Kip Winger facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kip Winger
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Kip Winger performing at Avalon in Santa Clara, California, March 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 |
Charles Frederick "Kip" Winger (born June 21, 1961) is an American singer and bass guitar player. He is known for being a member of the rock band Winger. He also has a successful career as a solo artist. Before forming his own band, Kip was part of Alice Cooper's band. He played bass on Alice Cooper's albums Constrictor (1986) and Raise Your Fist and Yell (1987).
Contents
Kip Winger's Early Life and Musical Journey
Growing Up with Music
Kip Winger was born in Denver, Colorado. Both of his parents were musicians, so he grew up surrounded by music. When he was 16, Kip started studying classical music. He was inspired by composers like Debussy, Ravel, and Stravinsky after hearing their music in ballet class. Around this time, he sent a demo tape to famous musician Alan Parsons and even received a personal reply!
First Bands and Moving to New York
As a teenager, Kip played in a band called Blackwood Creek. His brothers Nate and Paul, along with friend Peter Fletcher, were also in the band. Blackwood Creek broke up in 1980. Kip and his brothers also played in another band called Colorado in the Denver area. Kip's first recorded song, "Wizard of the Key," was released in 1980. It was on a compilation album called KAZY Thunder on the Mountain.
In 1982, Kip moved to New York City. He worked as a waiter while continuing to study music composition.
Rise to Fame in Rock Music
Breaking into the Music Scene
Kip Winger got his first big break in 1984. He helped write the song "Bang Bang" for the band Kix. This song appeared on their album Midnite Dynamite. During this time, Kip worked closely with record producer Beau Hill. He often recorded bass and vocals for different albums.
Kip met guitarist Reb Beach while working on another album. They started recording demos together. In 1985, Kip joined Alice Cooper's band. He toured and made two albums with Alice Cooper. He often played alongside keyboardist/guitarist Paul Taylor.
Forming the Band Winger
In March 1987, Kip left Alice Cooper's band. He wanted to focus on his own music. He went back to New York to write songs with Reb Beach. Soon, Paul Taylor and drummer Rod Morgenstein joined them. They first called their band Sahara. However, Alice Cooper suggested they change the name to Winger.
The band Winger released three popular albums:
- Winger (1988)
- In the Heart of the Young (1990)
- Pull (1993)
After these albums, the band members decided to work on their own solo music.
Kip Winger's Solo Career and Return to Winger
Solo Albums and New Directions
After Winger, Kip moved to New Mexico to start his solo career. He also studied music at the University of New Mexico. He recorded three solo albums in Santa Fe, New Mexico:
- This Conversation Seems Like a Dream
- Down Incognito
- Songs from the Ocean Floor
In 2002, Kip moved to Nashville. He then worked on his fourth solo album, From the Moon to the Sun (2008). He produced this album with Cenk Eroglu.
Winger Reunites
In September 2006, it was announced that the band Winger would get back together. The same members from the Pull album era reunited. They recorded their fourth studio album, IV. They also went on a tour to support the album. During this tour, they recorded Winger Live, which was released as a CD and DVD in 2007.
In 2009, Winger recorded their fifth studio album, Karma. Many people thought it was their best album yet. The band toured in the U.S., Europe, and South America. They have continued to release new music, including Better Days Comin' (2014) and Seven (2023).
Exploring Classical Music and Other Projects
Composing for Ballet
After releasing From the Moon to the Sun, Kip Winger studied with Michael Kurek. He then composed a thirty-minute symphonic piece called "Ghosts." This piece was written for strings, piano, and harp for a ballet. The Tucson Symphony Orchestra performed "Ghosts" for the first time on November 14–15, 2009.
Famous choreographer Christopher Wheeldon created a ballet called "Ghosts" using Kip's music. It premiered at the San Francisco Ballet on February 9, 2010. Kip was even nominated for an Isadora Duncan Award for Excellence in Music for this work. The ballet was very popular and was performed again in 2010.
Honoring a Ballet Legend
Next, Kip composed a four-part work called C.F. Kip Winger: Conversations with Nijinsky. This piece celebrated the life of the famous ballet dancer and choreographer Vaslav Nijinsky. The San Francisco Ballet Orchestra recorded the album. It reached the top of the Traditional Classical Chart on the Billboard music charts. C.F. Kip Winger: Conversations with Nijinsky was even nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Classical Contemporary Composition category.
A Musical Thriller: Get Jack
Kip Winger also made his debut as a composer for theater. He wrote the music for a musical thriller called Get Jack. Damien Gray wrote the story and lyrics. The story is about the five female victims of Jack the Ripper. They come back to life to find Jack and get revenge.
Get Jack was presented in concert in New York in October 2019. Kip Winger and Damien Gray released the Get Jack concept album in July 2019. This album, which mixes rock and orchestral music, reached #7 on Billboard's Cast Albums chart.
Other Interesting Facts
Kip Winger's song "Blue Suede Shoes" from the album IV honored the brave service of the United States armed forces. For this, General Harold Cross gave Kip an honorary plaque and a historic American flag. This happened during a TV show taping on PBS.
You might have seen Kip Winger's band mentioned in the cartoon show Beavis and Butt-Head. One of the characters, Stewart Stevenson, often wears a Winger T-shirt.
Kip has also been a head counselor at the Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy Camp. Here, he helps teach aspiring musicians alongside famous artists like Roger Daltrey and Steven Tyler. In May 2013, Kip was even featured on the TV show Pawn Stars. He helped the host, Rick Harrison, at the Rock Fantasy Camp. In the early 1990s, Jackson Guitars even made a special Kip Winger Signature Bass guitar.
Kip Winger's Music Albums
Solo 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)
Albums with Winger
- Winger (1988)
- In the Heart of the Young (1990)
- Pull (1993)
- IV (2006)
- Karma (2009)
- Better Days Comin' (2014)
- Seven (2023)
Albums with Alice Cooper
- Constrictor (1986)
- Raise Your Fist and Yell (1987)
- Trash (1989)
- Welcome 2 My Nightmare (2011)
Albums with Other Bands
- With Fiona: Heart Like a Gun (1989)
- With The Mob: The Mob (2005)
- With Blackwood Creek: Blackwood Creek (2009)
Other Music Contributions
Kip Winger has also contributed to many other albums, including:
- Kix – Midnite Dynamite (1985)
- Fiona – Beyond the Pale (1986)
- Twisted Sister – Love Is for Suckers (1987)
- Bob Dylan – Down in the Groove (1988)
- Jordan Rudess – Rhythm of Time (2004)
Tribute Albums
Kip Winger has performed on several tribute albums, honoring other famous bands and artists:
- "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)
- "Limelight" & "The Spirit of Radio" – Subdivisions: A Tribute to Rush (2005)
- "Drive My Car" – Butchering the Beatles: A Headbashing Tribute (2006)
Videos and DVDs
- Alice Cooper – The Nightmare Returns (1986)
- Winger – The Videos, Vol. 1 (1989)
- Winger – Live in Tokyo (1991)
- Winger – The Making of Pull (1993)
- Winger Live (2007)
See also
In Spanish: Kip Winger para niños
