The Exies
Encyclopedia
The Exies are an American rock
band from Los Angeles, California
, formed in 1997. Their name, "The Exies", is short for "The Existentialists". Their two Virgin Records
releases, Inertia
(2003) and Head for the Door
(2004), have sold over 400,000 copies combined.
Stevens picked the name "The Exies" from a John Lennon
biography, stating on Rockline (11/9/2002) that it was the only Beatles-related name left that was not taken. When the Beatles were touring around Hamburg, Germany in the 1960s, they encountered three distinct social groups among the kids: the mods, the rockers, and the art students (who referred to themselves as "the existentialists"). John Lennon coined the term "the exies" to refer to the art students.
The band released their self-titled debut album
in 2000 on Ultimatum Records, and toured extensively. While touring, they caught the attention of Grammy
-winning record producer
, Matt Serletic
, who bought their contract from the indie label they were on.
Thom Sullivan and The Exies parted ways in September 2000, and Dennis Wolfe joined the band. The majority of 2001 and early 2002 was spent writing and recording. The band began touring in August 2002.
and in January 2003 they released their second album, Inertia
. The album received wide distribution, and their first single, "My Goddess", received a fair amount of radio play and was featured in the PlayStation 2
game, Splashdown: Rides Gone Wild
. The song "Without" was featured on the soundtrack for EA Sports
MVP Baseball 2003.
The Exies continued touring in 2003 in support of Inertia, with "My Goddess" being performed on David Letterman and peaking at #12 on Modern Rock chart. The video for "My Goddess", filmed by Diane Martel, became a top 10 hit on MTV2
.
"Inertia" is The Exies' most successful album, reaching # 115 on the Billboard 200
.
was released in December 2004. The album's first single, "Ugly", was used by World Wrestling Entertainment
as the theme song for that year's Survivor Series 2004
pay-per-view
event in November 2004, and was featured in a commercial for the Warner Bros.
television network. The song "Slow Drain" was featured in the video game NFL Street 2, which was released on the Xbox and Playstation 2 consoles. The band promoted the album by opening for Velvet Revolver
on their first arena tour.
Along with Sum 41
and Silvertide
, The Exies supported Mötley Crüe
on their Carnival of Sins Tour.
Their second single from Head for the Door, "Hey You", is part of the PlayStation 2
video game, Guitar Hero, released in 2005. It is also part of the Xbox 360
game Guitar Hero II
via download through Xbox Live
, along with Guitar Hero: Smash Hits on various consoles.
The song "What You Deserve" was also featured in the game Juiced.
The song "Slow Drain" was also featured in the games NFL Street 2
, and the PlayStation 3 version of Full Auto 2.
to work on their fourth album. The album, A Modern Way of Living with the Truth
, was released 15 May 2007 by Eleven Seven Music
, the band's new label.
To promote the album the band toured with Buckcherry
, Papa Roach
, and Hinder
. This was followed by a tour with rock band Smile Empty Soul
throughout the summer of 2007. After those shows, they toured with Drowning Pool
for the This is for the Soldiers Tour. The band released five songs on MySpace and radio from A Modern Way of Living with the Truth
: "Different Than You", "Once in a Lifetime", "These Are the Days", "This Is the Sound", and "A Fear of Being Alone". On June 28, The Exies released a music video
for the song "God We Look Good (Going Down in Flames)", a song that was left off the album.
In 2008, The Exies re-released A Modern Way of Living with the Truth on iTunes with five extra tracks. "God We Look Good (Going Down in Flames)" was included along with acoustic versions of "My Goddess", "Ugly", "Genius", and "Tired of You". Their song "Lay Your Money Down" was featured in the video game, WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2009.
In 2008, internet rumors circulated that Scott Stevens was suffering from drug addiction. Stevens denied the drug abuse hearsay, and joked about the rumors during press interviews. In June, the Exies completed The Cage-Rattle Most Wanted Tour with Nu-metal band, Nonpoint
. In October that year, they began a tour with TRUSTcompany.
In 2011 Scott Stevens co-wrote songs with Theory of a Deadman
on their new CD The Truth is...
and David Cook on his new album This Loud Morning
.
Former
Singles
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band from Los Angeles, California
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...
, formed in 1997. Their name, "The Exies", is short for "The Existentialists". Their two Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
releases, Inertia
Inertia (The Exies album)
Inertia is the second studio album from the U.S. alternative rock band The Exies. It was released on January 7, 2003. It is The Exies' most successful album, reaching # 115 on the Billboard 200...
(2003) and Head for the Door
Head for the Door
Head for the Door is the third studio album from the U.S. alternative rock band The Exies. It was released on November 30, 2004."Ugly" would prove to be the album's single and found notable airplay upon release...
(2004), have sold over 400,000 copies combined.
History
The Exies formed in 1997 when singer and guitarist Scott Stevens drafted bassist Freddy Herrera and drummer Thom Sullivan to form a new group. Stevens' friend Chris Skane played guitar in an early incarnation of The Exies, but left citing other priorities. Skane was then replaced by guitarist David Walsh.Stevens picked the name "The Exies" from a John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
biography, stating on Rockline (11/9/2002) that it was the only Beatles-related name left that was not taken. When the Beatles were touring around Hamburg, Germany in the 1960s, they encountered three distinct social groups among the kids: the mods, the rockers, and the art students (who referred to themselves as "the existentialists"). John Lennon coined the term "the exies" to refer to the art students.
The band released their self-titled debut album
The Exies (album)
The Exies is the self-titled debut album from the U.S. alternative rock band The Exies. It was released on March 28, 2000.-Track listing:#"Feeling Lo-Fi" – 2:43#"Baby's Got a New Revelation" – 3:03#"Bighead" – 3:30...
in 2000 on Ultimatum Records, and toured extensively. While touring, they caught the attention of Grammy
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
-winning record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, Matt Serletic
Matt Serletic
Matt Serletic is a record producer who has worked with several popular bands and artists for Atlantic Records, including Collective Soul, Matchbox Twenty, Blessid Union of Souls, Edwin McCain, Stacie Orrico, Taylor Hicks, Rob Thomas, and singer/songwriter Angie Aparo. Serletic will be working with...
, who bought their contract from the indie label they were on.
Thom Sullivan and The Exies parted ways in September 2000, and Dennis Wolfe joined the band. The majority of 2001 and early 2002 was spent writing and recording. The band began touring in August 2002.
Inertia
In 2002 the band signed to Virgin RecordsVirgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
and in January 2003 they released their second album, Inertia
Inertia (The Exies album)
Inertia is the second studio album from the U.S. alternative rock band The Exies. It was released on January 7, 2003. It is The Exies' most successful album, reaching # 115 on the Billboard 200...
. The album received wide distribution, and their first single, "My Goddess", received a fair amount of radio play and was featured in the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
game, Splashdown: Rides Gone Wild
Splashdown: Rides Gone Wild
Splashdown: Rides Gone Wild for the PlayStation 2 is a sequel to the original Splashdown for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. The game features a career mode where winning races gives the player points which can be used to upgrade items or buy new items. It also features arcade, training and multiplayer...
. The song "Without" was featured on the soundtrack for EA Sports
EA Sports
EA Sports is a brand of Electronic Arts that creates and develops sports video games. Formerly a marketing gimmick of Electronic Arts, in which they tried to mimic real-life sports networks by calling themselves "EA Sports Network" with pictures or endorsements of real commentators such as John...
MVP Baseball 2003.
The Exies continued touring in 2003 in support of Inertia, with "My Goddess" being performed on David Letterman and peaking at #12 on Modern Rock chart. The video for "My Goddess", filmed by Diane Martel, became a top 10 hit on MTV2
MTV2
MTV2 is a cable network that is widely available in the United States on digital cable and satellite television, and is progressively being added to analogue cable lineups across the nation...
.
"Inertia" is The Exies' most successful album, reaching # 115 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
.
Head for the Door
In June 2004, The Exies headed back into the studio with producer Nick Raskulinecz. Their third album Head for the DoorHead for the Door
Head for the Door is the third studio album from the U.S. alternative rock band The Exies. It was released on November 30, 2004."Ugly" would prove to be the album's single and found notable airplay upon release...
was released in December 2004. The album's first single, "Ugly", was used by World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
as the theme song for that year's Survivor Series 2004
Survivor Series (2004)
Survivor Series was the eighteenth annual Survivor Series professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment...
pay-per-view
Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view provides a service by which a television audience can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it...
event in November 2004, and was featured in a commercial for the Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
television network. The song "Slow Drain" was featured in the video game NFL Street 2, which was released on the Xbox and Playstation 2 consoles. The band promoted the album by opening for Velvet Revolver
Velvet Revolver
Velvet Revolver is an American hard rock supergroup consisting of former Guns N' Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan, and Matt Sorum, alongside Dave Kushner formerly of punk band Wasted Youth. Stone Temple Pilots vocalist Scott Weiland was Velvet Revolver's lead singer from their formation until...
on their first arena tour.
Along with Sum 41
Sum 41
Sum 41 is a Canadian rock band from Ajax, Ontario. The band was formed in 1996 and currently consists of members Deryck Whibley , Tom Thacker , Jason McCaslin and Steve Jocz .In 1999, the band signed an international record deal with Island Records...
and Silvertide
Silvertide
Silvertide was a rock band hailing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-History:Silvertide was formed in January 2001 in Northeast Philadelphia. At first, Silvertide was signed by J Records. They released their first EP American Excess in 2002...
, The Exies supported Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil...
on their Carnival of Sins Tour.
Their second single from Head for the Door, "Hey You", is part of the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
video game, Guitar Hero, released in 2005. It is also part of the Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
game Guitar Hero II
Guitar Hero II
Guitar Hero II is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems and published by RedOctane. It is the second installment in the Guitar Hero series and is the sequel to Guitar Hero...
via download through Xbox Live
Xbox Live
Xbox Live is an online multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery service created and operated by Microsoft Corporation. It is currently the only online gaming service on consoles that charges users a fee to play multiplayer gaming. It was first made available to the Xbox system in 2002...
, along with Guitar Hero: Smash Hits on various consoles.
The song "What You Deserve" was also featured in the game Juiced.
The song "Slow Drain" was also featured in the games NFL Street 2
NFL Street 2
NFL Street 2 is American football video game developed by EA Tiburon and published by Electronic Arts. It was originally released for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube on December 22, 2004...
, and the PlayStation 3 version of Full Auto 2.
A Modern Way of Living with the Truth
After returning from the tour with Mötley Crüe, Virgin decided to release the Exies from their contract. Soon after this, Dennis Wolfe and David Walsh left the band to pursue other goals. This left Stevens and Herrera alone, and decided to reunite with former guitarist Chris Skane and began writing songs. On 26 May 2006, the band announced on its blog that they were returning to the studio with producer James MichaelJames Michael
James Andrew Michael is an American record producer, songwriter, engineer, mixer, vocalist and musician. He is currently the lead singer of the rock band Sixx:A.M.-Early life:...
to work on their fourth album. The album, A Modern Way of Living with the Truth
A Modern Way of Living with the Truth
A Modern Way of Living with the Truth is the fourth studio album by The Exies. It was released on May 15, 2007 by Eleven Seven Music.-Track listing:# "Leaving Song" – 1:52# "Lay Your Money Down" – 3:24# "A Fear of Being Alone" – 3:57...
, was released 15 May 2007 by Eleven Seven Music
Eleven seven music
Eleven Seven Music is a record label founded by Allen Kovac, who is the CEO of 10th Street Entertainment.Eleven Seven has recently enjoyed success with the rejuvenated Buckcherry, whose label debut has been certified Platinum by the RIAA. Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe and Sixx:A.M...
, the band's new label.
To promote the album the band toured with Buckcherry
Buckcherry
Buckcherry is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California formed in 1995. The band released two albums, Buckcherry and Time Bomb , before partially dissolving in the summer of 2002. In 2005, lead vocalist Josh Todd and lead guitarist Keith Nelson reformed Buckcherry and released a new album...
, Papa Roach
Papa Roach
Papa Roach is an American rock band from Vacaville, California. Their first major-label release was the triple-platinum album Infest . The group's success continued with their gold album Lovehatetragedy , their platinum album Getting Away with Murder , The Paramour Sessions , and Metamorphosis...
, and Hinder
Hinder
Hinder is an American rock band from Oklahoma that was formed in 2001 by drummer Cody Hanson, guitarist Joe Garvey, and singer Austin Winkler. The band was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 2007.-Formation and early history:...
. This was followed by a tour with rock band Smile Empty Soul
Smile Empty Soul
Smile Empty Soul is an American post-grunge band from Santa Clarita, California.-History:Smile Empty Soul formed in 1998, while its original members were attending different high schools in the Santa Clarita area...
throughout the summer of 2007. After those shows, they toured with Drowning Pool
Drowning Pool
Drowning Pool is a four-piece alternative metal band from Dallas, Texas.-Early days :Drowning Pool rose to fame while playing along with Ozzy Osbourne during an Ozzfest tour. Their 2001 debut album, Sinner was certified platinum within six weeks...
for the This is for the Soldiers Tour. The band released five songs on MySpace and radio from A Modern Way of Living with the Truth
A Modern Way of Living with the Truth
A Modern Way of Living with the Truth is the fourth studio album by The Exies. It was released on May 15, 2007 by Eleven Seven Music.-Track listing:# "Leaving Song" – 1:52# "Lay Your Money Down" – 3:24# "A Fear of Being Alone" – 3:57...
: "Different Than You", "Once in a Lifetime", "These Are the Days", "This Is the Sound", and "A Fear of Being Alone". On June 28, The Exies released a music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for the song "God We Look Good (Going Down in Flames)", a song that was left off the album.
In 2008, The Exies re-released A Modern Way of Living with the Truth on iTunes with five extra tracks. "God We Look Good (Going Down in Flames)" was included along with acoustic versions of "My Goddess", "Ugly", "Genius", and "Tired of You". Their song "Lay Your Money Down" was featured in the video game, WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2009.
In 2008, internet rumors circulated that Scott Stevens was suffering from drug addiction. Stevens denied the drug abuse hearsay, and joked about the rumors during press interviews. In June, the Exies completed The Cage-Rattle Most Wanted Tour with Nu-metal band, Nonpoint
Nonpoint
Nonpoint is an American nu metal band formed in 1997. The band consists of Elias Soriano and Rob Rivera . Currently they are signed to Razor & Tie and working on new a record which is expected to be released in Spring 2012....
. In October that year, they began a tour with TRUSTcompany.
In 2011 Scott Stevens co-wrote songs with Theory of a Deadman
Theory of a Deadman
Theory of a Deadman is a Canadian rock band from Delta, British Columbia, formed in 2001. The band is currently signed to Roadrunner Records as well as Island Records. The band also includes traits of other music styles, such as country and acoustic, as well as their post-grunge and alternative...
on their new CD The Truth is...
The Truth Is...
The Truth Is... is the second album by British rock band Failsafe and was released on 10 November 2008. The album was recorded in January 2008 at in Liverpool and was produced by Pete Miles...
and David Cook on his new album This Loud Morning
This Loud Morning
-Background:David Cook began to concentrate working on this his second album after his first major tour, the Declaration Tour, concluded in December 2009. While on the tour, he put down some riffs and lyrical ideas, and started song-writing as a band towards the end of the tour...
.
Band members
Current- Chris Skane - Lead guitar, backing vocals (1997, 2006–present)
- Scott Stevens - Lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1997–present)
- Freddy Herrera - Bass guitar, backing vocals (1997–present)
- Isaac Carpenter - Drums (2008–present)
Former
- Thom Sullivan - Drums (1997–2001)
- David Walsh - Lead guitar, backing vocals (1997–2006)
- Dennis Wolfe - Drums (2002–2006)
- Hoss Wright - Drums (2007–2008)
Discography
Studio albums| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | The Exies The Exies (album) The Exies is the self-titled debut album from the U.S. alternative rock band The Exies. It was released on March 28, 2000.-Track listing:#"Feeling Lo-Fi" – 2:43#"Baby's Got a New Revelation" – 3:03#"Bighead" – 3:30... |
Ultimatum Records |
| 2003 | Inertia Inertia (The Exies album) Inertia is the second studio album from the U.S. alternative rock band The Exies. It was released on January 7, 2003. It is The Exies' most successful album, reaching # 115 on the Billboard 200... |
Virgin Records Virgin Records Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny... |
| 2004 | Head for the Door Head for the Door Head for the Door is the third studio album from the U.S. alternative rock band The Exies. It was released on November 30, 2004."Ugly" would prove to be the album's single and found notable airplay upon release... |
|
| 2007 | A Modern Way of Living with the Truth A Modern Way of Living with the Truth A Modern Way of Living with the Truth is the fourth studio album by The Exies. It was released on May 15, 2007 by Eleven Seven Music.-Track listing:# "Leaving Song" – 1:52# "Lay Your Money Down" – 3:24# "A Fear of Being Alone" – 3:57... |
Eleven Seven Music Eleven seven music Eleven Seven Music is a record label founded by Allen Kovac, who is the CEO of 10th Street Entertainment.Eleven Seven has recently enjoyed success with the rejuvenated Buckcherry, whose label debut has been certified Platinum by the RIAA. Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe and Sixx:A.M... |
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
U.S. Modern Rock | U.S. Mainstream Rock | |||
| 2002 | "My Goddess" | - | 26 | 20 | Inertia |
| 2003 | "Kickout" | - | - | - | |
| 2004 | "Ugly" | - | 13 | 11 | Head for the Door |
| 2005 | "What You Deserve" | - | - | 40 | |
| "Hey You" | - | - | - | ||
| 2007 | "Different Than You Different Than You "Different Than You" was the first single from The Exies new album, A Modern Way of Living with the Truth.This was first announced on .Scott Stevens said "the song is about breaking down boundaries" at an acoustic performance.... " |
- | - | 27 | A Modern Way of Living with the Truth |
| "God We Look Good (Going Down in Flames)" | - | - | - | ||
| 2008 | "These Are the Days" | - | - | - |