The Last Mile

I love the band Cinderella. They were big - but not huge - during the 1980s Glam heyday. Their grit reminds me of Aerosmith and I really appreciate the complexity and depth of their songs. Tom Keifer is a brilliant craftsman and his songs helped catapult Cinderella to stardom.

Most people only know Cinderella by "Don't Know What You Got ('Til Its Gone)" (Long Cold Winter, 1988) and that's a shame. The band has so many other really great blues-rock songs. My favorite Cinderella track is "Somebody Save Me" (Night Songs, 1986).  There for awhile I felt like that song was written specifically for me. I mean, look:

"Everybody's got opinions/
But nobody's got the answers.
And that shit you ate for breakfast/
Well it'll only give you cancer.
Were 'runnin in a circle/
'Runnin to the morning light.
And if 'ya aint quite workable/
It's been one hell of a night."

So, last night I was listening to Cinderella and I decided to look up some of their videos. Well, I found the clip for "The Last Mile" from the album Long Cold Winter. I can't believe I've never mentioned this song - or video - on Bring Back Glam! before today. Quite simply, this song owns you. I mean, it may be perfect. Even better, the band members look so beautifully happy in this clip. Have a look:

Do you have a favorite Cinderella memory?

Comments

[Christian Graus]

Listening to the first album on tape while on a school camp to ayers rock. knowing that there were no other metal fans on the bus, and not giving a damn what they thought.

[DrCrue]

Watching them perform on the Poison tour in 2000. I love Poison, but Cinderella blew everyone away that night. After spending the 90s feeling like a lone rocker in a world of grunge, I looked at the huge crowd that night and was amazed at the thousands of fans going crazy for Cinderella. I mean, 5 years prior they barely drew a few hundred fans to a local nightclub. Thanks to Poison and the demise of grunge, they were now playing before a sold out shed they way they always should have been. Cinderella friggin' rules the world. Oh, and speaking of The Last Mile, I once played that song on a jukebox while playing pool in college, around 1997. The room of flannel wearing Pearl Jam fans had the strangest looks on their faces. Yeah guys, how does it feel to listen to some real rock n roll?? Dirty-hat-wearing creeps!

[Joe]

Cinderella GREAT live band..Tom is an awesome musician..We just watched a live concert of them from Netflix and it was awesome..Thanks for the great article Allyson =)

[JT]

I saw them play at Annie's in 1998, and stuck around after the gig to get my cassette liner notes autographed by the band. They were all very nice and signed items for everyone that was waiting outside.

[red6ixx]

I allways loved this band - from the first moment of hearing 'shake me' i was hooked. Was supposed to see them play supporting Def Lepperd in the UK - 88 i think it was but they pulled out - we got Bonfire instead. All tracks from the first album are just pure rock and roll at its finest - Best track after that i would say is 'bad seamstress blues/falling apart' Tremendous - i still listen to them today - i cant say the same for Def leppard/Bonfire etc

[fletch]

Check out Cinderella.net

[Vicky]

When I used to work with Slaughter up here, they were playing a show with Kiss and Cinderella. I didn't give a rat's ass about seeing Kiss (don't hurt me! just my opinion. I'm not a fan), so I hung backstage with Slaughter and Cinderella. They were all SO nice.

I'm a huge fan. Always have been. I really hope they tour!

[TheSexyArmpit]

I agree with Dr Crue. I saw them open for Poison on that same tour and they blew me away. I didn't see them when I was a kid so it was a great chance to check them out. I've always loved "Somebody Save Me" and "Gypsy Road"

[EddieLongHair]

"Dirty-hat-wearing creeps!"
LOL! I love that DrCrue!
I've always loved Cinderella. I always tell everyone I think they're the most underrated band of the time.
They're touring with Warrant this year, aren't they? That should be a cool show.

[Rhodeislandrock, Heavy Metal Addiction]

Cinderella is a great band and I have been a fan since their first album. Too bad legal issues have stopped them from releasing new material but they kill live!

My favorite Cinderella memory is the Bon Jovi Slippery When Wet tour stop in Providence in early '87. Both bands were riding high but there was some serious buzz on how Cinderella would be live. I remember that they played an awesome opening set and they had a standing O at intermission.

My second memory of Cinderella was when they opened for Poison in 2000 and they blew them off the stage! I remember people leaving after the Cinderella set saying that there was no way Poison could match them. I stayed and those people who left were right.

Isn't Tom Keifer supposed to release a solo record this year?

Steve
Heavy Metal Addiction
http://hardrockheavymetal.wordpress.com/

[Christine]

I love Cinderella! I remember watching the videos for "Shake Me" & "Nobody's Fool" on MTV. Thost two songs made me an instant fan. I got to see them live with Nelson and Lynch Mob back in the early 90's.

I got to meet Jeff Lebar a few months ago when I went to see Skid Row. He was filling in for Snake. After the show, there was a meet and greet. Jeff just kind of stood off to the side while the fans got their pictures taken with Skid Row. After I got to meet Skid Row, I walked over to Jeff and asked if I could get my picture taken with him. He seemed surprised and asked, "Really?" I was like, "Are you kidding me? You're Jeff LeBar from Cinderella! Of course I want my picture taken with you!" He was super nice.

[kari]

One of my all time FAVE'S. I've always felt that Cinderella was very underated. I can hardly wait to see 'em back out on the road this summer.

[NikkeSixx]

I was on the fourth grade in school and had just bought this compilation album Hard N' Heavy which included Shake Me =D While every other kid in class were all listening to the mainstream ( Rap n' pop like 50 cent, Christina Aguilera, The Rasmus etc etc..) i stuck out and came to school one day humming shake me and everyone looked at me like "O.o?" and stared at me for a long while thinking that i'm some kind of freak =D.. Now 5 years later most of them listen to metal but i was the first one to skip the shitty mainstream and find my own thing ^^ Cinderella was one of the reasons i started liking the 80's metal scene and to dislike the current one =P Hope they'd stop camping in the US and head for Europe!

[Vicky]

what legal issues have stopped them from releasing anything new?

[Gary]

Allyson, Check out Hot And Bothered from the Still Climbing disc. Rates right up there w/ Somebody Save Me. (which is also my favorite Cinderella tune)These guys kick major ass, plus their Pennsylvania boys like yours truly...8>)

[Rob Rockitt]

I saw Cinderella open up for Bon Jovi in 1987. The blew Bon Jovi off the stage! Jeff Labar was off the hook.

I will never forget that show.

[fletch]

Hey "Gary": What part of PA are you from? Do you know me? And, if you do...do you think you have what it takes to keep up with me? Good luck!

When you make fun of the feeling, I'll nail your ass to the sheets (thanks, Blackie!)

Hey Allyson, After the last mile, there is another song called second wind. Listen to that.

"take my heart, take my soul, take what you like....I still role".

[aXe mAn]

Cool blog Allyson! Cinderella is one of my favorite bands...and in my opinion they never released a bad album. And "The Last Mile" is one of my favorite songs from them, too.
Keep up the great work here...

[Christian Graus]

I have to agree re: hot and bothered, 'still climbing' is their best album. Such a shame they can't release more. Tom was supposed to release a solo album last year, the date just keeps moving.

[Kenny Ozz]

I freaking LOVE Cinderella. I hope Tom's voice is healed, the last time I saw them his voice was shot.