Editorial by Tina Houser:
There’s something about Chip Z'Nuff that feels eternal. Maybe it’s the unapologetic blend of glam, grit, and gut-level honesty. Maybe it’s the feathered hat, the Lennon shades, or the fact that his band, Enuff Z'Nuff, is now 21 studio albums deep and still throwing punches like it’s 1989. Whatever it is, Press Play Radio’s The Don, CEO Tina, and SiriusXM’s Dean Baldwin got a front-row seat to the living legend himself—who showed up with stories, scars, and a brand-new record: Extra Cherries.
The conversation began as all great rock tales do—with Ozzy Osbourne. Chip shared a time in ’92 when Ozzy, Vikki Foxx (his old drummer), and he were passing Dunhills and pot on a fire escape at A&M Studios. “Ozzy was charming beyond belief,” he recalled. “He loved his family more than anything, and the hardest part about making records was being away from them.” The sentiment was strikingly human from a man whose genre isn’t often associated with vulnerability.
That humanity surfaced again as Chip dug into the economics of touring. “You leave your family to meet a new one—for one day—and then you’re gone again,” he said. With streaming royalties reduced to dust, touring has become the lifeblood. But, he warned, “If you’re not working 24/7, you’re toast.” Buses cost $2K a day. Drivers need $450. Hotel rooms are no joke. Even a day off can crater a budget. The only path is forward—and fast.
Then came the matter of unfinished business. For Now, one of the strongest cuts from their debut, was set to be a single… until the label pulled the plug. “It should’ve been a hit,” Chip said flatly. A political shuffle between Atco and Atlantic sank it. “We got caught in a changing tide,” he explained, referencing the grunge wave that rolled in like a sonic wrecking ball in the early ’90s. “We weren’t grunge. We weren’t hair metal. We were just a rock band with hooks.”
Hook-heavy indeed. Their influences? Unmistakably British. “The Beatles, T. Rex, Queen, Led Zeppelin—those were our gods.” Chip's still proudly flying that flag, and nowhere is it more evident than in Extra Cherries. On “Back to the Wall,” you hear We Will Rock You echoes. On “Magnificent,” Chip teams up with guitar god Steve Stevens in a track born from mutual respect and Instagram DMs. “He sent it back in ten minutes, all rhythm and lead done,” Chip recalled. “He was the golden god on that one.”
Then there’s “Shine,” a deep cut co-starring Robert Fleischman of early Journey fame. The track’s origin? A 1992 session with members of Journey, Sly Stone’s band, and The Tubes that sat untouched in a Chicago basement for decades. Chip resurrected it, called Robert, and magic happened. “We hadn’t spoken in 40 years,” Chip said. “And he laid down the vocal in one take.” The result? A powerful, uplifting anthem with a subtle wink at a reunion fans never saw coming.
Of course, no Press Play interview would be complete without The Don’s signature question: what was the first record Chip ever bought with his own money? The answer: “Sweet Hitchhiker” by Creedence Clearwater Revival—the first 45 in a lifetime defined by vinyl.
As the conversation turned to AI-generated music, Chip was clear: “I don’t want AI pillaging the Beatles or Queen without giving something back. Let AI make its own sound—like the greats did.”
With Enuff Z’Nuff now decades into a genre-defying journey, one thing’s certain: they never stopped hustling. “Hard work finds a home,” Chip said. “We were alternative before alternative. We just wanted to be a rock band.”
For a band with 300+ songs on Spotify, a legacy of touring with giants, and a new album packed with surprises, Enuff Z'Nuff is still very much in the game—and playing for keeps.
Discover more about Chip Z’Nuff and the band at www.enuffznuff.com.
Stream Extra Cherries wherever real rock still lives.
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