A former bassist of Alice Cooper's band during the mid eighties, Kip Winger went on to form Winger together with guitarist Reb Beach, keyboard/guitarist Paul Taylor and drummer Rod Morgenstein (formerly of Dixie Dregs). Taking the name from its leader, Winger specialized in winning melodic metal formula, with strong influences from bands like Van Halen, AC/DC and Whitesnake The band's eponymous debut in 1988 sold over a million copies on the strength of singles like "Seventeen" and the ballad "Headed for a Heartbreak”.