Winger

New York City gave rise to Winger in 1987 when classically trained bassist and vocalist Kip Winger teamed up with guitarist Reb Beach, rhythm guitarist Paul Taylor, and drummer Rod Morgenstein to create one of the more musically ambitious acts to emerge from the glam metal scene. What set them apart from the pack was a genuine technical chops factor — Kip had toured with Alice Cooper, and Morgenstein brought serious jazz-fusion credentials from his time with Dixie Dregs, giving the band a rhythmic sophistication most of their peers couldn't touch.

Their 1988 self-titled debut went platinum on the strength of melodic hard rock anthems like Seventeen and Headed for a Heartbreak, and 1990's In the Heart of the Young pushed them even further with a heavier, more progressive edge. Pull followed in 1993, a darker and genuinely underrated record that arrived just as the grunge wave was washing away everything that came before it.

Winger got a rough deal culturally, partly thanks to Beavis and Butt-Head reducing them to a punchline, but serious rock fans always knew the musicianship was exceptional. They reunited in the 2000s, released strong comeback albums like IV and Better Days Comin, and proved they had more staying power than the critics ever gave them credit for. Reb Beach's guitar work alone deserves serious respect.