''Extreme II: Pornograffitti'' (also known as simply ''Pornograffiti'') is the second studio album by the heavy metal band Extreme, released on August 7, 1990 through
A&M Records
A&M Records was an American record label founded as an independent company by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss in 1962. Due to the success of the discography A&M released, the label garnered interest and was acquired by PolyGram in 1989 and began distr ...
. The album title is a
portmanteau
A portmanteau word, or portmanteau (, ) is a blend of wordspornography and
graffiti
Graffiti (plural; singular ''graffiti'' or ''graffito'', the latter rarely used except in archeology) is art that is written, painted or drawn on a wall or other surface, usually without permission and within public view. Graffiti ranges from s ...
.
''Extreme II'' sold very well, peaking at No. 10 on the ''Billboard'' 200, and was certified double platinum in the U.S. by the RIAA. It is the band's best selling album. Two singles from ''Pornograffiti'', "
More Than Words
"More Than Words" is a song by American rock band Extreme, released as the fifth track and third single from their second album, ''Pornograffitti'' (1990), in March 1991. It is a ballad built around acoustic guitar work by Nuno Bettencourt and ...
" and "
Hole Hearted
"Hole Hearted" is a song by American rock group Extreme. The song was released as the fourth and final single and closing track from their successful ''Pornograffitti'' album in 1991 and reached 4 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100. It also chart ...
", reached No. 1 and 4 respectively on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Two other tracks, "Decadence Dance" and "
Get the Funk Out
"Get the Funk Out" is the fourth track and second single from Extreme's second studio album '' Pornograffitti''. It features rock artist Pat Travers. The official music video for the song was directed by Andy Morahan
Andrew Douglas Morahan ...
''Pornograffitti'' is a concept album, its story is about lost innocence and uneasiness.
Though the album " ocuseson the same funk-metal vibe as heir debut, it became massively popular due to the acoustic single "More Than Words".
According to authors
HP Newquist
HP Newquist is an American author whose books cover a wide range of topics, from medicine and music to technology and terror. He is also a museum curator and musician, and has worked in a variety of fields as a columnist, publisher, industry ana ...
and
Pete Prown
Pete Prown (born 1963) is an American writer and magazine editor, painter, guitarist, and music journalist. He has worked as the editor-in-chief of ''Guitar Shop'' magazine and contributing editor for ''Vintage Guitar''. His writing has also appear ...
, the album has "a bewildering array of song styles— heavy metal,
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...
reviewer Steve Huey gave the album four stars, and commented that " heband shows a strong desire to experiment and push the boundaries of the pop-metal format". ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...
'' placed the album at thirteenth on their list of the "50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums of All Time". ''Ultimate Classic Rock'' ranked it at eighth in their "Top 30 Glam Metal Albums". Heavy metal author
Martin Popoff
Martin Popoff (born April 28, 1963) is a Canadian music journalist, critic and author. He is mainly known for writing about the genre of heavy metal music. The senior editor and co-founder of ''Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles'', he has additionall ...
, in his book ''The Big Book of Hair Metal'', called the album, "a thinking man's hair metal album, with thoughtful lyrics and tasteful guitar work".
Lead guitarist
Nuno Bettencourt
Nuno Duarte Gil Mendes Bettencourt (born September 20, 1966) is a Portuguese-American guitarist, singer-songwriter, record producer, and businessman. He became known as the lead guitarist of the Boston rock band Extreme. He has also recorded ...
garnered admiration from rock guitar enthusiasts, as he was voted "Best New Talent" in a 1991 readers' poll by '' Guitar World'' magazine, and that magazine later named him "Most Valuable Player" of 1991.
Legacy
In 2010, after the band's reunion in the previous years, rumors started about possible commemorative shows given the 20th anniversary of the record. In 2012, the band played the entire album for four tour dates in Japan. In January 2014, the band confirmed they would be performing ''Pornograffiti'' in its entirety on their 2014 Europe and UK tour.
In 2015, the band embarked on an extensive US tour commemorating the album's 25th anniversary.
Track listing
Personnel
;Extreme
*
Gary Cherone
Gary Francis Caine Cherone ( ; born July 26, 1961) is an American rock singer and songwriter. Cherone is known for his work as the lead vocalist of the Boston rock group Extreme and Van Halen. He has also released solo recordings. In 2007, he ...
- lead and backing vocals
*
Nuno Bettencourt
Nuno Duarte Gil Mendes Bettencourt (born September 20, 1966) is a Portuguese-American guitarist, singer-songwriter, record producer, and businessman. He became known as the lead guitarist of the Boston rock band Extreme. He has also recorded ...
- guitars, piano, percussion, backing vocals
*
Pat Badger
Patrick John Badger, (born July 22, 1967, in Boston, Massachusetts) is a musician, singer, and songwriter, best known as the bass guitarist in the band Extreme.
He has also performed in groups like Daemon, In The Pink, Super Trans Atlantic, Tri ...
- bass, backing vocals
*
Paul Geary
Paul Geary (born July 24, 1961 in Medford, Massachusetts) is an American rock and roll drummer and Artist Manager. He is a co-founder and drummer of the Rock band Extreme. He left the group in 1994 to pursue a career in artist management. ...
- drums, percussion
;Additional musicians
* Barbara Glynn - backing vocals in "Decadence Dance"
*
Pat Travers
Patrick Henry Travers (born April 12, 1954) is a Canadian rock guitarist, keyboardist and singer who began his recording career in the mid-1970s.
Early life
Travers was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. Soon after picking up the guitar at ag ...
- backing vocals on "Get the Funk Out"
* Jeanine Moultrine - backing vocals in "Suzi (Wants Her All Day What?)"
*
Dweezil Zappa
Dweezil Zappa (born Ian Donald Calvin Euclid Zappa; September 5, 1969) is an American rock guitarist and occasional actor. He is the son of musical composer and performer Frank Zappa. Exposed to the music industry from an early age, Dweezil deve ...
- intro/outro lead guitar in "He-Man Woman Hater"
* Li'l Jack Horn Section in "Li'l Jack Horny", "Get the Funk Out"
** Bob Findley, trumpet
** Chuck Findley, trumpet
** Bill Watrous, trombone
** Dick "Slyde" Hyde, bass trombone
** Pete Christlieb, tenor sax
** Joel Peskin, tenor sax