Funny Money

With the demise of KIX in the mid nineties, vocalist Steve Whiteman put together a similar no-frills hard rock band called Funny Money. The boys hit the club scene in Maryland and adjoining states just as Kix had done almost twenty years prior. Whiteman recruited Dean Cramer (guitar), Billy Andrews (guitar), Ned Meloni (bass) and Geoff Burell (drums). The band hit every smoke filled bar they could find, and impressed audiences with their original songs and KIX classics. The signed with the independent label Kivel Records and released their self-titled debut in 1997. Of course music from this genre was completely ignored by radio and television, but Whiteman and his new band refused to sell out to the masses. Two more albums would follow before personnel changes hit the band in 2002. Andrews, Meloni and Burell left amicably to be replaced by Louis Coppola, Mark Schenker and Sam Stilwell respectively for the Skin To Skin album, but a short time later KIX alumni Jimmy Chalfant was recruited on drums and Rob Galpin on guitar. IN mid-2006 original member Dean Cramer left to persue other interests, including a European tour as a hired guitar slinger, leaving Steve, Jimmy, Rob and Mark choosing not to replace him and forge ahead as a four piece. In 2007, they released the album Stick It! on Perris Records with Steve Whiteman (Vocals), Mark Schenker (Bass), Rob Galpin (Guitar), and Jimmy Chalfant (drums). The album was mixed by mega-platinum rock producer Beau Hill (Ratt, Winger, Warrant, Alice Cooper).