VIXEN: The Sad Story of The Band Behind 'Edge of a Broken Heart'

The story of Vixen, the band being Edge of a Broken Heart & 'Cryin'

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The rock scene of the 80’s was dominated by male musicians with big hair, but there was one band who emerged from the scene who was an all girl group who nabbed a major recording contract and had some success, despite all the obstacles they faced. . I’m talking about the group Vixen whose career peaked in the late 80’s and early 90’s with their glossy image and power ballads. But a changing musical scene, creative differences, reality tv and death would sadly, be part of the band’s history. Today let’s take a look at whatever happened to Vixen.
Vixen’s history begins in 1980 when guitarist Jan Koo-na-mind (not mind) started a band named Vixen with her best friend in St. Paul, Minnesota. Originally it was just the two of them playing guitar and singing, but they wanted to expand to a full band and had aspirations of hitting it big. They would find several other musicians in Minnesota and move out to Los Angeles since that’s where the record labels were and there was of course a big music scene. But one by one the band's members left leaving Jan as the only remaining member.
Jan would end up first recruiting vocalist Janet Gardner. Gardner was playing in several bands at the time including a cover band who played a show one night somewhere in the san fernando valley. Gardner recalled in the book nothing but a good time. On one of our breaks, some girl comes up to me and goes, “I know this band that’s looking for a singer that you would be perfect for. I know the manager. I’m gonna have him call you.” I’m like, “Wow. They have a manager. That’s pretty impressive!” The next night the woman returned and brought the band with Janet adding I was expecting long-haired, guy-looking people.She came up to me and he goes, “I brought the band.” I was like, “Really? I didn’t see anybody.” She goes, “Yeah, they’re right over there.” It was [Vixen guitarist] Jan Kuehnemund and a bunch of girls. I was like, “Oh … it’s a girl band.” She goes, “Yeah, but you have to keep an open mind.” I said, “Well, of course, but I don’t want to be in the Go-Go’s.” Koonamind and Gardner along with three temporary members at the time would appear in the 1984 film Hardbddies performing as a band using the monicker diaper rash. They would end up writing more songs for the film than they did for their own albums. The appearance led to a segment on the show entertainment tonight, an opening slot for night ranger and an appearance on the show cagney and lacey, but they still couldn’t get a recording deal.They would go through some more lineup changes with the band literally having a revolving door of members with the exception of Keunhamind and Gradner,. before they cemented their classic lineup in 1986.
It was in 1981 drummer Roxxi Petrucci and her sister started a band called Maadam X in Detroit. Roxxi was A former classical clarinetist before picking up the drums.
Madam X was a cover band doing songs by Black Sabbath, Van Halen and Led Zeppelin and they spent the next two years on the road playing all over the United States eventually making their way to california and it wasn’t just 45 minute sets they were playing, but 3-4 hours per night. One of Maadam X’s early fans was Judas Priest’s frontman Rob Halford who was living in phoenix arizona at the time. When the band came through town he’d stop by their show at a place called Rockers and hang out with them backstage and even join them during their set doing several Priest covers. When Madam Sx band spent some time in LA they got some considerable attention. It would be Jet Records and Shaaron Osbourne’s father Don Arden who took notice of the band playing at The Troubadour and they got a recording contract and management deal. They would put out their first record We Reserve the Right in 1984 and while things were g0ing initially good for the band, including touring Europe, and even playing the legendary Marquee venue in London and meeting Ozzy Osbourne their label, soon ran into financial trouble. Disheartened Petrrucia went back home to Michigan and did nothing for a period