Cheap And Nasty - Beautiful Disaster

Released in March 1991, Beautiful Disaster is the debut album by the glam rock band Cheap and Nasty, formed by guitarist Nasty Suicide after the breakup of Hanoi Rocks. Moving away from standard sleaze rock, the 14-track record blends a melodic, power-pop sensibility reminiscent of Cheap Trick with a punchy, slightly gothic edge. Backed by a seasoned rhythm section featuring bassist Alvin Gibbs and drummer Les Riggs, the album showcases a crisp, driving sound that remains a cult classic for fans of late-era hair metal and classic rock.

Formed by Nasty Suicide in 1990 after his post-Hanoi Rocks outfit The Cherry Bombz split, Nasty packed his bags and moved with other Hanoi Rocks band mates to Los Angeles. There he joined up with Michael Monroe’s band and played guitar on Michaels awesome 1989 solo album “Not Fakin’ It”. Nasty also met Timo Kaltio there and they decided it was time to form a new band. They tested local musicians but when they bumped into Les Riggs and Mike Finn they hired them. This was the first version of Cheap And Nasty. They played a few gigs with this line-up in California until the authorities noticed that Nasty didn’t have a working permit. Because of this lapse Nasty had to take the first flight back to Europe. He then thought that Cheap And Nasty was history but Timo and Riggs followed him to London. Finn was replaced by Alvin Gibbs (UK Subs) and in March 1991 first album was released. Beautiful Disaster was the first of two albums the band released before breaking up in ’94.

Oozing effortless Iggy cool, Suicide (Jan-Marcus Stenfors to his Ma) conjures a smooth brand of rock that’s considerably less sleazy than you might expect and has a slight shade of goth icyness to it. I’m pretty sure the record didn’t do much business, despite some cool tracks – Queen Bee is a bluesy Western style tale of bad love, Body Electric kicks along at a pace, and Retribution is all dark, frosty cool. Shot Down is another good mid-paced tune that is, if anything – like much of the album – a little TOO restrained to leap out at the listener.

If you have ask “who the hell is Nasty Suicide?” you really shouldn’t be reading this blog.

Ripped from the original 1991 CD to MP3

1. Midnight Emperor 2:56

2. Moonlight 4:33

3. Beautiful Disaster 4:26

4. Queen Bee 3:10

5. Sweet Love 5:40

6. Body Electric 2:32

7. Stateline 3:26

8. Live In A Lie 3:15

9. Retribution 3:48

10. Shot Down 3:33

11. Break For The Border 4:26

12. Fantasy (Bonus Track) 3:21

13. Electric Flag (Bonus Track) 3:29

14. Internal Action (Bonus Track) 3:09