Taken (band)
Encyclopedia
Taken was an American
melodic hardcore
/metalcore
band from California
that played a similar style to bands like This Day Forward
and Thrice
. Although they were sometimes considered melodic hardcore
, their style was frequently more technical than that and more comparable to melodic metalcore
. They split up in 2004, and members have gone on to form Mikoto, and Circa Survive
.
After many months of practice and shows with the new lineup, the band entered Doubletime Studios in San Diego, CA (Unbroken
, Kill Holiday, blink-182
) to record a demo tape with Jeff Forrest. The demo was released in October 1998 on Rays label, Here We Are Records, and they were sold out not long after that. The band realized they were not happy with the music from the demo and wanted to write new songs with a more melodic approach. The Haven/Crayons seven inch was recorded at Doubletime once again in early summer 1999 and released on Here We Are Records in July of that same year.
The record was sent to many different labels around the US and Canada, hoping that someone would be interested in putting out the next release. Chris Logan of Canada based Goodfellow Records contacted the band and offered to release an EP and full length CD on his label. Being more than excited about this, the band agreed and recorded a seven song CD titled Finding Solace in Dissension not long after that. The album was released in June 2000 just before the band embarked on their first US tour. Most of the dates fell through, but the band still played 4 solid shows in Virginia, Boston, Ontario and Montreal, Canada. Selling more than 4,000 copies to date, Finding Solace in Dissension has been distributed by many distribution companies around the U.S., Canada, and Europe. The response has been amazing to say the least.
Taken returned to Doubletime Studios in June 2001 to begin the recording of their full length CD titled And They Slept which was released by Goodfellow Records in August. Shortly after finishing the recording, the band joined This Day Forward
(Eulogy Recordings
) in July to tour the U.S. and parts of Canada with Season of Fire (Goodfellow Records) in August. German label Incendiary Records released the vinyl version of And They Slept in June 2002.
Like most bands, Taken has gone through some member changes since the beginning. In October 2001, Troy decided to leave the band for personal reasons. After trying out several drummers in the coming months, the band decided that Juan Pereda was the best man for the job and began rehearsing with him. Dan also decided to leave the band in May 2002 after being accepted to a well known University for grad school. Band friend Erik Bensberg joined the band in July as the second guitarist.
The band toured the U.S. and Canada twice in the summer of 2002 with This Day Forward
, The Rise
, and Curl Up and Die
.
In 2004 the band decided to call it quits. Rumors are that the band got in a fight during a band practice, however in interviews Ray Harkins says that both guitarists quit because of the touring lifestyle and the drummer left to play in Name Taken
.
Taken will play a special reunion show at Chain Reaction in Anaheim, CA on March 8, 2008. Taken will also travel to Japan between March 13–18. The times and venues of the shows will be determined at a later time.
At their reunion show they announced that they are going to continue making music together and play small shows periodically, however they do not wish to be a band that goes on tour for extended periods of time, They're doing it for the music and for the fans.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
melodic hardcore
Melodic hardcore
Melodic hardcore is a subgenre of hardcore punk with a strong emphasis on vocal melody. The genre is commonly defined with fast hardcore drum beats, complex guitar riffs and melodic singing with occasional screaming and shouting.-History:...
/metalcore
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
band from 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...
that played a similar style to bands like This Day Forward
This Day Forward
This Day Forward was a Philadelphia-area band active from 1996 to 2003 whose style varied from metalcore to post-hardcore with indie rock influences.-History:...
and Thrice
Thrice
Thrice is an American rock band from Irvine, California, formed in 1998. The group was founded by guitarist/vocalist Dustin Kensrue and guitarist Teppei Teranishi while they were in high school....
. Although they were sometimes considered melodic hardcore
Melodic hardcore
Melodic hardcore is a subgenre of hardcore punk with a strong emphasis on vocal melody. The genre is commonly defined with fast hardcore drum beats, complex guitar riffs and melodic singing with occasional screaming and shouting.-History:...
, their style was frequently more technical than that and more comparable to melodic metalcore
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
. They split up in 2004, and members have gone on to form Mikoto, and Circa Survive
Circa Survive
Circa Survive is an American alternative rock band from the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania suburb of Doylestown, formed in 2004. The band consists of vocalist Anthony Green, former singer of Saosin and members of the now-defunct This Day Forward....
.
Biography
Taken formed in the summer of 1997 by five friends. Chad and original guitarist Dan Baird knew each other since high school and had played in a few punk bands together before starting to write heavier music. After being tired of playing punk they began looking for three other members to form a hardcore band. Ray Harkins and original drummer Troy Born were also looking to form a band and the two were contacted from a flyer they posted at a local record store. When the band's first bassist didn't work out, Nick Beard joined the band as the bass player.After many months of practice and shows with the new lineup, the band entered Doubletime Studios in San Diego, CA (Unbroken
Unbroken
Unbroken was a Hardcore punk band from San Diego, California. They were influential in the Southern California hardcore scene during the mid-to-late 1990s. The band chose the name Unbroken because they wanted to emphasize their dedication to the straight edge philosophy of drug abstinence...
, Kill Holiday, blink-182
Blink-182
Blink-182 is an American rock band consisting of vocalist and bass guitarist Mark Hoppus, vocalist and guitarist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker. They have sold over 27 million albums worldwide since forming in Poway, California in 1992...
) to record a demo tape with Jeff Forrest. The demo was released in October 1998 on Rays label, Here We Are Records, and they were sold out not long after that. The band realized they were not happy with the music from the demo and wanted to write new songs with a more melodic approach. The Haven/Crayons seven inch was recorded at Doubletime once again in early summer 1999 and released on Here We Are Records in July of that same year.
The record was sent to many different labels around the US and Canada, hoping that someone would be interested in putting out the next release. Chris Logan of Canada based Goodfellow Records contacted the band and offered to release an EP and full length CD on his label. Being more than excited about this, the band agreed and recorded a seven song CD titled Finding Solace in Dissension not long after that. The album was released in June 2000 just before the band embarked on their first US tour. Most of the dates fell through, but the band still played 4 solid shows in Virginia, Boston, Ontario and Montreal, Canada. Selling more than 4,000 copies to date, Finding Solace in Dissension has been distributed by many distribution companies around the U.S., Canada, and Europe. The response has been amazing to say the least.
Taken returned to Doubletime Studios in June 2001 to begin the recording of their full length CD titled And They Slept which was released by Goodfellow Records in August. Shortly after finishing the recording, the band joined This Day Forward
This Day Forward
This Day Forward was a Philadelphia-area band active from 1996 to 2003 whose style varied from metalcore to post-hardcore with indie rock influences.-History:...
(Eulogy Recordings
Eulogy Recordings
Eulogy Recordings is a record label based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.The label specializes in heavy metal or hardcore punk bands, some of which are straight edge. The label was founded by ex-hardcore guitarist John Wylie...
) in July to tour the U.S. and parts of Canada with Season of Fire (Goodfellow Records) in August. German label Incendiary Records released the vinyl version of And They Slept in June 2002.
Like most bands, Taken has gone through some member changes since the beginning. In October 2001, Troy decided to leave the band for personal reasons. After trying out several drummers in the coming months, the band decided that Juan Pereda was the best man for the job and began rehearsing with him. Dan also decided to leave the band in May 2002 after being accepted to a well known University for grad school. Band friend Erik Bensberg joined the band in July as the second guitarist.
The band toured the U.S. and Canada twice in the summer of 2002 with This Day Forward
This Day Forward
This Day Forward was a Philadelphia-area band active from 1996 to 2003 whose style varied from metalcore to post-hardcore with indie rock influences.-History:...
, The Rise
The Rise (band)
The Rise was a five piece band from Austin, Texas, Their sound is a combination of metalcore, hardcore techno, post-hardcore and metal. The band is currently signed to ReIgnition Recordings and their latest album, Reclamation Process, was released on as a free album for subscribers of Law Of...
, and Curl Up and Die
Curl Up and Die
-History:After demos in 1998 and 1999, Curl Up and Die recorded its first release in early 2000, an album called 1998. An EP, The Only Good Bug Is A Dead Bug, was picked up by Status Recordings in early 2001....
.
In 2004 the band decided to call it quits. Rumors are that the band got in a fight during a band practice, however in interviews Ray Harkins says that both guitarists quit because of the touring lifestyle and the drummer left to play in Name Taken
Name Taken
Name Taken was a rock band from Orange, California. They were originally known as All That's Left in October 1999 until they discovered that the name was already taken; thus the name "Name Taken". The band started in the eighth grade where they would play shows in their amphitheatre at lunch...
.
Taken will play a special reunion show at Chain Reaction in Anaheim, CA on March 8, 2008. Taken will also travel to Japan between March 13–18. The times and venues of the shows will be determined at a later time.
At their reunion show they announced that they are going to continue making music together and play small shows periodically, however they do not wish to be a band that goes on tour for extended periods of time, They're doing it for the music and for the fans.
Discography
- 1998 - Haven/Crayons Single
- 2000 - Finding Solace in Dissension EP
- 2002 - And They Slept LP
- 2004 - Between Two Unseens CD/DVD of the final show at the Chain Reaction
- 2008 - This Is Forever: A Taken B-Sides Collection
External links
- Biography taken from http://www.myspace.com/takenlives
- Punkrocks.net Interview http://www.punkrocks.net/display_interview.php?id=69
- Final Interview http://www.sctas.com/taken.html
- Pastepunk.com Interview http://www.pastepunk.com/features.php?v=128