Shovel (band)

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Shovel
Origin Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA Flag of the United States
Genre(s) Alternative metal, industrial metal
Years active 1992 - 2003
Label(s) Scrap Records
A&M Records
Universal Records
Artemis Records
Associated acts Blowfex
Etan
Manufacture
Members
Nate Sidek
Michael Foley
Rob DeGrasse
Pete Bennet
Sam Grendel
Former members
Davis Connelley

Shovel was an American alternative metal and industrial metal band, formed in 1992 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

Contents

[edit] Beginning

Shovel formed in 1992 when singer/songwriter Nate Sidek met guitarist Michael Foley at a birthday party. The two decided to start an industrial music project. After tossing around names and recruiting keyboardist Rob DeGrasse, drummer Pete Bennet, and bassist Davis Connelley, the band decided on using the name Shovel. In 1995 the band self released their demo (under the "Scrap Records" moniker), which attracted the attention of numerous major labels.

[edit] Major label years

In 1996, the band inked a deal with A&M Records. They then began work on their full length debut album. On April 8, 1997, the band released Terrestrials. The band then toured in support of bands such as Rob Zombie and Incubus. The album achieved some minor success through this, but failed to reach a major audience.

In 1998, the band switched to Universal Records after a corporate merge. The band began work on their second album. In March 1999, the band released A Step from Nowhere. After the band gained a spot on the Ozzfest tour, the album managed to chart on the Billboard Top 200 and had success with the singles "Idle Hands", "Constant", and "Ruin by Numbers". In 2000, founding bassist Davis Connelley left the band. He was replaced by Sam Grendel.

In 2001, the band released their final major-label album, Death Culture. The album was less successful than their last album, and quickly fell off the charts. Amid poor sales and conflict with their record label regarding promotion, the band was dropped from Universal in 2002.

[edit] Happy Place and breakup

In 2003 the band signed with Artemis Records, and released their final album shortly afterward. Happy Place was released on July 22, 2003 to little success. Conflict within the band led to both Grendel and DeGrasse leaving. Failing to tour, the band slowly broke contact and announced their disbandment on December 2, 2003.

Since the band's breakup, Nate Sidek has gone on to form Etan with former Dope guitarist Sloane Jentry. Sam Grendel joined Manufacture in 2004 and later joined Blowfex in 2007.

[edit] Members

[edit] Discography

Date of Release Title Label Charting
1995 1995 Demos Scrap Records (self-released) -
April 8, 1997 Terrestrials A&M Records #33 US Top Heatseekers
March 23, 1999 A Step from Nowhere Universal Records #138 US
#3 US Top Heatseekers
May 29, 2001 Death Culture Universal Records #121 US
#2 US Top Heatseekers
July 22, 2003 Happy Place Artemis Records #20 US Top Heatseekers
#34 US Top Independent Albums

[edit] Singles

Year Title Chart positions Album
US Mainstream Rock US Modern Rock
1997 "Earth Bound" - - Terrestrials
1997 "Pessimism" #38 - Terrestrials
1999 "Idle Hands" #9 #15 A Step from Nowhere
1999 "Constant" #17 #33 A Step from Nowhere
2000 "Ruin by Numbers" #35 - A Step from Nowhere
2001 "Room to Burn" #21 #40 Death Culture
2001 "Hung, Drawn, and Quartered" #39 - Death Culture
2003 "Farther and Farther Away" - - Happy Place