The Cunninghams
Encyclopedia
The Cunninghams is an American band, originally formed in 1996 in Seattle, Washington. Described as power-pop or pop-punk, The Cunninghams made one album, Zeroed Out
which was released in 1997 via Revolution Records
/Warner Bros. Records
. Members included Seven Pearson, Eric Craig, Scott Bickham, Eliot Freed and Johnny Martin (musician).
. The Cunninghams debut album, Zeroed Out was released May 20, 1997 and was produced by Don Gilmore (Linkin Park
, Dashboard Confessional
, Lit, Pearl Jam
) and mixed by Tom Lord-Alge
. Los Angeles bassist and vocalist Johnny Martin was added to the line up and the single, Bottle Rockets debuted as the 3rd most added song at rock and alternative radio, behind only Collective Soul
and The Wallflowers
. The band toured behind the album opening up for Matchbox Twenty
, Cheap Trick
, INXS
, and Third Eye Blind
. The accompanying music video for the Bottle Rockets single, directed by Nigel Dick
(Oasis
, Third Eye Blind, Matchbox Twenty) caught airplay on MTV
’s 120 Minutes
and was added to regular rotation on MTV2. The band performed on MTV’s Road Rules
with Third Eye Blind, as well as MTV variety show Oddville, in addition to having several tracks used on MTV’s Road Rules and The Real World
. By the end of 1997 the band had appeared on CNN’s Showbiz Tonight
, performed with Blur
on Rockline, live at KNDD
’s Endfest
in Seattle, Wa. with headliners such as The Offspring
, Candlebox
, Radiohead
, Matchbox Twenty and at St. Louis’s Pointfest
with headliners such as Cheap Trick, and Beck
.
By 1998 the band fired vocalist Seven Pearson and brought in Vancouver
writer and vocalist Wenzel Templeton, formerly of the band The Daisy Chain. The newly fronted band wrote, recorded, and produced new music for Revolution Records
. Since Seven and Eric were signed as the key writers for the band, firing Seven had nullified the band's record contract. The band had unknowingly put themselves into an option situation. While the band was recovering from turmoil, the label was just entering into it. Label-head Irving Azoff
began cleaning house, gutting the staff and most of the artists. Since the band had already broken their own record contract, when the band presented their new music to the label, Revolution needed only to pass on the option, to clear The Cunninghams from their roster. The band then re-named themselves Boy Girl Radio and proceeded to headline shows in Seattle and showcase in Los Angeles at The Opium Den, Roxy
, and The Viper Room in search of a new label home. Upon returning from Los Angeles empty handed, Wenzel Templeton returned to Vancouver and the band called it quits.
In 1999, while Scott Bickham and Eliot Freed remained in Seattle, Eric Craig relocated to Los Angeles and took a position within Dreamworks Records
marketing department. Seven Pearson also relocated to Los Angeles, and with bassist Johnny Martin in-tow formed the band Jimmy Girl. In 2001 vocalist Seven Pearson was found dead in his Los Angeles apartment. Johnny Martin went on to become a member of the Los Angeles rock band The Chelsea Smiles
.
In 2001 Eric Craig met writer and vocalist John Heintz, formerly of the band Farmer
(Aware Records
). The pair rounded out the line-up with drummer Eliot Freed (formerly of The Cunninghams), keyboardist Jamie Bennett and bassist Rodney Mollura, formerly of the band Sonichrome (Capitol Records
) and called themselves The Blue Mondays. The newly formed group was quickly courted by several major labels and signed by legendary executive Jimmy Iovine
and Interscope Records
. Soon after signing, the band discovered that a name change was imminent, as a copyright could not be obtained for The Blue Mondays. They settled on a new name; Daysleeper. Next the band wrote some 75 songs, and by the end of 2002 headed into the studio with producer Ron Aniello
(Lifehouse
, Days Of The New
, Guster
) to produce their debut album, Every Waking Moment. Upon completion the album was mixed by Randy Staub (Metallica
, Nickleback) and delivered to Interscope. After months of discussion in regard to the sound of the album, the band executed a clause in their contract and departed Interscope before the album would be released.
In the spring of 2003 Eric Craig retired from music professionally and accepted a position with Lakeshore Records
and Lakeshore Entertainment
as Director of A&R
and in-house music supervisor. Summer 2005 Wenzel Templeton and Eric Craig completed a new track, Miss Disinformation Junkie under Wenzel Templeton’s moniker Zero The Antistar that can be heard on the associated MySpace
page. In the winter of 2006 Eliot Freed returned to Seattle. Johnny Martin continues to live in Los Angeles and play with The Chelsea Smiles
.
Zeroed Out
Zeroed Out is the debut album by Seattle, Washington band The Cunninghams. Described as power-pop or pop-punk, The Cunninghams made one album, Zeroed Out which was released in 1997 via Revolution Records/Warner Bros. Records...
which was released in 1997 via Revolution Records
Revolution Records
Revolution Records was a record label that was launched in 1996 as a subsidiary of Giant Records. Brian Wilson signed on the label.There was also an earlier label 'Revolution Records', an English distributor of RCA recordings, based at 490A Old Kent Road, London S.E.1, on which various classical...
/Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
. Members included Seven Pearson, Eric Craig, Scott Bickham, Eliot Freed and Johnny Martin (musician).
History
The Cunninghams were formed out of the ashes of Seattle rock band Jesus Headtrip in the spring of 1996 by vocalist Seven Pearson, guitarist Eric Craig, and guitarist Scott Bickham. Soon after recording demos for Giant Records, drummer Eliot Freed joined the fold and the band began playing the transitioning Northwest club scene. By the winter of 1996 the band was picked up by newly re-tooled label, Revolution Records (formerly Giant Records) headed by industry legend Irving AzoffIrving Azoff
Irving Azoff is an American personal manager, representing recording artists in the music industry such as Christina Aguilera, Journey, Jewel, the Eagles, X Japan, Bush, REO Speedwagon, Seal, David Archuleta, Alter Bridge, Van Halen, 30 Seconds to Mars, Neil Diamond, New Kids on the Block, Steely...
. The Cunninghams debut album, Zeroed Out was released May 20, 1997 and was produced by Don Gilmore (Linkin Park
Linkin Park
Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the band rose to international fame with their debut album, Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-platinum in several other countries...
, Dashboard Confessional
Dashboard Confessional
Dashboard Confessional is an American rock band from Boca Raton, Florida, led by singer-songwriter Chris Carrabba. The name of the band is derived from the song "The Sharp Hint of New Tears" from the debut album The Swiss Army Romance....
, Lit, Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
) and mixed by Tom Lord-Alge
Tom Lord-Alge
Tom Lord-Alge is a four-time Grammy Award–winning record producer and mixer. He is the youngest of Vivian Lord's five children, Mark Lord-Alge, Lisa Lord-Alge, Chris Lord-Alge, Jeff Lord-Alge and Tom Lord-Alge...
. Los Angeles bassist and vocalist Johnny Martin was added to the line up and the single, Bottle Rockets debuted as the 3rd most added song at rock and alternative radio, behind only Collective Soul
Collective Soul
Collective Soul is an American rock band originally formed in Stockbridge, Georgia. Collective Soul broke into mainstream popularity with their first hit single, "Shine", which came from their debut album Hints, Allegations, and Things Left Unsaid, released in 1993...
and The Wallflowers
The Wallflowers
The Wallflowers is a rock band from Los Angeles, California, fronted by Jakob Dylan. Formed in 1989 and originally known as The Apples, the ensemble has gone through numerous personnel changes with Dylan the only constant....
. The band toured behind the album opening up for Matchbox Twenty
Matchbox Twenty
Matchbox Twenty is an American rock band, formed in Orlando, Florida in 1995...
, Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, formed in 1973. The band consists of members Robin Zander , Rick Nielsen , Tom Petersson , and Bun E...
, INXS
INXS
INXS are an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. Mainstays are Garry Gary Beers on bass guitar, Andrew Farriss on guitar/keyboards, Jon Farriss on drums, Tim Farriss on lead guitar and Kirk Pengilly on guitar/sax...
, and Third Eye Blind
Third Eye Blind
Third Eye Blind is an American alternative rock band formed in the early 1990s in San Francisco. The songwriting duo of Kevin Cadogan and Stephan Jenkins signed the band's first major label recording contract with Elektra records in 1996 resulting in two multi platinum albums. The band's lineup...
. The accompanying music video for the Bottle Rockets single, directed by Nigel Dick
Nigel Dick
Nigel Dick is an English music video and film director, writer and musician based in Los Angeles, California. He directed the Band Aid video "Do They Know It's Christmas?", as well as over 300 other music videos.Nigel Dick should not be confused with the Australian Dr...
(Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
, Third Eye Blind, Matchbox Twenty) caught airplay on 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 120 Minutes
120 Minutes
120 Minutes is a television show in the United States dedicated to alternative music, originally airing on MTV from 1986 to 2000, and then on MTV's sister channel MTV2 from 2001 to 2003....
and was added to regular rotation on MTV2. The band performed on MTV’s Road Rules
Road Rules
Road Rules was an MTV reality show that debuted on July 19, 1995. The series, which was MTV's second reality show after The Real World followed six strangers between the ages of 18 and 24 after stripping them of their money and putting them on an RV traveling from location to location only guided...
with Third Eye Blind, as well as MTV variety show Oddville, in addition to having several tracks used on MTV’s Road Rules and The Real World
The Real World
The Real World is a reality television program on MTV originally produced by Mary-Ellis Bunim and Jonathan Murray. First broadcast in 1992, the show, which was inspired by the 1973 PBS documentary series An American Family, is the longest-running program in MTV history and one of the...
. By the end of 1997 the band had appeared on CNN’s Showbiz Tonight
Showbiz Tonight
Showbiz Tonight is an American entertainment news program on HLN .Showbiz Tonight is hosted by A.J. Hammer at CNN New York. The show reports and debates celebrity entertainment news stories and controversies, along with social networking segments involving viewer interaction via social networks and...
, performed with Blur
Blur (band)
Blur is an English alternative rock band. Formed in London in 1989 as Seymour, the group consists of singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree. Blur's debut album Leisure incorporated the sounds of Madchester and shoegazing...
on Rockline, live at KNDD
KNDD
KNDD , also known as "107.7 The End", is an alternative rock radio station in Seattle, Washington. It is operated by Entercom Communications Its studios are located in the Metropolitan Park West tower between Downtown and South Lake Union in Seattle...
’s Endfest
Endfest
Endfest is an annual summer music festival hosted by KNDD, also known as 107.7 The End, an alternative rock radio station based in Seattle, Washington...
in Seattle, Wa. with headliners such as The Offspring
The Offspring
The Offspring is an American punk rock band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1984. Known as Manic Subsidal until 1986, the band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dexter Holland, lead guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, bassist Greg K. and drummer Pete Parada...
, Candlebox
Candlebox
Candlebox is an American alternative rock band from Seattle, Washington. Since their debut, the group has released four studio albums, which have achieved multi-platinum and gold certification, as well as numerous charting singles, a compilation, and a CD+DVD....
, Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
, Matchbox Twenty and at St. Louis’s Pointfest
Pointfest
Pointfest is a large outdoor rock music festival previously held once but now held twice every year by radio station KPNT in St. Louis, Missouri at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater St. Louis...
with headliners such as Cheap Trick, and Beck
Beck
Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
.
By 1998 the band fired vocalist Seven Pearson and brought in Vancouver
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,...
writer and vocalist Wenzel Templeton, formerly of the band The Daisy Chain. The newly fronted band wrote, recorded, and produced new music for Revolution Records
Revolution Records
Revolution Records was a record label that was launched in 1996 as a subsidiary of Giant Records. Brian Wilson signed on the label.There was also an earlier label 'Revolution Records', an English distributor of RCA recordings, based at 490A Old Kent Road, London S.E.1, on which various classical...
. Since Seven and Eric were signed as the key writers for the band, firing Seven had nullified the band's record contract. The band had unknowingly put themselves into an option situation. While the band was recovering from turmoil, the label was just entering into it. Label-head Irving Azoff
Irving Azoff
Irving Azoff is an American personal manager, representing recording artists in the music industry such as Christina Aguilera, Journey, Jewel, the Eagles, X Japan, Bush, REO Speedwagon, Seal, David Archuleta, Alter Bridge, Van Halen, 30 Seconds to Mars, Neil Diamond, New Kids on the Block, Steely...
began cleaning house, gutting the staff and most of the artists. Since the band had already broken their own record contract, when the band presented their new music to the label, Revolution needed only to pass on the option, to clear The Cunninghams from their roster. The band then re-named themselves Boy Girl Radio and proceeded to headline shows in Seattle and showcase in Los Angeles at The Opium Den, Roxy
Roxy
-Brands:* Roxy , women's brand of clothing, accessories, and snowboards by Quiksilver company for surfing* The Roxy Theatre, music venue in Los Angeles & online source for music, arts, culture, and more.-Names:...
, and The Viper Room in search of a new label home. Upon returning from Los Angeles empty handed, Wenzel Templeton returned to Vancouver and the band called it quits.
In 1999, while Scott Bickham and Eliot Freed remained in Seattle, Eric Craig relocated to Los Angeles and took a position within Dreamworks Records
DreamWorks Records
DreamWorks Records was an American record label. Founded in 1996 by David Geffen, Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg as a subsidiary of DreamWorks SKG, the label operated until 2005 when it was shut down...
marketing department. Seven Pearson also relocated to Los Angeles, and with bassist Johnny Martin in-tow formed the band Jimmy Girl. In 2001 vocalist Seven Pearson was found dead in his Los Angeles apartment. Johnny Martin went on to become a member of the Los Angeles rock band The Chelsea Smiles
The Chelsea Smiles
The Chelsea Smiles are a hard rock/sleaze rock band formed in 2004 featuring guitarist Todd Youth , Karl Rosqvist of Danzig, Steel Prophet, Skye Vaughan-Jayne of Bullets and Octane, Johnny Martin and RJ Ronquillo....
.
In 2001 Eric Craig met writer and vocalist John Heintz, formerly of the band Farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
(Aware Records
Aware Records
Aware Records is an American record label, existent to seek unsigned musical artists and expose them to the mainstream media. The label has had success with a range of artists, including John Mayer, Train, Five For Fighting, Mat Kearney and Guster....
). The pair rounded out the line-up with drummer Eliot Freed (formerly of The Cunninghams), keyboardist Jamie Bennett and bassist Rodney Mollura, formerly of the band Sonichrome (Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
) and called themselves The Blue Mondays. The newly formed group was quickly courted by several major labels and signed by legendary executive Jimmy Iovine
Jimmy Iovine
James "Jimmy" Iovine is an American music producer, entrepreneur and chairman of Interscope-Geffen-A&M.-Biography:...
and Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
. Soon after signing, the band discovered that a name change was imminent, as a copyright could not be obtained for The Blue Mondays. They settled on a new name; Daysleeper. Next the band wrote some 75 songs, and by the end of 2002 headed into the studio with producer Ron Aniello
Ron Aniello
Ron Aniello is an American; Grammy Award nominated, multi-award–winning, multi-platinum record producer. Some of the noteworthy artists that he has worked with include; Lifehouse, Barenaked Ladies, Guster, Jars of Clay, Days of the New, Sixpence None the Richer, Leigh Nash, Ashley Tesoro, Patti...
(Lifehouse
Lifehouse (band)
Lifehouse is an American rock band from Los Angeles. The band came to mainstream prominence in 2001 with the hit single "Hanging by a Moment" from their debut studio album, No Name Face. The single won a Billboard Music Award for Hot 100 Single of the Year, beating out Janet Jackson and Alicia...
, Days Of The New
Days of the New
Days of the New is an American alternative rock band from Louisville, Kentucky, formed in 1995. The band consists of vocalist/guitarist Travis Meeks and a variety of supporting musicians...
, Guster
Guster
Guster is an American alternative rock band from Boston, Massachusetts. Formed in 1991, the group is known for its live performances and humor, founding members Adam Gardner, Ryan Miller, and Brian Rosenworcel came about to begin practice sessions while attending Tufts University in Medford,...
) to produce their debut album, Every Waking Moment. Upon completion the album was mixed by Randy Staub (Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
, Nickleback) and delivered to Interscope. After months of discussion in regard to the sound of the album, the band executed a clause in their contract and departed Interscope before the album would be released.
In the spring of 2003 Eric Craig retired from music professionally and accepted a position with Lakeshore Records
Lakeshore Records
Lakeshore Records is the independent music division of Lakeshore Entertainment . They started out as WILL Records.Will Records were started by Skip Williamson in the early 90s...
and Lakeshore Entertainment
Lakeshore Entertainment
Lakeshore Entertainment Group is an American independent film production company founded in 1994 by Tom Rosenberg and Ted Tannebaum . Lakeshore Entertainment is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California...
as Director of A&R
A&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
and in-house music supervisor. Summer 2005 Wenzel Templeton and Eric Craig completed a new track, Miss Disinformation Junkie under Wenzel Templeton’s moniker Zero The Antistar that can be heard on the associated 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. In the winter of 2006 Eliot Freed returned to Seattle. Johnny Martin continues to live in Los Angeles and play with The Chelsea Smiles
The Chelsea Smiles
The Chelsea Smiles are a hard rock/sleaze rock band formed in 2004 featuring guitarist Todd Youth , Karl Rosqvist of Danzig, Steel Prophet, Skye Vaughan-Jayne of Bullets and Octane, Johnny Martin and RJ Ronquillo....
.
Discography
- 1997: Zeroed OutZeroed OutZeroed Out is the debut album by Seattle, Washington band The Cunninghams. Described as power-pop or pop-punk, The Cunninghams made one album, Zeroed Out which was released in 1997 via Revolution Records/Warner Bros. Records...
– The Cunninghams - 1998: One Small Step – Boy Girl Radio
- 2003: Every Waking Moment – Daysleeper
Sources
- [ Eric Craig on Allmusic]
- [ John Heintz on Allmusic]
- [ The Cunninghams on Allmusic]
- Notes on Seven Pearson on Michael Hutchence Official site