Kid Curry Fire & Ice Review
Kid Curry
Fire & Ice
FNA Records
2026
Before there was KK Wilde, there was Kid Curry. Back when MTV actually played music videos and Sunday nights meant discovering the next big thing, Kid Curry was beginning to make some serious noise. Their video received enough airplay that someone at MTV encouraged the band to enter the network's Basement Tapes competition, and they won.
I'll be honest, I don't remember the contest itself, and I can't say I remember seeing Kid Curry on those Sunday night broadcasts. We're talking a lifetime ago now. But the exposure, combined with the band's relentless schedule on the Sunset Strip, was enough to catch the attention of legendary manager Noel Monk. That eventually led to a talent agency, bigger tours, and finally a deal to record an album for Epic Records under the guidance of producer Dave Novak.
The album was finished. Then... Nothing. It never saw an official release, and before long the band dissolved, eventually resurfacing a few years later as KK Wilde with a slightly different lineup. Thankfully, this story has a much happier ending.
FNA Records has finally rescued those long-lost recordings and released them under the title “Fire & Ice”. The fact that this album survived at all is pretty remarkable. Drummer Michael Kramer co-produced and engineered the sessions, then wisely held onto the master tapes all these years. Sometimes it pays to have someone in the band who thinks ahead.
So, what exactly have we been missing all this time? Simply put, “Fire & Ice” is packed with melodic Hard Rock that comfortably straddles the line between AOR and arena-ready Rock. It's polished enough for radio, but it still carries enough Hard Rock to satisfy those of us who grew up living for this stuff.
Oddly enough, Kid Curry never sounds like they're chasing another band's success. Sure, you'll hear echoes of the era, but the group carved out a sound that felt distinctly their own. That only makes the album's original shelving even more puzzling. To this day, I haven't found a satisfying explanation for why Epic chose to leave it sitting on a shelf.
The deeper I got into “Fire & Ice”, the more it grew on me. At first glance it's easy to write it off as polished radio Rock, but there's a surprising amount of muscle underneath all the glossy production. Yes, it's slick. Yes, parts of it are unmistakably mid-'80s in their presentation. But that's exactly what major labels were aiming for back then, and Kid Curry pulls it off without sounding artificial.
There are plenty of highlights. "I Don't Want Your Love" practically screams hit single. It's loud, energetic, driven by a massive chorus, and features the kind of melodic guitar solo that would've had ten-year-old me standing in front of the mirror with an imaginary guitar.
"Head For The Border" delivers pure summertime cruising vibes, while "Desert Hearts" might be the album's crown jewel. It's melodic, memorable, and absolutely sounds like one of those songs FM radio would've played into the ground.
If you're looking for something with a little more bite, "Diamond In The Rough" brings some welcome heaviness to the mix. One thing that surprised me is the absence of a true power ballad. "Caught In The Game" flirts with the idea, but never fully commits. That's not necessarily a complaint, it's just unusual for a Hard Rock album from this era.
As always, FNA Records has gone the extra mile with autographed editions and other collector-friendly goodies, making this release even more appealing to those of us who still love owning physical media.
If you grew up during the golden age of MTV, spent your weekends glued to Hard Rock radio, or simply miss the days when melodic guitar riffs ruled the airwaves, “Fire & Ice” is well worth your time. It's more than a forgotten album. It's a time capsule from an era when labels were chasing the next big thing... and somehow let one slip right through their fingers.