Vixen

Tuesday, August 15 at 8 p.m.

Vixen was founded in St. Paul, MN by high-schooler guitarist Jan Kuehnemund. The desire to achieve the rock star dreams like so many before her, Jan took her group to Hollywood but soon retooled the line-up, which included; vocalist Janet Gardner, drummer Roxy Petrucci and bassist Share Ross (Pedersen).

 EMI released their self-named debut album "Vixen" featuring the groups’ first hit "Edge of a Broken Heart" penned by Richard Marx and Fee Waybill (The Tubes). MTV became Vixen’s playground and so coupled with exhaustive touring Vixen embarked on their ride.

Piling on more hits the band charted Billboard at #22 with ballad, "Cryin'“ and "Love Made Me" at #36. The road continued to call opening for Ozzy Osbourne, Scorpions, Eddie Money and many others. Vixens had firmly distinguished themselves as a premiere rock act to be taken seriously.

With the pistons still popping, Vixen released their second album; "Rev It Up" was a success with "How Much Love" as the prized single performed live on The Arsenio Hall Show. The group Vixen-ize their fans on worldwide tours with heavyweights KISS and Scorpions, which fueled the International frenzy. The ballad, "Love Is A Killer" rose on the charts along with the rocker "Not A Minute Too Soon" once again establishing Vixen as not just performers but hit songwriters.

It was Nirvana’s sound out of Seattle that helped fuel the winds of change and underscored the decision to disband Vixen in 1992. Separately band members dabbled in various side projects but it was 1997 when Gardner and Petrucci released “Tangerine" teaming up with live-wire guitarist Gina Stile under the Vixen moniker. In 2002 Kuehnemund once again regrouped Vixen fronted by Jenna Sanz-Agero (vocals), Lynn Louise Lowry (bass) and Kat Kraft(drums). This line-up then went on to tour and release “Live and Learn” and “Extended

Versions” from a live performance in Sweden. The bond they shared could never be broken but who would have imagined their joy would be short-lived when in 2012 Kuehnemund reached out to Gardner, Pertrucci & Ross for long awaited reunion. Sadly, only days before officially announcing the news, Kuehnemund was diagnosed with cancer and the reunion was put on hold. Jan Kuehnemund, the founding member and lead guitar player for Vixen passed away October 10th of 2013.

Veni, Vidi, Vici

(I came, I saw, I conquered) by Julius Caesar

Realizing that a band belongs to its fans, Gardner, Petrucci and Ross have carried on the Vixen legacy since 2013. Rocking theaters, casinos and major festivals including M3, The Moondance Jam, Monsters of Rock Cruise, FireFest, Hard Rock Hell, The Halfway Jam, Rockin’ the Rivers, Iowa State Fair, every nook and cranny of the USA, Canada and Spain, Vixen is revvin’ the engines once again.

In 2017, guitarist Britt Lightning (Alejandro Sanz, Rachel Platten) signed on to round out this extraordinary line up. Vixen consistently delivers high energy top notch performances that leave fans breathless and wanting more at every show.

In 2019 a new chapter begins with the addition of Lorraine Lewis (Femme Fatale) stepping into lead vocals and Janet Gardner pursuing other ventures. Lewis rounds out the finely tuned lineup bringing notable Femme Fatale MTV video hits “Waiting for the Big One” and “In and Out of Love” to Vixen's catalogue of crowd pleasers.