Lifer
Encyclopedia
Lifer is a five-piece nu metal
band from Wilkes-Barre
, Pennsylvania
, in the United States
. The group went under various names and only released one studio album in 2001.
and is most notable for winning MTV
's Ultimate Cover Band
contest, where they performed their own version
of a-ha
's hit song "Take On Me
." They released a 7 song EP
titled No Need in late March of 2000. The cd quickly sold and rose to number 4 on the Northeast PA charts. To avoid any complications with the Comedy Central television series, they were forced to change their name to Driver. Under the new name Driver, the band released their rendition of "White Lines (Don't Do It)." Soon after its release, complications arose from a band called Driver in the Allentown, PA area. It seemed as if that band applied for the trademark five days before. They offered them money so that they can use it, but that band refused. They finally changed their name to Lifer and signed with Universal Music to release a self-titled album, produced by Rush
guitarist Alex Lifeson
, on August 14, 2001. The song "Boring" had a music video
released for it. One of its tracks entitled "Breathless" would be included on the Scorpion King soundtrack in March 2002.
The album was widely panned by critics who considered it a poor attempt to capitalize on the nu metal scene; Allmusic gave it only a 1½ out of 5 rating.[] Lifer soon faded away after the departure of guitarist Aaron Fink
and bassist Mark James Klepaski
in late 2001. The two would later join the highly successful alternative metal
/post-grunge
group, Breaking Benjamin
.
After the demise of Lifer, vocalist Nick Coyle, bassist Ian Wiseman, guitarist Derek Spencer, and drummer Chris Lightcap went on to form a band called myDownfall, which eventually split up. Nick then formed a band called The Drama Club
which broke up in 2011.
Lifer performed an acoustic reunion show in support of 3 year old, Emalee Kate Kachurkain, who has cancer. The concert took place in Berwick
, Pennsylvania
on August 14, 2010 with all the original members minus Chris Lightcap who was on tour with Shinedown
. Turntablist Tony Kruszka handled drum duties. Lifer performed 10 previously released songs which included, "Ugly", "Parade", "New", "Key Of Me", "Swallow", "No Need", "Perfect", "Not Like You", "Boring" and "Breathless". "Key Of Me" hadn't been played since Lifer was known as Strangers With Candy in 2000.
Former
Nu metal
Nu metal is a subgenre of heavy metal. It is a fusion genre which combines elements of heavy metal with other genres, including grunge and hip hop...
band from Wilkes-Barre
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre is a city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the county seat of Luzerne County. It is at the center of the Wyoming Valley area and is one of the principal cities in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area, which had a population of 563,631 as of the 2010 Census...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The group went under various names and only released one studio album in 2001.
Career
The band formed under the name Strangers with Candy in early 19991999 in music
-Events:*January 7**After eight years of marriage, Rod Stewart and supermodel wife Rachel Hunter announce their separation.**Paul McCartney attends the first of his stepdaughter Heather's first housewares collection in Georgia....
and is most notable for winning MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's Ultimate Cover Band
Cover band
A cover band , is a band that plays mostly or exclusively cover songs. New or unknown bands often find the cover band format marketable for smaller gigs, and these bands may be known as a wedding band, party band and function band. A band whose covers consist mainly of songs that were chart hits is...
contest, where they performed their own version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of a-ha
A-ha
A-ha were a Norwegian pop band formed in Oslo in 1982. The band was founded by Morten Harket , Magne Furuholmen , and Pål Waaktaar...
's hit song "Take On Me
Take on Me
"Take on Me" is a song by the Norwegian pop band A-ha. Written by the band members, the song was produced by Alan Tarney for the group's first studio album Hunting High and Low, released in 1985...
." They released a 7 song EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
titled No Need in late March of 2000. The cd quickly sold and rose to number 4 on the Northeast PA charts. To avoid any complications with the Comedy Central television series, they were forced to change their name to Driver. Under the new name Driver, the band released their rendition of "White Lines (Don't Do It)." Soon after its release, complications arose from a band called Driver in the Allentown, PA area. It seemed as if that band applied for the trademark five days before. They offered them money so that they can use it, but that band refused. They finally changed their name to Lifer and signed with Universal Music to release a self-titled album, produced by Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
guitarist Alex Lifeson
Alex Lifeson
Aleksandar Živojinović, OC, better known by his stage name Alex Lifeson, is a second generation Serbian-Canadian musician, best known as the guitarist of the Canadian rock band Rush. In the summer of 1968, Lifeson founded the band that would become Rush with friend, drummer John Rutsey...
, on August 14, 2001. The song "Boring" had a music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
released for it. One of its tracks entitled "Breathless" would be included on the Scorpion King soundtrack in March 2002.
The album was widely panned by critics who considered it a poor attempt to capitalize on the nu metal scene; Allmusic gave it only a 1½ out of 5 rating.[] Lifer soon faded away after the departure of guitarist Aaron Fink
Aaron Fink
Aaron Fincke is an American guitarist, best known as the former lead guitarist for the alternative metal band Breaking Benjamin.-Biography:...
and bassist Mark James Klepaski
Mark Klepaski
Markus James Klepaski is an American bass guitarist, best known as the former bass player for the American rock band, Breaking Benjamin.-Biography:...
in late 2001. The two would later join the highly successful alternative metal
Alternative metal
Alternative metal is a genre of alternative rock and heavy metal that gained popularity in the early 1990s. Most notably, alternative metal bands are characterized by heavy guitar riffs and experimental approaches to heavy music.-Origins:...
/post-grunge
Post-grunge
Post-grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged in the mid-1990s as a derivative of grunge, using the sounds and aesthetic of grunge, but with a more commercially acceptable tone...
group, Breaking Benjamin
Breaking Benjamin
Breaking Benjamin is an American rock band from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, currently consisting of Benjamin Burnley and Chad Szeliga. The band has released four studio albums to date and a greatest hits album that was released on August 16, 2011. The group initially went on indefinite hiatus due...
.
After the demise of Lifer, vocalist Nick Coyle, bassist Ian Wiseman, guitarist Derek Spencer, and drummer Chris Lightcap went on to form a band called myDownfall, which eventually split up. Nick then formed a band called The Drama Club
The Drama Club
The Drama Club was a five-piece alternative rock group from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, United States.-History:The band idea and initial concept began in circa 2005 when lead singer and primary composer Nick Coyle, formerly of the rock band Lifer , moved back to Pennsylvania after singing for the...
which broke up in 2011.
Lifer performed an acoustic reunion show in support of 3 year old, Emalee Kate Kachurkain, who has cancer. The concert took place in Berwick
Berwick
Berwick-upon-Tweed is a border town in the north of England.Berwick may also refer to:- England :*Berwick Street Market, London*Berwick, Sussex**Berwick railway station*Berwick St John, Wiltshire...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
on August 14, 2010 with all the original members minus Chris Lightcap who was on tour with Shinedown
Shinedown
Shinedown is an American rock band from Jacksonville, Florida, formed in 2001 and founded by members Brent Smith , Brad Stewart , Jasin Todd , and Barry Kerch . A few line-up changes followed, and the band's current line-up consists of Smith and Kerch, the band's only two remaining original...
. Turntablist Tony Kruszka handled drum duties. Lifer performed 10 previously released songs which included, "Ugly", "Parade", "New", "Key Of Me", "Swallow", "No Need", "Perfect", "Not Like You", "Boring" and "Breathless". "Key Of Me" hadn't been played since Lifer was known as Strangers With Candy in 2000.
Members
Current- Nick Coyle – Vocals (1999–2002, 2010)
- Aaron FinkAaron FinkAaron Fincke is an American guitarist, best known as the former lead guitarist for the alternative metal band Breaking Benjamin.-Biography:...
– Guitar (1999–2001, 2010) - Mark KlepaskiMark KlepaskiMarkus James Klepaski is an American bass guitarist, best known as the former bass player for the American rock band, Breaking Benjamin.-Biography:...
– Bass (1999–2001, 2010) - Tony Kruszka – Turntables (1999–2002) Drums (2010)
Former
- Derek Spencer – Guitar (2002)
- Ian Wiseman – Bass (2002)
- Chris Lightcap – Drums (1999–2002)
EPs
- No Need (2000)
- Boring
- My Room
- Perfect
- Key of Me
- No Need
- Heave
- Idiot
- Lifer IV EP a.k.a. myDownfall IV EP (2002)
- Wake Up
- Memo
- Figment
- Pedestal
Other media
- Take On MeTake on Me"Take on Me" is a song by the Norwegian pop band A-ha. Written by the band members, the song was produced by Alan Tarney for the group's first studio album Hunting High and Low, released in 1985...
(a-haA-haA-ha were a Norwegian pop band formed in Oslo in 1982. The band was founded by Morten Harket , Magne Furuholmen , and Pål Waaktaar...
cover) (Not Another Teen MovieNot Another Teen MovieNot Another Teen Movie is a 2001 American comedy film directed by Joel Gallen, released on December 14, 2001 by Columbia Pictures. It is a parody of teen movies which have accumulated in Hollywood over the last few decades...
Cut) - Born Again (demo)