Extreme

Extreme is an American rock band formed in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1985, that reached the height of their popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s. They have released six studio albums, two EPs (in Japan) and two compilation albums since their formation. The band was one of the most successful rock acts of the early 1990s, selling over 10 million albums worldwide.Extreme achieved its greatest success with their second album Pornograffitti (1990), which peaked at number 10 on the Billboard 200, and was certified gold in May 1991 and double platinum in October 1992. The album featured the acoustic ballad single "More Than Words", which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.While Extreme is primarily a hard rock band, their music has combined influences and elements of such genres as glam metal, funk, progressive, and on their fourth album Waiting for the Punchline (1995), alternative metal and grunge.Extreme was formed in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1985. Vocalist Gary Cherone and drummer Paul Geary were in a band together called "Adrenalin" in 1979. Then they were also members of a band called The Dream, in 1980. CBS Television bought the rights to the name, "The Dream" for a short lived television series called, "Dreams." So, they had to rename the band. Guitarist Nuno Bettencourt was in a band called Sinful, and bassist Pat Badger was playing with a Berklee College-based act called In The Pink. Bettencourt joined Cherone and Geary in a new group in 1985, followed by Badger in 1986. The four chose the name "Extreme" as it sounded like "ex-Dream," a reference to Geary and Cherone's past band, "The Dream." Gary and Nuno crossed paths numerous times as Gary's brother Mark and Nuno's brother Paulo were in a well known local Boston band together called, "Flesh."Cherone and Bettencourt began writing songs together and the band performed continuously in the New England area. Extreme grew a large regional following and were named "Outstanding Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Act" at the Boston Music Awards in 1986 and 1987.

Biography summary from English Wikipedia, photograph via Wikimedia Commons.