Tesla were formed in Sacramento, CA, in 1985, out of an earlier, locally popular group called City Kidd which dated back to 1982. Tesla's lineup featured vocalist Jeff Keith, guitarists Frank Hannon and Tommy Skeoch, bassist Brian Wheat, and drummer Troy Luccketta. The band named itself after the eccentric inventor Nikola Tesla, who pioneered the radio but was given only belated credit for doing so.

EXTENDED VERSIONS (2001, 2003) BMG

Tesla are one of those bands I just never got around to start collecting. I remember borrowing 'Five Man Acoustic Jam' from a high school classmate, and really lovin' it. But that was about the extent of my knowledge of the band, until a friend of mine sent me this live compilation. 'Extended Versions' is BMG's reissue of the 2001 double live album, 'RePlugged Live'. This reissue is only a single disc, and contains only half of the songs present on the original album. But still, this was good way to get acquainted with the bands music. I always thought they were a hair metal band. And to an extent they are. But I will much rather compare them to Kingdom Come or Great White, then I would to Poison or the 80's version of Kiss. Tesla delivers this groovy, funky Led Zeppelin vibe. Favorites on this album includes "Getting Better", "Signs", "Love Song" and "What U Give". Gonna have to start hunting down some of their studio albums now.