Shinedown

Shinedown’s debut album Leave a Whisper was released in July 2003, immediately introducing the band’s melodic rock sensibilities to a large audience. Featuring the singles “Fly from the Inside,” “Burning Bright,” and “45,” the album charted at No. 53 on the Billboard 200 and has since been certified platinum. Following the release, the band embarked on an extensive touring schedule, which lasted until the end of 2004.

Shinedown’s sophomore album Us and Them arrived in October 2005, led by the No. 1 Active Rock Chart single “Save Me.” Subsequent singles included “Heroes” and “I Dare You,” the latter of which was used by the WWE in promotion of “WrestleMania 22.” In support of the record, the band toured on the 2006 SnoCore Tour alongside Seether and Flyleaf, as well as with Trapt on the Equinox tour.

Following Us and Them, Shinedown underwent considerable membership changes. The 2008 lineup consisted of Brent Smith, Barry Kersh, guitarists Nick Perri and Zach Meyers, and bassist Eric Bass.

The group’s third full-length release Sound of Madness appeared in July 2008, after which guitarist Nick Perri left the band. The album was produced by Rob Cavallo, known for his work with the Goo Goo Dolls and Green Day, and peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard 200. While it was led by the single “Devour,” the subsequent Billboard Top 10 single “Second Chance” proved a real breakthrough for the band, earning triple platinum certification.

The full-length Amaryllis followed in March 2012, charting at No. 4 on the Billboard 200. Marking Shinedown’s most successful release to date, the album earned strong reviews from critics and spawned the singles “Bully,” “Unity,” and “Enemies.”

In addition to playing incredible shows and releasing a steady supply of innovative music, Shinedown also continues to use their voice for good. Viewing fans as family, Shinedown’s artists leverage their fame to help support notable charities, give-back programs, and organizations dedicated to bringing awareness to inequalities. Organizations that Shinedown helps support through proceeds include Ecologi, the American Red Cross, ASPCA Animal Rescue, DC Strong, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Direct Relief, Backline, National Alliance on Mental Illness, and Heal Autism Now.

The vast number of programs that Shinedown partners with showcases the band’s dedication to making the world a better place. From fighting climate change to improving access to healthcare for musicians, Shinedown is far more than just a group of performers. This is just one of the many reasons for the strong bond between Shinedown and their dedicated fan base.

Bush consists of four talented members, Gavin Rossdale, Robin Goodridge, Chris Traynor and Corey Britz. The British boys formed after Gavin Rossdale departed from his former band, named, Midnight. He met former guitarist for the band King Blank guitarist Nigel Pulsford in 1992 and the pair decided formulate a band. Once the pair had found their feet they went on to take on bass guitarist Dave Parsons and drummer Robin Goodridge.

Once complete, the band had to chose a name, interestingly, they decided on the name "Bush", which was based on the place named, Shepherd's Bush in London, which was a main meeting place for the band.

The band released their debut album which was named "Sixteen Stone" in 1994 which notably peaked at number 4 on America's the Billboard Music Charts. Furthermore, their second album, released two years ago, titled, "Razorblade suitcase", reached a remarkable number one in America and also reached high in the charts in many countries in Europe.

The British band unfortunately separated in 2002, with an eight year gap. However, after the band made amends and in 2010 they began work on a new album, "The Sea of Memories". They went on to release this the following year. The album was very successful and their single "The Sound of Winter" made number one, surpassing both the rock and alternative charts.

After years of honing their skills around the dinner table, singing the likes of Jackson 5, Chuck Berry and other staples of rock, R&B and gospel, the Hanson brothers made their debut performance at the 1992 Mayfest Arts Festival in Tulsa. Shortly after a performance at South By Southwest, Hanson impressed music attorney Christopher Sabec enough for him to become their manager and in waiting for a label contract, released the pop-infused full-length “Boomerang” in 1995. After the release the brothers began playing their own instruments, which radically improved the band’s songwriting and led to Hanson appealing to a wider, hipper audience. The independent album “MMMBop” followed in 1996, featuring a number of songs which found their way onto Hanson’s label debut “Middle of Nowhere”.

After a performance at the Wisconsin State Fair, A&R representative Steve Greenberg instantly signed Hanson to Mercury Records and recruited the Dust Brothers to produce their first album. “Middle of Nowhere” arrived in May 1997, mixing pop sensibilities with hip production and a fierce publicity machine. Charting in over 25 countries, selling over 10 million copies worldwide, the album proved to be the band’s commercial breakthrough, turning the brothers into teen idols. The band were subsequently nominated for three Grammy Awards in 1998, released the Christmas album “Snowed In”, and embarked on the extensive Albertane Tour, playing at stadiums and arenas across the U.S.

Following Island Records’ merger with Def Jam, Hanson released their sophomore album “This Time Around” in 2000, however it lacked the promotional funding of their debut. Ultimately sales for the album were low and Island Def Jam pulled the capital for a subsequent tour, and the brothers were forced to tour on their own funds. After leaving Island Def Jam due to lack of creative freedom, Hanson released the documentary film “Strong Enough to Break” in which the brothers discuss their difficulties with the label. Prior to the release of their third full-length, “Underneath” on their own label 3CG Records, Hanson embarked on an acoustic tour ending at a show at Carnegie Hall in 2003. “Underneath” was released on April 20, 2004, topping the Billboard Top Independent Albums chart and charting at No. 25 on the Billboard 200 – an impressive feat for an independent act.

To promote their forthcoming album “The Walk” Hanson went on a preview tour, performing at a number of venues within six days followed by question and answer sessions. “The Walk” was eventually released in July 2007 on 3CG Records and earned positive reviews from the musical press. Shortly afterwards the band rerecorded their “Middle Of Nowhere” album with acoustic instrumentation, which was released on Hanson’s website in late 2007.

The group’s eighth studio album “Shout It Out” was issued in 2010 which was supported by a co-headlining tour alongside Hellogoodbye. Hansen subsequently released the album “Anthem” in 2013, which peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard 200, aided by the single “Get the Girl Back”.

They have undergone a bit of a change up of late, with star vocalist Lacey Sturn having announced she was leaving the outfit shortly before the release of their third album, “New Horisons” in October 2012.

Sturm was the soaring voice that brought Flyleaf to mainstream success with the powerful singles “All Around Me” off their 2005 debut, which climbed to No.40 in the Billboard Hot 100, “Again” off their second album Memento Mori (2009), and the title track off “New Horizons”, which bassist Pat Seals said describes looking towards an uncertain future with hope. He said it is one of Flyleaf’s best tracks to come out.

Kristen May took the reigns as the new lead vocalist after Sturm’s departure and has ushered the band into a new era.

Their latest album, “Between the Stars” released in September 2014, is testament to their talents as an outfit.

Their current configuration is May on lead vocals and keyboards, Seals on bass and backing vocals, Jared Hartmann on guitar, James Culpepper on drums and Sameer Bhattacharya on guitar, keyboards and piano.

The album was financed through PledgeMusic, a direct to fans crowd funding platform and May said it is the result of the mixed creative energies of herself and the rest band finding difficulties in moving forward after Sturm having left and May’s previous band breaking up. The key theme of the album, like that “New Horisons” preceding it, is triumphing in the face of adversity, of retaining composure in periods of uncertainty and of staying true to one’s faith throughout.

While the transition into the new arrangement with May as the lead vocalist was not spotless – many fans were shocked and had doubts about May being “Christian” enough, due to her efforts to reach out to the broader scene – they have pulled together and put out perhaps their greatest achievement yet and stayed true to the morals for which they are known.

In its first week, “Between the Stars” reached No.33 on the Billboard 200 chart. It is proof that even after the challenge of losing its lead singer, Flyleaf have the strength and endurance to carry on making great music that connects with their fans.

Formed by English-born guitarist Vernon Reid, Living Colour grew out of the Black Rock Coalition, a non-profit co-founded by Reid, for black musicians wanting to play rock and roll. Living Colour’s early musical excursions were an experimental mix of instrumental tangents, jazz jams, funk fusions and punk rock attacks, in contrast to their later major label releases.

Living Colour’s line-up became a fixture in 1986 consisting of Vernon Reid, vocalist Corey Glover, Muzz Skillings on bass, and Berklee College of Music graduate Will Calhoun on drums. Performing regularly and honing their skills the band released their debut album “Vivid” on May 3, 1988, which became popular after MTV began playing the video for the song “Cult of Personality. The album charted well at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 and led to performances on Saturday Night Live, a Grammy Award and a support slot on The Rolling Stones’ Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle Tour.

With their second album “Time’s Up” failing to live up to the first the band played a show at Lollapalooza in 1991 and released an EP of outtake entitled “Biscuits” to raise their profile. After which Skillings left the group to be replaced by Doug Wimbish, whom with the help of released the ambitious “Stain”, which reached No. 26 in the U.S. charts.

With such a plethora of musical influences the band couldn’t agree on a single musical direction and disbanded in 1995. They returned five year later in 2000 and played a live show using Calhoun’s and Wimbish’s drum and bass project Head>>Fake in which Reid and Glover made appearances. Despite critical acclaim their Living Colour’s fourth studio album failed to chart, and Sony released a extensive career spanning best-of compilation titled “Everything Is Possible: The Very Best of Living Colour”.

In 2006 Living Colour including Skillings for the first time in 14 years played a party Jack DeJohnette threw for his wife, and followed the show with a week-long European tour. The band’s fifth full-length album “The Chair in the Doorway” was released in 2009 landing an No. 159 on the Billboard 200 and was followed by a worldwide tour.