The Exploding Hearts
Encyclopedia
The Exploding Hearts were an American punk rock
and power pop
band formed in Portland, Oregon
in 2001. The band was composed of vocalist/guitarist Adam Cox, bassist Matt Fitzgerald, guitarist Terry Six, and drummer Jeremy Gage.
Shortly after the release of their debut studio album, Guitar Romantic
, Cox, Fitzgerald, and Gage were killed in a car accident on July 20, 2003, after which the band ceased to exist.
scene shortly after they formed in 2001. The band drew influences from early British punk bands such as The Undertones
, Buzzcocks
, The Clash
, The Jam
, The Boys
and The Only Ones
, as well as power pop acts like Nick Lowe
.
The Exploding Hearts led a revival of 1970s-era power pop and new wave
in the Seattle and Portland area along with bands like The Briefs
and the Epoxies on the then-Seattle-based Dirtnap Records
. Their combination of punk rock and power pop influenced melodies and their energetic live shows brought them attention on the West Coast and from magazines such as Maximumrocknroll and Shredding Paper, which featured them on their covers. They released their debut studio album, Guitar Romantic
, in April 2003.
after having played at the Bottom of the Hill
in San Francisco
. It is believed that Fitzgerald, who was driving, fell asleep and lost control of their van near Eugene, Oregon
. Cox, 23, and Gage, 21, were thrown from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene and Fitzgerald, 20, died at a hospital. Guitarist Terry Six, 21, and manager Rachell Ramos, 35, sustained only minor injuries. The band ceased to exist in the aftermath of the accident.
A compilation album was released by Dirtnap Records in 2006. In 2009, their song "Modern Kicks" was listed as the 290th greatest song of the decade and their album Guitar Romantic deemed the 60th best album of the decade by Pitchfork Media
.
, Gabe Lageson, Colin Jarrell, Alan Mansfieldwent, and established the Portland-based power pop band, The Nice Boys
. They released a 7" single on Discourage Records entitled "You Won't See Me Anymore" b/w "Lipstick Love" and a S/T full length album on Birdman Records.
Skidmarks over Beaverton, an unreleased collection of songs played only at the Wake.
Their song "Your Shadow" is featured in the EA
skateboarding video game Skate
.
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
and power pop
Power pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
band formed in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
in 2001. The band was composed of vocalist/guitarist Adam Cox, bassist Matt Fitzgerald, guitarist Terry Six, and drummer Jeremy Gage.
Shortly after the release of their debut studio album, Guitar Romantic
Guitar Romantic
Guitar Romantic is the sole studio album by American punk rock band The Exploding Hearts, released by Dirtnap Records in 2003.Guitar Romantic was deemed the 60th best album of the first decade of the 21st century and the song "Modern Kicks" was listed as the 290th greatest song of the same decade...
, Cox, Fitzgerald, and Gage were killed in a car accident on July 20, 2003, after which the band ceased to exist.
History
The band rose to prominence in the US Pacific NorthwestPacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
scene shortly after they formed in 2001. The band drew influences from early British punk bands such as The Undertones
The Undertones
The Undertones are a punk rock/new wave band formed in Derry, Northern Ireland, in 1975.The original line-up of the Undertones released thirteen singles and four studio albums — The Undertones , Hypnotised , Positive Touch and The Sin of Pride — before disbanding in July 1983.Music guide Allmusic...
, Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band formed in Bolton in 1976, led by singer–songwriter–guitarist Pete Shelley.They are regarded as an important influence on the Manchester music scene, the independent record label movement, punk rock, power pop, pop punk and indie rock. They achieved commercial...
, The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
, The Jam
The Jam
The Jam were an English punk rock/New Wave/mod revival band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were formed in Woking, Surrey. While they shared the "angry young men" outlook and fast tempos of their punk rock contemporaries, The Jam wore smartly tailored suits rather than ripped...
, The Boys
The Boys (UK Band)
The Boys are an English punk rock band formed in London in 1976.Members of the band had previously played in other groups, such as London SS and Hollywood Brats. After recording four studio albums and eight singles, as well as recording Christmas themed music under the name The Yobs, they disbanded...
and The Only Ones
The Only Ones
The Only Ones are an English rock band. They were initially active in the late 1970s and were associated with punk rock, yet straddled the musical territory in between punk, power pop and hard rock, with noticeable influences from psychedelia...
, as well as power pop acts like Nick Lowe
Nick Lowe
Nicholas Drain "Nick" Lowe , is an English singer-songwriter, musician and producer.A pivotal figure in UK pub rock, punk rock and new wave, Lowe has recorded a string of well-reviewed solo albums. Along with vocals, Lowe plays guitar, bass guitar, piano and harmonica...
.
The Exploding Hearts led a revival of 1970s-era power pop and new wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
in the Seattle and Portland area along with bands like The Briefs
The Briefs
The Briefs are a punk rock band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 2000 and originally consisting of Daniel J. Travanti , Steve E. Nix , Lance Romance and Chris Brief . They play punk rock music, influenced by acts such as Buzzcocks, The Undertones and The Adverts...
and the Epoxies on the then-Seattle-based Dirtnap Records
Dirtnap Records
-External links:*...
. Their combination of punk rock and power pop influenced melodies and their energetic live shows brought them attention on the West Coast and from magazines such as Maximumrocknroll and Shredding Paper, which featured them on their covers. They released their debut studio album, Guitar Romantic
Guitar Romantic
Guitar Romantic is the sole studio album by American punk rock band The Exploding Hearts, released by Dirtnap Records in 2003.Guitar Romantic was deemed the 60th best album of the first decade of the 21st century and the song "Modern Kicks" was listed as the 290th greatest song of the same decade...
, in April 2003.
July 2003 accident
On July 20, 2003, the band was headed home to Portland on the Interstate 5Interstate 5
Interstate 5 is the main Interstate Highway on the West Coast of the United States, running largely parallel to the Pacific Ocean coastline from Canada to Mexico . It serves some of the largest cities on the U.S...
after having played at the Bottom of the Hill
Bottom of the Hill
Bottom of the Hill is a concert venue located in San Francisco, California, in the Potrero Hill district. As a venue, it is one of the most active in the city, usually holding shows seven nights a week...
in San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. It is believed that Fitzgerald, who was driving, fell asleep and lost control of their van near Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
. Cox, 23, and Gage, 21, were thrown from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene and Fitzgerald, 20, died at a hospital. Guitarist Terry Six, 21, and manager Rachell Ramos, 35, sustained only minor injuries. The band ceased to exist in the aftermath of the accident.
A compilation album was released by Dirtnap Records in 2006. In 2009, their song "Modern Kicks" was listed as the 290th greatest song of the decade and their album Guitar Romantic deemed the 60th best album of the decade by Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
.
Post-Exploding Hearts projects
Terry Six joined former members of the Portland-based band The RiffsThe Riffs
The Riffs are a rock and roll and punk band from Portland, Oregon. They have released three full-length albums, all on indie labels, namely Pelado Records, Vendetta Records, and TKO Records.- Influences :...
, Gabe Lageson, Colin Jarrell, Alan Mansfieldwent, and established the Portland-based power pop band, The Nice Boys
The Nice Boys
The Nice Boys are a power pop band hailing from Portland, Oregon. They were formed in 2004 by ex-Exploding Hearts guitarist Terry Six, studio keyboardist Brian Lelko, drummer Alan Mansfield, and Colin Jarrel and Gabe Lageson of The Riffs, who, like the Exploding Hearts, were influenced by the punk...
. They released a 7" single on Discourage Records entitled "You Won't See Me Anymore" b/w "Lipstick Love" and a S/T full length album on Birdman Records.
Albums
- Guitar RomanticGuitar RomanticGuitar Romantic is the sole studio album by American punk rock band The Exploding Hearts, released by Dirtnap Records in 2003.Guitar Romantic was deemed the 60th best album of the first decade of the 21st century and the song "Modern Kicks" was listed as the 290th greatest song of the same decade...
(CD/LP, 2003): The LP was released on Screaming Apple Records with an initial pressing of 1000. The CD was released on Dirtnap RecordsDirtnap Records-External links:*...
on March 24, 2003 with an initial pressing of 2300.
- Shattered (CD, 2006): This Dirtnap Records CD is a compilation of all of the Hearts' singles, including their unreleased final recordings. There is also a five-song video collection of live performances from the band's second to final show at the Bottom of the HillBottom of the HillBottom of the Hill is a concert venue located in San Francisco, California, in the Potrero Hill district. As a venue, it is one of the most active in the city, usually holding shows seven nights a week...
in San Francisco.
Singles
- "(Making) Teenage Faces" (2002): Single release on Vinyl Warning Records with an initial press of 200 white and 300 black vinyl. The b-side is "Your Shadow". A second pressing of 500 on black vinyl was also made. The planned third pressing (which was to have a different cover) was canceled after the accident.
- "Modern Kicks" (2003): The single version is different from the version on the full length album. The single was released on Pelado Records in a pressing of 700 black, 200 mixed colors. The b-side is "Busy Signals"
Compilations
- Dirtnap Across the Northwest (2003): This Dirtnap Records label compilation featured The Exploding Hearts' cover of FU2's song "Sniffin' Glue."
Skidmarks over Beaverton, an unreleased collection of songs played only at the Wake.
Demos
- Original Demo (2001): Unreleased 3 song demo recorded with original drummer Matt Bunza. Contains as yet unreleased versions of “So Bored” and “Black and Blue.” The band's cover of the Paul Collins' Beat’s “Walkin out on Love” was recorded as part of this.
- The Pink Demo (2002): Unreleased 5 song demo, recorded with engineer Pat Kearns. Most of these songs were later released on Shattered, although the demo does contain an as yet unreleased version of “Still Crazy.”
Their song "Your Shadow" is featured in the EA
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
skateboarding video game Skate
Skate (video game)
Skate is a skateboarding video game developed by EA Black Box for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. It was released in North America on September 17, 2007 for the Xbox 360 and September 24, 2007 for the PlayStation 3 and in Europe on September 28, 2007 for the Xbox 360 and October 5, 2007 for the...
.
External links
- Article on the Exploding Hearts History
- http://web.archive.org/web/20090614091506/http://www.operationphoenixrecords.com/explodingheartsinterview1.html - Exploding Hearts interview from MRR #240
- OPB Music - Interview with guitarist Terry Six about the accident that took the lives of the rest of the band