Eddie Solis
Encyclopedia
Eddie Solis is a Los Angeles
music industry professional, musician, and show promoter. He has worked in sales, marketing and artist promotion at labels such as Century Media, Priority Records
, Macey Lipman Marketing, and SST Records
, where he worked with Black Flag
. He is currently general manager at Southern Lord Records
. Until 2010 he was booking manager of the Hollywood heavy rock venue The Relax Bar. He is also the manager of Club My War
, a facilitator of underground metal hardcore and avant-garde music in Hollywood proper.
In 2001 Solis founded the hardcore punk
duo It's Casual
, which has released three studio albums on CD/LP and played with bands such as Story of the Year
, Mastodon
, High on Fire
, Zeke
, Fu Manchu
, and Death by Stereo
. He was also a founding member of the hard rock band Revolution Mother with Mike Vallely
in 2005.
. As a child his father used to carry him around on his shoulders while listening to Black Sabbath
, Led Zeppelin
, and The Who
, all bands which Solis has cited as influential on his later music.
Solis has stated he is the result of "basically growing up around a gang-infested area with lots of negativity." He turned to skateboarding
as an escape, and his parents let him build a halfpipe in the backyard. Solis would "put Slayer
on the radio superloud" and practice tricks with friends. When he was fifteen he started his first band, a Ramones
cover group called Endless Vacation, which played shows in his parents' living room. They also performed shows for donations to repair the halfpipe.
He began renting skateboarding videos in 1987, and the soundtracks exposed him to bands such as Black Flag
, Dinosaur Junior, Bl'ast!, The Minutemen, and other bands on the SST Records
label. He would write down the band names and special order the records because local record stores didn't have them in stock.
, commuting from his home in Pico Rivera. He stayed about a month. From 1995 to 1996 he began working in retail marketing for artists at Priority Records
, a rap
label featuring artists such as N.W.A.
, Dr. Dre
, Ice Cube
. While there he assisted Guy Pinhas of The Obsessed
and Goatsnake
.
In 1996 Solis worked closely with Macey Lipman of Macey Lipman Marketing, which is famous for being the first independent marketing company for the American record industry. Solis worked on releases by artists such as Yanni
, The Kinks
, Paul Anka
, Vanessa Williams
, Trisha Yearwood
, John Tesh
, Sting, and Lou Rawls
, as well as singer Andrea Bocelli
and his album Romanza
. He remained with Lipman Marketing until 1999.
SST Records
hired Solis in 2002. He began working directly with Greg Ginn
and served as a publicist for bands such as Black Flag
for their reunion. While working at SST he became aware of Southern Lord Records
, particularly albums such as their Saint Vitus reissues and Probot
. He began taking an interest in the label, and after making contact with the founder, he began working for Southern Lord in 2004 as general manager. He handles sales, distribution management, and promotions.
owners through a translator, who were supportive after hearing tracks by High on Fire
, It's Casual
, and selection of punk and grindcore
. Solis described The Relax Bar as "a place where everything underneath the metal umbrella is welcome, whether it’s experimental, progressive, black metal, death metal, thrash, hardcore." The venue was at 5511 Hollywood Blvd. and never used a "pay-to-play" model. Until it closed in 2010 it was considered a hub for the Los Angeles heavy music scene, and Solis had booked approximately 400 thrash
, drone
, speed
, doom
, noise
, and punk
shows at the venue by 2010. Bands included It's Casual
, G.F.P with Tony Alva
, The Meatmen
, Municipal Waste, Unholy Grave
, and Phobia
.
, the longest running facilitator of underground metal hardcore and avant-garde music in Hollywood proper. Solis put on the first North American show with the band Shrinebuilder
, which consists of Scott Kelly
of Neurosis
. Al Cisneros
of Om
and Sleep
, Dale Crover
of The Melvins
and Scott "Wino" Weinrich
of Saint Vitus
.
He has also promoted shows in Los Angeles for Municipal Waste, Torche
and Unholy Grave
, and put on the very first show for Dave Lombardo
of Slayer
's band Philm.
duo It's Casual
in Los Angeles
. It's Casual has released three studio albums and played with bands such as Story of the Year
, Bullets and Octane
, Fu Manchu
, Mastodon
, Mondo Generator
Death by Stereo
, and High on Fire
. The band continues to actively play in Southern California.
Solis is officially endorsed by Fernandes Guitars
, Hiwatt Amplification
, and Lace Music Products.
hard rock band Revolution Mother in late 2005, when he teamed up with skateboard Mike Vallely
and punk veterans Jason Hampton and Wal Rashidi. Solis had met Vallely while working at SST, who asked him to play bass and start the band. Revolution Mother utilized blues-riffs and drew comparisons to Bl'ast
, Motorhead, and Black Flag. Solis took part in the band's national tour called the "Zumies Couch Tour" with CKY
, and played on their Enjoy the Ride CD/EP.
EPs
Videos
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
music industry professional, musician, and show promoter. He has worked in sales, marketing and artist promotion at labels such as Century Media, Priority Records
Priority Records
Priority Records is an American record label, owned and operated by EMI, which has made a name for itself dealing primarily in hip hop, pop and world...
, Macey Lipman Marketing, and SST Records
SST Records
SST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
, where he worked with Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
. He is currently general manager at Southern Lord Records
Southern Lord Records
Southern Lord is an American record label that was founded in 1998 by Greg Anderson, specializing in what could broadly be classified as experimental heavy metal, particularly the doom metal, stoner rock, and drone metal sub-genres. Some of the more notable artists on the label include Earth, Om,...
. Until 2010 he was booking manager of the Hollywood heavy rock venue The Relax Bar. He is also the manager of Club My War
Club My War
Club My War ))) is a platform for underground metal and punk bands to play at intimate venues in the greater Los Angeles area, notably Hollywood. Formed in 2009 by Eddie Solis of Southern Lord Records, events are held on a weekly or monthly basis at venues such as The Viper Room, Dragonfly, and...
, a facilitator of underground metal hardcore and avant-garde music in Hollywood proper.
In 2001 Solis founded the hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
duo It's Casual
It's Casual
It's Casual is a two-piece Los Angeles hardcore punk band formed in 2001. Founded and fronted by Eddie Solis, the band has released the three studio albums Buicregl , Stop Listening to Bad Music , and The New Los Angeles all on CD and LP...
, which has released three studio albums on CD/LP and played with bands such as Story of the Year
Story of the Year
Story of the Year is an American rock band formed in St. Louis, Missouri in 2000. The band was initially named 67 North but was then changed to Big Blue Monkey...
, Mastodon
Mastodon (band)
Mastodon is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 1999. The band is composed of bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders, guitarist/vocalist Brent Hinds, guitarist Bill Kelliher and drummer/vocalist Brann Dailor...
, High on Fire
High on Fire
High on Fire is a stoner metal band from Oakland, California, that was formed in 1998. Matt Pike, the band's frontman and founder, previously played guitar for the influential stoner doom band Sleep.-History:...
, Zeke
Zeke (band)
Zeke is an American hardcore punk band from Seattle, Washington formed in 1993. They are known for their extremely fast, energetic guitar sound. Zeke mixes this with strong influences from hard rock, and occasionally blues-rock, and are often compared to Motörhead.Zeke has released six full-length...
, Fu Manchu
Fu Manchu (band)
Fu Manchu is a Southern Californian stoner rock band, who released their debut single "Kept Between Trees" in 1990. They have been featured on compilations put together by Tony Hawk and ESPN's X Games, and invited to perform on the US television program Monster Garage...
, and Death by Stereo
Death by Stereo
Death by Stereo is a hardcore punk band formed in Orange County, California circa 1996 by frontman Efrem Schulz. They are well known for their energetic performances and intricate guitar work...
. He was also a founding member of the hard rock band Revolution Mother with Mike Vallely
Mike Vallely
Mike Vallely , also known as Mike V, is a professional skateboarder. Mike is also a musician, actor, television personality, stuntman, professional wrestler and FHL hockey player.-Early life:...
in 2005.
Early life
Eddie Solis was born and raised in East Los Angeles CountyEast Los Angeles
East Los Angeles can refer to:* East Los Angeles, California * East Los Angeles...
. As a child his father used to carry him around on his shoulders while listening to Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
, Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
, and The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
, all bands which Solis has cited as influential on his later music.
Solis has stated he is the result of "basically growing up around a gang-infested area with lots of negativity." He turned to skateboarding
Skateboarding
Skateboarding is an action sport which involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard.Skateboarding can be a recreational activity, an art form, a job, or a method of transportation. Skateboarding has been shaped and influenced by many skateboarders throughout the years. A 2002 report...
as an escape, and his parents let him build a halfpipe in the backyard. Solis would "put Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
on the radio superloud" and practice tricks with friends. When he was fifteen he started his first band, a Ramones
Ramones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
cover group called Endless Vacation, which played shows in his parents' living room. They also performed shows for donations to repair the halfpipe.
He began renting skateboarding videos in 1987, and the soundtracks exposed him to bands such as Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
, Dinosaur Junior, Bl'ast!, The Minutemen, and other bands on the SST Records
SST Records
SST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
label. He would write down the band names and special order the records because local record stores didn't have them in stock.
Music industry career
Right out of highschool Solis began working in the music industry. In 1993 he became an intern at the metal label Century Media in Santa MonicaSanta Mônica
Santa Mônica is a town and municipality in the state of Paraná in the Southern Region of Brazil.-References:...
, commuting from his home in Pico Rivera. He stayed about a month. From 1995 to 1996 he began working in retail marketing for artists at Priority Records
Priority Records
Priority Records is an American record label, owned and operated by EMI, which has made a name for itself dealing primarily in hip hop, pop and world...
, a rap
Rap
Rap may refer to:*Rapping, performance in which rhyming lyrics are used, with or without musical accompaniment ; while an MC performs spoken verses in time to a beat/ melody**Hip hop subculture**Hip hop music...
label featuring artists such as N.W.A.
N.W.A.
N.W.A was an American hip hop group from Compton, California, widely considered one of the seminal acts of the gangsta rap sub-genre....
, Dr. Dre
Dr. Dre
Andre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records...
, Ice Cube
Ice Cube
O'Shea Jackson , better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper and actor. He began his career as a member of the hip-hop group C.I.A. and later joined the rap group N.W.A. After leaving N.W.A in December 1989, he built a successful solo career in music, and also as a writer,...
. While there he assisted Guy Pinhas of The Obsessed
The Obsessed
The Obsessed is a doom metal band from Maryland led by Scott "Wino" Weinrich, who also fronted Saint Vitus, Spirit Caravan, Place of Skulls, The Hidden Hand and W.I.N.O.. Formed in 1976, they first split up in 1986 when Wino Saint Vitus, but reformed four years later...
and Goatsnake
Goatsnake
-Biography:Goatsnake was formed in 1996 after the disbanding of The Obsessed. After The Obsessed's disbanding, the rhythm section consisting of Guy Pinhas on bass and Greg Rogers on drums began jamming with guitarist Greg Anderson )))...
.
In 1996 Solis worked closely with Macey Lipman of Macey Lipman Marketing, which is famous for being the first independent marketing company for the American record industry. Solis worked on releases by artists such as Yanni
Yanni
Yanni , born Yiannis Hrysomallis is a Greek self-taught pianist, keyboardist, and composer who has spent most of his life in the United States.He earned Grammy nominations for his 1992 album, Dare to Dream, and the 1993 follow-up, In My Time...
, The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
, Paul Anka
Paul Anka
Paul Albert Anka, is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and actor.Anka first became famous as a teen idol in the late 1950s and 1960s with hit songs like "Diana'", "Lonely Boy", and "Put Your Head on My Shoulder"...
, Vanessa Williams
Vanessa Williams
Vanessa Williams is the name of:* Vanessa L. Williams , American R&B/pop singer and actress, Miss America, actress on Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives...
, Trisha Yearwood
Trisha Yearwood
Patricia Lynn Yearwood, professionally known as Trisha Yearwood , is an American country music artist. She is best known for her ballads about vulnerable young women from a female perspective that have been described by some music critics as "strong" and "confident."Trisha Yearwood signed with MCA...
, John Tesh
John Tesh
John Frank Tesh is an American pianist and composer of pop music, as well as a radio host and television presenter. His 10-year-old 'Intelligence for Your Life Radio Show' reaches 14.2 Million listeners/week, and is syndicated by Teshmedia on 400 stations in US, Canada, and the UK...
, Sting, and Lou Rawls
Lou Rawls
Louis Allen "Lou" Rawls was an American soul, jazz, and blues singer. He was known for his smooth vocal style: Frank Sinatra once said that Rawls had "the classiest singing and silkiest chops in the singing game"...
, as well as singer Andrea Bocelli
Andrea Bocelli
Andrea Bocelli, is an Italian tenor, multi-instrumentalist and classical crossover artist. Born with poor eyesight, he became blind at the age of twelve following a soccer accident....
and his album Romanza
Romanza
-Commercial performance:First in Europe, then charts around the world, the album amassed a multitude of platinum and multi-platinum awards, outselling even Bocelli's 1995 album, Bocelli, with worldwide sales in excess of 20 million copies to date....
. He remained with Lipman Marketing until 1999.
SST Records
SST Records
SST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
hired Solis in 2002. He began working directly with Greg Ginn
Greg Ginn
Gregory Regis Ginn is a guitarist, songwriter, and singer. He is best known for being the leader of and primary songwriter for the hardcore punk band Black Flag, which he founded and led from 1976 to 1986....
and served as a publicist for bands such as Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
for their reunion. While working at SST he became aware of Southern Lord Records
Southern Lord Records
Southern Lord is an American record label that was founded in 1998 by Greg Anderson, specializing in what could broadly be classified as experimental heavy metal, particularly the doom metal, stoner rock, and drone metal sub-genres. Some of the more notable artists on the label include Earth, Om,...
, particularly albums such as their Saint Vitus reissues and Probot
Probot
Probot was a heavy metal side project of ex-Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters rhythm guitarist and lead-singer Dave Grohl. An album was recorded out of the material and released in February 2004...
. He began taking an interest in the label, and after making contact with the founder, he began working for Southern Lord in 2004 as general manager. He handles sales, distribution management, and promotions.
Relax Bar
In 2005, Solis was walking down the road near the Southern Lord offices in East Hollywood, and found a small venue named The Relax Bar with its doors open. He noticed a small stage with a drumset and small amps. He pitched the idea of a metal venue to the ThaiThai
When used as an adjective, Thai refers to anything that originates from Thailand. As a noun it may refer to:* Thai language, a Tai-Kadai language spoken mainly in and around Thailand* Thai people, the dominant ethnic group of Thailand...
owners through a translator, who were supportive after hearing tracks by High on Fire
High on Fire
High on Fire is a stoner metal band from Oakland, California, that was formed in 1998. Matt Pike, the band's frontman and founder, previously played guitar for the influential stoner doom band Sleep.-History:...
, It's Casual
It's Casual
It's Casual is a two-piece Los Angeles hardcore punk band formed in 2001. Founded and fronted by Eddie Solis, the band has released the three studio albums Buicregl , Stop Listening to Bad Music , and The New Los Angeles all on CD and LP...
, and selection of punk and grindcore
Grindcore
Grindcore is an extreme genre of music that started in the early- to mid-1980s. It draws inspiration from some of the most abrasive music genres – including death metal, industrial music, noise and the more extreme varieties of hardcore punk....
. Solis described The Relax Bar as "a place where everything underneath the metal umbrella is welcome, whether it’s experimental, progressive, black metal, death metal, thrash, hardcore." The venue was at 5511 Hollywood Blvd. and never used a "pay-to-play" model. Until it closed in 2010 it was considered a hub for the Los Angeles heavy music scene, and Solis had booked approximately 400 thrash
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
, drone
Drone metal
Drone metal is a style of heavy metal that melds the slow tempos and heaviness of doom metal with the long-duration tones of drone music...
, speed
Speed metal
Speed metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that originated in the late 1970s from NWOBHM and hardcore punk roots. It is described by Allmusic as "extremely fast, abrasive, and technically demanding" music....
, doom
Doom metal
Doom metal is an extreme form of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other metal genres...
, noise
Noise rock
Noise rock describes a style of post-punk rock music that became prominent in the 1980s. Noise rock makes use of the traditional instrumentation and iconography of rock, but incorporates atonality and especially dissonance, and also frequently discards usual songwriting conventions.-Style:Noise...
, and punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
shows at the venue by 2010. Bands included It's Casual
It's Casual
It's Casual is a two-piece Los Angeles hardcore punk band formed in 2001. Founded and fronted by Eddie Solis, the band has released the three studio albums Buicregl , Stop Listening to Bad Music , and The New Los Angeles all on CD and LP...
, G.F.P with Tony Alva
Tony Alva
Tony Alva , is one of the original Z-Boys and is considered to be one of the most influential skateboarders of all time. He was professional skateboarding's first world champion in history, a title he won in 1977.-Career:...
, The Meatmen
The Meatmen
The Meatmen are an American punk band headed by Tesco Vee originally from 1980 to 1997, and reformed in 2008. They are currently still touring and recording.The Meatmen made fun of the hardcore punk scene of the time...
, Municipal Waste, Unholy Grave
Unholy Grave
Unholy Grave is a grindcore band from Nagoya, Japan. They got their name from the song "Beyond the Unholy Grave" by Death. Their lyrics mainly focus on political and social issues. A common phrase appearing on the artwork of their releases is "Grindcore Against Terrorism!"...
, and Phobia
Phobia (band)
Phobia is a Grindcore band from Orange County, California. The band was formed in 1990 and is heavily influenced by crust punk and grindcore. Their lyrical content focuses mainly on socio-political issues and left-wing politics.- History :...
.
Club My War
Solis is the founder of Club My WarClub My War
Club My War ))) is a platform for underground metal and punk bands to play at intimate venues in the greater Los Angeles area, notably Hollywood. Formed in 2009 by Eddie Solis of Southern Lord Records, events are held on a weekly or monthly basis at venues such as The Viper Room, Dragonfly, and...
, the longest running facilitator of underground metal hardcore and avant-garde music in Hollywood proper. Solis put on the first North American show with the band Shrinebuilder
Shrinebuilder
Shrinebuilder is a heavy metal supergroup consisting of various established musicians, particularly of the doom metal subgenre. Their first album, Shrinebuilder, was released in October 2009.-Founding:...
, which consists of Scott Kelly
Scott Kelly (musician)
Scott Michael Kelly is one of three founding members of Oakland, California experimental metal band Neurosis, in which he is a vocalist and guitarist. He has been writing and publishing music since 1985 with Neurosis, Tribes of Neurot, Blood and Time and his solo acoustic project. He is also...
of Neurosis
Neurosis (band)
Neurosis is a post-metal band, based in Oakland, California. They formed in 1985 as a hardcore punk band, and their sound progressed towards a doom metal style that also included influences from dark ambient and industrial music as well as incorporating elements of folk music...
. Al Cisneros
Al Cisneros
Al Cisneros |Sleep]], Om, Shrinebuilder, and Asbestosdeath.-Biography:He began his musical career in 1989 by founding a local punk metal band, Asbestosdeath, along with Chris Hakius , Matt Pike and Tom Choi . Cisneros performed bass guitar for the band, and they released two EPs in 1990...
of Om
Om (band)
Om is a duo formed in 2003 by the rhythm section of the disbanded Stoner doom metal band Sleep. The band's first three albums feature Al Cisneros on vocals and bass and Chris Hakius on drums. Their music is similar in structure to Tibetan chanting....
and Sleep
Sleep (band)
Sleep is a stoner doom metal band from San Jose, California. Active during the 1990s, Sleep earned critical and record label attention early in their career. Critic Eduardo Rivadavia describes them as "perhaps the ultimate stoner rock band" and notes they exerted a strong influence on heavy metal...
, Dale Crover
Dale Crover
Dale Crover is an American rock musician. Crover is best known as the drummer for Melvins and Men of Porn, Shrinebuilder, and for a brief time, drummer for Nirvana. He is also guitarist and vocalist for Altamont...
of The Melvins
The Melvins
The Melvins are an American band that formed in 1983. They usually perform as a trio, but in recent years have performed as a four piece with two drummers. Since 1984, singer and guitarist Buzz Osborne and drummer Dale Crover have been the band's constant members...
and Scott "Wino" Weinrich
Scott Weinrich
Robert Scott "Wino" Weinrich is a doom metal guitarist and vocalist. Active since 1976, when he started his first band War Horse, Weinrich is best known for being the frontman and guitarist of the doom metal bands The Obsessed and Saint Vitus...
of Saint Vitus
Saint Vitus (band)
Saint Vitus is an American doom metal band from Los Angeles, formed in 1978. They consist of founding members Dave Chandler and Mark Adams , alongside sporadic singer Scott Weinrich and recently added drummer Henry Vasquez...
.
He has also promoted shows in Los Angeles for Municipal Waste, Torche
Torche
Torche is a band from Miami, Florida, whose sound is often described as stoner metal, or sludge metal.-Biography:The group was formed in 2004 by Steve Brooks , Juan Montoya , Jonathan Nuñez and Rick Smith Torche is a band from Miami, Florida, whose sound is often described as stoner metal, or...
and Unholy Grave
Unholy Grave
Unholy Grave is a grindcore band from Nagoya, Japan. They got their name from the song "Beyond the Unholy Grave" by Death. Their lyrics mainly focus on political and social issues. A common phrase appearing on the artwork of their releases is "Grindcore Against Terrorism!"...
, and put on the very first show for Dave Lombardo
Dave Lombardo
Dave Lombardo is a Cuban American heavy metal drummer best known for his work with American thrash metal band Slayer. He has performed with Slayer on seven albums, including their groundbreaking 1986 release Reign In Blood and their 2006 release Christ Illusion, for which he received critical praise...
of Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
's band Philm.
It's Casual
In 2001 Solis founded the hardcore punkHardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
duo It's Casual
It's Casual
It's Casual is a two-piece Los Angeles hardcore punk band formed in 2001. Founded and fronted by Eddie Solis, the band has released the three studio albums Buicregl , Stop Listening to Bad Music , and The New Los Angeles all on CD and LP...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. It's Casual has released three studio albums and played with bands such as Story of the Year
Story of the Year
Story of the Year is an American rock band formed in St. Louis, Missouri in 2000. The band was initially named 67 North but was then changed to Big Blue Monkey...
, Bullets and Octane
Bullets and Octane
Bullets and Octane are a punk/hard rock band originally from St. Louis, Missouri and now based in Southern California . They originate from the band Ultrafink...
, Fu Manchu
Fu Manchu (band)
Fu Manchu is a Southern Californian stoner rock band, who released their debut single "Kept Between Trees" in 1990. They have been featured on compilations put together by Tony Hawk and ESPN's X Games, and invited to perform on the US television program Monster Garage...
, Mastodon
Mastodon (band)
Mastodon is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 1999. The band is composed of bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders, guitarist/vocalist Brent Hinds, guitarist Bill Kelliher and drummer/vocalist Brann Dailor...
, Mondo Generator
Mondo Generator
Mondo Generator is an American metal/punk hybrid band founded in 1997 by Nick Oliveri. The name of the band originated when Brant Bjork spray-painted the words on the side of Oliveri's Sunn amplifier. Mondo means "world" in Italian...
Death by Stereo
Death by Stereo
Death by Stereo is a hardcore punk band formed in Orange County, California circa 1996 by frontman Efrem Schulz. They are well known for their energetic performances and intricate guitar work...
, and High on Fire
High on Fire
High on Fire is a stoner metal band from Oakland, California, that was formed in 1998. Matt Pike, the band's frontman and founder, previously played guitar for the influential stoner doom band Sleep.-History:...
. The band continues to actively play in Southern California.
Solis is officially endorsed by Fernandes Guitars
Fernandes Guitars
Fernandes Guitars is a guitar and accessory manufacturer that originated in Japan in 1969, building flamenco guitars. As the company grew it expanded production to include more acoustic guitars, electric guitars, bass guitars, amplifiers, and accessories to become one of the biggest guitar...
, Hiwatt Amplification
Hiwatt
Hiwatt was a British company that manufactured amplifiers for electric guitars and electric basses. Starting in the late 1960s, together with Marshall and Vox, the company contributed to the sonic image popularly termed "British sound"....
, and Lace Music Products.
Revolution Mother
Solis was a founding member of the Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
hard rock band Revolution Mother in late 2005, when he teamed up with skateboard Mike Vallely
Mike Vallely
Mike Vallely , also known as Mike V, is a professional skateboarder. Mike is also a musician, actor, television personality, stuntman, professional wrestler and FHL hockey player.-Early life:...
and punk veterans Jason Hampton and Wal Rashidi. Solis had met Vallely while working at SST, who asked him to play bass and start the band. Revolution Mother utilized blues-riffs and drew comparisons to Bl'ast
Bl'ast
Blast was a California hardcore punk and rock band from Santa Cruz. The original lineup consisted of Clifford Dinsmore on vocals, Mike Neider and Steve Stevenson on guitars, Dave Cooper on bass, and Bill Torgerson on drums....
, Motorhead, and Black Flag. Solis took part in the band's national tour called the "Zumies Couch Tour" with CKY
CKY (band)
CKY is an American alternative metal band that formed in West Chester, Pennsylvania in 1998. Centred around core members Deron Miller , Chad I Ginsburg and Jess Margera , the band shares its name with a skateboarding and stunt video series produced by Bam Margera, brother of drummer Jess...
, and played on their Enjoy the Ride CD/EP.
Discography
Studio albums- Buicregl (CD/LP 2002)
- Stop Listening to Bad Music (CD/LP 2004)
- The New Los Angeles (CD/LP 2007)
EPs
- It's Casual/Bullet Treatment Split (7" vinyl)
- Enjoy the Ride by Revolution Mother (CD/EP)
Videos
- The New Los Angeles (directed by Roboshobo)
- Redline Video (directed by Rick KosickRick KosickRick Kosick is an American photographer and crew member, and supporting cast member of the Jackass TV series and the three Jackass movies.-Early career:...
of JackassJackassA jackass is a male donkey.Jackass may also refer to:In entertainment:* Jackass ** Jackass: The Movie, 2002** Jackass Number Two, 2006 film** Jackass 2.5, a DVD release** Jackass: The Game, a video game...
)
Further reading
- City of Devils: The Third Degree with Eddie Solis - Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 (February 2009)
- LA Times: Red Line Fever: It's Casual (November 2009)