High Enough

The Zoo Crew is spinning the classic track "High Enough" by Damn Yankees from their self-titled debut album, and the Zoo Freaks are loving this soaring power ballad. One fascinating story behind the song comes from Jack Blades, who shared in an interview that the song was born in a spontaneous moment at Tommy Shaw’s New York City apartment. While doing laundry in the basement, Blades was singing the lines, “I don’t want to hear about it anymore, it’s a shame I’ve got to live without you anymore.” Shaw overheard, loved the melody, and within half an hour, they had crafted the entire song, starting with those lyrics and building it out on piano and guitars. This raw, organic creative process gave "High Enough" its heartfelt edge, capturing the emotional tug-of-war of love and fear, as Blades described it: a story of loving someone deeply but not wanting to scare them away.

Another piece of trivia ties to the song’s music video, filmed in River Ridge, Louisiana, which portrays a young couple on a crime spree. The video’s dramatic narrative, complete with robberies and a tragic undertone, amplified the song’s emotional weight, helping it climb to No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1991. On social media, fans still rave about the track’s impact, with a Reddit post from early 2025 on the r/hairmetal subreddit garnering 99 votes and comments like, “An old cassette of this album I found is what introduced me to hard rock and metal in High School.” The song’s enduring appeal is clear, with fans reminiscing about requesting it on radio stations or catching Damn Yankees live when they opened for Bad Company in the early ‘90s.

Ted Nugent’s defense of "High Enough" adds a colorful anecdote. In an interview, he recounted a moment when guitarist Zakk Wylde teased him for “going soft” with the ballad, citing it as evidence of Nugent straying from his wildman persona. Nugent fired back, calling it a “killer fucking song” and playfully dismissing Wylde’s critique, showing how even the band’s hardest rocker embraced the track’s softer side. The song’s creation and reception highlight the chemistry of Damn Yankees, a supergroup where egos took a backseat. As Blades noted, “There were no egos there, nobody was trying to outdo the other guy… we just got together and wrote all those songs.”

Damn Yankees formed in 1989 as a supergroup, uniting Tommy Shaw of Styx, Jack Blades of Night Ranger, Ted Nugent of The Amboy Dukes, and drummer Michael Cartellone, who later joined Lynyrd Skynyrd. The band was the brainchild of A&R guru John Kalodner, who saw potential in combining these seasoned rockers at a time when their original bands faced declining commercial success. Shaw, hailing from Alabama, brought his melodic sensibilities; Blades, from California, added his knack for catchy hooks; Nugent, the Michigan wildman, delivered fiery guitar work; and Cartellone, from New York, provided a rock-solid backbone. Nugent coined the name “Damn Yankees” as a tongue-in-cheek response to questions about how he and Shaw would sound together, reflecting the group’s diverse geographic roots and playful camaraderie.

Their debut album, released in 1990 through Warner Bros. Records, was produced by Ron Nevison and went double platinum, driven by hits like “High Enough” and “Coming of Age.” The band hit the road for an 18-month world tour, sharing stages with Bad Company, Poison, and Jackyl, and even made headlines for patriotic gestures during the Persian Gulf War, unfurling American flags onstage. Despite their success, the changing musical landscape of the early ‘90s, with grunge on the rise, led to challenges. A third album, tentatively titled Bravo, was recorded in 1999 but never released, as it didn’t meet the band’s or labels’ expectations. Instead, the members pursued solo projects or returned to their original bands, though Shaw and Blades continued collaborating as the duo Shaw Blades.

Fans can connect with Damn Yankees through various platforms, though the band lacks an official website. Their music and legacy live on via social media and fan communities. Check out the Damn Yankees Official Facebook page for updates and fan interactions, or follow posts on Instagram under the #DamnYankees hashtag. On X, search for Damn Yankees to see what fans are sharing, like a recent post from @itsthewayofrock celebrating Jack Blades’ birthday with a nod to “High Enough.” Fan communities thrive in places like the Damn Yankees Fan Club on Facebook, where Zoo Freaks can join discussions and share their love for the band. For more on their discography, sites like Discogs and AllMusic offer detailed insights into their albums and legacy.