The Rockfords
Encyclopedia
The Rockfords were an American rock
band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1999 by Carrie Akre
, Chris Friel, and Danny Newcomb of Goodness
, Mike McCready
of Pearl Jam
, and Rick Friel of Jodie Watts. The group served as a side project for its members, who had already tasted success with their respective bands.
were originally members of the band Shadow during the mid-1980s in Seattle, Washington. After a couple of attempts at breaking into the Los Angeles
, California
music scene, the group broke up and the band members went their separate ways. McCready would go on to co-form Pearl Jam
in 1990 and Chris Friel and Danny Newcomb would go on to be a part of the band Goodness
. Sometime as early as June 20, 1998, Chris Friel and Danny Newcomb of Goodness would invite McCready to play with Goodness onstage prior to a Pearl Jam set. They soon decided afterward to put a band together with Rick Friel and Goodness vocalist Carrie Akre
. They named themselves The Rockfords, after one of McCready's favorite TV shows The Rockford Files
.
The band's debut album, The Rockfords
, was released on February 1, 2000 through Epic Records
. Produced by John Goodmanson
, it featured vocalist/guitarist Nancy Wilson
(of Heart
) contributing guest vocals on the track "Riverwide". Theresa E. LaVeck of Allmusic called the album a "compelling, if uneven, collaborative effort." The band members would go back to their regular work for some time after playing at least five shows together in the Seattle area in 2000.
In 2003, the band got together again, playing several more shows around Seattle and writing several new songs. A live album, Live Seattle, WA 12/13/03
, was released in 2003 through Kufala Recordings. An EP containing the new songs, Waiting...
(again produced by Goodmanson), was released in 2004.
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 formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1999 by Carrie Akre
Carrie Akre
Carrie Akre is a musician best known for her work with Seattle underground bands Hammerbox and Goodness.Since Goodness disbanded in 1998, she has contributed vocals to the project band The Rockfords , and released three solo albums...
, Chris Friel, and Danny Newcomb of Goodness
Goodness (band)
Goodness was a rock band from Seattle, Washington , led by Carrie Akre, formerly of Hammerbox and now primarily a solo artist. Goodness featured Akre , Danny Newcomb , Garth Reeves , Fiia McGann , and Chris Friel...
, Mike McCready
Mike McCready
Michael David McCready is an American musician who serves as the lead guitarist for the American rock band Pearl Jam. Along with Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard, Dave Krusen, and Eddie Vedder, he is one of the founding members of Pearl Jam...
of 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 Rick Friel of Jodie Watts. The group served as a side project for its members, who had already tasted success with their respective bands.
History
Chris Friel, Rick Friel, Danny Newcomb, and Mike McCreadyMike McCready
Michael David McCready is an American musician who serves as the lead guitarist for the American rock band Pearl Jam. Along with Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard, Dave Krusen, and Eddie Vedder, he is one of the founding members of Pearl Jam...
were originally members of the band Shadow during the mid-1980s in Seattle, Washington. After a couple of attempts at breaking into the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
music scene, the group broke up and the band members went their separate ways. McCready would go on to co-form 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...
in 1990 and Chris Friel and Danny Newcomb would go on to be a part of the band Goodness
Goodness (band)
Goodness was a rock band from Seattle, Washington , led by Carrie Akre, formerly of Hammerbox and now primarily a solo artist. Goodness featured Akre , Danny Newcomb , Garth Reeves , Fiia McGann , and Chris Friel...
. Sometime as early as June 20, 1998, Chris Friel and Danny Newcomb of Goodness would invite McCready to play with Goodness onstage prior to a Pearl Jam set. They soon decided afterward to put a band together with Rick Friel and Goodness vocalist Carrie Akre
Carrie Akre
Carrie Akre is a musician best known for her work with Seattle underground bands Hammerbox and Goodness.Since Goodness disbanded in 1998, she has contributed vocals to the project band The Rockfords , and released three solo albums...
. They named themselves The Rockfords, after one of McCready's favorite TV shows The Rockford Files
The Rockford Files
The Rockford Files is an American television drama series which aired on the NBC network between September 13, 1974 and January 10, 1980. It has remained in regular syndication to the present day. The show stars James Garner as Los Angeles-based private investigator Jim Rockford and features Noah...
.
The band's debut album, The Rockfords
The Rockfords (album)
Japanese bonus track-Personnel:The Rockfords*Carrie Akre – vocals*Chris Friel – drums*Rick Friel – bass guitar*Mike McCready – guitar*Danny Newcomb – guitarAdditional musicians and production*Ames Design – package design...
, was released on February 1, 2000 through Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
. Produced by John Goodmanson
John Goodmanson
John Goodmanson is an American recording engineer and indie rock record producer.-Selected discography:*Aiden "Conviction " *Simple Plan "Crash and Burn"...
, it featured vocalist/guitarist Nancy Wilson
Nancy Wilson (guitarist)
Nancy Lamoureux Wilson is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer who, with her older sister Ann and lead guitarist Roger Fisher, became the core of the Seattle/Vancouver rock band Heart.-Life and career:...
(of Heart
Heart (band)
Heart is an American rock band who first found success in Canada. Throughout several lineup changes, the only two members remaining constant are sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson. The group rose to fame in the 1970s with their music being influenced by hard rock as well as folk music...
) contributing guest vocals on the track "Riverwide". Theresa E. LaVeck of Allmusic called the album a "compelling, if uneven, collaborative effort." The band members would go back to their regular work for some time after playing at least five shows together in the Seattle area in 2000.
In 2003, the band got together again, playing several more shows around Seattle and writing several new songs. A live album, Live Seattle, WA 12/13/03
Live Seattle, WA 12/13/03
Live Seattle, WA 12/13/03 is a two-disc live album by the American rock band The Rockfords. It was released on December 28, 2003 through Kufala Recordings.-Overview:...
, was released in 2003 through Kufala Recordings. An EP containing the new songs, Waiting...
Waiting... (EP)
-Personnel:The Rockfords*Carrie Akre – vocals*Chris Friel – drums*Rick Friel – bass guitar*Mike McCready – guitar*Danny Newcomb – guitarProduction*Danger Island Music – design*John Goodmanson – production...
(again produced by Goodmanson), was released in 2004.
Band members
- Carrie AkreCarrie AkreCarrie Akre is a musician best known for her work with Seattle underground bands Hammerbox and Goodness.Since Goodness disbanded in 1998, she has contributed vocals to the project band The Rockfords , and released three solo albums...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Chris Friel – 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 ....
- Rick Friel – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Mike McCreadyMike McCreadyMichael David McCready is an American musician who serves as the lead guitarist for the American rock band Pearl Jam. Along with Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard, Dave Krusen, and Eddie Vedder, he is one of the founding members of Pearl Jam...
– 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... - Danny Newcomb – guitar
Studio albums
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 2000 | The Rockfords The Rockfords (album) Japanese bonus track-Personnel:The Rockfords*Carrie Akre – vocals*Chris Friel – drums*Rick Friel – bass guitar*Mike McCready – guitar*Danny Newcomb – guitarAdditional musicians and production*Ames Design – package design...
|
Live albums
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 2003 | Live Seattle, WA 12/13/03 Live Seattle, WA 12/13/03 Live Seattle, WA 12/13/03 is a two-disc live album by the American rock band The Rockfords. It was released on December 28, 2003 through Kufala Recordings.-Overview:...
|
Extended plays
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 2004 | Waiting... Waiting... (EP) -Personnel:The Rockfords*Carrie Akre – vocals*Chris Friel – drums*Rick Friel – bass guitar*Mike McCready – guitar*Danny Newcomb – guitarProduction*Danger Island Music – design*John Goodmanson – production...
|
Singles
| Year | Single | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | "Silver Lining" | The Rockfords |
Other appearances
| Year | Song | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | "Silver Lining" |
Down to You: Music from the Miramax Motion Picture Down to You Down to You is a 2000 romantic comedy film about losing a first love. It was directed by Kris Isacsson. The main characters are Alfred 'Al' Connelly Imogen and Cyrus... |
Epic |