Our Top 10 Pretty Boy Floyd songs list presents the music of a very much loved glam band from the 1980s. Named after the infamous bank robber, Pretty Boy Floyd first began as a glam metal rock group out of Hollywood, California, in 1987. Founders Kristy Majors and Steve Summers, along with Kari Kane, Aeriel Siles and Vinnie Chas, decided on this iconic name after it was mutually determined they shared the same rebellious nature. Instead of armed with pistols they were armed with electric guitars, long hair, and the drive to blast themselves into the music scene with tenacity. In 1989, they debuted with the album, Leather Boyz with Leather Toyz, and it was commercially successful enough to win a solid fan base. However, this came at a time frame where glam metal was beginning to take a backstage to grunge metal. Among music fans who cared more about good music than trends, Pretty Boy Floyd definitely won them over.
Americans vs. Canadians
At the same time Pretty Boy Floyd from California released its debut album, so did a Canadian version of Pretty Boy Floyd do the same with Bullets & Lipstik. While Vancouver’s Pretty Boy Floyd did have the name first as a copyright, the jurisdiction the American Pretty Boy Floyd band served as a complication in this legal battle. Instead of pursuing the matter further, the Canadian group simply changed its name after the lead singer, Tommy Floyd. While both bands had this name, when the American Pretty Boy Floyd had its music featured on The Karate Kid Part III movie in 1989, it had to go with the acronym of PBF due to a publication mistake made by Kerrang! magazine.
Pretty Boy Floyd Discography
From 1987 until 1994, the original four members of Pretty Boy Floyd remained the same. However, when the group briefly broke up, by 1995 part of the roster had changed. While Majors, Summers, and Kane were still in, Siles and Chas were out. Taking their place was Keff Ratcliffe and Keri Kelli before they moved on to embark on other pursuits. Pretty Boy Floyd continued to record and tour until 2006 before parting ways again until 2015. With Majors and Summers still at the core, they are now accompanied with Criss 6 and Vik Foxx.
The discographic portfolio Pretty Boy Floyd has to its credit are three studio albums, an extended play (EP), two live albums, and nine compilation albums. Of the three singles officially released, none of them appeared on any official billboard charts but did win over enough fans to establish a loyal following of an audience that cared more about quality music styles as opposed to whatever happened to be trending at the time.
Top 10 Pretty Boy Floyd Songs
#10 – Your Mama Won’t Know
Performed hard rock style, “Your Mama Won’t Know” was Pretty Boy Floyd’s answer for teens dealing with difficult mothers and their rules about dating. Coming from the album, Leather Boyz with Electric Toyz, the message Floyd delivered in this song was a hard-edged masterpiece between the lead vocals of Steve Summers and the riffs coming from Kristy Majors on lead guitar and Vinnie Chas on bass. Drummer Kari Kane also made his powerful contribution “Your Mama Won’t Know” in a manner that made this song an easy fan favorite.
#9 – Wild Angels
“Wild Angels” was a fantastic ballad performed with the suggestion of a young couple to run off and make their own mark in the world. This is also a great song best describing Pretty Boy Floyd as a group of young rock musicians who sought to take the world by storm in a similar manner as the bank robber whom they named themselves after. While the Great Depression saw Pretty Boy Floyd rob banks and burn mortgage papers, some of Americans regarded him as a hero as this act put an end to mortgage debts among homeowners who hadn’t fully paid what they owed yet. As fans and performers of heavy metal music, this version of Pretty Boy Floyd sought to blaze a trail of impressionable music to win over a fan base of their own.
#8 – We Can’t Bring Back Yesterday
From 2017’s Public Enemies album, “We Can’t Bring Back Yesterday’ served as a mark of reality whatever happened in the past is history. As cool as it is to bring back retro classics, what was enjoyed as youths is no longer enjoyed the exact same way as we get older. Regardless if this was a lyrical tale of an old romance that seemed to pass its prime or a reflection of old memories, this is a remarkable track to sink into and enjoy. This was actually a tribute song to Vinnie Chas as he passed away on April 6, 2010 as the group not only paid homage to Chas in this song, but the entire album as Public Enemies was really more about the mark Pretty Boy Floyd made, as individuals and as a band.
#7 – Slam Dunk
In 1991, “Slam Dunk” was a song featured in the soundtrack, Switch. At the time, it was an unreleased recording by Pretty Boy Floyd and did not appear on any of the group’s albums until 2003’s re-release of Leather Boyz with Electric Toyz. “Slam Dunk” became one of five singles added to it. The play-to-win theme behind this song not only made a great motivational song among Pretty Boy Floyd’s fans but a great tune to simply enjoy for its entertainment value.
#6 – American Dream
“American Dream” was one of the songs recorded on the 2017 album, Public Enemies. The hard-hitting lyrical performance by Steve Summers was beautifully matched with the heavy-banging drums and guitar riffs as Pretty Boy Floyd performed its lyrical fascination of a woman whom they classified as the picturesque version of the “American Dream.”
#5 – Leather Boyz with Electric Toyz
The title track from the album, Leather Boyz with Electric Toyz, served as a 1989 metal anthem, describing glam metal best with imagery that made this genre so popular during the span of the 1980s. When hair bands and theatrical makeup served as a fashion statement in the heavy metal music scene, it was all about the leather and the electric guitar. The homage Pretty Boy Floyd paid with “Leather Boyz with Electric Toyz” continues to serve as the ultimate tribute to a musical era where it was about having fun. The first minute of “Leather Boyz with Electric Toyz” was a beautiful instrumental build before the group broke into the heavy riffs which served as the whole point behind the song’s title as Steve Summers and the gang lyrically announce who they were and what they were about.
#4 – 48 Hours
Nothing like an alarm clock to start 1989’s, “48 Hours” as a song to wake up to. It was also featured in the movie, The Karate Kid: Part III. This song spiked the popularity of Pretty Boy Floyd and was instrumental in the group’s album, Leather Boyz with Electric Toyz, to become the most successful studio recording to its credit. During an era where glam-style metal was taking a backseat to the emergence of grunge metal, Floyd’s “48 Hours” served as a rush-style encore of sorts to a genre of music that was getting shoved aside, at least for the time being.
#3 – Feel the Heat
“Feel the Heat” came from Pretty Boy Floyd’s 2017 album, Public Enemies, and saw this band return to what made it a fan favorite to begin with. Like a heavy metal revival, “Feel the Heat” was beautifully performed with the hard-hitting guitar riffs, drums, and fantastic vocals Steve Summers has been known for. The song momentarily started off as gunfire before breaking into the awesome guitar performance by Kristy Majors as he demonstrated he still is a leather boy who has mastered his electric toy. “Feel the Heat” is definitely felt here as the beauty of glam-rock saw it shine once again by a group that still makes it cool to rock and have fun.
#2 – Rock and Roll (Is Gonna Set the Night on Fire)
When visiting streaming sites like Spotify, “Rock and Roll (Is Gonna Set the Night on Fire)” usually sits either at the very top spot of its list dedicated to Pretty Boy Floyd or at least within the top three. From the group’s debut album, Leather Boyz with Electric Toyz, “Rock and Roll” remains as a song that is genuinely epic. Summers, as the band’s lead vocalist, really hammered home the reality of what rock and roll is, and not just as some musical genre that loves its drums and guitars. Rock and roll music is a vibe that courses through the veins of people who appreciate good music when they hear it. Like a spiritual connection, exactly as the song suggests, is enough to set more than just the night on fire.
#1 – I Wanna Be with You
The final track on the 1989 album, Leather Boyz with Electric Toyz was “I Wanna Be with You.” It is one of two signature songs that put Pretty Boy Floyd on the map as first-class heavy metal rock stars worth listening to, at least by fans who love good, hard-hitting music. Sometimes, the best ballads come from the least likely musicians and vocalists to do it. Steve Summers, along with the talent roster of Kristy Majors, Kari Kane, Aeriel Sjiles, and Vinnie Chas, put in a beautiful love song worth soaking up for what it is. While metal fans love the hard-hitting drums and screechy guitar riffs, there is also a fondness for music with softer styles, just like “I Wanna Be with You.” In some cases, metal bands perform better with ballads than they do with faster-paced music. The beauty of Pretty Boy Floyd is they can do both.
Photo: Denii pbf, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
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![Rob De Luca of Spread Eagle, Sebastian Bach & UFO: 10 Albums That Changed My Life From humble East Coast origins to grandest stages worldwide, veteran bassist Rob De Luca has seen and done it all. De Luca first hit the local Boston rock and metal scene in the late 80s after meeting guitarist Paul DiBartolo, bonding over Van Halen before forming Bang. Regional success came quickly, but eventually, the members of Bang went their separate ways, with De Luca and drummer Tommi Gallo heading to NYC and hooking up with Ray West and, later, DiBartolo to form Spread Eagle. By 1990, Spread Eagle was on the fast track, with a contract through MCA Records and a self-titled debut album poised to crush skulls. But poor timing and MCA's sad indifference left Spead Eagle out in the cold despite being a hard-boiled answer to Guns N' Roses's West Coast sleaze. Spread Eagle's first chapter came to an end in '95. As for Rob De Luca, his nimble fingers and gift for melody and songwriting kept him moving forward. Soon, he found a gig with former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach and the legendary outfit UFO. And in 2010, after coupling up with Ray West and his cousin Rik De Luca, Spread Eagle retook flight. During a break from Spread Eagle's increasingly busy touring schedule, Rob De Luca dialed in with ClassicRockHistory.com to run through the ten albums that changed his life. But only after adding, "I made a playlist of these songs, including some I've written or co-written. Do you hear any of these albums' influence on me?" Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3LWJuhDrE8JmzhsmTeIDUq 10) Gentlemen by Afghan Whigs (1993) Here's an entry that was so important to me. This may be the darkest break-up album of all time. Greg Dulli has been in many projects, but I feel Gentlemen is his zenith. Somewhat undefinable at times but always profound and honest. Listen to "Gentlemen," "Fountain and Fairfax," and "What Jail Is Like." 9) In on the Kill Taker by Fugazi (1993) By this time, I had been sucked in and spit out by the major-label record industry. Glam came and went; grunge was history, too. I was searching for new sounds. When I heard Fugazi's twin guitar approach, I knew this was what was missing. Fugazi may be considered a less polished sound than the albums above; however, once you "get it," it hits you like a ton of bricks, and there's no going back. From the moment I heard Fugazi, I went to every NYC show after. It's easily some of the best concerts of my life, and possibly my favorite bassist in Joe Lally. And their DIY ethics refused to charge us more than $5 a show! In on the Kill Taker is a powerful album demonstrated in songs such as "Smallpox Champion," "Great Cop," and "Public Witness Program." 8) Appetite for Destruction by Guns N' Roses (1987) I discovered many of these albums (sometimes long) after they were released. However, I was at the right place at the right time for this one. Steve Ostromogilsky had a Berklee College of Music lunch card and used to sneak out sandwiches for me. One day, he invited me to hang out at his place and listen to music. As we got off the train, he put Sony Walkman headphones on my ears and said, "Hey, check out this brand-new group." A song like "It's So Easy" was so different from the popular Sunset Strip sound at that time. Me and about 499 other informed rockers were lucky enough to see them on their first East Coast tour at the sold-out Paradise on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston (the same street Aerosmith started on). I saw Gn'R every tour after until I took a break when Buckethead joined. Gn'R is the band I've been lucky enough to see the most times live, almost 100! Everyone on this album is just stellar. Axl [Rose] had the tones, power, melodic sensibilities, and foresight to do what no other singer did then. Slash's playing was beyond memorable. Duff [McKagan] is one of the most underrated bassists in rock history, and learning his Appetite basslines is a masterclass. Steven [Adler] had the natural swing, and Izzy [Stradlin] was the secret weapon songwriter. Everything that's been heralded about this gem is deserved and true. Check out "It's So Easy," "Out Ta Get Me," and "Mr. Brownstone.' 7) Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd (1975) Another contender for my favorite album and band of all time. Using The Beatles machine (same recording studio, engineer, record label), Pink Floyd made what I feel is their strongest, most cohesive album (my second favorite of theirs would be Animals). This list mainly consists of bands with an instantly recognizable sound. Floyd is certainly no exception to that! This album included a solid handful of undeniable rock radio classics, bookended by two halves of the mind-blowing song "Shine on You Crazy Diamond.' That song was written about former band member and founder Syd Barrett. It would be hard to live in a world without this album. Check out "Welcome to The Machine," "Shine on You Crazy Diamond (parts 6-9),' or even better yet, listen to the whole thing in one sitting! 6) Decade by Neil Young (1977) About this time, I started playing guitar. As a beginner, it was comfortable jamming to this album because the chord changes were simple—a great "first ten years" retrospective of Neil's stunning, unique songwriting. Neil is a treasure who always writes from the heart and stands up for what's right. Check out "Southern Man," "A Man Needs a Maid," "Down by The River," and "After the Goldrush." 5) Highway to Hell by AC/DC (1979) When I heard this album, I was firmly "me." My life would be 100% focused on hard rock music forever. AC/DC are like air; they're ubiquitous. Everyone knows them and their incredible songs. However, as a young teen in Wilmington, Delaware, I only had WMMR 93.3 FM Philadelphia and a few friends to inform me about the world of Rock outside my bedroom. AC/DC had not gone mainstream, and their albums were available primarily in the USA as imports. To put things more in perspective, I only knew two people in the world who had heard of AC/DC. A friend had an import that we played in Steve Buckley's basement, which sounded ripping. When Highway to Hell was released, WMMR started spinning the title track, and I immediately bought the album, listening to it every single day after school. Then WMMR announced AC/DC was coming to the Spectrum in Philly, supporting Ted Nugent! I liked Ted but loved AC/DC, so my good friend Mick Cummins and I bought tickets, and he drove us up to the Spectrum (where we saw most of our concerts). Bon Scott was in fine form, and the band went over great. Although the crowd knew Ted better, Angus [Young] wouldn't let anyone upstage him. I'll never forget it! Unfortunately, Bon would be gone in 6 months. Check out "Walk All Over You," "Touch Too Much," "Shot Down in Flames," and "If You Want Blood (You Got It)." 4) Toys in the Attic by Aerosmith (1975) By the time I heard this, I was now in my teens. I had a childhood friend up the street, Jim Linberg (we're still good buddies). His older sister had a great album collection, including Toys in The Attic. Once I heard that groove, my taste changed. I lost interest in rock music that didn't have some sort of "swing" feel to it. I think Rocks is a slightly better Aerosmith album (and possibly my favorite album of all time), but both are perfect or very close. Check out "Uncle Salty," "Adam's Apple," "No More No More," "Round and Round," and "You See Me Crying." 3) Alive! by Kiss (1975) When I was still a little kid, I asked for Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke album for Christmas. The entire family came over for an enormous feast, and I dropped the needle. When my mother heard the content, she turned off the album and said I had to exchange it. My mom was cool, but I was young and knew much more about life than she suspected. Anyway, the next day, she drove me back to the store. In the music section, promoted on an "endcap" was a Kiss Alive! display. I had never heard of Kiss, but that cover picture told me I had to have it! My first foray into hard rock. Check out “Strutter.” I went through my Kiss phase very quickly, I believe in a matter of months because I discovered the previous entry, Aerosmith's Toys in the Attic. 2) Honky Chateau by Elton John (1972) When I was a wee lad, my parents bought a used Volkswagen camper van from my uncle Ozzie. My favorite Elton John album is Yellow Brick Road, but Honky Chateau is great and easily one of his best. It sent me down a lifelong rabbit hole of loving everything about the 1970s partnership between Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin. The simple beauty of voice, the master songwriting, the perfect backing band, the clear, unobtrusive recordings, and always Bernie's incredible lyrics. The day this album was released, Elton became an unstoppable force that conquered the music industry. Check out "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" and "Rocket Man." 1) Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles (1967) Another tape that was included in the VW Camper. The van had a bunch of music tapes, and one was Sgt Pepper. I was too young to understand the sophistication of the music, but that was one of the many skills of The Beatles. They attracted listeners at every level, even little kids. I still feel that immediate connection to Sgt Pepper; now, I hear so much more. It's an album that changed the world and the world of music. Check out "Lucy in The Sky with Diamonds," "A Day In The Life," and "Fixing a Hole."](http://www.classicrockhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Shutterstock_1815495569-1-300x200.jpg)
