Maldroid

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Maldroid
Background information
Origin Flag of United States Oakland, California, USA
Years active 2005–present
Label(s) Fuzz
Website Official website
Members
Ryan Divine: vocals, Johnny Genius Murphy:guitar and vocals, A.J. Riot: keyboard and vocals, Jerry "Prince J" Last: keyboards, Todd "Tiffany" Brown: guitar, Mike O'Millions: drums and vocals, Sean Shippley: bass.

'Maldroid is a British Invasion-style rock band based in Oakland, California.

Contents

[edit] History

Lead singer Ryan Divine, born and raised in Santa Cruz, founded Maldroid in March 2006, hand-picking local musicians had worked with from now defunct local bands Solemite and "The K.G.B." (not to be confused with Finnish group KGB ). The band made its first EP later that year produced by guitarist Johnny Genius, the other core member. Their first video, "He Said, She Said," is a combination of simulated live performance, background subway scenes from the BART rail system, and graphic-novel style cartoons hand-animated over the course of several months by Divine.

The single became popular on local San Francisco modern rock station Live 105, after which the video went on to win Youtube's first-ever music contest, "The Youtube Underground." That earned them an appearance on Good Morning America and interest from various record labels.

On February 14, 2007, a 5,000-word cover story was published in a local alternative-weekly newspaper chronicling the group's roots, evolution, and rapid rise to become perhaps the first ever indie rock group launched solely on music videos. [1] Unlike OK Go, who was already signed to a major label by the time it was boosted to mainstream popularity through its viral music videos, Maldroid experienced music video fame before it had released a single song for sale or played a single live show.

[edit] Musical style and influences

Maldroid styles itself after British Invasion bands from the 60s and "Second British Invasion" bands of the 80s. They playing straightforward, singable pop music with clear vocals, a strong beat, conventional arrangements (bass, keys, guitar, singers), and clever wordplay. It is clearly influenced by early music by The Beatles, although the music is harder edged, more personal, yet less experimental than late Beatles. Another close comparison is The Kinks. The band also has New Wave and Indie Rock overtones, and pays homage to Devo, The Hives, Daft Punk, Beck, and Iggy Pop.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] Singles

[edit] Trivia

  • Maldroid's first three videos are all animations created by lead singer Ryan Divine using commonly available PC software, essentially at no cost. Their EP was produced at a cost of $50, which the band claims was spent mostly on food and alcohol, at a studio where two band members work.
  • The video "He Said She Said" was inspired by Take On Me, a popular 1985 song and video by the Norwegian band a-ha. The live portion was surreptitiously filmed on borrowed cameras in abandoned warehouses.
  • The "Heck No" video is animated on a Lite Brite art toy. In You Can Have It All a video, Ryan Divine takes apart a bluescreen jigsaw puzzle, which is played backwards. (He is also a jigsaw champion).
  • Lead Guitarist Johnny Genius attended San Francisco School of the Arts, is currently attending culinary academy and is in two other bands.
  • Bass Player Sean Shippley and Synth Player Prince J are also members of Pop Smear Record Band "Soundboy".
  • The production team of Divine Genius(Ryan Divine and Johnny Genius) first met Sean and Jerry during the production of the Soundboy record "Private Party". They produced several hits on the record including "Cold Blooded" and "Never My Love".
  • Bass Player Sean Shippley is a distant cousin of Duran Duran Lead Singer Simon Lebon.
  • Lead Singer Ryan Divine appears as a wet suit wearing guitar player in the video for "Papercut Skin" by Epitaph Records Recording artist The Matches.
  • Johnny Genius appears briefly in the movie "Road Trip" with his then band The K.G.B.
  • Keyboardist Prince J is a cousin of Heroes star Masi Oka (who plays Hiro Nakamura). Prince J is mistaken for him fairly often due to their striking resemblance.
  • Former Man Show Host and current stand up comedian Doug Stanhope has begun to use Maldroid songs as his entrance music during his gigs.
  • Ryan and Mike first met in their youth doing extra work on the set of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turles The Movie. They can be clearly seen during the underground youth club sequences.
  • Lead guitar player Todd Tiffany Brown is actually a relative of the legendary Tiffany Jeweler's family.

[edit] External Links

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