User:Bpnfsn/Limited Warranty

Limited Warranty was an American new wave band. They were from Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Formation & Early Days
In 1979, Greg Sotebeer and Paul Hartwig started a band named Forte' (the latin word for "loud" used on sheet music). Jerry Brunskill was brought on as drummer after auditioning for Greg and Paul in his basement. Taking their name from a wallpaper repair kit, the members of Limited Warranty began synthesizing their varied musical backgrounds in an attempt to break into the volatile Minneapolis music scene, sharing a house, practicing in the garage, and playing weekday nights for pocket money in the small clubs around town.

Elements
In 1983 the band recorded and released their first 5-song EP, Elements, on their own record label, Ultrabeat Records.

Star Search
With the addition of singer/guitarist Dale Goulett, Limited Warranty found the combination of sound and personal energy that worked. In 1983 Steve Smith left the band and Dale took over as lead singer.

In 1984 they beat New York City based band Jailbait in the finals to win the $100,000 championship for Best Music Artist on the 1985 season of Star Search. Songs performed on the show included "Burglary Of Love", "Fashionable Passion", "My Exclusive", "Little By Little", and "Sensation". In 1986 the band performed "Victory Line" on the Star Search Alumni show.

Limited Warranty's first 12" single was recorded with producer Vince Ely and released on their own label, Ultrabeat Records. "This Is Serious" b/w "Never Enough" received extensive airplay on Twin Cities and other midwestern radio stations.

Limited Warranty
Based on airplay of their first 12" and some concert dates in New York in August 1985, Limited Warranty was approached and signed with ATCO Records (a division of Atlantic). They recorded their first album in Surrey, England with producer Brian Tench early in 1986. This self-titled album and it's first single, Victory Line, were well received at radio stations, in record stores and in the music press.

In November 1986 the band played some midwest and northeastern US tour dates opening for Eddie Money.

Limited Warranty was preparing to record their second album for ATCO in late spring of 1987 with a tentative release date of June/July 1987. In February 1987, after traveling to San Francisco to play at the Gavin Convention (an annual music industry convention), the band was dropped from ATCO Records.

Domestic 7
Some of the material written for the second album on ATCO was recorded and included on Limited Warranty's third release, "Domestic 7", again released on Limited Warranty's own label, Ultrabeat Records.

EMI America/Manhattan
After leaving ATCO, Limited Warranty was signed to EMI America and were advanced $40,000 to record demos for a new album. When EMI America folded the band was moved to the new label, EMI Manhattan. The band recorded three songs at the then brand new Paisley Park Studios (owned by Prince). With the new label came new management. When EMI A&R rep Jerry Griffith came to Paisley Park to hear the demos he was not impressed with the band or willing to work with a band which had been signed by his predecessors. The next day Limited Warranty was released from their contract with EMI.

Break-Up
Limited Warranty continued to play in the Twin Cities area and occasionally played shows after Minnesota Strikers soccer games. They performed at the 1987 World Series in Minnesota.

The band never officially broke up, but around 1988 they began to practice less often and play fewer and fewer gigs as the various members became involved in other projects both musical and non-musical. Their second to last show was opening for Tears For Fears in Minneapolis. Their last show was at the Minnesota State Fair in 1989.

Post-Breakup
Jerry Brunskill and Dale Goulett operate WOW & FLUTTER with offices in both Los Angeles, California and Minneapolis, Minnesota.

In 2007 Wounded Bird Records obtained the rights to re-release the Atco album, Limited Warranty, on CD.

Current Members

 * ''Jerry Brunskill (drums and vocals)
 * Erik Newman (guitars and vocals)
 * Dale Goulett (guitar and lead vocals)
 * ''Paul Hartwig (keyboards and vocals)
 * Greg Sotebeer (bass and lead vocals)

Past Members

 * Stephen Ross Smith (Smitty) (lead vocals)
 * Chris Thompson (rhythm guiar)
 * Chris Canutsen (lead vocals)
 * Pat Ritacco (lead vocals)

Discography

 * ''Elements (EP) (1983 Ultrabeat Records)
 * This Is Serious (12" Single) (1985 Ultrabeat Records)
 * Limited Warranty (1986 Atco Records)
 * Domestic 7 (1987 Ultrabeat Records)
 * Limited Warranty (2007 Wounded Bird Records)