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
Background information
Origin	Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Genres	Hard rock,[1] heavy metal,[1] hair metal[2]
Years active	1983–1995 (reunions: 2003–2005, 2011–2012, 2013, 2015, 2023-present)^[citation needed]
Labels	Chrysalis Records
Members	Larry "L.H." Hinshaw Phil Wiser John Allen Nicky Kay Jason Heiser
Past members	Brian 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]

Band members

Current Members

• Larry "L.H." Hinshaw – lead vocals (1983–1988, 2013, 2015, 2022, 2023-present)
• Phil Wiser – bass guitar, backing vocals (1983–1987, 2023-present); rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2022, 2023),
• John Allen – drums, backing and lead vocals (1984–1995, 2003–2005, 2011–2012, 2013, 2015, 2022, 2023-present)
• Nicky Kay – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1984–1995, 2003–2005, 2011–2012, 2013, 2015, 2022, 2023-present)
• Jason Heiser - drums, backing vocals (2022, 2023-present)

Former Members

• Brian Jack – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1983–1988); lead vocals, lead and rhythm guitar (1988–1991, 1994, 2003–2005, 2011–2012)
• Jimmy Shafer – lead and rhythm guitar (1983–1984)
• Chad Channing – drums (1983)
• Steve Albinak – drums (1983–1984)
• Idzi – bass guitar, backing vocals (1987–1995, 2003–2005, 2011–2012, 2013, 2015, 2022, 2023)
• Ty Crook - lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1991–1992)
• Tommy McRae – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1993–1995)

Timeline

Discography

Extended plays

• Ruff House (1986)

Studio albums

• Rat Race (1990)
• Long Way (1993)

See also

• List of glam metal bands and artists

References

1. 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

External links

• Official Site (archive)
• MusicMight site^{[permanent dead link‍]}
• R.I.P. Brian Jack Memorial Page on Facebook