BETHLEHEM, Pa. — In the mid-1980s, Montgomery County band Teeze was riding the wave of glam metal music that saturated the airwaves with Poison, Skid Row and Cinderella.
The group, which in 1985 released its self-titled album, found some of its biggest audiences in the Lehigh Valley area, even as it changed its name to Roughhouse and appeared on MTV.
As happens with popular music, glam metal soon made way to another fad and Roughhouse broke up.
But now, the band — back together for nearly a decade — will play a show at The Gin Mill in Northampton tonight to celebrate the 40th anniversary of that debut disc.
"It makes you feel good that a record that we put out back in 1984-85 that people actually talk about it and still remember. It’s just amazing, because most bands don’t get a chance to put a record out, nor do they last longer than five years."Roughhouse rhythm guitarist Gregg Malack
It will play the "Teeze" album in its entirety, as well as other songs from its album as Roughhouse and even new material.
Tickets remain available at $20 in advance and $25 at the door.
"Honestly, I never thought I’d live to be this old," rhythm guitarist Gregg Malack said, laughing, in a recent phone interview.
"It makes you feel good that a record that we put out back in 1984-85 that people actually talk about it and still remember. It’s just amazing, because most bands don’t get a chance to put a record out, nor do they last longer than five years.
“So it’s just amazing to say that, ‘Hey, we released a record, and people still remember and are buying it.' That makes me feel good, because the odds were against us back in the day.”
The reunited band also includes original members singer Luis Rivera and bassist Dave Weakley, and lead guitarist Rex "Tripp" Eisen and drummer Mike Natalini, both of whom joined the band in 1986, after it became Roughhouse.
'Little band out of Lansdale'
Teeze came together in Lansdale, Montgomery County, as a cover band that consistently played the Lehigh Valley. But within a short time, it was setting itself apart by playing original music.
“We kind of knew what we were doing musically, and had a certain way of going about it — we had a direction," Weakley said on the call. "And we had this huge audience that followed us along.”
He said Teeze played Lehigh Valley venues such as Castle Gardens at Dorney Park, Bill Daniels Rock Palace, Mickey Kelly’s East in Bethlehem, Chubby’s, Airport Music Hall and Green Pond Inn.
“We were all over the world — on the cover of a French magazine. It was crazy for this little band out of Lansdale.”Roughhouse bassist Dave Weakley
He said that while the band was popular in the Lehigh Valley, it also drew attention in Philadelphia and the New York area.
“I was a fan," said Eisen, a Penn Argyl native, who also was on the call. "I was in the audience at 18, 19 years old, going to see these guys.
"When they went original and put the ‘Teeze’ album out, it was, like magical. ... The turning point was, I remember they played Castle Gardens and they did a whole set of originals.
"I called my friend and I said, ‘I just saw Teeze and they played all originals.’ They were an artist now. It blew me away.”
Other listeners apparently had a similar reaction. Without major label support, the album topped Philadelphia radio rock station WYSP-FM's playlist and sold 40,000 copies.
The group also got notice in rock magazines such as Kerrang! in the United Kingdom and Hit Parader and Circus in the United States.
“We were all over the world — on the cover of a French magazine" Weakley said. "It was crazy for this little band out of Lansdale.”
A big run, then 'it always happens'
The band drew enough attention — and fans — that it was signed to Columbia Records. But the label had another band named Teeze, so it changed the name to Roughhouse for its major label debut.
That also was when Eisen and Natalini joined the band.
The group's music appeared on the MTV show "Headbangers Ball," and it opened for big rock acts including Blue Oyster Cult, Ace Frehley, Stryper and Steppenwolf.
But eventually the glam metal trend ran its course, and Roughhouse ran its course, the members said.
"There was a new phase of music coming through, a new style. … Just like everything, it always happens."Roughhouse bassist Dave Weakley
“We spent a lot of time together," Weakley said. "Then the record deal went away. There was a new phase of music coming through, a new style. … Just like everything, it always happens."
Roughhouse broke up in 1991, though it reunited for shows occasionally.
Eisen went on to become guitarist of the industrial metal band Static-X from 2000-05 during which time that band had gold, Top 40 charting albums and a dozen songs on Rock charts.
Then, late in 2016, Roughhouse played its first show together in 14 years at the Philadelphia club Whiskey Tango. That led to a full reunion in 2017.
“We were talking and the five of use finally got it all together," Weakley said. It since has opened for Steel Panther, Kixx and the former band of Ronnie James Dio.
"We’ve been doing some cool opening dates, playing in front of a few big crowds," he said.
'We're very honored'
That again drew label interest, and Roughhouse has signed with 20th Century Music, a company that re-releases music of Roughhouse's era, as well as new music.
Roughhouse is releasing the original "Teeze" album for the 40th anniversary and plans to release the "Roughhouse" disc, Weakley said.
“Music is like a recall — you hear a certain song and it takes you back to that time, and it’s always your favorite."Roughhouse bassist Dave Weakley
The group also is re-recording the earlier albums to update their sound.
“The sky is wide open for us to do a lot of different things," Weakley said. "And eventually maybe even new music. We all have new music on deck.”
Eisen said, “We’re intent on continuing this — writing stuff, sounding better. We’re excited about that.”
Said Weakley, “I liken it to being with a gang of old friends. I always saw us as us against the world. I see this as a gang of old friends still out there competing against the world. So it continues."
“Music is like a recall — you hear a certain song and it takes you back to that time, and it’s always your favorite.
"So it’s really an honor for us to be part of peoples’ memories, where our music can take them back to a time in their lives where things were crazy," he said with a laugh.
“We’re very honored to have people still coming out to see us and buying our album.”
