Black Stone Cherry and Buckcherry

Though Black Stone Cherry did not technically form until 2001, lead vocalist/guitarist Chris Robertson and drummer John Fred Young started up jam sessions in their early teens. The duo were eventually joined by the group’s remaining members: rhythm guitarist Ben Wells and bass guitarist Jon Lawhon. Drummer John Fred Young’s father Richard Young is a member of “The Kentucky Headhunters” and through him the band was able to receive some insight about the music business and use the Kentucky Headhunter’s practice space as their own.

The group jumped straight into recording, releasing their first CD demo “Rock N’ Roll Tape” in 2003 and began gigging in local venues around this time. The group was picked up by New York record label Roadrunner and released their self-titled debut in 2006. The band’s first album was a good mix of drawn-out southern grunge and stoner metal and managed to sell 110,000 copies. After this release Black Stone Cherry were considered local heroes and coasting of this success they played their old high school gym filled with 1500 people.The band developed a rather large following in the UK and went on to record and release their first live album in Astoria, London, UK. The live album was highly limited and at one point it was fetching £200 online.

The band’s next album “Folklore and Superstition” was produced by Bob Marlette, who had previously worked with Alice Cooper and Ozzy Osbourne and it was recorded in Martina McBride’s studio. The album did very well on the charts peaking to No. 1 on the UK Rock Album Chart and No. 50 in Sweden.

The band’s third studio album “Between the Devil & the Deep Blue Sea” was released on 31 May 2011. It entered the Billboard 200 charts at No. 29 and the Florida Georgia Line cover of their song “Stay” became a huge hit. This release saw the band opening up for Alter Bridge, Theory of a Deadman, and Chickenfoot. The group also embarked on a sold-out headlining tour of the UK with Rival Sons.

The band’s follow up studio album “Magic Mountain” came out on 6 May 2014 and made it to No. 22 on the Billboard 200, No. 5 on the UK Album Chart, and all the way to No. 1 on the UK Rock Album Chart. The band would go on to promote this album with a European tour.

Lead Vocalist Josh Todd founded Buckcherry in the mid 90’s after bonding with guitarist Keith Nelson over a mutual appreciation of AC/DC in a California tattoo parlour. After recording music together, they added a bass player, Jonathan Brightman, and a drummer, Devon Glenn, and toured local bars and clubs in Hollywood, under the name Sparrow.

After gaining a local fanbase due to their classic rock n roll style, they were quickly snapped up by Dreamsworks Records, and forced to change their name to legal reasons. The band claims they named themselves after a draq queen in Hollywood.

Buckcherry released their self-titled debut studio album in 1999, which was a commercial and critical success, with the album certified Gold. Following on from the album, the band toured extensively, with highlights including an opening slot for Lenny Kravitz and playing at Woodstock festival.

They quickly followed with a sophomore album “Time Bomb” in 2001, however they album was considered by fans and critics as a disappointment, and with various artistic differences and member changes within the group, the band eventually broke up in 2002

After Todd and Nelson flirted with a project with Guns N’ Roses member Slash, and wrote and produced records for other bands such as Velvet Revolver, they decided to reform Buckcherry for a second stint in 2005.

They unleashed their successful comeback album “15” in 2006, which marked the completion of a successful return for the group as it was certified platinum. Since their return, Buckcherry have continued to write fruitful albums, including 2013’s “Confessions”.

Since their comeback, the band have played on massive tours with rock behemoths KISS and Motley Crue, and contributed music to movie soundtracks such as the “Avengers Assemble”