Rough Cutt

Rough Cutt came together in Los Angeles as a heavy metal band toward the close of 1981. Originally called Magic, the initial members included vocalist Paul Shortino, guitarist Jake E. Lee, keyboardist Claude Schnell, bassist Joey Christofanilli, and drummer David Alford. Schnell departed in fall 1982 to join Dio, at which point the group adopted the name Rough Cutt, parted ways with Christofanilli, and brought in guitarist Chris Hagar alongside bassist Matt Thorr, a player with whom Lee had previously worked in an early Ratt lineup. Lee soon left to support Ozzy Osbourne, after which guitarist Craig Goldie joined and the five-piece cut its first demo with Ronnie James Dio producing. Goldie also joined Dio’s band before the Warner Bros. contract was finalized, so Amir Derakh stepped in on guitar for the self-titled 1985 debut album. Wants You! followed the next year, but the band dissolved once Shortino exited to replace Kevin DuBrow in Quiet Riot; Rough Cutt Live surfaced posthumously in 1995. Derakh later appeared in the alt-metal group Orgy, while Shortino formed a new Rough Cutt in 2000 with guitarist Jimmy Crespo, bassist Sean McNabb, keyboardist J.T. Garrett, and drummer John Homan. By the time their 2002 album Sacred Place appeared, the project had been officially retitled Paul Shortino’s The Cutt.