The Production Side

We always need some sort of Cranberries to go with Turkey Day next week.

The Cranberries are all from outside Limerick, Ireland.
The band formed in 1990, after Noel Hogan (guitar), Mike Hogan (bass) and Fergal Lawlor met singer Dolores O’Riordon through mutual friends.
The boys original name for the band was Cranberry Saw Us.
“Linger” was the first song written by the band.
Nothing Left At All was the band’s 6 track demo tape in late 1990.
In 1991 The Cranberries inked a deal with Island Records; which is also the home of another Irish band called U2.
The band’s debut single, “Uncertain”, was met with …read more

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Let’s celebrate the release of Lord Don’t Slow Me Down with an FYI on the feuding brothers Gallagher and their band Oasis.

The band was formed by schoolmates Liam Gallagher, Paul (Bonehead) Arthurs on guitar, Paul McGuigan on bass and Tony McCaroll on drums.
Noel Gallagher joined the band after being a guitar roadie for the Inspriral Carpets.
The band apparently cornered the co-owner of Creation Records, Alan McGee, and forced him to listen to their demo; which worked and the band was signed.
“Supersonic” was the band’s first single, released in the spring of 1994.
The band’s third single, “Live Forever”, would hit #10 …read more

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I’ve been on an Alice in Chains kick lately, so let’s revisit an FYI I did back in August.
FYI: Alice in Chains
I do feel bad for not posting anything new, so here’s something for you all to enjoy.
“Sludge Factory” from Unplugged

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Since Billy Corgan and company will be at this weekend’s Voodoo Festival and Halloween is coming up, it only seems fitting to smash some pumpkins.

The Pumpkins first show was on July 8, 1988 at Chicago 21, which featured just Billy Corgan and guitarist James Iha. Bassist D’arcy Wretzky joined next, followed by drummer Jimmy Chamberlin.
The band sold cassettes of demos at their shows, the series of demos became known as Early 1989 Demos.
The Pumpkins made their first vinyl appearance on on the Light into Dark, which was a compilation of Chicago alternative bands. They contributed the tracks “My Dahlia” and …read more

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A day late, but still good, let’s check out an FYI on the Atlanta natives.

The band formed in 1984 under the name Mr. Crowes Garden.
In 1989 the band recorded a demo that would eventually land them a deal with Rick Rubin’s American Recordings.
Their debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, was released in January 1990 and would go on to sell over 3 million copies.
To support Shake Your Money Maker the band opened up for ZZ Top, but were fired after making sarcastic remarks about commercialism, since the tour was sponsored by Miller Beer.
In August of 1990, the band was part …read more

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Since Nine Inch Nails are now free agents, it seems like a good time for some FYI on them…they also have great music for this time of year.

Michael Trent Reznor was born on May, 17 1965 in Mercer, PA.
At age five he began playing piano.
In 1985 Reznor moves to Cleveland and gets a job as a janitor at Right Track Studio.
While working at Right Track, Reznor records nine demos that would be known as Purest Feeling in 1988.
These tracks would become Pretty Hate Machine.
Pretty Hate Machine was released on October 20, 1989 through TVT Records.
To support Pretty Hate Machine NIN …read more

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Hopefully by now you’ve heard the news about Radiohead’s new album, if not, you can go here or there for more info. With all this buzz, it seems like a good time for an FYI on Radiohead.

Colin Greenwood, Thom Yorke, Ed O’ Brien, Phil Selway and Jonny Greenwood went to Abingdon School together.
In 1986 they formed the band On A Friday and played their first gig at Jericho Tavern in Oxford.
Guitarist Jonny Greenwood originally joined the band as a keyboard player.
In 1991 the band signed with EMI and changed their name to Radiohead.
“Radio Head” is a song featured on the Talking Heads …read more

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The Toadies may have disbanded, but it’s still cool to give them a shout out. Afterall, I still jam out to “Possum Kingdom” when it comes on.

The Toadies formed in 1989 in Ft. Worth, Texas; consisting mainly of Todd Lewis (vocals, guitar) and Lisa Umbarger (bass).
Lisa Umbarger was able to buy her first bass with money she received for playing an Ewok in Return of the Jedi.
The band has had 5 different drummers, but Mark Reznicek has been in the band since 1991.
The Toadies have also gone through guitarists, with 4 to be exact.
Rubberneck was the band’s full length album …read more

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I did an FYI on the Foos back in July, but there’s always more info to share. Bedsides, the band is going to have a big couple of weeks following the release of Echoes, Silence, Patience, and Grace (which comes out on 9/25, but you can listen to the stream right now!). They’ll also be on the road  this fall and will be on Saturday Night Live on October 13.

The band’s self-titled debut was released in July, 1995 and would reach platinum status.
The video for “Big Me” was filmed in downtown Melbourne, Australia.
The Colour and the Shape was released in May, 1997.
The …read more

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The Pearl Jam frontman is rather busy this fall. He just performed at the Toronto International Film Festival, his solo soundtrack for Into The Wild comes out Tuesday and he’ll be at the Bridge School Benefit in October.
Eddie’s birth name is Edward Louis Severson III and is originally from Evanston, IL.
At age 7, Eddie appeared in a Chuckles candy ad. Don’t believe me? See for yourself.
During the 70’s and 80’s, Eddie moved back and forth from Chicago and San Diego.
By the mid 80’s Vedder began recording demos and became involved in the San Diego Music scene.
Eddie was in a band …read more

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