- For the IDW comics band, see The Stingers (comics).
The Stingers are a European glam rock band that originated in Germany. The band is composed by the handsome lead singer Riot, the flirtatious Minx, and the conniving Rapture. They were introduced at the beginning of Season 3 of the Jem animated series and replaced The Misfits as the main antagonists of the show.
History[]
The Stingers' origins take place in West Germany, where bandmates Riot and Minx left their former band called Nirvana. Riot decided to leave the band to make his own way in the music business. Minx joined him realizing that she would be better off with him. Rapture soon joined them and thus The Stingers were born.
They tried to find clubs that would let them perform, although they were turned down most of the time and were even forced to be homeless, which they did for one whole winter, performing on the streets for money to eat. They worked their way to the top and eventually became a huge hit in Germany.
The Stingers were invited to perform at Le Klub Kool in America. Jerrica was informed by Lindsey Pierce that the "group just in from West Germany was looking into joining a United States record label". Jerrica and Kimber went to watch their show with the intention of getting them to sign onto Starlight Music. However, Eric Raymond was also aware of this new group and had his own plans to make them sign with Misfits Music.
At first, it seemed that The Stingers would in fact remain with Starlight Music, but Eric offered them half of his company, as well as renaming it to Stingers Sound. While Riot was more interested in pursuing Jem for his own romantic reasons, the contract offered by Eric proved to be more favorable to him and he accepted it.
Band members[]
Riot is the lead singer of The Stingers, which he claims is the greatest rock band of the 20th century. He is charming but aloof and arrogant. He is confident with his looks, believing he is the perfect man. He commands respect and demands devotion from his bandmates and fans. He is aware of the power he has over people and uses it to get what he wants.
Minx is cunning, manipulative, and prides herself on being able to have her pick of anyone, only to toss them away once she gets bored, which happens with alarming regularity. She is also very technologically minded and can work wonders with any computer or synthesizer.
Rapture is the guitarist of the group. She is a skilled con-artist and is quite knowledgeable in matters of the occult. She uses that knowledge to further her own agenda, and often that of The Stingers as well.
Discography[]
Songs[]
Collaborations with other artists[]
| Song | Featured artists |
|---|---|
Gallery[]
Animated series[]
Dolls[]
Other[]
_-_01.png "The Stingers (comics) - 01.png (3.51 MB)")
Trivia[]
- The Stingers are the only one of the three main bands whose members all have a normal hair color, which is blond.
- Between The Holograms and The Misfits, The Stingers are the only band that got their big break without some form of connection or nepotism.
- The colors on The Stingers' costumes resemble, and might be a reference, to those from American Christian glam metal band Stryper, themed in yellow and black; however, this is unconfirmed.
- There is a possibility that Riot and Rapture were inspired by the canceled Jem movie characters Alex Couto and Alyx Couto from the fictional band The Mongrels, since their original concept art dates back to 1986, the year the movie would have been released.[1]
- Regardless of Riot's infatuation with Jem, The Stingers were neither friends nor allies to The Holograms or The Misfits, although there were a few isolated collaborations between some members of these bands, and by the end of the series, all three bands showed more respect and tolerance toward each other.
- The Stingers' schemes primarily lie in manipulating people for their own gain, to further their career in the music industry or for their own entertainment (such as taking advantage of Pizzazz, Regine, and Mrs. Farnsworth). This sets them apart from The Misfits who often try to sabotage Jem and The Holograms mainly because they feel threatened by their success and popularity. The Stingers are self-assured in their talent to not resort to such schemes, but instead, they take advantage of people who barely know them. Once they have succeeded, their victims are finally aware of their wicked nature.
- Unlike The Holograms or The Misfits, The Stingers are the only group whose members have a natural hair color, even though in the Jem universe, unnatural hair colors exist, such as when Pizzazz and Clash were younger and their hair already had the same color as in adulthood.
- The Stingers exemplified a sense of comradery with each other unlike The Misfits who engaged in petty insults and fights that resulted in two of their band members leaving on different occasions. However, there was an instant of Riot threatening to kick Minx out of the band, which shows that he would not tolerate any of his members that goes against their image.