Child's Play (band)

Child's Play
Promotional poster for their album Rat Race L to R: Idzi, John Allen, Nicky Kay, and Brian Jack
Promotional poster for their album Rat Race
L to R: Idzi, John Allen, Nicky Kay, and Brian Jack
Background information
OriginBaltimore, Maryland, U.S.
GenresHard rock,[1] heavy metal,[1] hair metal[2]
Years active1983–1995
(reunions: 2003–2005, 2011–2012, 2013, 2015, 2023-present)[citation needed]
LabelsChrysalis Records
MembersLarry "L.H." Hinshaw
Phil Wiser
John Allen
Nicky Kay
Jason Heiser
Past membersBrian Jack
Jimmy Shafer
Chad Channing
Steve Albinak
Nicky Kay
Idzi
Tommy McRae
Ty Cook

Child's Play (stylized as Child'ƨ Play) is an American rock band from Baltimore, Maryland. The group was formed in 1983 with Larry Hinshaw on vocals, Brian Jack on guitar, Phil Wiser on bass, Jimmy Shafer on guitar, and Chad Channing (later Steve Albinak) on drums. The group later replaced Steve Albinak with John Allen on drums and added Nicky Kay as another guitar player, with this lineup recording their first EP, Ruff House, in 1986. [3]

The band's lineup changed in 1987, with the addition of Idzi on bass and Brian Jack now performing vocals.[1] They signed to Chrysalis Records in 1989. Their major label debut album, Rat Race, produced by Howard Benson, was released the following year on June 26. In 1990/91 they toured the United States, Co-Headlining with Cold Sweat.[4]

On April 17, 2012, Brian Jack died. A memorial page on Facebook was started to honor him.[5]

  1. ^ a b c AllMusic biography, Alex Henderson
  2. ^ Crigler, Pete (February 2015). "Hair Metal". Perfect Sound Forever. Archived from the original on June 27, 2015. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
  3. ^ "CHILD'S PLAY - Hard Rock / A.O.R. / Glam Webzine | Hard Rock / A.O.R. / Glam Webzine". melodic-hardrock.com. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  4. ^ Child's Play[permanent dead link‍] at MusicMight
  5. ^ R.I.P. Brian Jack Memorial Page on Facebook