Soulbender
Encyclopedia
Soulbender is a heavy metal band formed in Seattle, Washington, by musicians hailing from both Seattle and Vancouver
, including Queensrÿche
guitarist Michael Wilton
and My Sister's Machine
vocalist Nick Pollock
. Other founding members were guitarist Dave Groves and drummer Wes Hallam, both of whom played in the Vancouver band Fallen Angel. This band has also featured two former members of the 1990s metal band Peace and Silence; Travis Bracht
(also of Second Coming
) and Chuck Miller.
guitarist Michael Wilton
in conjunction with two longtime friends, guitarist Dave Groves and drummer Wes Hallam. Through a mutual friend, producer and engineer Eric Janko, Michael was introduced to vocalist Nick Pollock
, formerly of Alice N' Chains and My Sister's Machine
. Soulbender played their first live show opening for Queensrÿche vocalist Geoff Tate
's solo band at the EMP in Seattle in June 2002. They also performed at the very first Layne Staley Tribute
later that August.
was given a demo CD of six songs. In her review, she wrote, "The overall feel of this album is entrancing, inasmuch as I would describe Tool
." She also likened it to Marilyn Manson
, Alice in Chains
, and Michael Monroe
. Wilton said in an interview a year later that "a lot of people are apparently comparing it to Alice in Chains
and Tool
." Despite playing a couple sellout shows, the band has experienced much difficulty getting off the ground due to Wilton's Queensrÿche duties. Wilton compared this predicament to that of singer Maynard James Keenan
, who pulls double duty with Tool
and A Perfect Circle
, saying "I'll do a little tour here with one band and a little tour there with the other band." Van Keith was replaced in 2005 by bass player Chuck Miller, formerly of the band Peace and Silence.
and Ray Hartman; Bracht has also worked with Miller in Peace and Silence. This lineup performed at the sixth annual Layne Staley Tribute along with Daughtry in 2007.
In a 2009 interview, Wilton said Soulbender was "six songs into" finishing a second album that they were planning to release sometime that year. However, as of 2011, this album still has not been released. Wilton has continued touring with Queensrÿche, Pollock is currently focusing on his longtime project Tanks of Zen
, and Bracht has founded another project called Post Modern Heroes.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, including Queensrÿche
Queensrÿche
thumb|250px|right|Queensrÿche's classic line-up performing at the [[Sauna Open Air Metal Festival]] 2011 in [[Tampere]], [[Finland]]. Left to right: bass Eddie Jackson, lead vocals Geoff Tate, drums Scott Rockenfield and guitars Michael Wilton....
guitarist Michael Wilton
Michael Wilton
Michael Wilton is an American guitarist for the progressive metal band Queensrÿche. Wilton attended Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle where he met future Queensrÿche drummer Scott Rockenfield and began recording in 1981...
and My Sister's Machine
My Sister's Machine
My Sister's Machine was a grunge band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1989. Its members were Nick Pollock , Owen Wright , Chris Ivanovich , and Chris Gohde ....
vocalist Nick Pollock
Nick Pollock
Nick Pollock is a Seattle-based guitarist, singer, and songwriter best known for his work with the grunge/metal band My Sister's Machine. He has also played in various bands with other notable musicians, including Alice in Chains singer Layne Staley and Queensrÿche guitarist Michael Wilton...
. Other founding members were guitarist Dave Groves and drummer Wes Hallam, both of whom played in the Vancouver band Fallen Angel. This band has also featured two former members of the 1990s metal band Peace and Silence; Travis Bracht
Travis Bracht
Travis Bracht is a Seattle-based singer and guitarist best known for his work with the post-grunge band Second Coming. He has also been a member of the bands Peace and Silence and Soulbender...
(also of Second Coming
Second Coming (band)
Second Coming was an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1990. They relocated to Seattle, Washington around 1992 and released their debut album L.O.V.Evil in 1994. This band underwent several lineup changes throughout its existence with drummer James Bergstrom being the sole...
) and Chuck Miller.
Formation (2001-2003)
Soulbender initially began as a solo project of QueensrÿcheQueensrÿche
thumb|250px|right|Queensrÿche's classic line-up performing at the [[Sauna Open Air Metal Festival]] 2011 in [[Tampere]], [[Finland]]. Left to right: bass Eddie Jackson, lead vocals Geoff Tate, drums Scott Rockenfield and guitars Michael Wilton....
guitarist Michael Wilton
Michael Wilton
Michael Wilton is an American guitarist for the progressive metal band Queensrÿche. Wilton attended Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle where he met future Queensrÿche drummer Scott Rockenfield and began recording in 1981...
in conjunction with two longtime friends, guitarist Dave Groves and drummer Wes Hallam. Through a mutual friend, producer and engineer Eric Janko, Michael was introduced to vocalist Nick Pollock
Nick Pollock
Nick Pollock is a Seattle-based guitarist, singer, and songwriter best known for his work with the grunge/metal band My Sister's Machine. He has also played in various bands with other notable musicians, including Alice in Chains singer Layne Staley and Queensrÿche guitarist Michael Wilton...
, formerly of Alice N' Chains and My Sister's Machine
My Sister's Machine
My Sister's Machine was a grunge band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1989. Its members were Nick Pollock , Owen Wright , Chris Ivanovich , and Chris Gohde ....
. Soulbender played their first live show opening for Queensrÿche vocalist Geoff Tate
Geoff Tate
Geoff Tate is an American singer and musician, who rose to fame in the 1980s with the progressive metal band, Queensrÿche...
's solo band at the EMP in Seattle in June 2002. They also performed at the very first Layne Staley Tribute
Layne Staley
Layne Thomas Staley was an American musician who served as the lead singer and co-lyricist of the rock group Alice in Chains, which was formed in Seattle, Washington in 1987 by Staley and guitarist Jerry Cantrell. Alice in Chains rose to international fame as part of the grunge movement of the...
later that August.
Soulbender (2003-2007)
With the addition of bass player Marten Van Keith, who also hailed from Vancouver according to Wilton, the group released their self-titled debut album through Licking Lava Records in 2004 and they immediately began to tour in support of the album. Prior to the release of the album, Sefany Jones of KNACKNAC
KNAC is an internet based heavy metal music radio station. It was previously a Los Angeles, California area FM radio station.-KNAC at 105.5 FM:...
was given a demo CD of six songs. In her review, she wrote, "The overall feel of this album is entrancing, inasmuch as I would describe 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...
." She also likened it to Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson may refer to:* Marilyn Manson , an American rock musician* Marilyn Manson , the American rock band led by the singer of the same name...
, Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. The initial lineup was rounded out by drummer Sean Kinney, and bassist Mike Starr...
, and Michael Monroe
Michael Monroe
Matti Antero Kristian Fagerholm , best known by his stage name, Michael Monroe, is a Finnish rock musician, and multi-instrumentalist who rose to fame as the vocalist for the glam punk band Hanoi Rocks, and has served as the frontman for all-star side projects, such as Demolition 23...
. Wilton said in an interview a year later that "a lot of people are apparently comparing it to Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. The initial lineup was rounded out by drummer Sean Kinney, and bassist Mike Starr...
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...
." Despite playing a couple sellout shows, the band has experienced much difficulty getting off the ground due to Wilton's Queensrÿche duties. Wilton compared this predicament to that of singer 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...
, who pulls double duty with 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...
and 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...
, saying "I'll do a little tour here with one band and a little tour there with the other band." Van Keith was replaced in 2005 by bass player Chuck Miller, formerly of the band Peace and Silence.
Lineup changes and hiatus (2007-2011)
In 2007, Pollock and Hallam stepped down from their respective roles as vocalist and drummer and replaced by Travis Bracht of Second ComingSecond Coming (band)
Second Coming was an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1990. They relocated to Seattle, Washington around 1992 and released their debut album L.O.V.Evil in 1994. This band underwent several lineup changes throughout its existence with drummer James Bergstrom being the sole...
and Ray Hartman; Bracht has also worked with Miller in Peace and Silence. This lineup performed at the sixth annual Layne Staley Tribute along with Daughtry in 2007.
In a 2009 interview, Wilton said Soulbender was "six songs into" finishing a second album that they were planning to release sometime that year. However, as of 2011, this album still has not been released. Wilton has continued touring with Queensrÿche, Pollock is currently focusing on his longtime project Tanks of Zen
Tanks of Zen
Tanks of Zen is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington, led by singer-guitarist Nick Pollock, who has previously fronted the bands My Sister's Machine and Soulbender...
, and Bracht has founded another project called Post Modern Heroes.
Personnel and Discography
| Dates & recordings | Members & prominent instruments | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-2003 |
|
||
| 2003-2005 Soulbender Soulbender (album) Soulbender is the only album released thus far by the American heavy metal group of the same name. The album has been made available through CDBaby.-Background and recording:... |
|
||
| 2005-2007 |
|
Nevermore Nevermore Nevermore is an American heavy metal band from Seattle, Washington. Formed in 1991, they are known to incorporate elements from styles such as thrash, power, progressive, and neo-classical metal into their songs, and also makes use of acoustic guitars and a wide range of vocal styles.-Early years... drummer Van Williams Van Williams (musician) Van Williams is the former drummer of Nevermore. Van Williams hails from New York where he began his music career in various bands, later relocating to Seattle, Washington in 1993... played three shows in January 2007 before Wes Hallam officially stepped down for medical reasons. Nick Pollock also left the band that same month due to personal issues and was subsequently replaced by Travis Bracht. |
|
| January 2007-July 2007 |
|
||
| 2007-2009 "Loaded" |
|
Tim "Ripper" Owens sang on a demo with Soulbender in 2008, which was later posted on the band's MySpace MySpace Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors.... page. |
|