Post – Grunge

Formed in Akron, OH, the one-time bowling capital of America, Blues-Rock duo The Black Keys (Dan Auerbach – guitar/vocals and Pat Carney – drums) were part of the early ‘00s lo-fi movement (stripping away all the technical enhancements to get to a more organic sound). Oddly, they didn’t acquire their name from a piano (the…

News of the Arctic Monkeys’ U.K. success initially had to be viewed skeptically. They were yet another band who wore their Jam, Clash and Smiths influences on their sleeve. Toss in the White Stripes, Vines, Libertines and a scruffier take on Franz Ferdinand for mainstream accessibility. Yet even for the U.K., it looked as though…

Three years after Chicago’s Fall Out Boy formed Island Records provided an advance for the group’s major label debut “Take This To Your Grave.” ’05 release “Under The Cork Tree” led to an extensive tour. F.O.B. even won a Road Woodie (Best Tour) at the student-selected mtvU Woodie Awards held in New York. “Infinity On…

Breaking a new act is a crapshoot. To minimize the risk, record labels often sign musicians with proven track records. The combination of Soundgarden’s frontman with Rage Against The Machine (sans Zach de la Rocha) would seem like a sure shot. But Audioslave was one of those blue chip “marriages” that nearly blew apart before…

In early ‘06, Mötley Crüe was awarded a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. You can’t become more establishment than that. New blood was needed to carry on the wayward decadence. And that left the door ajar for Hinder. It was sex, drugs and Rock n’ Roll, not as a motto, but a lifestyle. Of…

When producer Kato Khandwala paired Taylor Momsen, the Gossip Girl actress and singer, with guitarist Ben Phillips that was the beginning of The Pretty Reckless.  There are some people who seem destined for a career in showbiz. Momsen, who had been singing and acting since childhood, was one of them. Later, she added modeling to…

The Offspring isn’t a bad moniker but it’s sure no Clowns Of Death. Now that’s a name! Guitarist Bryan “Dexter” Holland and bassist Greg Kriesel (Greg K.), both ex-Clowns of Death, started Manic Subsidal with singer Doug Thompson and drummer Jim Benton. Two things happened when Thompson and Benton bailed. First, Holland assumed singing duties…

Creed got slammed by critics but rather than ignore them, the reviews took root. Creed’s third full-length release “Weathered” hit the streets in ’01. The symbolic title, as in “weathered the criticism,” should have been a warning – even for a group with a pretty incredible track record. To add insult to injury, the critics…

Three Days Grace bassist Brad Walst and singer-guitarist Adam Gontier hailed from the small Canadian burg of Norwood. Drummer Neil Sanderson grew up twenty-five miles away in a town called Peterborough. Re-locating to Toronto Three Days Grace teamed with producer Gavin Brown got Three Days Grace. On the strength of “I Hate Everything About You”…