BRITNY FOX enjoyed a modicum of heady success in the late 80's primarily thanks to the success of their 1988 issued, self-titled debut, which achieved Gold status on the back of radio rotation afforded to singles 'Long Way To Love' and 'Girlschool'. Formed in Philadelphia back in 1985, the original line-up of the band featured former drummer turned frontman Dean Davidson, bassist 'Wild' Billy Childs (a.k.a. Bill Degley) and the former CINDERELLA duo of guitarist Michael Kelly Smith (nee Mike Shermick) and drummer Tony 'Stix' Destra.

After bashing the skins for local Philly act WORLD WAR III, Davidson quit that group to live in Los Angeles for a period. He relocated back east to hook up with the downcast duo Smith (a one-time member of the PRISCILLA HARRIET BAND) and Destra. The pair had been sacked by a Tom Keifer led CINDERELLA (who had taken their name from one of Michael's pet cats) who had just been signed to PolyGram when the dirty deed had been done. Both Smith and Destra were seen as the unfortunate pawns in a classic case of label politics.

With bassist Childs in the fold, the quartet adopted the handle BRITNY FOX, inspired by one of Davidson's Welsh ancestors (purportedly one 'Brittany Foxx'). The band quickly became a draw on the Philly and New Jersey club circuits, releasing a cassette only album on manager Brian Kushner's Wolfe label (also responsible for issuing the very first TANGIER album) in early 1987.

On the verge of a deal with RCA subsidiary label Nemperor, tragedy struck however, when Tony Destra was killed in a road accident whilst driving home after a show. Destra's untimely death meant that the BRITNY FOX upward charge took a few steps down the rungs of success, but, forging ahead, the band recruited Adam West, the brother of one of their road crew, from TANGIER. West's tenure with the band was fairly short, for by the time they were signed by Columbia his place had been taken by ex-WORLD WAR III and WAYSTED drummer Johnny 'Dee' DiTeodoro

Columbia teamed the band with producer John Jansen for their debut record, the man responsible for Pop act The CUTTING CREW's debut album as well as work on albums by HEAVEN and MARTEE LE BOW and, upon release, the album received glowing reviews from almost every corner of the globe.

Hooking up on the POISON American tour towards the end of 1988 ensured maximum exposure for the Philly quartet. The popularity of the videos for singles 'Long Way To Love' and 'Girlschool', enhanced by the four-piece's strong image - often described as 'a rocked out version of 17th Century Royalty, a Glam version of King Charles and Amadeus' - pushed the record past Gold status by the turn of the year. New Year's Eve was celebrated in Japan at a one-off show on the same bill as BON JOVI.

Early 1989 found BRITNY FOX back on the road in the middle of a three band package headlined by RATT and opened by KIX. The group followed this trek up with further American dates out with GREAT WHITE, before taking the time out to return to the studio in order to begin work on the all important second album.

With Neil Kernon in the production chair 'Boys In Heat' was recorded in New York and released in the autumn of 1989. Davidson had grown tired of the frills and sequins image he himself had inspired and took the, some would suggest, fatal decision to tone down the BRITNY FOX image, a look that many of their fans had been attracted by in the first place.

In December 1989 the band visited European shores opening for ALICE COOPER and GREAT WHITE before returning to America for club dates of their own on the East Coast. By April 1990, however, all was not well and, after a highly publicised bust-up in a hotel corridor, Dean Davidson quit after reportedly throwing Michael Kelly Smith against a wall in a bust-up after a band meeting and immediately returned home to plan his comeback with BLACKEYED SUSAN.

Determined to continue, the remaining trio began to audition for Davidson's replacement, initially wanting to recruit fellow Philadelphia native John Corabi, at the time living in Los Angeles attempting to get his band THE SCREAM signed. Corabi had already resisted attempts back in 1986 by SKID ROW to lure him into the fold prior to Sebastian Bach's appointment, so it was perhaps inevitable that Corabi should turn down the BRITNY FOX offer.

As things transpired, new vocalist Tommy Paris joined BRITNY FOX towards the end of 1990 in time to help piece together the band's comeback album, the first to be recorded for new label EastWest. Originally titled 'More Than Your Mouth Can Hold', 'Bite Down Hard' was produced by John Purdell and Duane Baron shortly after the pair finished work on OZZY OSBOURNE's 'No More Tears; opus. As a result then OZZY OSBOURNE guitarist ZAKK WYLDE guests on opening cut 'Six Guns Loaded'. Prior to his appointment Paris had been employed as a studio engineer in his native Las Vegas, having released a couple of local independent records of his own .

Enjoying a fairly lengthy stint of club dates throughout 1991 and into 1992, the band looked as if they were back on an even keel and MCA Records took the previously unreleased track 'Turn On' and included it on the 'Nintendo White Knucke Scorin' compilation issued during 1991. Changes were afoot in the organisational structure of the label and the band more or less dissolved after the 'Bite Down Hard' tour in America due to lack of funds in 1993. Billy Childs joined former TANGIER vocalist Michael LeCompt's outfit, modestly called LECOMPT with whom he recorded and toured. Dee would also form part of the touring line-up of LECOMPT. Both Paris and Dee involved themselves in the strangely titled UNCLE EDNA whilst Smith created AREA 51. Meantime, Dee hit the road with DORO in Europe in late '93. Johnny Deesubsequently played on both the DORO 'Live' album and the ensuing 'Machine II Machine' studio record.

Michael Kelly Smith produced local Philadelphia group GUNSHY prior to forming his new band RAZAMANAZ. This latter outfit featured on the independently released KISS tribute CD 'Dressed To Kill' with a cover of the KISS classic 'King Of The Nighttime World' in 1995, although the band had reached the end of the road by 1997.

There was a chance that some kind of BRITNY FOX live recording would be issued during 1996, but plans for its release (featuring Paris on vocals) were temporarily shelved with Paris, Childs and Dee were reported to be writing new material together with a view towards creating a brand new project of some kind. Finally in 1999 a reunion was announced and a quick burst of six gigs followed in 2000. Tapes from these gigs were issued on Spitfire Records as the 'Long Way To Live' album. A Japanese release saw some interesting bonus tracks in the form of takes on SLADE's 'Gudbuy T'Jane' and NAZARETH's 'Hair Of The Dog'.

BRITNY FOX would tour America in April / May of 2001 sharing headline billing with German Metal chanteuse DORO. The stage was not the only thing the band shared with DORO as Dee had his stamina tested acting as drummer for both bands. Later dates had BRITNY FOX forming part of the 'Voices Of Metal' tour alongside VINCE NEIL, SLAUGHTER and STEPHEN PEARCY'S RATT.

The band's website would later issue a live CD 'Live At Froggys' recorded at a Dover, Delaware show in May. Tracks included a whole glut of cover versions including NAZARETH's 'Hair Of The Dog', CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL's 'Sweet Hitchhiker', SLADE's 'Gudbuy T' Jane', the SENSATIONAL ALEX HARVEY BAND's 'Midnight Moses' and an almost obligatory KISS standard, 'Shout It Out Loud'. A further release found the band's own label re-issuing the 'Gudbuy T'Dean' bootleg in an official version. Meantime, former frontman Dean Davidson would share the limelight announcing his return to the fore with new act LOVE SAVES THE DAY and his debut 'Superstar' record.

During the summer of 2002 Johnny Dee would substitute mid tour for ex-IRON MAIDEN and WOLFSBANE vocalist BLAZE's act supporting OVERKILL in Europe after regular drummer Jeff Singer was forced to pull out. As BRITNY FOX limbered up for a new studio album Michael Kelly Smith's RAZAMANAZ recordings would be up for release as a full blown album through Perris Records in October. As the year closed the band issued the fan club album 'The Bite Down Hard Demo Sessions' comprising unreleased demos plus covers of AC/DC's 'Riff Raff', CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL's 'Sweet Hitchhiker' and QUEEN's 'Stone Cold Crazy'.

Both Billy Childs and Johnny Dee put in guest sessions on the 2003 solo album 'Raise Your Fist To Metal' from erstwhile METALIUM and SAVATAGE guitarist JACK FROST. Johnny Dee announced a new band unit in mid 2005, POWERVIBE featured the drummer alongside vocalist David Simpson, guitarist David Lenat from DARK BLONDE and X'S AND O'S and ISLE OF Q bassist Beau Bodine.

BRITNY FOX announced US roadwork for the summer of 2007, although the line-up was missing both guitarist Michael Kelly Smith and drummer Johnny Dee. In their stead came guitar player Tommy Krash and former WHITE LION drummer Greg D'Angelo.

New singer Jamie Fletcher was drafted in early 2008, putting in his first concert with the band on 20th March at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio. European concerts were held in September packaged with FATAL SMILE, BULLETBOYS and PRETTY BOY FLOYD. 

SWIRL and STEPHEN PEARCY teamed up with BRITNY FOX on a US tour in December 2008.