Chameleon Circuit (band)
Encyclopedia
Chameleon Circuit is a band known for creating music inspired by the British television series Doctor Who
. Composed of popular UK YouTube
vloggers and Doctor Who fans, the band released their self-titled debut album on 1 June 2009.
At the beginning of 2011, Chameleon Circuit, in their new line-up of Alex Day, Charlie McDonnell, Liam Dryden, Ed Blann and American YouTuber Michael Aranda (who had originally signed up under a producing role), began work on their second album Still Got Legs. It was released on 12 July 2011. The album also successfully charted on the Billboard Heatseekers chart at #23.
, Alex Day, a YouTuber and fan of Doctor Who
, was inspired to begin writing songs about the TV series in summer 2008, and dubbed the resulting genre "Time Lord Rock" (or "Trock" for short). Charlie McDonnell, also a fan, did the same, and released an acoustic video performance of "Blink" on YouTube. With the addition of Scottish vloggers Liam Dryden and Chris Beattie, Chameleon Circuit were formed and immediately began work on their first album. It was arranged to be released under the newly-founded DFTBA Records, which had been set up by Alan Lastufka and Hank Green
later the same year, to provide popular YouTube musicians an outlet for releasing their music professionally.
The release of Chameleon Circuit's debut album was delayed when conflict arose with their original producer, who did not want to complete production of the album. After unsuccessfully searching for a replacement producer, Chameleon Circuit were forced to release Chameleon Circuit uncompleted. Regardless, it still received some critical acclaim, including a positive review on Den of Geek and an article in Doctor Who Magazine
. Former Doctor
David Tennant
, in an interview, described Chameleon Circuit as "proper decent music". In July 2010, their song "Count the Shadows" also appeared on DFTBA Records, Volume Two, a compilation sampler that was given for free in grab bags at VidCon
2010.
's exclamation upon his regeneration).
In April 2011 Chameleon Circuit found themselves struggling with producer trouble when Aranda was refused entry back into the UK after a trip to France, by border officials. The band set up an online petition to help him re-enter England, and were successful. Aranda was granted a week's re-entry to the UK. Meanwhile, drink company Red Bull
were made aware of Chameleon Circuit's predicament, and offered to send the band to Paris to complete their recording there. Following this incident, Aranda was announced an official member of the band.
Chameleon Circuit finished their recording and played the album to a small number of fans at Red Bull's London studio in June 2011. The album was made available for pre-order the same weekend, and was released via DFTBA on July 12, 2011. The album charted on the Billboard Heatseekers chart at #23, the first of two DFTBA Records releases to ever do so.
On July 31, Chameleon Circuit performed songs from Still Got Legs as well as a few from their first album, in a live show at VidCon
2011.
Former members
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
. Composed of popular UK YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
vloggers and Doctor Who fans, the band released their self-titled debut album on 1 June 2009.
At the beginning of 2011, Chameleon Circuit, in their new line-up of Alex Day, Charlie McDonnell, Liam Dryden, Ed Blann and American YouTuber Michael Aranda (who had originally signed up under a producing role), began work on their second album Still Got Legs. It was released on 12 July 2011. The album also successfully charted on the Billboard Heatseekers chart at #23.
Formation & debut album (2008-2009)
Inspired by the growing phenomenon of Wizard rockWizard rock
Wizard rock is a genre of rock music that developed between 2002 and 2004 in the United States. Wizard rock bands are characterized by their performances and humorous songs about the Harry Potter universe. Wizard rock initially started in Massachusetts with Harry and the Potters, though it has...
, Alex Day, a YouTuber and fan of Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
, was inspired to begin writing songs about the TV series in summer 2008, and dubbed the resulting genre "Time Lord Rock" (or "Trock" for short). Charlie McDonnell, also a fan, did the same, and released an acoustic video performance of "Blink" on YouTube. With the addition of Scottish vloggers Liam Dryden and Chris Beattie, Chameleon Circuit were formed and immediately began work on their first album. It was arranged to be released under the newly-founded DFTBA Records, which had been set up by Alan Lastufka and Hank Green
Hank Green
William Henry "Hank" Green II is a professional vlogger and entrepreneur. He is the founder of VidCon and EcoGeek.org and the co-founder of DFTBA Records. He is also a singer/songwriter and has released three studio albums...
later the same year, to provide popular YouTube musicians an outlet for releasing their music professionally.
The release of Chameleon Circuit's debut album was delayed when conflict arose with their original producer, who did not want to complete production of the album. After unsuccessfully searching for a replacement producer, Chameleon Circuit were forced to release Chameleon Circuit uncompleted. Regardless, it still received some critical acclaim, including a positive review on Den of Geek and an article in Doctor Who Magazine
Doctor Who Magazine
Doctor Who Magazine is a magazine devoted to the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
. Former Doctor
Tenth Doctor
The Tenth Doctor is the tenth incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He is played by David Tennant, who appears in three series, as well as eight specials...
David Tennant
David Tennant
David Tennant is a Scottish actor. In addition to his work in theatre, including a widely praised Hamlet, Tennant is best known for his role as the tenth incarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who, along with the title role in the 2005 TV serial Casanova and as Barty Crouch, Jr...
, in an interview, described Chameleon Circuit as "proper decent music". In July 2010, their song "Count the Shadows" also appeared on DFTBA Records, Volume Two, a compilation sampler that was given for free in grab bags at VidCon
VidCon
VidCon is the world's first and largest Online Video Conference/Convention. Organized by Hank and John Green of the Vlogbrothers YouTube channel, VidCon is the largest gathering of the online video community that draws millions of subscribers and billions of views.-VidCon 2010:The first VidCon was...
2010.
Still Got Legs (2010-2011)
In late 2010, the members of Chameleon Circuit announced that work had begun on their second album, with American YouTuber Michael Aranda working as producer. In January 2011, Chameleon Circuit officially announced the departure of Chris Beattie and the addition of Ed Blann to the band, as well as the album title, Still Got Legs (so named for The Eleventh DoctorEleventh Doctor
The Eleventh Doctor is the eleventh incarnation of the protagonist of the BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. Matt Smith plays this incarnation, replacing David Tennant's Tenth Doctor in the 2010 episode "The End of Time, Part Two"...
's exclamation upon his regeneration).
In April 2011 Chameleon Circuit found themselves struggling with producer trouble when Aranda was refused entry back into the UK after a trip to France, by border officials. The band set up an online petition to help him re-enter England, and were successful. Aranda was granted a week's re-entry to the UK. Meanwhile, drink company Red Bull
Red Bull GmbH
Red Bull GmbH is an Austrian company which sells the Red Bull energy drink. In 2010, more than 4.204 billion cans were sold in over 161 countries. 7,758 employees generated 3.78 billion euros in revenue...
were made aware of Chameleon Circuit's predicament, and offered to send the band to Paris to complete their recording there. Following this incident, Aranda was announced an official member of the band.
Chameleon Circuit finished their recording and played the album to a small number of fans at Red Bull's London studio in June 2011. The album was made available for pre-order the same weekend, and was released via DFTBA on July 12, 2011. The album charted on the Billboard Heatseekers chart at #23, the first of two DFTBA Records releases to ever do so.
On July 31, Chameleon Circuit performed songs from Still Got Legs as well as a few from their first album, in a live show at VidCon
VidCon
VidCon is the world's first and largest Online Video Conference/Convention. Organized by Hank and John Green of the Vlogbrothers YouTube channel, VidCon is the largest gathering of the online video community that draws millions of subscribers and billions of views.-VidCon 2010:The first VidCon was...
2011.
Discography
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Heat Top Heatseekers Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical... |
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| Chameleon Circuit |
|
— | |||||||||||
| Still Got Legs |
|
23 | |||||||||||
| "—" denotes album that did not chart or was not released | |||||||||||||
Band members
Current members- Alex DayAlex DayAlex Richard George Day is a musician and YouTuber from Essex, England. He has performed and recorded solo and as a member of the groups Chartjackers, Youstage, Chameleon Circuit and the now dissolved Sons of Admirals...
- vocals, guitar, bass (2008-present) - Charlie McDonnellCharlie McDonnellCharles Joseph "Charlie" McDonnell is a British vlogger and musician from Bath, Somerset, England. , his YouTube channel, charlieissocoollike, is the most subscribed in the UK...
- vocals, guitar, keyboards, melodica (2008-present) - Liam Dryden - vocals, keyboards, bass (2008-present)
- Ed "Eddplant" Blann - vocals, guitar (2011-present)
- Michael Aranda - backing vocals, guitar, mixing (2011-present)
Former members
- Chris "Ginger Chris" Beattie - vocals, guitar, ukulele (2008-2009)