Rogers Stevens
Encyclopedia
Thomas Rogers Stevens is the guitarist from Blind Melon
, an alternative rock band which began in the 1990s and is most famous for their hit song "No Rain
". He has also been a member of the bands Extra Virgin and The Tender Trio.
and Van Halen
, as well as classic rock bands such as The Rolling Stones
and R.E.M.
When forming the Blind Melon sound, he had been listening to bands such as Cream
and Led Zeppelin
. He has stated that he enjoys listening to bands such as The White Stripes
, Muse
, and Tool
, among others. He also cites jazz as a major influence.
, California
to pursue their musical interests. Once in Los Angeles, they played in many bands together that did not last more than a few weeks. It was during one of these stints that Brad met future Blind Melon rhythm guitarist Christopher Thorn. Rogers called Glen Graham to come out to Los Angeles to be the band's drummer. After auditioning many singers the band met fellow member Shannon Hoon
at a party through a mutual friend. During his audition, he played his song "Change" on acoustic guitar, and the band immediately picked him.
With the band's lineup and name set, the band was signed to Capitol Records in 1991. Capitol Records released their self-titled debut album, Blind Melon
, in September 1992. The track "No Rain
" became a smash hit, and brought Blind Melon into the spotlight, and causing their debut album to eventually go platinum four times over. Blind Melon spent 1993 on tour, opening for acts such as Neil Young
and Lenny Kravitz
, and starting in 1994, they began headlining their own tour. Around this time, Blind Melon was nominated Grammys for Best New Artist and Best Rock Performance.
During the touring, Hoon's drug use began to escalate. His girlfriend, Lisa Sinha, gave birth to their first daughter, Nico Blue Hoon, in early 1995, and their second album, Soup, was released in August 1995. At the encouragement of the rest of the band, he checked himself into rehab. Despite concern of Hoon going back to his dangerous ways, the band went on tour in support of Soup, with a drug counselor accompanying Hoon. The counselor could not keep Hoon from going back to his drug use, and left the tour after only a month and a half. Hoon was found dead at the age of 28 on the band's tour bus the night after a concert from an accidental drug overdose on October 21, 1995. The band released their final album, Nico
, named after Hoon's daughter, in 1996.
Despite efforts to keep the band going by auditioning for new singers, the band realized they could not keep going, and eventually went their separate ways in 1999. Stevens has stated that he believed at that point that the band was finished and that they never considered playing together again.
Despite this, in late 2006, an agent from Atlantic Records brought vocalist Travis Warren to Brad Smith and Christopher Thorn's studio to work on his demos and to get him a record contract. After listening to Warren, the band got the idea to bring Warren in as the singer of Blind Melon, and called Rogers back to the studio. Blind Melon reformed, with Travis Warren as the new lead vocalist, and released For My Friends, their first studio album in 12 years. Warren left the band in 2008; he has since started performing with them again as of 2010.
After this breakup, he started the band The Tender Trio with Rene Lopez and Royston Langdon of Spacehog
fame. The band broke up in March 2006.
Stevens has stated that he plays guitar and paints in his free time. He also has a daughter.
Stevens is currently enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania School of Law.
EPs/Demos
EPs/Demos:
Blind Melon
Blind Melon is an American rock band active from 1989 to 1999, and from 2006 onward.Best remembered for their 1993 single "No Rain", the group enjoyed critical and commercial success in the early 1990s with their neo-psychedelic take on alternative rock...
, an alternative rock band which began in the 1990s and is most famous for their hit song "No Rain
No Rain
"No Rain" is a song by Blind Melon, released on the band's 1992 debut album Blind Melon. "No Rain" is well-known for its accompanying music video, which features the "Bee Girl" character. The music video, directed by Samuel Bayer, received heavy airplay on MTV at the time of its release."No Rain"...
". He has also been a member of the bands Extra Virgin and The Tender Trio.
Early life
Rogers Stevens was born on October 31, 1970 in West Point, Mississippi, where he grew up with future Blind Melon bandmates Glen Graham and Brad Smith. He was forced to take piano lessons by his mother as a child, and in his high school years, Brad Smith taught Stevens how to play the guitar. Smith and Stevens played together in various cover bands while in high school.Musical Influences
When first beginning to play the guitar, Stevens' early influences were hard rock bands, such as AC/DCAC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
and Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
, as well as classic rock bands such as The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
and R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
When forming the Blind Melon sound, he had been listening to bands such as Cream
Cream (band)
Cream were a 1960s British rock supergroup consisting of bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, and drummer Ginger Baker...
and 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...
. He has stated that he enjoys listening to bands such as The White Stripes
The White Stripes
The White Stripes was an American rock band, formed in 1997 in Detroit, Michigan. The group consisted of the songwriter Jack White and drummer Meg White . Jack and Meg White were previously married to each other, but are now divorced...
, Muse
Muse (band)
Muse are an English alternative rock band from Teignmouth, Devon, formed in 1994. The band consists of school friends Matthew Bellamy , Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard...
, and Tool
Tool (band)
Tool is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1990, the group's line-up has included drummer Danny Carey, guitarist Adam Jones, and vocalist Maynard James Keenan. Since 1995, Justin Chancellor has been the band's bassist, replacing their original bassist Paul D'Amour...
, among others. He also cites jazz as a major influence.
Blind Melon
In 1988, Rogers and Smith left Mississippi for 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...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to pursue their musical interests. Once in Los Angeles, they played in many bands together that did not last more than a few weeks. It was during one of these stints that Brad met future Blind Melon rhythm guitarist Christopher Thorn. Rogers called Glen Graham to come out to Los Angeles to be the band's drummer. After auditioning many singers the band met fellow member Shannon Hoon
Shannon Hoon
Richard Shannon Hoon was an American singer-songwriter and musician. He was the frontman and lead singer of the band Blind Melon until his death from a cocaine overdose in 1995.-Early life:...
at a party through a mutual friend. During his audition, he played his song "Change" on acoustic guitar, and the band immediately picked him.
With the band's lineup and name set, the band was signed to Capitol Records in 1991. Capitol Records released their self-titled debut album, Blind Melon
Blind Melon (album)
Blind Melon is the eponymous debut album by the rock band Blind Melon, released on September 14, 1992 through Capitol Records. Fronted by singer Shannon Hoon, Blind Melon had a distinctive traditional rock sound, influenced by southern rock and psychedelic music...
, in September 1992. The track "No Rain
No Rain
"No Rain" is a song by Blind Melon, released on the band's 1992 debut album Blind Melon. "No Rain" is well-known for its accompanying music video, which features the "Bee Girl" character. The music video, directed by Samuel Bayer, received heavy airplay on MTV at the time of its release."No Rain"...
" became a smash hit, and brought Blind Melon into the spotlight, and causing their debut album to eventually go platinum four times over. Blind Melon spent 1993 on tour, opening for acts such as Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
and Lenny Kravitz
Lenny Kravitz
Leonard Albert "Lenny" Kravitz is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and arranger, whose "retro" style incorporates elements of rock, soul, R&B, funk, reggae, hard rock, psychedelic, folk and ballads...
, and starting in 1994, they began headlining their own tour. Around this time, Blind Melon was nominated Grammys for Best New Artist and Best Rock Performance.
During the touring, Hoon's drug use began to escalate. His girlfriend, Lisa Sinha, gave birth to their first daughter, Nico Blue Hoon, in early 1995, and their second album, Soup, was released in August 1995. At the encouragement of the rest of the band, he checked himself into rehab. Despite concern of Hoon going back to his dangerous ways, the band went on tour in support of Soup, with a drug counselor accompanying Hoon. The counselor could not keep Hoon from going back to his drug use, and left the tour after only a month and a half. Hoon was found dead at the age of 28 on the band's tour bus the night after a concert from an accidental drug overdose on October 21, 1995. The band released their final album, Nico
Nico (album)
Nico is the third album by the band Blind Melon, released in 1996 by Capitol Records. The album was released after lead singer Shannon Hoon's cocaine overdose that resulted in his death in 1995. The album was named for his daughter, Nico Blue, and the proceeds arising from album sales were placed...
, named after Hoon's daughter, in 1996.
Despite efforts to keep the band going by auditioning for new singers, the band realized they could not keep going, and eventually went their separate ways in 1999. Stevens has stated that he believed at that point that the band was finished and that they never considered playing together again.
Despite this, in late 2006, an agent from Atlantic Records brought vocalist Travis Warren to Brad Smith and Christopher Thorn's studio to work on his demos and to get him a record contract. After listening to Warren, the band got the idea to bring Warren in as the singer of Blind Melon, and called Rogers back to the studio. Blind Melon reformed, with Travis Warren as the new lead vocalist, and released For My Friends, their first studio album in 12 years. Warren left the band in 2008; he has since started performing with them again as of 2010.
Other Musical Projects and Personal Life
Following the break of Blind Melon, in 1999, Rogers and musician Rene Lopez formed the band Extra Virgin. They released one album, titled "12 Stories High", which was recorded in at Kingsway in New Orleans. The sound of the band is said to be "in the same neighborhood" as the music of Blind Melon, his previous band. Despite gaining record label interests, the band broke up in 2002.After this breakup, he started the band The Tender Trio with Rene Lopez and Royston Langdon of Spacehog
Spacehog
Spacehog is an English rock band formed in 1994. Their music is heavily influenced by David Bowie, Queen, and T.Rex.-Members:* Royston Langdon a.k.a. "Ray Sprinkles" – bass and vocals...
fame. The band broke up in March 2006.
Stevens has stated that he plays guitar and paints in his free time. He also has a daughter.
Stevens is currently enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania School of Law.
With Blind Melon
Studio Albums:- Blind MelonBlind Melon (album)Blind Melon is the eponymous debut album by the rock band Blind Melon, released on September 14, 1992 through Capitol Records. Fronted by singer Shannon Hoon, Blind Melon had a distinctive traditional rock sound, influenced by southern rock and psychedelic music...
, 1992 - Soup, 1995
- NicoNico (album)Nico is the third album by the band Blind Melon, released in 1996 by Capitol Records. The album was released after lead singer Shannon Hoon's cocaine overdose that resulted in his death in 1995. The album was named for his daughter, Nico Blue, and the proceeds arising from album sales were placed...
, 1996 - Classic Masters (Blind Melon)Classic Masters (Blind Melon album)Classic Masters is a compilation album from blues and alt rock group Blind Melon. Classic Masters was released on January 29, 2002.This compilation is notable for inexplicably featuring edited versions of some of Blind Melon's most popular songs. None of Blind Melon's singles or album-only songs...
, 2002 - Live At the PalaceLive At The PalaceLive at the Palace is a live album recorded at The Palace in Hollywood on October 11, 1995 by the band Blind Melon. It is the fourth posthumous album featuring vocals from former Blind Melon frontman Shannon Hoon.-Track listing:#"Galaxie"...
, 2006 - For My FriendsFor My FriendsFor My Friends is the fourth studio album by American rock band Blind Melon, released April 22, 2008. It is their first album in twelve years, and the first to feature new lead singer Travis Warren who was recruited after the death of previous lead singer Shannon Hoon.-Track listing:#"For My...
, 2008
EPs/Demos
- Sippin' Time Sessions (Unreleased EP), 1991
With Extra Virgin
Studio Albums:- Twelve Stories High, 2000
EPs/Demos:
- First Cold Pressing (Demo), 1999
- Rock City (Unreleased Demo), 2002