Ashes Divide
Encyclopedia
Ashes Divide is an American
rock
band
formed by guitarist Billy Howerdel
, who had also formed A Perfect Circle
. Howerdel is the primary songwriter, musician, producer, and vocalist for the band.
, and recording their third album, Emotive. He was quoted as saying that his solo music would be more uptempo than his previous work with A Perfect Circle, but many of those uptempo electronic meets guitar tracks ended up as instrumentals for the Jak X: Combat Racing
video game. He wrote many songs during this period, some of which he kept for the Jak X, and some of which he kept for his future solo project (which would become Ashes Divide). Songs that were omitted from any Ashes Divide releases in favor of the Jak X soundtrack include "Ascension", "Migraine", "Fracture", "The Chopper", and "Death From Above". In an IGN/Youtube interview with Matt Pinfield, he revealed that at one point "Denial Waits" was going to be for Jak X instead.
However, Billy, not used to working alone, ended up spending years tweaking his music so that he was happy with it, with constant revisions. An example of this is how the "Army" demo, originally done while still in A Perfect Circle, eventually evolved into "The Stone".
, "The Stone
", made its radio premiere on January 22, 2008. Their debut album, Keep Telling Myself It's Alright
, was released on April 8. On February 22, Howerdel explained on Chicago radio station Q101
that the date was pushed back from March 18 because of the record label.
The album features drumming by Josh Freese
, and a guest performance on the track "Sword" by Devo Keenan (cello), the son of Maynard James Keenan
. In addition to Freese and Keenan, the record will also feature contributions from drummer Dean Sainz, Concrete Blonde
's Johnette Napolitano
(assisted with "Too Late"), Alkaline Trio
's Matt Skiba
(helped with editing lyrics of "The Prey") and former A Perfect Circle bassist Paz Lenchantin
(assisted with "Denial Waits").
In promotion of the album, Ashes Divide was featured on Linkin Park
's Projekt Revolution 2008
tour, performing on the main stage. They also performed with Stone Temple Pilots
and Filter
for the K-Rock's Return of the Rock
event. In addition to the songs on "Keep Telling Myself It's Alright", they also frequently played a cover of Fleetwood Mac
's "The Chain", although in a vastly different state from the original, much in the vein of the covers on A Perfect Circle's 2004 release Emotive.
Since Billy Howerdel played majority of the instruments himself on the album, and Josh Freese was busy with other commitments, a touring band was necessary. The touring lineup consisted of Jeff Friedl on drums, Matt McJunkins on bass, Jonny Radtke on lead guitar and Adam Monroe on piano/keyboards.
The album debuted at number 36 in the U.S., selling 15,800 copies its first week. As of August 2010, Keep Telling Myself It's Alright had sold 61,000 copies to date according to Nielsen SoundScan.
In late summer 2009, Twitter posts and Myspace blogs indicated that the band was still active, and since then the band has played a few live shows. However, no information has been released in regards to ever releasing a second album, or how A Perfect Circle being active again in 2010 will affect the band.
However, Howerdel, in a September 2010 interview, said that he had been working on demos for the last 3 to 4 years, and that it was up to Keenan as to which songs would be A Perfect Circle songs, and which ones may end up being Ashes Divide songs, suggesting the possibility of future Ashes Divide music.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
formed by guitarist Billy Howerdel
Billy Howerdel
Billy Howerdel is the founding member, guitarist, songwriter, and producer for the bands A Perfect Circle and Ashes Divide. He has recorded three acclaimed studio albums with the former, and in 2008, Ashes Divide released their debut album, Keep Telling Myself It's Alright.-Early life:Howerdel was...
, who had also formed A Perfect Circle
A Perfect Circle
A Perfect Circle is an American rock supergroup formed in 1999 by guitarist Billy Howerdel and Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan. The original incarnation of the band also included Paz Lenchantin on bass, Troy Van Leeuwen on guitar, and Tim Alexander on drums...
. Howerdel is the primary songwriter, musician, producer, and vocalist for the band.
Under "Billy Howerdel Solo" (2005-2007)
Billy Howerdel was known to start working on music for his solo project as early as 2005, after wrapping up touring for A Perfect Circle's second album, Thirteenth StepThirteenth Step
Thirteenth Step is the second studio album by American rock band A Perfect Circle, released under Compact Disc format on September 16, 2003. It was a major success reaching the #2 position on the Billboard 200 in its premiere week, selling over 231,000 copies and staying on the charts for 78 weeks....
, and recording their third album, Emotive. He was quoted as saying that his solo music would be more uptempo than his previous work with A Perfect Circle, but many of those uptempo electronic meets guitar tracks ended up as instrumentals for the Jak X: Combat Racing
Jak X: Combat Racing
Jak X: Combat Racing , is a vehicular combat game video game developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2 and first released in North America on October 18, 2005, then in Australia on October 26, 2005 and then in Europe on November 4, 2005...
video game. He wrote many songs during this period, some of which he kept for the Jak X, and some of which he kept for his future solo project (which would become Ashes Divide). Songs that were omitted from any Ashes Divide releases in favor of the Jak X soundtrack include "Ascension", "Migraine", "Fracture", "The Chopper", and "Death From Above". In an IGN/Youtube interview with Matt Pinfield, he revealed that at one point "Denial Waits" was going to be for Jak X instead.
However, Billy, not used to working alone, ended up spending years tweaking his music so that he was happy with it, with constant revisions. An example of this is how the "Army" demo, originally done while still in A Perfect Circle, eventually evolved into "The Stone".
Under "Ashes Divide", Keep Telling Myself It's Alright (2008)
The band's first singleSingle (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "The Stone
The Stone (Ashes Divide song)
"The Stone" is a song by American band ASHES dIVIDE and is their debut single from their debut album Keep Telling Myself It's Alright, which was released on April 8, 2008. The music video for the song was released in March.-Background:...
", made its radio premiere on January 22, 2008. Their debut album, Keep Telling Myself It's Alright
Keep Telling Myself It's Alright
Keep Telling Myself It's Alright is the debut studio album by American rock band Ashes Divide. The album was released on CD and as a digital download on April 8, 2008. Its first single is "The Stone," which entered radio circulation in January of that year...
, was released on April 8. On February 22, Howerdel explained on Chicago radio station Q101
Q101
The Q101 name is used by the following radio stations:* KQDJ-FM, Valley City, North Dakota* WWWN, formerly WKQX, a former alternative rock station in Chicago, Illinois* WMYQ, Ft. Wayne/Warsaw, IN * WAMS-FM, Snow Hill, Maryland...
that the date was pushed back from March 18 because of the record label.
The album features drumming by Josh Freese
Josh Freese
Josh Freese is an American session drummer and songwriter. He is a permanent member of A Perfect Circle, The Vandals, and Devo, having formerly played drums for Nine Inch Nails from late 2005 until late 2008, and for Guns N' Roses from mid-1998 to 2001. Freese has appeared on close to 300 records....
, and a guest performance on the track "Sword" by Devo Keenan (cello), the son of Maynard James Keenan
Maynard James Keenan
Maynard James Keenan is an American rock singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, winemaker, and actor. Originally from Ohio, Keenan spent his high school and college years in Michigan. After serving in the Army in the early 1980s, he attended Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids...
. In addition to Freese and Keenan, the record will also feature contributions from drummer Dean Sainz, Concrete Blonde
Concrete Blonde
Concrete Blonde is an alternative rock band based in the United States. They were initially active from 1982 to 1995, and again from 2001 to 2004, and once again in 2010.-Biography:...
's Johnette Napolitano
Johnette Napolitano
Johnette Napolitano is an American singer, songwriter and bassist best known as the lead vocalist/songwriter and bassist for the alternative rock group Concrete Blonde.- Solo career :...
(assisted with "Too Late"), Alkaline Trio
Alkaline Trio
Alkaline Trio is an American punk rock band that formed in McHenry, Illinois, in 1996. The band's line-up consists of Matt Skiba , Dan Andriano , and Derek Grant...
's Matt Skiba
Matt Skiba
Matthew Thomas Skiba is the lead singer and guitarist of Alkaline Trio.-Early life and family:...
(helped with editing lyrics of "The Prey") and former A Perfect Circle bassist Paz Lenchantin
Paz Lenchantin
Paz Lenchantin is an American musician of French ancestry. She came to Los Angeles, California with her family at the age of four....
(assisted with "Denial Waits").
In promotion of the album, Ashes Divide was featured on Linkin Park
Linkin Park
Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the band rose to international fame with their debut album, Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-platinum in several other countries...
's Projekt Revolution 2008
Projekt Revolution
Projekt Revolution is a music festival hosted by Linkin Park, bringing artists of various genres of music together. Linkin Park started Projekt Revolution in the year 2002 with just one stage...
tour, performing on the main stage. They also performed with Stone Temple Pilots
Stone Temple Pilots
Stone Temple Pilots is an American rock band from San Diego, California that consists of Scott Weiland , brothers Robert DeLeo and Dean DeLeo , and Eric Kretz ....
and Filter
Filter (band)
Filter is a rock group formed in 1993 in Cleveland by singer Richard Patrick and guitarist/programmer Brian Liesegang. Filter has released five studio albums, the most recent being The Trouble with Angels, which was released on August 17, 2010....
for the K-Rock's Return of the Rock
K-Rock
K-Rock is a common radio brand, generally carried by radio stations airing a modern rock format. CBS Radio has owned the K-Rock brand in the United States since 1986. Then known as Infinity Broadcasting, CBS acquired the K-Rock brand after purchasing noted Los Angeles rock station KROQ-FM , its...
event. In addition to the songs on "Keep Telling Myself It's Alright", they also frequently played a cover of Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood...
's "The Chain", although in a vastly different state from the original, much in the vein of the covers on A Perfect Circle's 2004 release Emotive.
Since Billy Howerdel played majority of the instruments himself on the album, and Josh Freese was busy with other commitments, a touring band was necessary. The touring lineup consisted of Jeff Friedl on drums, Matt McJunkins on bass, Jonny Radtke on lead guitar and Adam Monroe on piano/keyboards.
The album debuted at number 36 in the U.S., selling 15,800 copies its first week. As of August 2010, Keep Telling Myself It's Alright had sold 61,000 copies to date according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Post-debut album (2009-present)
Ashes Divide toured extensively throughout 2008. However, towards the end of 2008, after Maynard James Keenan announcing that he and Billy Howerdel were working on music for A Perfect Circle, rumors of Ashes Divide's breaking up arose.In late summer 2009, Twitter posts and Myspace blogs indicated that the band was still active, and since then the band has played a few live shows. However, no information has been released in regards to ever releasing a second album, or how A Perfect Circle being active again in 2010 will affect the band.
However, Howerdel, in a September 2010 interview, said that he had been working on demos for the last 3 to 4 years, and that it was up to Keenan as to which songs would be A Perfect Circle songs, and which ones may end up being Ashes Divide songs, suggesting the possibility of future Ashes Divide music.
Live Band
- Billy Howerdel - lead vocals, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Jeff Friedl - drums, backing vocals
- Matt McJunkins - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals - Jonny Radtke - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, backing vocals - Adam Monroe - keyboardKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, backing vocals
Singles
| Year | Title | US Main. |
US Mod. |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | "The Stone The Stone (Ashes Divide song) "The Stone" is a song by American band ASHES dIVIDE and is their debut single from their debut album Keep Telling Myself It's Alright, which was released on April 8, 2008. The music video for the song was released in March.-Background:... " |
7 | 10 | Keep Telling Myself It's Alright |
| "The Prey" | — | — | ||
| "Enemies" | — | — | ||
| "—" denotes a release that did not chart. | ||||