Dave Rude, Troy Lucketta, Jeff Keith, Brian Wheat, Frank Hannon
"Love will find a way!"
— Tesla, "Love Song"
Tesla is a hard rock band from Sacramento, California. They were formed in 1981 by guitarist Frank Hannon and bassist Brian Wheat. In 1989, they released The Great Radio Controversy, which spawned the top ten hit "Love Song" and solidified their reputation. They disbanded in 1996, with their members embarking on solo careers before reforming in 2000. They have released seven studio albums throughout their career. They have sold over 14 million albums in the US.
Band Members (former members in italics)
- Jeff Keith - lead vocals (1984-1996, 2000-present)
- Frank Hannon - guitar, bass, keyboards, backing vocals (1981-1996, 2000-present)
- Troy Lucketta - drums, percussion (1984-1996, 2000-present)
- Dave Rude - vocals, guitar, bass (2006-present)
- Brian Wheat - keyboards, bass, piano, vocals (1981-1996, 2000-present)
- Tommy Skeoch - guitar, backing vocals (1984-1994, 2000-2006)
Modern Day Tropes:
- Cover Version: "Little Suzi" is a de-synthed cover of a 1981 non-hit by the British art-pop duo PhD note
- Exactly What It Says on the Tin: "Love Song."
- Homesickness Hymn: "Paradise" takes the cycle of homesickness full circle, as it starts off with the narrator regretfully leaving his lover behind, and spends most of the song missing her over relatively mournful music. However, at the end as he starts his journey home, the band explodes into a fast tempo and acrobatic guitar solos.
- Ludd Was Right: Downplayed with "MP3," which is about technology leading us to become tuned out from the real world.
- The Mafia: "Modern Day Cowboy" makes reference to Al Capone
- Precision F-Strike:
- The band's live acoustic cover of "Signs" by Five Man Electrical Band changes two lines to "fuckin' up the scenery" and "made up my own fuckin' sign".
- From "Break of Dawn:"
"Listen up, now here’s the deal
I’m fuckin' crazy and don't appeal"
- Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll: The middle one is responsible for Tommy Skeoch being kicked out.
- Title Drop: MP3:
"We've gotta get back to Simplicity"
