Tonic (band)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Tonic | |
|---|---|
 Current line-up: Hart, Lavery and Russo |
|
| Origin | Los Angeles |
| Country | USA |
| Years active | 1993-present |
| Genres | Post-grunge |
| Labels | MCA Music, Inc./A&M/Universal |
| Members | Emerson Hart Jeff Russo Dan Lavery |
| Past members | Dan Rothchild Kevin Shepard |
| Website(s) | tonic-online.com |
Tonic is an American post-grunge rock band formed in 1993 by Emerson Hart, Jeff Russo, Dan Rothchild, and Kevin Shepard. They were signed to Atlas Records and Polydor in 1995.
They released the debut album Lemon Parade in 1996. Singles for the songs Open Up Your Eyes, and If You Could Only See, were released in 1996 and 1997 respectively. If You Could Only See received the honor of being Rock Radio's most played song of 1997. In that same year, the band recorded a song for the Scream 2 soundtrack. Tonic also gained some acknowledgement when Dean Geyer sang "If You Could Only See" in the Top 30 round of Australian Idol season 4.
Dan Lavery replaced Rothchild on bass in December of 1996. With Lavery in tow, the band released the now out-of-print EP, Live and Enhanced. Also in 1998, they recorded songs for the soundtracks to The X-Files and Clay Pigeons as well as a live version of the song "Open Up Your Eyes" for the charitable album Live in the X Lounge.
The band returned to the studio to finish and release the second album Sugar in 1999. Knock Down Walls, along with You Wanted More were charting singles released off that record, with the latter having first appeared on the soundtrack to the movie American Pie.
Sugar showed the band as a three piece, as Shepard was no longer a part of the band. The drummer for the album was Peter Maloney although Joey Waronker filled in for the single You Wanted More.
Tonic returned to the charts with their third official release, Head On Straight, and the single Take Me as I Am. Still billed as a three piece band, the drums on Head On Straight were played this time by Joey Waronker. The band also enlisted the help of Keyboardist Will Holis. Hart and Russo both also played piano and Rhodes synth respectively on the record. In 2001, the band again recorded a track for the charitable album Live in the X Lounge, this time lending a performance of "Mean To Me" to the cause.
The shining moment in the band's career was in 2003 when they received two Grammy nominations, one for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for Take Me As I Am, and one for Best Rock Album.
In 2004, the band took a long needed break from touring and recording together.
As of 2005 all three members are working on solo projects. With Russo working on the True Solo Album, and playing everything himself. It is not known yet if it will be released with a backing band, or if it will be left as an album with just Jeff. A full-length release from Emerson is in the works as well. Lavery had been writing songs for numerous projects including feature-length movies, such as The Passion of the Christ and Elektra.
Contents |
[edit] Current Personnel
- Emerson Hart - Lead and Backing Vocals, Rhythm acoustic and Electric Guitars, and Piano.
- Jeff Russo - Lead and Rhythm electric and acoustic Guitars, Backing Vocals, Rhodes, String machine, and Slide Guitar.
- Dan Lavery - Bass Guitars, Backing Vocals, Piano, and anything else that is a Bass instrument.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio albums
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[edit] Live albums
[edit] Singles
- 1996: Open Up Your Eyes - #2 US Mainstream Rock, #22 US Modern Rock
- 1996: If You Could Only See - #1 US Mainstream Rock, #3 US Modern Rock
- 1997: Casual Affair - #8 US Mainstream Rock
- 1999: You Wanted More - #3 US Mainstream Rock, #10 US Modern Rock
- 1999: Knock Down Walls - #20 US Mainstream Rock
- 2002: Take Me As I Am
