Reunited Tesla Begins Work on New Album

May 1, 2001 -- "Yeah, we're back, dude," is singer Jeff Keith's assessment of the state of affairs right now for Tesla, the only rock band in the world named after an electrical engineer and innovator (Nikola Tesla). And the Sacramento, Calif., band is indeed back together after a five-year hiatus.

During its initial incarnation, from 1984-96, the group sold more than 14 million records worldwide, scored four platinum albums, and had hits with its own "Love Song" and a cover of the Five Man Electrical Band's "Signs."

But after drug-addled guitarist Tommy Skeoch left the band during late 1994, the rest of Tesla — Keith, guitarist Frank Hannon, bassist Brian Wheat, and drummer Troy Luccketta — found it too hard to carry on.

"It was just really miserable for all of us," Keith, 42, explains, "because Tommy was missed. Tesla was just that dual guitar band, and here we were going along with one guitar. Frank was doing a great job trying to cover, but it just wasn't right."

Keith wound up working with Skeoch again in another band, Bar 7, but the guitarist bolted again, and Keith turned to Hannon as a replacement. Not surprisingly, the rest of Tesla was skeptical about a reunion with its wayward guitar player, but Keith says that quiet diplomacy has helped heal the wounds and set the band back on course.

"If we timed it, we never would've broken up," Keith says. "Tommy was the one holding the most anger. He was the first one to depart from the band; he had to kiss and make up with everybody. It was a great kiss and a great make-up, and now we couldn't be happier. It's just great that we're back together. It's the most beautiful thing."

Keith says Tesla will release a live album recorded during its current reunion tour, which began last October, and the band plans to start working on a new studio album during the spring or summer. "We definitely want to put together a studio album," Keith says. "I'm like everyone else; I want one, like, yesterday. But in reality, it's going to be the first of next year before we get a good studio album out. You've still got to have time to write for it."