Finger Eleven
Finger Eleven is a good name but it’s no Rainbow Butt Monkeys, the band’s original moniker. Under the illustrious R.B.M. banner the Toronto based group released “Letters From Chutney” in Canada. Shortly thereafter, Finger Eleven was adopted. Lead singer Scott Anderson said the name was derived from the feeling that “everything is pushing you in one direction and your instinct drives you in another. That’s Finger Eleven.” Okay.
The first Finger Eleven release “Tip” found its way into the U.S. on Wind-Up Records. Recorded in a remote cottage, “Tip” got Finger Eleven booked as an opening act for Fuel and Creed.
The set had riff driven guitars provided by James Black and Rick Jackett. The opening track “Quicksand” was notable for the wicked bass line from Sean Anderson.
Quicksand
Drag You Down
“The Greyest Of Blue Skies” was released in July, ‘00 with the blistering “Drag You Down,” the heaviest song in the group’s repertoire.
It resulted from the frustration they were feeling in the studio. Sometimes it’s just best to bash it out.
The Metal-Lite group’s self-titled sophomore effort, recorded in L.A., arrived in ’03.
Four years later, “Them Vs. You Vs. Me,” had the singles, “Paralyzer” and “Falling On,”
“Paralyzer” was the group’s first Top 10 hit in the U.S. (#1 in Canada) and was part of the “Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit” rollercoaster experience at Universal Studios Florida. The song was also heard on the ’07 NHL Awards show. Finally, the group performed “Paralyzer” during the ’08 Miss USA pageant in Las Vegas.
Paralyzer
Falling On
After completing a tour opening for Kid Rock, work started on “Life Turns Electric” in early ’10. The single “Living In A Dream” hit in July of that year while the album dropped in October.
“Five Crooked Lines” a ’15 release, was their first without drummer Rich Beddoe, following his departure in ’13. He was replaced by session drummer Chris Powell. It would be a decade before Finger Eleven’s next album.
Last Night On Earth.” held the singles “Blue Sky Mystery” featuring Richard Patrick from Filter and “Adrenaline.”
“As we were making ‘Last Night On Earth’, there was this feeling that we were making a big Rock record,” Jackett recalled. “But it was time to go back and embrace that bigness of the sound.”
Finger Eleven:
Scott Anderson: Lead Vocals
James Black: Lead Guitar/Backing Vocals
Rick Jackett: Rhythm Guitar
Sean Anderson: Bass
Rich Beddoe (replaced Rob Gommerman in ’99): Drums/Percussion
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