Will Haven
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Will Haven is a metal band from Sacramento, California, USA.
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[edit] History
In 1995, Will Haven, named after a fictional, self-created character, formed and released a six-track demo. The band was formed from members of Sock, a band that was formed with Shaun Lopez of Far. Will Haven's debut self-titled, seven-track EP was released in 1996, to positive reviews. A year later, the quartet was signed to Revelation. Singer Grady Avenell guested on two Far tracks - 9 Miles, and a cover of Band Aid's Do They Know It's Christmas Time? with Chino Moreno of Deftones.
1997 saw the release of full-length El Diablo bringing them increasing attention and a growing fanbase. In 1999, they released WHVN, arguably their heaviest album to date. The song Jaworksi is named after Red Tape's frontman and friend Jeff Jaworksi, who was Jeff Irwin's guitar tech at the time; and Slopez is named after Shaun Lopez, who was the guitarist for Far. During this time, the band recorded a track called The Regulator for the Bad Brains' Never Give In tribute album, and toured with Deftones through Europe.
In 2000, long-time drummer Wayne Morse left the band, to be eventually replaced by Mitch Wheeler. Grady guested on a Soulfly track with Chino, called Pain, on the album Primitive.
In 2001, they released the critically-acclaimed Carpe Diem, which saw a world-tour promotion, headlining shows in the US, UK, and Japan, and playing the Vans Warped Tour in Australia. Single Carpe Diem featured Chino Moreno in the promotional video; similarly, members of Haven are in the promotional video for Deftones' Bored, a single from their album Adrenaline.
Singer Grady Avenell left not long after the tour, to raise a family and attend college. Haven released a DVD called Foreign Films featuring their last ever show in January 2002 - in a small coffeehouse in their hometown of Sacramento, called The Capitol Garage - and a wealth of footage from the final tour. Fans are said to have started a riot. Members of the band went on to form Ghostride (with members of Tinfed and Oddman), The Abominable Iron Sloth, and Death Valley High, as well as their own label, Distruktor Records.
[edit] Haven Regroup
On October 12, 2005, Will Haven officially regrouped and began writing new songs with original singer Grady. They initially planned to release a five-song EP with B-sides; however, during the writing process, the band decided to put out a full-length album. Haven, now a five-piece with guitarist Cayle Hunter from Ghostride and Oddman fame, went to Los Angeles to record 12 songs for the new album, due for release on an as-yet-unknown label, in summer. Guitarist Jeff Irwin told Rocksound: "If this is the last record we ever do, then i want it to be our ultimate one -- the one that's absolutely perfect" [1].
In January 2006, Haven returned to the stage with a show in Sacramento's Boardwalk. In February, new song Handlebars to Freedom was uploaded to their MySpace profile. In March, they travelled to the UK, for a co-headlining tour with Crowbar. Grady was announced unable to perform at the Will Haven dates in Glasgow and Newport, due to problems with his wife in Paris, so Simon Neil of Biffy Clyro, Craig B of Aereogramme, Mikey Dee of Skindred, Crowbar frontman, Kirk Windstein and XSheepX of The Seventh Cross were asked to do guest vocals for both nights. Grady rejoined the band at the following dates. The band had plans for tours through Europe, Australia and a summer tour with the Deftones, but so far, that hasn't happened yet.
As of August 2006, Will Haven has signed a record deal with indie label Bieler Bros. Records. The demos that have been online won't appear on this record. One of the demos, Handlebars To Freedom, will appear on a compilation disc of new Australian label Static Migration Records. Second guitarist Cayle Hunter recently left the band (and The Abominable Iron Sloth and Ghostride) to focus on his new band, called Armed For Apocalypse.
On February 19th 2007 Will Haven played a free show at the Troubador in Los Angeles, promising a 'big announcement' would be made at the show - namely that Grady Avenell had left the band and been replaced by longtime friend of the band (and former vocalist for Red Tape) Jeff Jaworski.
The band intend to release the album Hierophant in summer 2007, and will tour Europe supporting the Deftones in March/April. A UK tour in April was planned but cancelled before Grady's departure was announced.
[edit] Members
[edit] Current members
- Jeff Jaworski - vocals
- Mike Martin - bass guitar
- Mitch Wheeler - drums
- Jeff Irwin - guitar
[edit] Previous members
- Grady Avenell - Vocals [1995-2006]
- Cayle Hunter - second guitar (2005-2006)
- Wayne Morse - drums (1995-2000)
- Dave Hulse - drums (2000-2001)
- Chris Robeyn - drums (2000)
[edit] Tours
Will Haven have shared stage with:
- Deftones
- One Minute Silence
- Tura Satana
- Limp Bizkit
- Soulfly
- Slipknot
- Fear Factory
- Beastie Boys
- Crowbar
- Far
- Vision of Disorder
- Earth Crisis
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- 1997 El Diablo
- 1999 WHVN
- 2001 Carpe Diem
- 2007 Heirophant
[edit] EPs
- 1995 Will Haven (Demo)
- 1996 Will Haven EP
- 2000 The Best Song On Here (Demo)
- 2003 Will Haven EP (Remastered)
[edit] Singles
- 2001 Carpe Diem (Single)
[edit] DVD
- 2003 Foreign Films
[edit] Guesting
- 1995 Far (Grady guests on the song 9 Miles)
- 1995 Far The Bands That Stole Christmas (Grady guests on Do They Know It's Christmas? together with Chino from Deftones)
- 1999 Every Day Life Moment of Clarity (Grady guests on the song Relocate)
- 2000 Soulfly Primitive (Grady guests on Pain together with Chino from Deftones)