Goldfinger (band)

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Goldfinger
Goldfinger live in 2006.
Goldfinger live in 2006.
Background information
Origin Los Angeles, California, United States
Genre(s) Pop punk, punk rock, ska punk
Years active 1994–present
Label(s) Universal, Mojo, Jive, Maverick, Side One Dummy
Website goldfingermusic.com
Members
John Feldmann
Kelly LeMieux
Darrin Pfeiffer
Charlie Paulson
Former members
Simon Williams
Brian Arthur

Goldfinger is a punk band that formed in 1994. They support the imprisoned 'SHAC 7' animal rights activists,[1][2] and John Feldmann, lead singer, is an advocate for and supporter of the Animal Liberation Front.[3]

Contents

[edit] History

Goldfinger was formed by John Feldmann on vocals and guitar, Simon Williams on bass, Darrin Pfeiffer on drums, and Charlie Paulson on guitar. Before they were signed to a major label, they released an EP titled Richter. Many of the songs on Richter are demo versions of songs on their full length debut, Goldfinger, which was released in 1996. Though their second album, Hang-Ups, was less successful, the band still maintained a devoted fan base in the hardcore community. Their third studio LP was Stomping Ground, which sold poorly in the US but was a modest hit in some European countries, thanks to their cover of Nena's "99 Luftballons" sung partly in German. Their next album, Open Your Eyes (2002), was the first for their new record label, Jive/Zomba.

Frontman John Feldmann has produced records for Mest, The Used (whose vocalist Bert McCracken sang some guest vocals on 'Open Your Eyes', 'Woodchuck', 'Ocean Size', and 'Handjobs For Jesus'), Hilary Duff and Story of the Year. He also produced Good Charlotte's single "The Anthem" (whose guitarist Benji Madden provides guest vocals on 'January', which was originally named "Oracle of Elcaro". He also signed the band Unloco with Maverick Records.

Since the band began, Feldmann has become a vegan and animal rights supporter, as can be seen briefly in the music video for "Open Your Eyes". They also donated the song "What Gives You The Right" to the Southern Animal Rights Coalition benefit CD, "Until Every Cage Is Empty",[4] as well as writing the song "Free Kevin Kjonaas", an animal rights prisoner, known as the most involved individual in the SHAC 7 case.[5][6] He also advocates and supports the Animal Liberation Front.[3]

In early 2005, they released their first album for their new label, Maverick Records, titled "Disconnection Notice". It featured the single "Wasted". The CD was less well received compared to former Goldfinger albums. Former band members include founding bassist Simon Williams, who left the band following Hang-Ups, and former Unloco guitarist Brian Arthur, who was fired by Feldmann because Feldmann "did not want to work with him anymore".

"99 Red Balloons" also featured in Not Another Teen Movie along with Eurotrip, and their cover of The Spiral Starecase's "More Today Than Yesterday" plays during the ending credits of The Waterboy. "Superman" was also featured in the comedy Kingpin and the first Tony Hawk Pro Skater video game. "Walking in the Dark" was featured in the movie "Dead Man on Campus".

Goldfinger's song "I Want" from Disconnection Notice is featured in Burnout Revenge on the Playstation 2, Xbox, and Xbox 360, and the song "My Everything" is featured on "SSX On Tour" also by EA games. The single, Spokesman, is featured on Activision's Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4.

2006 saw Alternative Press Magazine list the self titled Goldfinger CD as one of the "10 albums that shaped 1996" alongside No Doubt, Weezer and others.

In 2005 Goldfinger announced that their old guitarist Charlie Paulson would return. Charlie's return to the band was on stage playing 3 songs at the Key Club in LA when the band finished a Western USA tour. Goldfinger signed to the independent record label Side One Dummy in 2007 and their new record is called Hello Destiny and was released on April 22, 2008

Goldfinger will also be playing in the UK at the Reading and Leeds festivals on the 22nd and 23rd of August 2008.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Studio albums

Date of Release Title Label Billboard 200 US sales
February 21, 1996 Goldfinger Universal Records 110 -
March 26, 1997 Hang-Ups Universal Records 85 -
March 26, 2000 Stomping Ground Mojo Records 109 -
February 21, 2002 Open Your Eyes Mojo Records, Jive Records 136 -
February 21, 2005 Disconnection Notice Maverick Records - -
March 26, 2005 The Best Of Goldfinger Mojo Records, Jive Records - -
April 22, 2008 Hello Destiny SideOneDummy - -

[edit] Live albums

Date of Release Title Label Billboard 200 US sales
November 9, 1999 Darrin's Coconut Ass: Live from Omaha Universal Records - -
2001 Foot in Mouth Mojo Records - -
March 23, 2004 Live at the House of Blues Kung Fu Records - -

[edit] EPs

Date of Release Title Label Billboard 200 US sales
1996 Tiger Meat/Teen Beef Mojo Records - -

[edit] Singles

  • Only a Day
  • Here In Your Bedroom
  • Mable
  • This Lonely Place
  • My Head
  • Counting the Days
  • 99 Red Balloons
  • Open Your Eyes
  • Tell Me
  • Wasted
  • One More Time

[edit] Video game appearances

Song Game Platform(s)
Superman Tony Hawk's Pro Skater Sony PlayStation, Nintendo 64, Dreamcast
99 Red Balloons Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec PlayStation 2
I'm Down Andy McDonald's Skateboarding PlayStation, Dreamcast
Spokesman Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 PlayStation 2, Gamecube, Xbox, Windows PC, Mac
I Want Burnout Revenge PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360
I Want Burnout Legends PSP, Nintendo DS
I'm Down ESPN X-Games Snowboarding PlayStation 2
My Everything SSX On Tour Xbox,PlayStation 2, Gamecube, PlayStation Portable

[edit] Samples

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Support Kevin Kjonaas and the SHAC 7
  2. ^ MySpace.com - Goldfinger4Kevin - 27 - Garçon - US - www.myspace.com/goldfinger4kevin
  3. ^ a b Keith, Shannon. Behind the Mask, Uncaged Films, 2006.
  4. ^ Until Every Cage Is Empty - £5.00 : Animal Rights Merchandise, The SARCshop
  5. ^ Support Kevin Kjonaas and the SHAC 7
  6. ^ MySpace.com - Goldfinger4Kevin - 27 - Garçon - US - www.myspace.com/goldfinger4kevin


v • d • e
Goldfinger
John Feldmann | Kelly LeMieux | Darrin Pfeiffer | Charlie Paulson
Former members
Simon Williams | Brian Arthur
Albums
Live Albums
Films
Labels