The Icarus Line
Encyclopedia
The Icarus Line is an American hard rock
band from Los Angeles, California
.
The Icarus Line was formed out of the ashes of high school punk group Kanker Sores. Tragedy struck the band in 1997, when Tim Childs, drummer and close friend, was killed in a car crash shortly after recording their Pivot EP as Kanker Sores on Recess Records
, and also songs for an aborted split 7” with Treadwell. The last show Kanker Sores played together was at the Che Café in San Diego, with Jenny Piccalo and The Locust.
In 1998 The Icarus Line formed with Joe Cardamone on vocals, Lance Arnao on bass, Aaron North
on guitar, and Aaron Austin on drums. Almost straight away they toured the East Coast with Ink & Dagger. Their first show ever was in New Jersey at The Melody Bar. For this first tour, they sold their demo tape containing the four Kanker Sores songs initially recorded for the Treadwell split. Soon after this they released their first EP, Highlypuncturingnoisetestingyourabilitytohate on Hellcat records
. All these songs were also Kanker Sores songs. 1998 also saw the release of the Red And Black Attack
EP on the New American Dream label.
The band kicked off 2001 with an eight week tour of Europe, and the "Feed A Cat To Your Cobra" single was released in the UK. A further world tour from May to October followed including dates in Europe, Japan, Australia and the US. This was the summer in which the infamous Stevie Ray Vaughan incident took place. Jeff Watson quit the band soon after, while Troy Petrey from Toys That Kill
replaced him. Two John Peel
sessions were recorded, the first while The Icarus Line were in the UK on a two-month tour, and the second while playing the Reading Festival in the summer of 2002. At the end of the year a spilt 7” with Burning Brides
was released featuring covers of two Misfits songs.
The second single from Mono, "Love Is Happiness", was released in the UK as a limited edition EP on May 5, 2003. The Icarus Line’s sixth drummer, Troy Petrey, left the band and Jeff ‘The Captain’ Watson returned. Lance Arnao also left the band and Don Devore
took his place on bass.
Penance Soiree
, The Icarus Line’s second full-length release and first on their new label, V2 Records
, was recorded during the summer of 2003 in Hollywood, and mixed in London that Autumn. There was not as much touring this year as previous ones, just a few dates supporting the likes of Primal Scream
and A Perfect Circle
at the beginning and end of the year.
In 2004 Penance Soiree
was finally released. Radically different from their debut, the album was clearly influenced by bands such as The Birthday Party
and The Stooges
. The album also featured a noisy, washed-out guitar sound reminiscent of The Jesus and Mary Chain
. In 2005, Aaron North
quit the band and later joined Trent Reznor
in Nine Inch Nails
.
In 2006, the band released an EP called Black Presents. The third full-length titled Black Lives At The Golden Coast came out in May 2007. Due to personal differences, Don Devore was released from the group before the release of the record. Guitarists Jason DeCorse
and James Striff joined the band pushing the band toward a more blues based sound compared to the atonal style on Black Lives. After a world tour with The Lemonheads
and Wolfmother
they returned to Los Angeles to build a studio (Gang Bang Park)http://gangbangparkstudio.blogspot.com/2009/03/welcome-to-gangbang-park.html and start a new record with the newest touring line up including Joe Cardamone, Jeff Watson, Alvin DeGuzman, James Striff and Jason DeCorse.
The latest record by The Icarus Line, Wildlife (originally titled "Joe Cardamone Versus The Icarus Line"), is to be released in August 2011. Primary tracking was done at Sunset Sound's studio C under Greg Gordon's supervision with Alan Yoshida handling mastering duties. Additional tracking was completed at the newly constructed Gangbang Park studios. The upcoming album can be most characterized by the greater prominence of frontman Joe Cardamone, who in addition to lead singer and primary songwriter duties has further expanded his responsibilities to include producing and engineering. The first single "We Sick" was released on February 23, 2010. The album received a positive response from the press and fans.
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
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...
.
The Icarus Line was formed out of the ashes of high school punk group Kanker Sores. Tragedy struck the band in 1997, when Tim Childs, drummer and close friend, was killed in a car crash shortly after recording their Pivot EP as Kanker Sores on Recess Records
Recess Records
Recess Records is an independent record label founded in 1989 with the release of F.Y.P's Extra Credit, an 11 song 7-inch record. Label founder Todd Congelliere originally created the label as a vehicle to release F.Y.P's material...
, and also songs for an aborted split 7” with Treadwell. The last show Kanker Sores played together was at the Che Café in San Diego, with Jenny Piccalo and The Locust.
In 1998 The Icarus Line formed with Joe Cardamone on vocals, Lance Arnao on bass, Aaron North
Aaron North
Aaron Wright North, born March 22, 1979 is the co-founder and former guitarist of punk band The Icarus Line, the former lead guitarist of the industrial rock group Nine Inch Nails and currently the vocalist and guitarist of the band Jubilee...
on guitar, and Aaron Austin on drums. Almost straight away they toured the East Coast with Ink & Dagger. Their first show ever was in New Jersey at The Melody Bar. For this first tour, they sold their demo tape containing the four Kanker Sores songs initially recorded for the Treadwell split. Soon after this they released their first EP, Highlypuncturingnoisetestingyourabilitytohate on Hellcat records
Hellcat Records
Hellcat Records is an independent record label based in Los Angeles, California. The label, an off-shoot of Epitaph Records, was started as a partnership between Brett Gurewitz carp Bad Religion, the owner of Epitaph, and Tim Armstrong of Rancid, the latter of whom is generally responsible for...
. All these songs were also Kanker Sores songs. 1998 also saw the release of the Red And Black Attack
Red And Black Attack
Red And Black Attack was the second release from the Hollywood based rock band The Icarus Line. The EP was recorded and released very quickly after their debut 7-inch, Highlypuncturingnoisetestingyourabilitytohate on Hellcat Records. The EP was released on New American Dream. This was the band's...
EP on the New American Dream label.
The band kicked off 2001 with an eight week tour of Europe, and the "Feed A Cat To Your Cobra" single was released in the UK. A further world tour from May to October followed including dates in Europe, Japan, Australia and the US. This was the summer in which the infamous Stevie Ray Vaughan incident took place. Jeff Watson quit the band soon after, while Troy Petrey from Toys That Kill
Toys That Kill
Toys That Kill is a punk rock band, formed from a previous incarnation known as F.Y.P . Just after the release of their last album self-titled album, Todd C., SEAN C. and new members started the new band...
replaced him. Two John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
sessions were recorded, the first while The Icarus Line were in the UK on a two-month tour, and the second while playing the Reading Festival in the summer of 2002. At the end of the year a spilt 7” with Burning Brides
Burning Brides
Burning Brides is an American hard rock band. They are partially known for their live performances, such as in 2000 playing selected dates as the opening band for The White Stripes...
was released featuring covers of two Misfits songs.
The second single from Mono, "Love Is Happiness", was released in the UK as a limited edition EP on May 5, 2003. The Icarus Line’s sixth drummer, Troy Petrey, left the band and Jeff ‘The Captain’ Watson returned. Lance Arnao also left the band and Don Devore
Don Devore
Don Devore is an American musician who currently plays in the alternative rock band Amazing Baby. He has also been a member of Ink & Dagger, Frail, The Icarus Line, Historics, Lilys, Mazarin and Souls She Said.-Discography:Historics.2009...
took his place on bass.
Penance Soiree
Penance Soiree
Penance Soiree was the second full-length album released by The Icarus Line. It was one of 2004's most critically acclaimed releases, and its reputation has subsequently earned praise in various publications, including the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.Due to infighting with the...
, The Icarus Line’s second full-length release and first on their new label, V2 Records
V2 Records
V2 Records is a record label that is owned by Universal Music Group as of October 2007. The label was founded in 1996 by Richard Branson, five years after he sold Virgin Records to EMI....
, was recorded during the summer of 2003 in Hollywood, and mixed in London that Autumn. There was not as much touring this year as previous ones, just a few dates supporting the likes of Primal Scream
Primal Scream
Primal Scream are a Scottish alternative rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie and now based in London. The current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes , Martin Duffy , and Darrin Mooney...
and A Perfect Circle
A Perfect Circle
A Perfect Circle is an American rock supergroup formed in 1999 by guitarist Billy Howerdel and Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan. The original incarnation of the band also included Paz Lenchantin on bass, Troy Van Leeuwen on guitar, and Tim Alexander on drums...
at the beginning and end of the year.
In 2004 Penance Soiree
Penance Soiree
Penance Soiree was the second full-length album released by The Icarus Line. It was one of 2004's most critically acclaimed releases, and its reputation has subsequently earned praise in various publications, including the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.Due to infighting with the...
was finally released. Radically different from their debut, the album was clearly influenced by bands such as The Birthday Party
The Birthday Party (band)
The Birthday Party were an Australian rock band, active from 1973 to 1983.Despite being championed by John Peel, The Birthday Party found little commercial success during their career...
and The Stooges
The Stooges
The Stooges are an American rock band from Ann Arbor, Michigan first active from 1967 to 1974, and later reformed in 2003...
. The album also featured a noisy, washed-out guitar sound reminiscent of The Jesus and Mary Chain
The Jesus and Mary Chain
The Jesus and Mary Chain are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in East Kilbride, Glasgow in 1983. The band revolves around the songwriting partnership of brothers Jim and William Reid...
. In 2005, Aaron North
Aaron North
Aaron Wright North, born March 22, 1979 is the co-founder and former guitarist of punk band The Icarus Line, the former lead guitarist of the industrial rock group Nine Inch Nails and currently the vocalist and guitarist of the band Jubilee...
quit the band and later joined Trent Reznor
Trent Reznor
Michael Trent Reznor is an American multi-instrumentalist, composer, record producer, and leader of industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails. Reznor is also a member of How to Destroy Angels alongside his wife, Mariqueen Maandig, and Atticus Ross. He was previously associated with bands Option 30,...
in Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
.
In 2006, the band released an EP called Black Presents. The third full-length titled Black Lives At The Golden Coast came out in May 2007. Due to personal differences, Don Devore was released from the group before the release of the record. Guitarists Jason DeCorse
Jason DeCorse
Jason DeCorse is of the Quechan Indian nation and is currently living in Hollywood, California.He is probably best known as one of two guitar players for the LA band The Icarus Line....
and James Striff joined the band pushing the band toward a more blues based sound compared to the atonal style on Black Lives. After a world tour with The Lemonheads
The Lemonheads
The Lemonheads are an American alternative rock band first formed in 1986 by Evan Dando, Ben Deily and Jesse Peretz. Dando has remained the band's only constant member....
and Wolfmother
Wolfmother
Wolfmother is an Australian rock band from Erskineville, Sydney. Formed in 2000, the group was originally a trio composed of vocalist and guitarist Andrew Stockdale, bassist and keyboardist Chris Ross and drummer Myles Heskett. Wolfmother released their self-titled debut album in October 2005,...
they returned to Los Angeles to build a studio (Gang Bang Park)http://gangbangparkstudio.blogspot.com/2009/03/welcome-to-gangbang-park.html and start a new record with the newest touring line up including Joe Cardamone, Jeff Watson, Alvin DeGuzman, James Striff and Jason DeCorse.
The latest record by The Icarus Line, Wildlife (originally titled "Joe Cardamone Versus The Icarus Line"), is to be released in August 2011. Primary tracking was done at Sunset Sound's studio C under Greg Gordon's supervision with Alan Yoshida handling mastering duties. Additional tracking was completed at the newly constructed Gangbang Park studios. The upcoming album can be most characterized by the greater prominence of frontman Joe Cardamone, who in addition to lead singer and primary songwriter duties has further expanded his responsibilities to include producing and engineering. The first single "We Sick" was released on February 23, 2010. The album received a positive response from the press and fans.
EPs
- Highlypuncturingnoisetestingyourabilitytohate EP (1998)
- Red And Black AttackRed And Black AttackRed And Black Attack was the second release from the Hollywood based rock band The Icarus Line. The EP was recorded and released very quickly after their debut 7-inch, Highlypuncturingnoisetestingyourabilitytohate on Hellcat Records. The EP was released on New American Dream. This was the band's...
EP (1998) - Three Jesus Songs EP (2003)
- Black PresentsBlack presentsBlack Presents is an album by The Icarus Line released on November 14, 2006.-Album information:*Black Presents is an EP released in support of Black Lives at the Golden Coast....
EP (2006)
Albums
- MonoMono (album)Mono was the first album from The Icarus Line. It was originally released May 8, 2001 in the U.S. by Crank! Records on CD, and Buddyhead on LP....
(2001) - Penance SoireePenance SoireePenance Soiree was the second full-length album released by The Icarus Line. It was one of 2004's most critically acclaimed releases, and its reputation has subsequently earned praise in various publications, including the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.Due to infighting with the...
(2004) - Black Lives at the Golden CoastBlack Lives at the Golden CoastBlack Lives at the Golden Coast is the third full-length release from Los Angeles noise rock band The Icarus Line. Black Lives was also the second for major label V2 Records. Shortly after the long months of touring for Penance Soiree ended, the band returned to Los Angeles, penniless and...
(2007) - WildlifeWildlife (album)Wildlife is the third album by the band Mott the Hoople.It was originally released in 1971; in the UK by Island Records and in the US by Atlantic Records . After the edgier rock of their first two albums this record has a softer feel...
(August 2011)
Singles
- Kill Cupid With A Nail File (2000)
- Feed A Cat To Your Cobra (2001)
- Love Is Happiness (2003)
- Up Against The Wall, Motherfuckers (2004)
- Party The Baby Off (2004)
- On The Lash (2004)
- Gets Paid (2007)
- We Sick/Holy Man (2010)
Splits
- w/ Ink & Dagger (We're Never Gonna Make It) (1998)
- w/ Burning Brides (Angelfuck) (2002)
- w/ Pen Expers (Raise Your Crown) (2011)