From GOLD RECORDS to GARAGE SALES: The Britny Fox Meltdown

Video Description

The rise and fall of glam band Britny Fox Have a video request or a topic you'd like to see us cover? Fill out our google form! https://bit.ly/3stnXlN -----CONNECT ON SOCIAL----- TIKOK:https://www.tiktok.com/@rocknrolltruestory Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rnrtruestories/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RNRTrueStories Twitter: https://twitter.com/rocktruestories Blog: www.rockandrolltruestories.com #britnyfox #glammetal I cite my sources and they may differ than other people's accounts, so I don't guarantee the actual accuracy of my videos. These videos are for entertainment purposes only. READ OUR DISCLAIMER https://rockandrolltruestories.com/youtube-disclaimer/ Britny Fox’s story is the epitome of late 80s glam metal excess, industry drama, and sheer rock n’ roll resilience. The band’s roots trace to the east coast scene in Philadelphia, built on the ashes of Cinderella’s original lineup. Guitarist Michael Kelly Smith, initially a key member of Cinderella, was fired alongside drummer Tony Destra at Jon Bon Jovi’s urging, making room for Keifer and Brittingham to record “Night Songs”—one of hard rock’s biggest debuts. Smith, still reeling, reinvented himself by teaming up with Destra and charismatic frontman Dizzy Dean Davidson to form Britny Fox, blending British ruffle fashion, big hair, and anthemic glam riffs.​​ Early on, Britny Fox were classic underdogs. The group’s $30,000 signing to Polygram was tanked by label politics, Smith was forced to teach other guitarists their own songs, and tragedy struck when Destra died in a car accident on the day the band was set to ink a major record deal. Despite the heartbreak, Britny Fox pressed on, eventually landing an $80,000 advance from Columbia Records. Their debut album quickly went Gold, fueled by the single “Long Way to Love” and heavy MTV play, making them overnight stars. However, the band never saw any real money—between label recoupment, pricey videos, and endless touring, Britny Fox endured the “rockstar on paper, broke in reality” glam trap.​ Their signature look—a British-mod riot of ruffles, leather, and peroxide—was crafted by Davidson’s sister to save costs. Musically, they blended influences from AC/DC, Kiss, and, of course, Cinderella, with a positive lyrical twist that set them apart from the sleazier side of hair metal. Yet internal tensions simmered. Davidson, whose voice drew comparison to Keifer, wanted more control and began resenting the Cinderella association despite it fueling the buzz around the band. Recording their second album, “Boys in Heat,” Britny Fox spent too much, recorded too many tracks, and wound up deeper in debt. The glam metal scene itself was slipping—grunge was rising, and even stints opening for Poison couldn’t save them.​​ At the climax of their troubles, Davidson left after an infamous onstage altercation, reportedly spraining Smith’s arm. The band scrambled for over a year to find a new frontman, losing their label deal in the process. They landed a lifeline from East West Records, but 1991’s “Bite Down Hard,” even featuring guests Zakk Wylde and Rikki Rockett, failed to reignite the band’s commercial fortunes. Touring was no longer profitable, the chemistry was lost, and grunge was sweeping the musical landscape. After their 1992 breakup, Britny Fox became a cautionary tale of hair metal’s boom and bust. Reunion attempts in the 2000s brought temporary hope but little financial reward—at one point, a two-month tour netted each member just $58. Smith shifted to teaching guitar and rescuing animals, while Davidson’s attempts to rekindle the original lineup faltered. Britny Fox’s legacy remains: a last gasp of glam before the genre was swept aside by alternative rock, marked by memorable hooks, dazzling stage looks, and the bittersweet endurance of musicians constantly battling the chaos of the music industry