Down (band)

Down

Down performs in Bologna, Italy, on 22 July 2008
Background information
Origin New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Genres Heavy metal, sludge metal, southern metal, stoner metal
Years active 1991–1996, 1999–2002, 2006–present
Labels Elektra, Warner Bros, Roadrunner
Associated acts Arson Anthem, Corrosion of Conformity, Crowbar, Eyehategod, Kingdom of Sorrow, Pantera, Rebel Meets Rebel, Superjoint Ritual
Website www.down-nola.com
Members
Phil Anselmo
Pepper Keenan
Kirk Windstein
Jimmy Bower
Rex Brown
Past members
Todd Strange

Down is an American heavy metal/sludge metal supergroup formed in 1991 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The band's most current lineup consists of vocalist Phil Anselmo, guitarists Pepper Keenan and Kirk Windstein, bassist Rex Brown, and drummer Jimmy Bower.

Since its inception, Down has released three studio albums, NOLA (1995), certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America; Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow (2002); and Down III: Over the Under (2007). Down is currently working on their upcoming fourth album entitled Down IV.

Contents

History

Formation and NOLA (1991–1998)

Phil Anselmo formed Down in 1991

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 longtime friends, and shared interest in bands such as Black Sabbath and Saint Vitus, which would significantly influence the music they made. The band made a three-track demo for underground trading. In an effort to build a fan base, the band would ask heavy metal fans if they had ever "heard of this band, Down" and hand them copies 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. When he found out who the members of the band were, 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 was 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 that "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, and afterward the band went on hiatus in order to return to their respective bands.[1]

A Bustle in Your Hedgerow and Over the Under (1999–2008)

Rex Brown joined the band in 1999

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, but was not received with the same positive reviews as NOLA. 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] Afterward, the band once 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 over the course of a year. The lyrical content of Down III: Over the Under covers 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, and receive generally positive reviews.[3] Kirk Miller of Decibel Magazine said of the album, "for almost an hour, it’s like the metal world was set right again."[8]

The release of Down III was preceded by a tour with Heaven & Hell and Megadeth. To further support their album, Down headlined a 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]

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 "When The Levee Breaks" (written by Kansas Joe McCoy and his wife Memphis Minnie, and famously covered by Led Zeppelin).

Down IV, DVD release & the future (2008–present)

On July 8, 2008, Metalunderground.com reported that Down was rumored to be planning their fourth album, likely to be called Down IV.[11] Although Down has said little more about their next album, they will write it while they take a break after touring. A live CD/DVD is due to be released on October 5th, possibly including Down's live performances in Europe in 2006, which were shot by Jim Van Bebber.[12]

On July 24, 2008, frontman Phil Anselmo mentioned in a post on the band's Myspace blog that Down had been "fucking around with some new material" and had "enough material already recorded"--at least six new songs in addition to those that did not make the final cut on Over the Under.[13] Just what or how much will be included on the tentative Down IV is uncertain, but according to Anselmo, there 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 had 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]

On February 3, 2009, Down was announced—and later removed from—the lineup for the 2009 Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee, currently the largest annual outdoor music festival in the U.S. On February 18, 2009, Down was announced in the lineup for the 2009 Roskilde Festival in Denmark. Following these live dates, the band toured the USA and Canada during August and September 2009. On March 30, 2009, Down posted a statement on their message board indicating that they will be back in the studio from October through November writing and recording what will eventually become Down IV.

In the summer of 2009, Down began a US tour without Rex on bass, who had developed acute pancreatitis. Kirk recently stated on the website: Bassist Rex Brown – Diagnosed with acute pancreatitis, he underwent surgery, during which his gall bladder, along with some polyps were removed.“He’s doing much better. He’s gaining a little weight back. Rex is one of my best friends in the world. I love him to death. He’ll be all right. Everybody’s not Lemmy (from MOTÖRHEAD). I tell him that sometimes. It got to the point where his body just started giving out from 25 years on the road – drinking every day and what not. Most people do it on the weekend. Add that up to every day for 25 years and that’s what happens. By no means is he out of the band. Fortunately for us, my friend Danny (Theriot) who I played with in VICTORIAN BLITZ, my first metal band in the early ‘80s, helped us out. Obviously I prefer Rex to be there. But in a weird way, it is nice, 25 years later, to put my head on Danny’s shoulder while I’m doing a lead, ‘cause we used to do it when we were kids. But, I would prefer to put my head on Rex’s shoulder.” On January 27, 2010 it was announced that Brown had nearly fully recuperated from his fight with pancreatitis. Says Brown, "After two major surgeries to close out 2009, I have recovered from pancreatitis and am looking forward to getting back to work with Down."[15]

Down had discussed reconvening in New Orleans sometime after the 2010 Super Bowl to begin work on a new album. With a release date yet to be announced, the new album will be the band's fourth studio offering.

As of August 2010, guitarist Kirk Windstein's other band Crowbar is in the studio recording a new album for an early 2011 release.[16] It is unclear if this will affect Down, who have also been working on a new album.

Discography

Studio albums

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

Current
Former

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Geist, Brandon (November 2007). "Never Say Die". Revolver Magazine. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Interview with Pepper Keenan (Down and C.O.C.)". Stormbringerwebzine.co.uk. http://www.stormbringerwebzine.co.uk/Interviews/Pepper_Keenan.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-27. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Artist chart history". Billboard charts. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.chartFormatGroupName=Albums&model.vnuArtistId=141345&model.vnuAlbumId=174871. Retrieved 2008-02-28. 
  4. ↑ Reamer, David. "NOLA overview". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:kpfixqehld6e. Retrieved 2008-02-27. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Parks, Andrew (October 2007). "Down" (– Scholar search). Decibel Magazine. http://decibelmagazine.com/features/oct2007/down.aspx?terms=Over+the+Under&searchtype=2&fragment=True. Retrieved 2008-02-28. 
  6. ↑ Krgin, Borivoj Phil stated recently that: "I honestly cannot say that Down II was really a high point in my life. Matter of fact I would have to say it was one of the lowest points. I felt like I sleep walked through those lyrics, I was screaming on paper, I was pleading with myself. I knew that the reservoir of strength was there it was just covered by, what I like to say; mountains and mountains of blankets. As you come clean a layer of blankets comes of little by little, by little. You don't just come clean and see the light, you got to take some layers off first. There was a lot of truth on that record I just wasn’t there yet.". "CD reviews – Down II". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/showreview.aspx?reviewID=72. Retrieved 2008-02-28. 
  7. ↑ "Ozzfest alumni". Ozzfest.com. http://ozzfest.com/static_content/view/alumni.html. Retrieved 2008-02-28. 
  8. ↑ Miller, Kirk. "Down III: Over the Under". Decibel Magazine. http://decibelmagazine.com/reviews/nov2007/down.aspx?terms=Over+the+Under&searchtype=2&fragment=True. Retrieved 2008-02-28. 
  9. ↑ "Megadeth and Down to support Heaven and Hell in Canada". Blabbermouth.net. 2007-01-20. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=65651. Retrieved 2008-02-28. 
  10. ↑ "Down III coming soon". Metalunderground.com. 2007-07-20. http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=20514. Retrieved 2008-02-28. 
  11. ↑ "Down rumored to have fourth album in the works". Metalunderground.com. 2008-07-08. http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=37720. Retrieved 2008-07-08. 
  12. ↑ Planet-Loud Dot Com | Alternative Music And Lifestyle Website | Interviews | Down
  13. ↑ "Down: Six New Songs Recorded". Ultimate-Guitar.com. 2008-07-29. http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/upcoming_releases/down_six_new_songs_recorded.html. Retrieved 2008-07-29. 
  14. ↑ "Down Gets Busy On New Album While Touring". Billboard.com. 2008-11-11. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003889445. Retrieved 2008-11-11. 
  15. ↑ "Rex is Back in the Saddle". Down-nola.com. 2010-10-01. 
  16. ↑ http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=145499

External links

Down
Phil Anselmo · Pepper Keenan · Kirk Windstein · Jimmy Bower · Rex Brown
Todd Strange
Studio albums
NOLA · Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow · Down III: Over the Under · Down IV
Singles
"Lifer" · "Stone the Crow" · "Temptation's Wings" · "Bury Me in Smoke" · "Beautifully Depressed" · "Ghosts Along the Mississippi" · "On March the Saints" · "I Scream" · "Mourn"
Related bands
Corrosion of Conformity · Crowbar · Eyehategod · Pantera · Superjoint Ritual