STEMM

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STEMM
Origin Niagara Falls, New York Flag of the United States
Genre(s) Metalcore, groove metal (2004 - present)
Rapcore, hardcore (1998-2003)
Years active 1998-Present
Label(s) I Scream Records
Associated acts Klear
5 Years Gone
Website Official Site
Members
Joe Cafarella
Alex Scouten
Steve Crowl
Dan Nelligan

STEMM is an American metal band stemming from Niagara Falls, New York. They are currently signed to I Scream Records.

Contents

[edit] Background

[edit] The early years

STEMM was formed in June 1998 by Joe Cafarella, Russ Martin and Jimi and Louis Penque.[1] All the members had come from various other local acts. By December the band recorded a two song "promo" disc. Within four months time, the album had sold well over 600 copies.[2] Initially STEMM incorporated a hybrid of hardcore with rapcore much like the band E.Town Concrete. These sounds were very prominent on their first EP, entitled Further Efforts and also on their first independently released debut, entitled "Dead to Me" which was released in 2002.[3][4] In July 2000, STEMM would announce the addition of second guitarist, Rich Spalla.

[edit] UFC and The Fight Network

In 2002, STEMM also signed a licensing deal with the UFC.[5][6] STEMM's music has been incorporated in UFC television and live events since August 2002. Songs to date used by the UFC include, "Holding On", "Face the Pain" and "Fallen", which have been used on every UFC pay-per-view since 2002 and even the show, The Ultimate Fighter.[7] "Face the Pain" was also featured on the UFC compilation CD UFC Ultimate Beatdowns Volume 1 alongside such bands as Fear Factory, Slayer and Shadows Fall.[8] STEMM more recently also signed a licensing deal to feature their music on Canadian television station The Fight Network.[6]

[edit] Transition

In late 2003 and through most of 2004, the bands line-up would change. Jimi Penque left STEMM, citing creative and musical differences. A few months later Louis Penque left STEMM due to family reasons. This provided the bridge for the merging of local Buffalo metal act, 5 Years Gone and STEMM.[5] 5 Years Gone drummer Dan Nelligan and vocalist T.J. Frost of 5 Years Gone began filling in, while STEMM guitarists returned the favor by replacing the two guitarists that had recently departed 5 Years Gone. After bassist Russ Martin was fired, STEMM and 5 Years Gone would combined as one. The combination saw the band take a different direction musically. Because of this, the band as a whole do not recognize the previous incarnation of the band and even contemplated changing the name of the band, but decided to keep on as STEMM due in large part to the UFC having already spent money on promoting the band.[5][9][10]

[edit] A new beginning

After reconfiguring the line-up, STEMM signed to Chimaira guitarist Rob Arnold's management label, Triple M Management.[9] With Arnold's help, the band recorded a 5 song EP entitled "5" in early 2004. On the song "13 Years", Chimaira vocalist Mark Hunter did a guest appearance.[6] The EP went on to sell over 1,000 copies in only a couple of months times.[11] The band did local shows in support of the demo, opening for acts such as Sevendust and touring nationwide with Chimaira and Trivium.[12][13] STEMM would be the openers for Damageplan's "final" concert, as the next day, Darrell "Dimebag" Abbott would be murdered while onstage.[6][14] They also opened for Nuclear Blast artist Bleed The Sky at the legendary Whiskey A Go Go.[15] T.J. Frost along with Joe Cafarella would provide guest vocals on the Bleed the Sky track "Division" as well.[10] The band then participated in the 2005 installment of the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival with other notable acts such as Soilwork, Danzig, Dark Tranquillity and Mnemic.[16] In November 2005, the band released their second full length album, entitled "Songs for the Incurable Heart" independently. The album included four tracks from the previous demo, plus all new material, including a song that is a tribute to the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks, which vocalist T.J. Frost survived entitled "The Day the Earth Stood Still" which clocks in at 9:11, in homage.[11][10]

[edit] Finally signed

In August 2006, the band announced on their MySpace page that they had officially signed a record deal with I Scream Records to re-release their second album "Songs for the Incurable Heart."[17] Though the contract was only to re-release "Songs for the Incurable Heart."[10] STEMM continued for the next year opening for bands such as Godsmack and Stone Sour.[10] On July 30, 2007, STEMM announced that vocalist T.J. Frost had departed the band due to "personal issues." With his departure, back up vocalist and guitarist Joe Cafarella changed to full time vocal duty, while guitarist Alex Scouten formerly of 3 Minutes of Hate began filling in as a session member. Alex had previously worked with STEMM, when then vocalist T.J. Frost was injured in 2006 and also was the original guitar player for STEMM when they reformed with a different line-up in 2003.[18] Later on Scouten replaced former guitarist Rich Spalla. Currently the band are working on new material for their forthcoming third album. One of the songs slated to appear on the album, "Poopmouth" was featured in the April edition of Metal Edge Magazine.[10]

[edit] Band members

[edit] Current line-Up

Joe Cafarella - vocals, guitar (1998 - Present)
Alex Scouten - guitar (2003 - 2004) (2007 - Present)
Steve Crowl - bass (2003 - Present)
Dan Nelligan - drums (2003 - Present)

[edit] Former members

Louis Penque - vocals (1998 - 2003)
Russ Martin - bass (1998 - 2003)
Jimi Penque - drums (1998 - 2003)
T.J. Frost - vocals (2003 - 2007)
Rich Spalla - guitar (2000 - 2008)

[edit] Discography

Title Release date Label
Further Efforts EP 1999 None
Dead to Me 2000 None
5 2004 None
Songs for the Incurable Heart November 15 2005
October 10 2006 (re-release)		 I Scream Records

[edit] Miscellanea

STEMM's first concert was opening for major label recording artist Sevendust.[19]
STEMM is endorsed by ESP Guitars, Jagermeister and Mesa Boogie.[20][11][21]
They have won the Buffalo Music Award for Best Hardcore/Metal act in WNY for 3 consecutive years. (2001, 2002, & 2003)[11]
Former vocalist T.J. Frost used to be a guitar tech for Chimaira and Ill Nino.[10]

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ STEMM AIMS AT FLOWERING MUSIC SCENE. Retrieved on 2007-07-23.
  2. ^ STEMM early bio. Retrieved on 2007-07-28.
  3. ^ STEMM - Dead To Me review. Theprp.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-23.
  4. ^ STEMM music. emusic.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-28.
  5. ^ a b c For Stemm, it’s family, friends and fun. Niagara Gazette. Retrieved on 2007-07-23.
  6. ^ a b c d STEMM Interviewed by Undizcovered Magizine. Undizcovered.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-28.
  7. ^ STEMM: FALLEN (played at all ufc events). Ufc.tv. Retrieved on 2007-07-23.
  8. ^ SLAYER, DAMAGEPLAN, SEPULTURA Featured On 'Ultimate Fighting Championship' CD. Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved on 2007-07-23.
  9. ^ a b Stephanie Stevens. East Coast Romper Interview with STEMM. East Coast Romper. Retrieved on 2007-07-28.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g Peter Failla. Hollow Dream Records' 13 Questions With STEMM. Hollow Dream Records. Retrieved on 2007-08-04.
  11. ^ a b c d STEMM Biography on iSOUND. iSOUND.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-28.
  12. ^ CHIMAIRA: Hometown Release Party And Columbus In-Store Signing Announced. Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved on 2007-07-23.
  13. ^ Chimaira.com. Chimaira Tour Dates. Metal Underground. Retrieved on 2007-07-23.
  14. ^ Buffalo DAMAGEPLAN Fans Stunned By DIMEBAG's Murder A Day After Local Show. Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved on 2007-07-28.
  15. ^ Nuclear Blast. Bleed the Sky CD Release Party. Metal Underground. Retrieved on 2007-07-23.
  16. ^ NEW ENGLAND METAL AND HARDCORE FESTIVAL: More Than 40 Bands Confirmed. Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved on 2007-07-23.
  17. ^ Stemm.net. Stemm Sign with I Scream Records. Metal Underground. Retrieved on 2007-07-23.
  18. ^ Myspace. STEMM Vocalist Leaves band. Metal Underground. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
  19. ^ French review of STEMM's 5 EP. Retrieved on 2007-07-28.
  20. ^ Artists endorsed by ESP. espguitars.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-28.
  21. ^ STEMM Biography on I Scream Records. I Scream Records. Retrieved on 2007-07-28.