Vendetta Red
Encyclopedia
Vendetta Red is an American alternative rock
band from Seattle, Washington
that formed in 1998. They released an EP
, 6 Kisses, A Blatant Reminder of Why We Are Alive, in 1999 and two albums, Blackout Analysis
in 2000 and White Knuckled Substance
in 2001, before signing their first major label deal with Epic Records
.
Their first release on Epic, Between the Never and the Now
, charted at #1 on the Billboard
Top Heatseekers
and #101 on the Billboard 200
in 2003 with the album's single, Shatterday, peaked at #16 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart.
The group's fourth and final album, Sisters of the Red Death
, was released in 2005 and charted at #21 on the Top Heatseeker's Chart. After a series of lineup changes, the group disbanded in 2006, but announced a reunion four years later.
and nearly a year later they issued their debut release, the 6 Kisses, A Blatant Reminder of Why We Are Alive EP
with a tour of the West Coast
following after. A year later they released their debut album, Blackout Analysis
, with their second album, White Knuckled Substance
, being released in October, through Loveless Records, of the next year, which was well received by local radio, with the band continuing to tour on the West Coast. During their tour, they gained the attention of a number of labels and eventually signed with Epic Records
in 2002.
, the group's major label debut album Between the Never and the Now
, which was preceded by the EP Cut Your Noose
, was released in June 2003 and charted at #1 on the Billboard
Top Heatseekers
and #101 on the Billboard 200
. The album's single, Shatterday, peaked at #16 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. The album itself featured reworked songs from their previous release, White Knuckled Subtance. The band supported the album with a North American tour, which included a stint on the Warped Tour
. The song The Long Goodbye, from the album White Knuckled Substance, was included on the Warped Tour 2002 Tour Compilation.
After opening for AC/DC
at the New York
Roseland Ballroom
, singer Zach Davidson stated that the fans during the show were acting 'blatantly homophobic':
They continued to tour, playing with the likes of Dashboard Confessional
, Brand New
and MxPx
.
The group entered the studio in 2004 with producer Howard Benson
to record the follow-up to Between the Never and the Now. For the album, Childres switched to keyboards with Burke Thomas added to the group to record drums. Street Drum Corps
drummer Bobby Alt contributed theremin
to the album while Phil Perrone contributed backing vocals. The album, titled Sisters of the Red Death
, was released in 2005 and charted at #21 on the Top Heatseeker's Chart.
Later in 2005, Chapman, Vermillion and Childres left the group and guitarist Leif Andersen, of Common Heroes, and bassist Jeff Rouse
, of Alien Crime Syndicate
and Loaded
were added to the group with Andersen also performing on keyboards for the tour.
on March 8, 2006 that they were going separate ways to create different styles of music. Zach later made the following statement:
Vendetta Red played their final show at El Corazon in Seattle, Washington on April 8, 2006. They ended their set with A Joyless Euphoria.
in 2006 along with drummer Ben Libey. They signed to The Control Group
and released their debut album Echoes from the Ocean Floor in September 2006 produced by Martin Feveyear. In 2007 Rouse left the group and was replaced by Andersen's brother, Levi Andersen, on bass with the group going on to release Unspeakable Things in 2009
Vermillion has been enjoying a solo career now playing his own folk and American roots songs as well as covering many classic but perhaps lesser-known American country artists such as Townes Van Zandt, Merle Haggard and Jim Croce. He plays shows frequently in the Seattle area and also DJs under the name "Sad Bastard" usually spinning country, motown, folk and soul. His first official full-length solo album will be released May 21, 2008
Justin is now playing drums for With Friends Like These. In addition to Justin the band consists of fellow Bakersfield native Matthew Shaw, local producer Tyler Coffey
, and Brian Pake. Justin also owns a recording studio with bandmate Tyler Coffey
in Seattle called The Toy Box.
Eric Chapman has been enjoying life outside of the music industry as a bar tender at a Seattle area up-scale bar. He was married in 2006 to girlfriend Andrea and they currently reside in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle.
Their song 'Silhouette Serenade' is featured in the video game Saint's Row.
Joseph Childres is now playing for Blood Hot Beat.
Burke Thomas formed a band called Megasapien, along with Lian Light (formerly of Magneto). Their second album is expected to be released at the end of March 2011. Megasapien songs can be heard on radio during Loveline.
As of June 2011, Vendetta Red have decided to continue being active as they will appear at this year's Bumbershoot Music and Arts Festival
in Seattle on September 5. The band members have also began working on new material and have enlisted noted rock/metal producer Terry Date
to produce what would be their first album in six years. Plans are underway to complete the album by the end of the summer.
EPs
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band from Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
that formed in 1998. They released an 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...
, 6 Kisses, A Blatant Reminder of Why We Are Alive, in 1999 and two albums, Blackout Analysis
Blackout Analysis
-Track listing:# "Cinder" - 4:15# "Lipstick Tourniquets" - 4:09# "Opiate Summer" - 3:35# "There Only Is" - 3:47# "Hangman " - 3:49# "Muad'dib" - 3:36# "P.S Love the Black" - 5:22# "Rapture In Vertige" - 4:38# "The Bruisc Vaccine" - 5:40...
in 2000 and White Knuckled Substance
White Knuckled Substance
White Knuckled Substance is the second album by Vendetta Red. It was released on October 30, 2001.-Track listing:#"Caught You Like A Cold" - 2:36#"Suicide Party" - 3:05#"Ribcage Menagerie" - 2:07#"Shatterday" - 2:39#"Accident Sex" - 3:12...
in 2001, before signing their first major label deal with 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...
.
Their first release on Epic, Between the Never and the Now
Between the Never and the Now
Between the Never and the Now is the third album by Vendetta Red. It was released on June 24, 2003 as an Enhanced CD.-Track listing:#"There Only Is" – 3:49#"Stay Home" – 2:55#"Opiate Summer" – 3:36#"Seconds Away" – 3:31#"Shatterday" – 2:39...
, charted at #1 on the Billboard
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
Top Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical...
and #101 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...
in 2003 with the album's single, Shatterday, peaked at #16 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart.
The group's fourth and final album, Sisters of the Red Death
Sisters of the Red Death
Sisters of the Red Death is the fourth and final album by Vendetta Red which was released on August 30, 2005. On the limited edition white vinyl the back of the album lists the song "Depressionesque" as Track XIII, however, inside the artwork there is a misprint and the song is listed as track...
, was released in 2005 and charted at #21 on the Top Heatseeker's Chart. After a series of lineup changes, the group disbanded in 2006, but announced a reunion four years later.
Early career (1998–2002)
The group was formed in 1998 by Erik Chapman, Joseph Childres, Justin Cronk, Zach Davidson, and Mike Vermillion in Seattle, WashingtonSeattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
and nearly a year later they issued their debut release, the 6 Kisses, A Blatant Reminder of Why We Are Alive 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...
with a tour of the West Coast
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
following after. A year later they released their debut album, Blackout Analysis
Blackout Analysis
-Track listing:# "Cinder" - 4:15# "Lipstick Tourniquets" - 4:09# "Opiate Summer" - 3:35# "There Only Is" - 3:47# "Hangman " - 3:49# "Muad'dib" - 3:36# "P.S Love the Black" - 5:22# "Rapture In Vertige" - 4:38# "The Bruisc Vaccine" - 5:40...
, with their second album, White Knuckled Substance
White Knuckled Substance
White Knuckled Substance is the second album by Vendetta Red. It was released on October 30, 2001.-Track listing:#"Caught You Like A Cold" - 2:36#"Suicide Party" - 3:05#"Ribcage Menagerie" - 2:07#"Shatterday" - 2:39#"Accident Sex" - 3:12...
, being released in October, through Loveless Records, of the next year, which was well received by local radio, with the band continuing to tour on the West Coast. During their tour, they gained the attention of a number of labels and eventually signed with 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...
in 2002.
Major label years (2003–2006)
After finishing recording with the late Jerry FinnJerry Finn
Jerry Finn was an American record producer. He was perhaps best known for his work with Blink-182, as well as Morrissey, AFI, Bad Religion, Alkaline Trio, MxPx, Rancid, Green Day, Sum 41 and The Offspring.-Death:...
, the group's major label debut album Between the Never and the Now
Between the Never and the Now
Between the Never and the Now is the third album by Vendetta Red. It was released on June 24, 2003 as an Enhanced CD.-Track listing:#"There Only Is" – 3:49#"Stay Home" – 2:55#"Opiate Summer" – 3:36#"Seconds Away" – 3:31#"Shatterday" – 2:39...
, which was preceded by the EP Cut Your Noose
Cut Your Noose EP
Cut Your Noose was the second EP release by American emo band Vendetta Red.The EP features songs that have been previously released on other CD's, these include:...
, was released in June 2003 and charted at #1 on the Billboard
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
Top Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical...
and #101 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...
. The album's single, Shatterday, peaked at #16 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. The album itself featured reworked songs from their previous release, White Knuckled Subtance. The band supported the album with a North American tour, which included a stint on the Warped Tour
Warped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
. The song The Long Goodbye, from the album White Knuckled Substance, was included on the Warped Tour 2002 Tour Compilation.
After opening for AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
at the New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
Roseland Ballroom
Roseland Ballroom
The Roseland Ballroom is a multi-purpose hall, in a converted ice skating rink, with a colorful ballroom dancing pedigree, in New York City's theatre district, on West 52nd Street....
, singer Zach Davidson stated that the fans during the show were acting 'blatantly homophobic':
They continued to tour, playing with the likes of Dashboard Confessional
Dashboard Confessional
Dashboard Confessional is an American rock band from Boca Raton, Florida, led by singer-songwriter Chris Carrabba. The name of the band is derived from the song "The Sharp Hint of New Tears" from the debut album The Swiss Army Romance....
, Brand New
Brand New
Brand New is an American rock band from Long Island, New York. Formed in 2000, the band currently consists of vocalist/guitarist/lyricist Jesse Lacey, guitarist/vocalist/lyricist Vincent Accardi, bassist Garrett Tierney, drummer Brian Lane, and guitarist/keyboardist Derrick Sherman.In the late...
and MxPx
MxPx
MxPx is a pop punk band from Bremerton, Washington with connections to the Christian punk scene. The band has recorded eight studio albums, four EPs, four compilation albums, a live album, a VHS tape, a DVD and released 20 singles....
.
The group entered the studio in 2004 with producer Howard Benson
Howard Benson
Howard Benson is a two-time Grammy-nominated music producer and aerospace engineer.-Biography:Howard Benson has a degree in materials engineering from Drexel University and studied composition at the Philadelphia College for Performing Arts. Later he worked for Garrett AiResearch, where he worked...
to record the follow-up to Between the Never and the Now. For the album, Childres switched to keyboards with Burke Thomas added to the group to record drums. Street Drum Corps
Street Drum Corps
Street Drum Corps is a punk rock percussion band formed in Los Angeles, California in 2004 by Bobby Alt, of S.T.U.N. and Faculty X, Adam Alt, of Circus Minor, and Frank Zummo, of TheStart. To date the group have released two albums and have been part of tours such as Van's Warped Tour, Taste of...
drummer Bobby Alt contributed theremin
Theremin
The theremin , originally known as the aetherphone/etherophone, thereminophone or termenvox/thereminvox is an early electronic musical instrument controlled without discernible physical contact from the player. It is named after its Russian inventor, Professor Léon Theremin, who patented the device...
to the album while Phil Perrone contributed backing vocals. The album, titled Sisters of the Red Death
Sisters of the Red Death
Sisters of the Red Death is the fourth and final album by Vendetta Red which was released on August 30, 2005. On the limited edition white vinyl the back of the album lists the song "Depressionesque" as Track XIII, however, inside the artwork there is a misprint and the song is listed as track...
, was released in 2005 and charted at #21 on the Top Heatseeker's Chart.
Later in 2005, Chapman, Vermillion and Childres left the group and guitarist Leif Andersen, of Common Heroes, and bassist Jeff Rouse
Jeff Rouse (musician)
Jeff Rouse is an American musician who is best known as the bassist for both Alien Crime Syndicate and Duff McKagan's Loaded. Previously, Rouse was a member of a number of Seattle based groups such as Vendetta Red and Sirens Sister while he also has his own solo project titled To the Glorious...
, of Alien Crime Syndicate
Alien Crime Syndicate
Alien Crime Syndicate, often abbreviated to ACS, were a rock band formed in San Francisco, California, in 1997. From 1999 to the band's breakup in 2005, the lineup consisted primarily of Joe Reineke , Jeff Rouse , Nabil Ayers , while guitarists Jason Krevey, Mike Squires and Mike Davis were also...
and Loaded
Loaded (band)
Loaded is an American hard rock band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1999. Since 2001, the band's line-up has included vocalist and rhythm guitarist Duff McKagan , lead guitarist Mike Squires and bassist Jeff Rouse Loaded (also known as Duff McKagan's Loaded) is an American hard rock band...
were added to the group with Andersen also performing on keyboards for the tour.
Breakup (2006)
Vendetta Red announced through MySpaceMySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
on March 8, 2006 that they were going separate ways to create different styles of music. Zach later made the following statement:
Vendetta Red played their final show at El Corazon in Seattle, Washington on April 8, 2006. They ended their set with A Joyless Euphoria.
Post-breakup (2006–2010)
Following the breakup, Davidson, Andersen and Rouse formed Sirens SisterSirens Sister
Sirens Sister is an American rock band based in Seattle, Washington. The group was formed in 2006, following the breakup of Vendetta Red, former members Zach Davidson, Leif Andersen and Rouse, as well as local drummer Ben Libay, formed Sirens Sister, initially in Bakersfield, California before...
in 2006 along with drummer Ben Libey. They signed to The Control Group
The Control Group
The Control Group is a relatively small record label, founded by Nabil Ayers. Notable artists to have albums released by this label include Kings of Leon and The Killers.-Bands Signed with TCG :*Alien Crime Syndicate*El Perro Del Mar*Figurines...
and released their debut album Echoes from the Ocean Floor in September 2006 produced by Martin Feveyear. In 2007 Rouse left the group and was replaced by Andersen's brother, Levi Andersen, on bass with the group going on to release Unspeakable Things in 2009
Vermillion has been enjoying a solo career now playing his own folk and American roots songs as well as covering many classic but perhaps lesser-known American country artists such as Townes Van Zandt, Merle Haggard and Jim Croce. He plays shows frequently in the Seattle area and also DJs under the name "Sad Bastard" usually spinning country, motown, folk and soul. His first official full-length solo album will be released May 21, 2008
Justin is now playing drums for With Friends Like These. In addition to Justin the band consists of fellow Bakersfield native Matthew Shaw, local producer Tyler Coffey
Tyler Coffey
Tyler Coffey is a musician and record producer based in Seattle, Washington. He is known for playing guitar in "With Friends Like These" who signed to Sound vs. Silence Records in 2009. Their debut, Dead and Gone, was mixed by Barrett Jones . Soon after the release of the record, the band took an...
, and Brian Pake. Justin also owns a recording studio with bandmate Tyler Coffey
Tyler Coffey
Tyler Coffey is a musician and record producer based in Seattle, Washington. He is known for playing guitar in "With Friends Like These" who signed to Sound vs. Silence Records in 2009. Their debut, Dead and Gone, was mixed by Barrett Jones . Soon after the release of the record, the band took an...
in Seattle called The Toy Box.
Eric Chapman has been enjoying life outside of the music industry as a bar tender at a Seattle area up-scale bar. He was married in 2006 to girlfriend Andrea and they currently reside in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle.
Their song 'Silhouette Serenade' is featured in the video game Saint's Row.
Joseph Childres is now playing for Blood Hot Beat.
Burke Thomas formed a band called Megasapien, along with Lian Light (formerly of Magneto). Their second album is expected to be released at the end of March 2011. Megasapien songs can be heard on radio during Loveline.
Reunion (2010–present)
In December 2010, it was announced that Vendetta Red would reunite for a one-off show at El Corazon in Seattle, Washington on March 5, 2011.As of June 2011, Vendetta Red have decided to continue being active as they will appear at this year's Bumbershoot Music and Arts Festival
Bumbershoot
Bumbershoot is an annual international music and arts festival held in Seattle, Washington. One of North America's largest such festivals, it takes place every Labor Day weekend at the 74-acre Seattle Center, which was built for the 1962 World's Fair. Seattle Center includes indoor theaters,...
in Seattle on September 5. The band members have also began working on new material and have enlisted noted rock/metal producer Terry Date
Terry Date
Terry Date is an American record producer and engineer, specializing in the rock and metal genres...
to produce what would be their first album in six years. Plans are underway to complete the album by the end of the summer.
Discography
Studio albums- Blackout AnalysisBlackout Analysis-Track listing:# "Cinder" - 4:15# "Lipstick Tourniquets" - 4:09# "Opiate Summer" - 3:35# "There Only Is" - 3:47# "Hangman " - 3:49# "Muad'dib" - 3:36# "P.S Love the Black" - 5:22# "Rapture In Vertige" - 4:38# "The Bruisc Vaccine" - 5:40...
(2000) - White Knuckled SubstanceWhite Knuckled SubstanceWhite Knuckled Substance is the second album by Vendetta Red. It was released on October 30, 2001.-Track listing:#"Caught You Like A Cold" - 2:36#"Suicide Party" - 3:05#"Ribcage Menagerie" - 2:07#"Shatterday" - 2:39#"Accident Sex" - 3:12...
(2001) - Between the Never and the NowBetween the Never and the NowBetween the Never and the Now is the third album by Vendetta Red. It was released on June 24, 2003 as an Enhanced CD.-Track listing:#"There Only Is" – 3:49#"Stay Home" – 2:55#"Opiate Summer" – 3:36#"Seconds Away" – 3:31#"Shatterday" – 2:39...
(2003) - Sisters of the Red DeathSisters of the Red DeathSisters of the Red Death is the fourth and final album by Vendetta Red which was released on August 30, 2005. On the limited edition white vinyl the back of the album lists the song "Depressionesque" as Track XIII, however, inside the artwork there is a misprint and the song is listed as track...
(2005)
EPs
- 6 Kisses, A Blatant Reminder of Why We Are Alive (1999)
- Cut Your Noose EPCut Your Noose EPCut Your Noose was the second EP release by American emo band Vendetta Red.The EP features songs that have been previously released on other CD's, these include:...
(2002) - Shatterday EPShatterday EPShatterday was the third and final EP to be released by American emo band Vendetta Red.Shatterday was released as a 4 song EP.-Track listing:# "Shatterday" - 2:40# "Caught You Like A Cold" - 2:44# "Lipstick Tourniquets" - 4:11...
(2003)
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart Positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alternative Songs | |||
| 2003 | "Shatterday" | #16 | Between the Never and the Now |
Members
- Zach Davidson – vocals, guitar (1998–2006)
- Eric Chapman – guitar (1998–2004)
- Justin Cronk – guitar (2000–2006)
- Michael Vermillion – bass (2000–2005)
- Joseph Childres – drums, percussion, keyboards (1998–2004)
- Burke Thomas – drums, percussion (2000–2006)
- Leif Andersen – guitar, keyboards (2005–2006)
- Jeff RouseJeff Rouse (musician)Jeff Rouse is an American musician who is best known as the bassist for both Alien Crime Syndicate and Duff McKagan's Loaded. Previously, Rouse was a member of a number of Seattle based groups such as Vendetta Red and Sirens Sister while he also has his own solo project titled To the Glorious...
– bass (2005–2006)
External links
- Michael Vermillion interview on MyNorthwest.com