Tesla

Tesla is an American rock band from Sacramento, California. In late 1981, bassist Brian Wheat and guitarist Frank Hannon formed a band named City Kidd, which evolved into Tesla.^[1] By 1984, vocalist Jeff Keith, guitarist Tommy Skeoch, and drummer Troy Luccketta had joined the band, forming their classic lineup that appeared on all of the albums and live shows during their initial run. The band adopted the Tesla moniker shortly before recording their first album, as another band with a name similar to City Kidd already existed.

Tesla rose to fame during the hair metal boom of the 1980s.^[2] Their debut album, Mechanical Resonance, was released in 1986, which produced two hit singles, “Modern Day Cowboy” and their cover of “Little Suzi” (originally by Ph.D.). The band’s second album, The Great Radio Controversy (1989), peaked at number 18 on the Billboard 200 album chart and produced the top-ten single “Love Song”. The band recorded and released their third album, the live acoustic album Five Man Acoustical Jam, in 1990. It peaked at number 12 on the Billboard 200 and produced their top-charting single (number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100), “Signs”, a cover of a song by the Five Man Electrical Band. Their third studio album, Psychotic Supper (1991), peaked at number 13, but lacked a hit single; similarly their next album, 1994’s Bust a Nut did well enough on the album charts, peaking at number 20, but also lacked any radio hits.

The band broke up in 1996, but returned in 2000 with a live tour and album, both named Replugged. They have continued to record and tour, though Skeoch left in 2006 and was replaced by Dave Rude on guitars. Their most recent release is the EP All About Love (2024), while their latest studio album to date is Shock (2019). Tesla have sold at least 14 million albums in the United States.