Original Staff (1986-1994):
Gary Cherone – lead vocals
Nuno Bettencourt – lead guitar
Pat Badger – bass
Paul Geary – drums

Second Staff (1994-1996):
Gary Cherone – lead vocals
Nuno Bettencourt – lead guitar
Pat Badger – bass
Mike Mangini – drums

Current Staff (2007 – present):
Gary Cherone – lead vocals
Nuno Bettencourt – lead guitar
Pat Badger – bass
Kevin Figueiredo – drums

Before starting our story about this not so popular, but very original and talented band, let's imagine the time of the end 70th and beginning 80th when almost all young people listened such legendary groups as The Beatles, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, Metallica, Aerosmith and others. Four young people from Boston – Gary Cherone (born July 26, 1961), Nuno Bettencourt (born September 20, 1966), Pat Badger (born July 22, 1967) and Paul Geary (born July 24, 1961) were also under impaction of this music and started to form their individual style for one day when they would meet and join together in a band which called EXTREME. Hard and big way to the rock scene has started.

Forming final stuff of the band started already in 1981 when Gary Cherone and Paul Geary performed in local band which had not rock'n'roll but very romantic name "The Dream". "Dreamers" managed not too much, they recorded just one six-track album which wasn't known.

"The Dream" changed its name to "EXTREME" in 1985 and after that the guys took part in MTV project and recorded the song "Mutha (Don't Wanna Go To School Today)". Since this moment their running up began, because this single broadcasted on the whole territory of the USA on MTV Channel. This success was an inspiration for the guys and they continued to form their unique and individual musical style.

Nuno Bettencourt joined the band in 1985 who replaced Hal Lebeaux and later Pat Badger instead of Paul Mangone and in this staff (Gary Cherone, Nuno Bettencourt, Pat Badger and Paul Geary) they started their way to the Musical Olympus!

Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencourt began writing songs together and the band played numerous shows in the Boston area. They gradually developed a strong local following, and were named "Outstanding Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Act" at the Boston Music Awards in 1986 and 1987.

They signed the contract with A&M Records in 1988 and soon debuted with the single "Play With Me" that was written as a soundtrack for the film "Bill and Tedd Excellent Adventure" (1989).

Their first album "Extreme" was released in 1989. Despite on a thing that it was their just first album we can hear professional Gary's vocal and technical and musical Nuno's guitar playing. A lot of guitarists of the world dream to have such skill as he has.

The band's potential which was formed in their first album was discovered in the second album "Extreme-II: Pornograffitti" (1990), which peaked at number 10 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold in May 1991 and 2×platinum in October 1992. Acoustic ballade "More Than Words" was reached #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 in the United States and was the second in the Great Britain. Also for the song "More Than Words" EXTREME were nominated for the Grammy Awards.

"We were sitting with Nuno in my Porsche." – Gary Cherone remembers, - "The engine was on and Nuno started playing some melody as if accompanying for the engine. This is how "More Than Words" was created."
Fans and critics appreciated this album and the band started active concert performances which are considered as a strong side of the collective.

Don't forget that EXTREME did love (and now do) traditions of classical rock, especially music of Queen. This is why their performance on Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert (April 20, 1992) wasn't a surprise. It was very impressive for their fans and made them famous not only in a "metal world". In addition, Gary's performing "Hammer to Fall" with Queen was completely incredible and conquered everybody!

Another one "conceptual" album came out in 1992 – "III Sides to Every Story" which gave to fans three hits: "Rest in Peace", "Tragic Comic" and "Am I Ever Gonna Change". The video "Tragic Comic" is very funny, Gary Cherone discovered as a great actor.

It is an interesting fact that besides usual musical instruments for rock music guys used symphonic orchestra. This is the reason why this album became so unusual and unlike rock style of the band. A lot of tracks are lyrical, melodic and this album itself make us think about a lot of life things.

EXTREME performed at the Donington's (UK) Monsters of Rock Festival in summer of 1994. Mike Mangini (born April 18, 1963) (ex-Annihilator) came to the band instead of Paul Geary by this time. And everything was good but after releasing album "Waiting for the Punchline" in 1995 Nuno announced that he would start his solo carrier and all fans were sad to know that band doesn't exist anymore.

Nuno's solo albums proof not just his talent as a guitarist, composer but his talent as a vocalist.

It is fun fact that this person was from a big musical family and he never dreamed about being a musician. He was always found of sport, especially football. And who knows, may be Portugal national football team lost a great football player, but thankfully his brother Luis who made him play guitar hard, the rock scene has a many-sided and very talented musician now.

Nuno released his first solo album "Schizophonic" in early 1997. A little later he is a member of the band "Mourning Widows" and released two albums: "Mourning Widows" (1998) and "Furnished Souls for Rent" (2000).

Gary Cherone got an offer to be a lead singer of Van Hallen and he was until 1998. Later Gary made his own band "Tribe of Judah" a released one album "Exit Elvis" (2002).

We should notice one more side of Gary's talent in "not-EXTREME" period. It is his singing in rock operas, A lot of fans remember his impressive roles in A.L. Webber's rock operas "The Fantom of the Opera" and "Jesus Christ Superstar".

In 2007 together with his brother Greg Gary makes a try to record their own rock-opera on Shakespeare "Lady Macbeth". This project hadn't released but track "The Dangerous Thing" was very interesting and could be popular.

In period of 2002-2005 guys were busy with their solo carrier. Nuno Bettencourt organized his own band Population 1 (later DramaGods) and recorded three albums: "Population 1" (2002) which differs lyrical songs and beautiful ballads such as "Flow", "Spaceman", "Iron Jaw" and others, EP-disk "Session From Room 4" (2004) and "Love" (Dec 2005) which was released in Japan.

Oct 15th, 2005 new EP-disk "Need I Say More" by Gary Cherone was released and it is "new direction" as Gary says himself which combines jazz and blues. At the same time Gary works in a project Hurtsmile with his brother Mark. They wrote three singles: "Stillborn", "Just War Theory" and "Set Me Free". All these tracks was a part of new Hurtsmile album, which was released at the beginning 2011.

Energetic and loving experiences Nuno doesn't stop on his creative achievements. He tries himself as a composer for the movie. His music sounds in "Smart People" (2008), where starring Dennis Quaid and Sarah Jessica Parker.

Nuno also collaborate with other musicians: with the band "Satellite Party", with Rihanna.
Nuno helped produce "Ultra Payloaded", the debut album by Satellite Party released on May 29, 2007. In late July 2007, Nuno departed the band.
Its collaboration with Rihanna Nuno started in autumn 2009, and then as lead guitarist Nuno joined to Rihanna on her world tours entitled "Last Girl On Earth" (April 2010 - March 2011), "Loud" (June 2011 - December 2011), "777" (November 2012) and "Diamonds World Tour" (March 2013 - November 2013).

June 30, 2006 EXTREME decided to perform together in Boston in America Bank Pavilion in "original" staff. This fact became a start of their reunion.

In December 2007 Nuno Bettencourt and Gary Cherone officially announced about making new musical material and their new and first album "Saudades de Rock" after 13 years break which was released in August 2008. It was written in best traditions of classical rock.
And from what EXTREME started, and the same it continues: the same thoughts, the same songs, the same traditions, which are actual in our days.

In the band a new drummer - Kevin Figueiredo (born January 12, 1977).

After that the band went to the world tour. It finished with a grandiose show in Boston in House of Blues at August 8, 2009. This show was recorded in a video and it was the base of concert DVD "Take Us Alive" which was released in May 2010.

In April 2012, EXTREME with a long delay (due to the employment of Nuno on tour with Rihanna) celebrated the 20th anniversary of the "Pornograffitti" album release by staging a mini-tour in Japan with the same name. The shows included all the songs from the album.

Also in April 2012, EXTREME finally came to Moscow and after spending a few days in the capital of Russia, in April 25th, 2012 they gave a special exclusive show for their Russian fans who had waited patiently for the band for more than 20 years. [Photo, Video]

The future plans of the band - the release of their new album.
Let's wish the guys success!

And while the fans are patiently waiting for the release of the new sixth studio album, EXTREME staged a grandiose tour through the cities and villages of our vast Planet, dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the album "Pornograffitti". The show, that took place on May 30, 2015 at "Hard Rock Hotel & Casino" in Las Vegas as part of the tour "Pornograffitti Live - 25th Anniversary", was recorded on the video, and a half years later released on Blu-ray, DVD, CD and Vinyl. Release of editions took place on October and November 2016.

Besides, the band members don’t stop their solo careers.
Thus, on October 7, 2014 Hurtsmile (Gary's band) released their sophomore album "Retrogranade". And on November 1, 2014 Pat Badger released his first solo album "Time Will Tell".

Currently, the band is actively touring the world and pleasing their fans with their cool shows.

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This page was last modified on 27 October 2019