Down (band)
| Down | |
|---|---|
| Origin | New Orleans, Louisiana, United States |
| Genre(s) | Heavy metal |
| Years active | 1991–1996 1999–2002 2006–present |
| Label(s) | Elektra, Warner Bros, Roadrunner (excluding US) |
| Associated acts | Arson Anthem, Corrosion of Conformity, Crowbar, Eyehategod, Kingdom of Sorrow, Pantera |
| Website | www.down-nola.com |
| Members | |
| Phil Anselmo Pepper Keenan Kirk Windstein Rex Brown Jimmy Bower |
|
| Former members | |
| Todd Strange | |
Down is an American heavy metal band formed in 1991 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The band is a supergroup, comprising members and former members of Pantera, Corrosion of Conformity, Crowbar, Eyehategod and Kingdom of Sorrow.
Since its inception, Down has released three studio albums and has gone on hiatus twice to focus on the members' respective bands.
Down is also managed by Skid Row guitarist Dave "The Snake" Sabo via McGhee Entertainment.
Contents |
History
Formation and NOLA
Down formed in 1991 with vocalist/songwriter Phil Anselmo of Pantera, guitarist Pepper Keenan of Corrosion of Conformity, second guitarist Kirk Windstein of Crowbar, bassist Todd Strange of Crowbar, and drummer Jimmy Bower of Eyehategod. All of the band members were long-time friends and were known from their respective bands, making them a supergroup. The band made a three track demo for underground trading. The band members would ask heavy metal fans if they have "heard of this band Down" and give them a copy of the tape without telling the person that they were in the band.[1][2] Eventually, the tape was distributed throughout the United States and Down played a small concert in its hometown. A record executive from Elektra Records was attending the show to find out who the members of Down were. When he found out the members of the band, he signed Down to a recording contract.[2]
Down released its debut album, NOLA, on September 19, 1995. Debuting at number 55 on the Billboard 200, the album has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.[1][3] Allmusic reviewer David Reamer gave the album a nearly perfect 4.5 out of 5 stars, praising the songs "Temptations Wings", "Stone the Crow", and "Bury Me in Smoke". Reamer stated "This is a landmark album that combines the talents of dedicated rock musicians, and should be included in any collection of heavy metal music."[4] NOLA was supported by a 13 date tour, before the band entered a hiatus to return to their respective bands.[1]
A Bustle in Your Hedgerow and Over the Under
In 1999, while Down was on hiatus, Strange left the band and was replaced by Pantera bassist Rex Brown. In 2002, Down came back from hiatus to make another record. The band wrote and recorded Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow in 28 "drug and booze induced" days in a barn called "Nödferatu's lair".[5] The album was released on March 26, 2002 and was not received with the positive reviews that appeared when NOLA was released. Blabbermouth.net reviewer Borivoj Krgin stated "Down II appears to have been thrown together more haphazardly, with much of the material falling short of the standard set by the Down's classic debut offering."[6] Despite poor reviews, the album debuted at number 44 on the Billboard 200.[3] To support the album, Down toured on the second stage of Ozzfest in 2002.[7] The band again entered an indefinite hiatus to focus on their respective bands.
Newly signed to Warner Bros. Records, Down once again reformed in 2006. The band wrote an album throughout the course of a year. Lyric topics on Down III: Over the Under were written about many subjects such as the breakup of Pantera, the murder of ex-Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell, the band's anger at the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and Anselmo's recovery from back surgery and drug addiction.[1][5] Debuting at number 26 on the Billboard 200, the album was released on September 25, 2007 to generally positive reviews.[3] Kirk Miller of Decibel Magazine stated "For almost an hour, it’s like the metal world was set right again."[8]
Down preceded the album by touring with Heaven and Hell and Megadeth, and supported the album performing on a headlining tour starting at the end of September 2007.[9] There are several speculations that Down may be re-releasing NOLA with Brown on bass, as well as possibly remastering the album along with Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow in 2008.[10]
Down have also been announced to be the support act for Metallica on select dates in Europe and to play Reading and Leeds Festivals in August.
On April 22, 2008 the BBC Radio1 Rockshow broadcasted a new session of Down recordings featuring alternate versions of NOD, Beneath the Tides, and Jail, along with a cover of Led Zeppelin's version of When The Levee Breaks.
Down IV and the future
On July 8, 2008, Metalunderground.com reported that Down was rumored to be planning their fourth album, likely to be called Down IV, for a 2009 release.[11] Although little more is known about their next album, the band will start writing it while they take a break after touring. Along with a new full-length, a live DVD is also in the works, possibly including Down's live performances in Europe, which were shot by Jim Van Bebber.[12]
On July 24, 2008, frontman Phil Anselmo mentioned in a posted on the band's Myspace blog that Down has been "fucking around with some new material" and "got enough material already recorded" (at least 6 new songs) as well as the songs that did not make the final cut on Over the Under.[13] This hints that the band could actually be planning their fourth album, although Anselmo did say the material is "definitely enough for an awesome EP, with some surprises within".
Asked in November 2008 what the current status of the new album was, bassist Rex Brown told Billboard.com that Down has been "writing constantly on the road. We still have all these ideas, and we play a lot of new stuff at sound check, just to feel it out. Hopefully we can get back in the studio in the fall and work on something."[14]
Discography
Demos
| Year | Album details | Billboard peak[3] | U.S. Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 3 Song Demo
|
N/A | N/A |
| 1992 | Demo 1992
|
N/A | N/A |
| 1992-1993 | Demo Collection 1992 - 1993
|
N/A | N/A |
Albums
| Year | Album details | Billboard peak[3] | U.S. Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | NOLA | 57 | 1,000,000+ (Platinum)[1] |
| 2002 | Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow
|
44 | 162,000+ |
| 2007 | Down III: Over the Under
|
26 | 128,000+ |
| 2009 | Down IV
|
Singles
| Year | Album | Title | Music video |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | NOLA | "Lifer" | No |
| "Stone the Crow" | Yes | ||
| "Temptations Wings" | |||
| 1996 | "Bury Me in Smoke" | No | |
| 2002 | Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow |
"Beautifully Depressed" | |
| "Ghosts Along the Mississippi" | Yes | ||
| 2007 | Down III: Over the Under |
"On March the Saints" | |
| "I Scream" | No | ||
| 2008 | "Mourn" |
Band members
- Phil Anselmo (Ex-Pantera, Superjoint Ritual): vocals, studio guitar (1991-present)
- Pepper Keenan (Corrosion of Conformity): guitar (1991-present)
- Kirk Windstein (Crowbar, Kingdom of Sorrow): guitar, bass (NOLA) (1991-present)
- Rex Brown (Ex-Pantera): bass (1999-present)
- Jimmy Bower (Eyehategod, ex-Superjoint Ritual): drums (1991-present)
Former members
- Todd Strange (Crowbar): bass, 1991-1999
See also
- Music of New Orleans
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Geist, Brandon (November 2007). "Never Say Die". Revolver Magazine.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Interview with Pepper Keenan (Down and C.O.C.)". Stormbringerwebzine.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "Artist chart history". Billboard charts. Retrieved on 2008-02-28.
- ↑ Reamer, David. "NOLA overview". Allmusic. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Parks, Andrew (October 2007). "Down". Decibel Magazine. http://decibelmagazine.com/features/oct2007/down.aspx?terms=Over+the+Under&searchtype=2&fragment=True. Retrieved on 2008-02-28.
- ↑ Krgin, Borivoj. "CD reviews – Down II". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved on 2008-02-28.
- ↑ "Ozzfest alumni". Ozzfest.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-28.
- ↑ Miller, Kirk. "Down III: Over the Under". Decibel Magazine. Retrieved on 2008-02-28.
- ↑ "Megadeth and Down to support Heaven and Hell in Canada". Blabbermouth.net (2007-01-20). Retrieved on 2008-02-28.
- ↑ "Down III coming soon". Metalunderground.com (2007-07-20). Retrieved on 2008-02-28.
- ↑ "Down rumored to have fourth album in the works". Metalunderground.com (2008-07-08). Retrieved on 2008-07-08.
- ↑ Planet-Loud Dot Com | Alternative Music And Lifestyle Website | Interviews | Down
- ↑ "Down: Six New Songs Recorded". Ultimate-Guitar.com (2008-07-29). Retrieved on 2008-07-29.
- ↑ "Down Gets Busy On New Album While Touring". Billboard.com (2008-11-11). Retrieved on 2008-11-11.
External links
- Official website
- Interview w/Kirk Windstein at Lambgoat.com
- NOLA Underground (New Orleans underground music scene)
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