Sun-60
Encyclopedia
Sun-60 were a Los Angeles
Alternative rock
band from 1987
-1996
.
The band was notable for the vocal gymnastics of Joan Jones, the guitar riffs of David Russo, clever song-writing, and an eclectic combination of styles, including folk
, alt rock
, pop
, and blues
.
Despite a cult following, considerable commercial potential, and moderate success both as a touring live act and on record, the band never quite caught on, and split in 1996.
They were signed by Epic Records
in 1990
and released the eponymous Sun-60 in 1991
. Sun-60 is a glossily-produced, high-energy folk/pop/rock album showcasing Jones' voice and hook-laden songwriting.
Only (1993
) is primarily blues-based hard rock, although folk and pop influences are still audible. The album features guest performances from several notable musicians such as Dave Navarro
.
Headjoy (1995
), perhaps the group's best work, is still grungier
.
Jones and Russo split in 1996. Russo concentrated on film scores.
Jones released the solo album Starlite Criminal in 1998
. It has much the same sound as Headjoy, and might be considered "the fourth Sun-60 album". She continues to perform and to release singles and collections from her web sites as well as her additional albums "Atlanta Sessions", "Velvet Underdog" and "Brown Blonde". Joan Jones and Bret Jensen who was a guitarist in the band SUN 60 and with Joan Jones now, collaborated and sang together for the song "Heartbeat" in the recent feature film "P.S. I Love You", starring Gerard Butler from "300" and Academy Award winning actress Hillary Swank. Jones is currently at work on a new album due out in 2009.
As of January 2009, Joan Jones is on a nationwide tour with Big Head Todd and The Monsters from February 2009 through May 2009, as their opening act for various dates with them.
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
Alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band from 1987
1987 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1987.See also:Record labels established in 1987-January-February:*January 3 – Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
-1996
1996 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1996.-January:* January – At the trial of two American teenagers, Nicholaus McDonald and Brian Bassett, for the murder of Bassett's parents and young brother, defense lawyers attempt to lay the blame for the murders on the fact...
.
The band was notable for the vocal gymnastics of Joan Jones, the guitar riffs of David Russo, clever song-writing, and an eclectic combination of styles, including folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
, alt rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
, pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, and blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
.
Despite a cult following, considerable commercial potential, and moderate success both as a touring live act and on record, the band never quite caught on, and split in 1996.
History
Sun-60 began as an acoustic folk duo, composed of Joan Jones and David Russo playing under the name Far Cry. Gradually their sound became harder-edged, and they added various musicians to form a rock rhythm section.They were signed by Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
in 1990
1990 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1990.-Events:*January 21 – MTV's Unplugged premieres on cable television with British band Squeeze...
and released the eponymous Sun-60 in 1991
1991 in music
See also:* 1991 in music Record labels established in 1991-Summary:The year 1991 is the year that grunge music made its popular breakthrough. Nirvana's Nevermind, led by the surprise hit single "Smells Like Teen Spirit", becomes the most popular U.S. album of the year...
. Sun-60 is a glossily-produced, high-energy folk/pop/rock album showcasing Jones' voice and hook-laden songwriting.
Only (1993
1993 in music
This is a summary of significant events in music in 1993.-January–February:*January 8 – The U.S. Postal Service issues an Elvis Presley stamp. The design was voted on in February 1992....
) is primarily blues-based hard rock, although folk and pop influences are still audible. The album features guest performances from several notable musicians such as Dave Navarro
Dave Navarro
David Michael "Dave" Navarro is an American guitarist who plays in the alternative rock band Jane's Addiction and cover band Camp Freddy. He has also played with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Panic Channel, and many others.- Early life :...
.
Headjoy (1995
1995 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1995.- January–February :*January 18 – Jerry Garcia crashes his rented BMW into a guard rail near Mill Valley, California, USA, but is not injured in the accident....
), perhaps the group's best work, is still grungier
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
.
Jones and Russo split in 1996. Russo concentrated on film scores.
Jones released the solo album Starlite Criminal in 1998
1998 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1998.-Events:*January 28 – "Weird Al" Yankovic gets LASIK surgery to cure his myopia...
. It has much the same sound as Headjoy, and might be considered "the fourth Sun-60 album". She continues to perform and to release singles and collections from her web sites as well as her additional albums "Atlanta Sessions", "Velvet Underdog" and "Brown Blonde". Joan Jones and Bret Jensen who was a guitarist in the band SUN 60 and with Joan Jones now, collaborated and sang together for the song "Heartbeat" in the recent feature film "P.S. I Love You", starring Gerard Butler from "300" and Academy Award winning actress Hillary Swank. Jones is currently at work on a new album due out in 2009.
As of January 2009, Joan Jones is on a nationwide tour with Big Head Todd and The Monsters from February 2009 through May 2009, as their opening act for various dates with them.
Discography
| Title | Release Date | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Sun-60 | July, 1991 | Epic Records Epic Records Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A... |
| Only | June 1, 1993 | Epic Records Epic Records Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A... |
| Headjoy | August 1, 1995 | Epic Records Epic Records Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A... |