The Nixons
Encyclopedia
The Nixons were an American
post-grunge
rock band, finding some commercial success in the mid-1990s.
by singer/guitarist Zac Maloy, guitarist Jesse Davis, bassist Ricky Brooks, and drummer Tye Robison. The group released their debut EP
Six in 1992 (after a self-titled album, released in 1990) on Dragon Street Records
and replaced Robison with John Humphrey, before releasing Halo in 1994 on Dallas-based Rainmaker Records. This album features several songs also included on Foma
, their official debut LP, released in 1995 on MCA Records
. Foma included the radio hits "Sister", " Happy Song", "Wire", and "Passion". The group capitalized on their success with big tours (about 300 shows a year), including dates with KISS, Slash's Snakepit, Brother Cane, Soul Asylum
, Radiohead
, and Toadies
. Foma eventually peaked at #77 on the Billboard 200.
The group replaced Ricky Brooks with Ricky Wolking and released the self-titled album, "THe Nixons" in 1997 with MCA/Universal, which featured three singles: "The Fall", "Miss U.S.A." and "Baton Rouge". The album eventually peaked at #188 on the Billboard 200. Their consistent gigging ensured a strong cult audience for 1999's Scrapbook EP (featuring b-sides, live and acoustic performances, including covers of Elton John
's "Rocket Man" and Cheap Trick
's "Heaven Tonight"), which saw the band return to Rainmaker.
Their fourth album Latest Thing, was released by Koch in early 2000. It featured songs co-written by Marti Frederiksen
and Jack Blades
of Night Ranger
fame. The subsequent promotional tour used Ray Luzier
on drums and Scott "Scoob" Bush on guitar.
After a brief tour in support of Latest Thing, the Nixons went on hiatus.
. Ricky Wolking now plays bass for the Dallas-based rock band Edgewater
and has recorded a solo album as Honky Mofo. Jesse Davis played in a roots-rock/psychedelic jam band called 4 Points West which released one EP and one full-length album. He currently plays guitar in the Oklahoma City based rock band In Union. In Union released their self titled E.P. in 2011. Davis also has a recording studio in Oklahoma City. Zac Maloy released two albums and an EP as a solo artist, and has since become a songwriter and producer,and relocated to Nashville working with such acts as Carrie Underwood
, Our Lady Peace
, Supercell
, The Daylights
, Hanson
, Chris Daughtry
, David Cook
and Bowling for Soup
. Maloy also recently opened his own recording studio, Rosewater Studios, in Tulsa. Original drummer Robison is a co-owner of January Sound Studio in Dallas, and has worked as a producer/engineer with Drowning Pool
, Cas Haley
, and Dennis DeYoung
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
post-grunge
Post-grunge
Post-grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged in the mid-1990s as a derivative of grunge, using the sounds and aesthetic of grunge, but with a more commercially acceptable tone...
rock band, finding some commercial success in the mid-1990s.
Band history
The Nixons were founded in Oklahoma CityOklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
by singer/guitarist Zac Maloy, guitarist Jesse Davis, bassist Ricky Brooks, and drummer Tye Robison. The group released their debut EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
Six in 1992 (after a self-titled album, released in 1990) on Dragon Street Records
Dragon Street Records
Dragon Street Records is an independent record label, based out of Dallas, Texas. Founded in 1989 by David Dennard and Patrick Keel, longtime local musicians with over 25 combined years of music experience, Dragon Street's original goal was to develop regional rock bands into nationally viable...
and replaced Robison with John Humphrey, before releasing Halo in 1994 on Dallas-based Rainmaker Records. This album features several songs also included on Foma
Foma (album)
Foma is the first full-length studio album by The Nixons. The name of the title track is from the 1963 novel Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut. Foma is defined in the album's liner notes as "harmless untruths intended to comfort simple souls; lies."...
, their official debut LP, released in 1995 on MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
. Foma included the radio hits "Sister", " Happy Song", "Wire", and "Passion". The group capitalized on their success with big tours (about 300 shows a year), including dates with KISS, Slash's Snakepit, Brother Cane, Soul Asylum
Soul Asylum
Soul Asylum is an American alternative rock band that formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1983.The band originally formed in 1981 under the name Loud Fast Rules, with the original line-up consisting of Dan Murphy, Dave Pirner, Karl Mueller and Pat Morley. The latter was replaced by Grant Young in...
, 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...
, and Toadies
Toadies
Toadies are an alternative rock band from Fort Worth, Texas, best known for the song "Possum Kingdom." The band's classic lineup consisted of Todd Lewis on vocals/guitar, Mark Reznicek on drums, Lisa Umbarger on bass, and Darrel Herbert on guitar. It formed in 1989 and disbanded in 2001 after...
. Foma eventually peaked at #77 on the Billboard 200.
The group replaced Ricky Brooks with Ricky Wolking and released the self-titled album, "THe Nixons" in 1997 with MCA/Universal, which featured three singles: "The Fall", "Miss U.S.A." and "Baton Rouge". The album eventually peaked at #188 on the Billboard 200. Their consistent gigging ensured a strong cult audience for 1999's Scrapbook EP (featuring b-sides, live and acoustic performances, including covers of Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
's "Rocket Man" and 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...
's "Heaven Tonight"), which saw the band return to Rainmaker.
Their fourth album Latest Thing, was released by Koch in early 2000. It featured songs co-written by Marti Frederiksen
Marti Frederiksen
Martin Harold Frederiksen is an American songwriter, record producer, and musician. He writes and produces music primarily in rock, country, and pop...
and Jack Blades
Jack Blades
Jack Martin Blades is an American musician. He has worked in several bands: Rubicon, Night Ranger , and Damn Yankees . He also recorded with Tommy Shaw under the name Shaw/Blades, and has done work alongside TMG, the Tak Matsumoto Group...
of Night Ranger
Night Ranger
Night Ranger is an American rock band from San Francisco that gained popularity during the 1980s with a series of albums and singles. The band's first five albums sold more than 10 million copies worldwide...
fame. The subsequent promotional tour used Ray Luzier
Ray Luzier
Raymond Lee "Ray" Luzier is an American drummer. He is currently the drummer of the band Korn, becoming a full-time member of the band in April 2009.-Life and career:...
on drums and Scott "Scoob" Bush on guitar.
After a brief tour in support of Latest Thing, the Nixons went on hiatus.
Later projects
Davis, Brooks, and Humphrey reformed in early 2001 as Huver, with a new lead singer, Garin Murdock. The band gigged heavily and reportedly signed a recording contract with Epic Records, but broke up in the summer of 2002 after independently releasing one EP. John Humphrey has gone on to play drums in the band SeetherSeether
Seether is a post-grunge/alternative metal band from Pretoria, South Africa, formed in 1999. The band is currently signed to Wind-up Records...
. Ricky Wolking now plays bass for the Dallas-based rock band Edgewater
Edgewater (band)
Edgewater was a five-piece post-grunge band from the Dallas, Texas area that began in 1997. The band's style was not aimed to fit into any particular genre. According to drummer Jeremy Rees, "Our music is like our name...
and has recorded a solo album as Honky Mofo. Jesse Davis played in a roots-rock/psychedelic jam band called 4 Points West which released one EP and one full-length album. He currently plays guitar in the Oklahoma City based rock band In Union. In Union released their self titled E.P. in 2011. Davis also has a recording studio in Oklahoma City. Zac Maloy released two albums and an EP as a solo artist, and has since become a songwriter and producer,and relocated to Nashville working with such acts as Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood
Carrie Marie Underwood is an American country singer-songwriter and actress who rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol, in 2005...
, Our Lady Peace
Our Lady Peace
Our Lady Peace is a Canadian alternative rock band that formed in Toronto, Ontario in 1992. Headed by lead vocalist Raine Maida since its formation, the band additionally consists of Jeremy Taggart on percussion, Duncan Coutts on bass, and Steve Mazur as lead guitarist...
, Supercell
Supercell
A supercell is a thunderstorm that is characterized by the presence of a mesocyclone: a deep, continuously-rotating updraft. For this reason, these storms are sometimes referred to as rotating thunderstorms...
, The Daylights
The Daylights
The Daylights is a pop rock band from Los Angeles, California that formed in 2004. The trio is fronted by brothers Ran Jackson and Ricky Jackson, with Svend Lerche on Drums....
, Hanson
Hanson (band)
Hanson are an American pop rock band formed in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by brothers Isaac , Taylor , and Zac Hanson . They are best known for the 1997 hit song "MMMBop" from their major label debut album Middle of Nowhere, which earned three Grammy nominations...
, Chris Daughtry
Chris Daughtry
Christopher Adam "Chris" Daughtry is an American musician best known as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for the rock band Daughtry and as the fourth-place finalist on the fifth season of American Idol, from which he was eliminated on May 10, 2006...
, David Cook
David Cook (singer)
David Roland Cook is an American rock singer-songwriter, who rose to fame after winning the seventh season of the reality television show American Idol...
and Bowling for Soup
Bowling for Soup
Bowling for Soup is an American pop-punk band which originally formed in Wichita Falls, Texas in 1994...
. Maloy also recently opened his own recording studio, Rosewater Studios, in Tulsa. Original drummer Robison is a co-owner of January Sound Studio in Dallas, and has worked as a producer/engineer 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...
, Cas Haley
Cas Haley
Cas Haley is an American singer/guitarist who was the runner-up on Season 2 of America's Got Talent.-Career:His self-titled album charted as the #8 Best selling reggae album of 2008 on the Billboard Charts....
, and Dennis DeYoung
Dennis DeYoung
Dennis DeYoung is an American singer, songwriter, musician and producer best known for being a founding member of the rock band Styx, a tenure that lasted from 1970 to 1999.-Early life:...
.
Discography
- 1990 - The Nixons (self-released, on cassette only)
- 1992 - Six EP (Dragon Street Records)
- 1994 - Halo
- 1995 - FomaFoma (album)Foma is the first full-length studio album by The Nixons. The name of the title track is from the 1963 novel Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut. Foma is defined in the album's liner notes as "harmless untruths intended to comfort simple souls; lies."...
- #77 US - 1997 - The Nixons (MCA) - #188 US
- 1998 - Baton Rouge
- 1999 - Scrapbook EPScrapbook EPScrapbook EP is a Double 7" and CD EP by the band Portastatic. It was released on the Merge Records label in 1995. "St. Elmo's Fire" is a Brian Eno cover. "Why Pinch Yourself" and "A Bear That Chokes" were previously released on Hello CD of the Month EP.- Track listing :Double 7": Side A:# "St...
- 2000 - Latest Thing
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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... |
|||||
| 1996 1996 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1996.-January:* January – At the trial of two American teenagers, Nicholaus McDonald and Brian Bassett, for the murder of Bassett's parents and young brother, defense lawyers attempt to lay the blame for the murders on the fact... |
"Sister" | |
|
|
Foma Foma (album) Foma is the first full-length studio album by The Nixons. The name of the title track is from the 1963 novel Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut. Foma is defined in the album's liner notes as "harmless untruths intended to comfort simple souls; lies."... |
| 1996 1996 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1996.-January:* January – At the trial of two American teenagers, Nicholaus McDonald and Brian Bassett, for the murder of Bassett's parents and young brother, defense lawyers attempt to lay the blame for the murders on the fact... |
"Wire" | |
|
|
Foma Foma (album) Foma is the first full-length studio album by The Nixons. The name of the title track is from the 1963 novel Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut. Foma is defined in the album's liner notes as "harmless untruths intended to comfort simple souls; lies."... |
| 1997 1997 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1997.-January:*January 9 – David Bowie performs his 50th Birthday Bash concert at Madison Square Garden, New York City, USA with guests Frank Black, The Foo Fighters, Sonic Youth, Robert Smith of The Cure, Lou Reed, and Billy... |
"Baton Rouge" | |
|
|
The Nixons |
| 1997 1997 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1997.-January:*January 9 – David Bowie performs his 50th Birthday Bash concert at Madison Square Garden, New York City, USA with guests Frank Black, The Foo Fighters, Sonic Youth, Robert Smith of The Cure, Lou Reed, and Billy... |
"The Fall" | |
|
|
The Nixons |
| 2000 2000 in music See also:* 2000 in music Record labels established in 2000-Events:*January – Gary Glitter is released from jail, two months before his sentence for sexual offences ends.*January 1**John Tavener is knighted in the New Year's Honours List.... |
"First Trip" | |
|
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Latest Thing |
Band members
- Zac Maloy - vocals, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(1990-2000) - Jesse Davis - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, backing vocals (1990-2000) - Ricky Brooks - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(1990-1997) - Ricky Wolking - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals (1997-2000) - Tye Robison - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, backing vocals, programming (1990-1992) - John Humphrey - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, backing vocals (1994-2000) - Ray LuzierRay LuzierRaymond Lee "Ray" Luzier is an American drummer. He is currently the drummer of the band Korn, becoming a full-time member of the band in April 2009.-Life and career:...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(2000) - Scott "Scoob" Bush [Guitar] [Backing Vocals]
External links
- The Nixons on Myspace.com
- Zac Maloy on MySpace.com (contains Nixons songs)
- [ Nixons' AllMusic page]
- Tye Robison's studio in Dallas