)
- XCarnation – Grounded (2005)
- Jordan Rudess – The Road Home (2007)
- Northern Light Orchestra – Orchestra Arrangements (2009)
- Alice Cooper – Welcome 2 My Nightmare (2011)
Tributes
- "Space Truckin'" – Smoke on the Water – A Tribute to Deep Purple (1994)
- "I'm in Love with My Car" – Stone Cold Queen: A Tribute (2001)
- "I Want You" – Spin the Bottle: An All-Star Tribute to Kiss (2004)
- "A Love Like Yours (Don't Come Knocking Everyday)" – What's Love? a Tribute to Tina Turner (2004)
- "Limelight" & "The Spirit of Radio" – Subdivisions: A Tribute to Rush (2005)
- "Send Her My Love" – An '80s Metal Tribute to Journey (2006)
- "Drive My Car" – Butchering the Beatles: A Headbashing Tribute (2006)
- "Holding Back the Years" (by Simply Red) – Hair Metal Greatest Power Ballad Covers (2009)
Videos/DVDs
- Alice Cooper – The Nightmare Returns (1986)
- Winger – The Videos, Vol. 1 (1989)
- Winger – In the Heart of the Young, Vol. 1 (1990)
- Winger – In the Heart of the Young, Vol. 2 (1991)
- Winger – Live in Tokyo (1991)
- Winger – The Making of Pull (1993)
- Various artists – VH1 Metal Mania Stripped Across America Tour Live (2006)
- Winger – The Making of Winger IV (2007)
- Winger Live (2007)
- Winger DVD – Then & Now: The Making of Pull & Winger IV (2009)
Reviews and Interviews
- RockReport Review May 2008
- Metal Sludge Rewind with Kip Winger Retrieved on 2009-01-01.
- Kip Winger Interview October 2008
- Kip Winger-Interview November 2007
- Ghosts and Simpler Times by Mike Ward San Francisco Bay Times February 2010
- No Pride in Prejudice By Janos Gereben – Classical Voice February 2010
- rock star reinvents himself with the help of Blair professor Michael Kurek by Jim Patterson – Vanderbilt View June 2010
- Winger's True Passion: Music For Ballet by Amy Sciarretto October 2010
See also
In Spanish: Kip Winger para niños
