Autograph is an American rock band from Pasadena, California formed by vocalist Steve Plunkett after his exit from Silver Condor as their rhythm guitarist. He recruited musicians he’d worked with in the past: guitarist Steve Lynch (Looker), bassist Randy Rand (Wolfgang) and drummer Keni Richards (John Doe). Keyboardist Steve Isham had worked with a mutual acquaintance of Plunkett.

When Richards' friend, Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth, asked him to join him on the road to party on their 1984 tour, Richards said he couldn’t because his then-unnamed band was re-recording their demos for free with renowned producer & engineer Andy Johns (Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones). The next day, Roth put Richards on the phone with Eddie Van Halen who offered his band an opening slot on the tour. It was soon after this the band chose the name Autograph.

Five months into Van Halen’s tour, the head of RCA Records saw Autograph at Madison Square Garden and signed them. Their debut album Sign In Please was released in October. Its lead single “Turn Up The Radio” – the last song written for it, and one RCA originally didn’t want included on the album – became a surprise pop crossover hit in early 1985. Both the single and album peaked at #29 in the US. A follow-up single “Send Her To Me” failed to chart.

Autograph’s sophomore album That’s the Stuff was rushed out in the fall of 1985. Plunkett had begun writing with outside songwriters, which irritated other members of the group. The album received a lukewarm reception, peaking at #92. It spawned one minor rock hit with “Blondes In Black Cars”. Autograph toured with Motley Crue and Heart in support of the album.

After feeling RCA had stopped supporting the band during the release of 1987’s unsuccessful Loud and Clear, Autograph left the label and began writing new material intended to be released on Epic Records. However, Richards left to join the short-lived supergroup Dirty White Boy (Eddie Cross took his place). Then Plunkett, desiring less keyboards in the music, insisted on parting ways with Isham despite Lynch and Rand’s disapproval. In December, Lynch felt he was writing different music than Autograph songs, so he packed up his guitar and quit. Rand left soon after, officially dissolving the band. Lynch formed Network 23 in 1990. Plunkett released a solo album in 1991.

Missing Pieces, a collection of songs originally written during the group’s 1989 songwriting sessions, was released by Plunkett in 1997 with new members performing them. Lynch, who claims to have written seven of its eleven tracks, was upset that the songs were finished and released without his input or permission.

Buzz followed in 2003 featuring Plunkett with the bassist and drummer who played on Alanis Morrisette’s multi-platinum Jagged Little Pill. Lynch was asked to participate, but declined because the songs had already been written, so TJ Helmerich (Dweezil Zappa) played guitar on it.

In 2011, Lynch and Rand began jamming together, soon approaching Plunkett to reunite the band. He declined, but gave his blessing to move forward again as Autograph. In 2013 Richards got involved but was fired soon afterwards. The two discovered vocalist Simon Daniels (Jailhouse) on YouTube and began touring again in 2014, releasing three singles. Get Off Your Ass followed in 2017 on David Ellefson’s (Megadeth) record label.