| Adema | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Bakersfield, California, USA |
| Genres | Nu metal, alternative metal,[1] alternative rock, post grunge |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Labels | Arista, Earache, Immortal, Legacy |
| Associated acts | Black Heart Vacancy, Cradle of Thorns, Korn, Level, Linkin Park, Midnight Panic, Rewind Yesterday, Sexart |
| Members | |
| Dave DeRoo Tim Fluckey Kris Kohls Marc DeLeon |
|
| Past members | |
| Mark Chavez Mike Ransom Bobby Reeves Ed Faris Luke Caraccioli |
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Adema is a rock band from Bakersfield, California consisting of guitarists Tim Fluckey, Marc DeLeon, bassist Dave DeRoo, and drummer Kris Kohls. After their first two albums, Adema and Unstable, Mike Ransom left the band in 2003 followed by Chavez later in 2004 due to conflicts between themselves and other members of the band. Luke Caraccioli replaced Chavez in early 2005 for one album, Planets, but then left a few months later in late 2005. In 2006, Adema announced that vocalist Bobby Reeves and guitarist Ed Farris, both from the band LEVEL, had joined the band, but only released one album, Kill the Headlights. However, on August 13, 2009 the original line up was reunited with Bobby Reeves and Ed Faris agreeing to leave the band. However Ransom showed extreme minimal participation in the reunion and left once again in late 2010, followed soon by Chavez in early January 2011.
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The band’s eponymous debut album, Adema, was released in August 2001 to moderate success. It's two major singles, "Giving In" and "The Way You Like It," received significant airplay on rock radio. All the lyrics were written by Chavez,[2] and the album was produced by Bill Appleberry (7th House) and Tobi Miller (Wallflowers guitarist).[3] It was certified Gold, and the band received a spot on the main stage during the Ozzfest tour. They kept playing live with the Music as a Weapon, SnoCore Rock, and Projekt Revolution tours.[4]
In 2002, Adema released Insomniac's Dream, an EP, as a "gift to fans."[4] The single from the album, "Immortal," was written for the video game Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance. Besides the single, it included a track from international versions of Adema, a cover to Alice in Chains's "Nutshell", and four remix versions of songs from Adema. 2002 also marked Adema's inclusion in the Resident Evil Soundtrack, contributing the track "Everyone" from their debut album.
Adema's second album, Unstable, was released by Arista in August 2003.[5] It was produced by Howard Benson, whose credits also include producing albums with P.O.D., Hoobastank and Cold.[4][6]
The band has vigorously fought the label "nu metal," preferring to be classified as traditional rock.[7] While Unstable was not a significant break from their earlier sound, Chavez compared it to the rawness of Nirvana,[6] and bassist DeRoo hoped that Chavez’s stronger voice (the result of voice lessons) would result in a more mainstream sound.[7] "We don't go onstage and nu metal," said drummer Kohls. "We're sick of that phrase. ROCK – it's such a broad word that it doesn't categorize you."[4]
As it turned out, the album was named "Unstable" for a reason:[8] Chavez and guitarist Ransom had a bitter rivalry that ended when first Ransom, then Chavez, left the band. The rest of the band has blamed Chavez for "personal problems" that held the band back musically, but Chavez claimed that it was differences in the direction of the music. The feud with Ransom put the rest of the band in the middle.
During 2003, when the band released and toured for Unstable, Chavez and Ransom didn’t speak to one another. The band claimed that the split was no surprise. Ransom left in September, while the remaining four members finished touring.[9]
Amidst this conflict, Unstable sold over 66% less than the band's debut album.[10] In December, the band learned that Arista was dropping them during a label merger. A large number of Arista's staff was fired in a management shakeup by its parent company, Sony. L.A. Reid, who originally signed the band, had left the label a week earlier. The band has blamed low sales of Unstable on being dropped.[8]
The band continued to write, but in February 2004, Chavez started to lose interest.[9] He quit the band in September.[10]
With regards to the split with Adema, Adema blamed the split on Chavez's disinterest in the band. However, Chavez acknowledged personal problems and claimed that "it takes two to tango," and that his decision precipitated from an argument with drummer Kohls over the direction of the band.[11] Chavez would form the band Midnight Panic with his cousin and old bandmates Cesareo Garasa and Mike Montano, which released the self-titled Midnight Panic EP before dissolving.[12]
The remaining three Adema members regrouped to write new music and auditioned for a new lead singer. After Kohls heard a demo from Rewind Yesterday, another Bakersfield band, he was impressed by the group's lead singer, Luke Caraccioli. Adema asked Caraccioli to front the band.[9] Caraccioli accepted a few months later in January 2005.[13]
Adema signed to metal label Earache Records in Spring 2004 when its manager, Al Dawson, heard them at a show.[14] Under their new label, the band gained more control over their direction than they had when signed with Arista. Adema lauded Earache for allowing "bands to express themselves creatively."[8]
On April 5, 2005, the band would deliver their next album, Planets produced by Nick Forcillo. They released the album's first single, "Tornado," back on February 18, 2005.
Planets, as an album, was musically, a significant break from Adema's two earlier albums; it was much closer to rock than Adema's nu metal history. Kohls said that the band relied on influences from classic rock, and that the band proved that they were "so much more than" a nu metal band.[15] The writing for the album was shared between the four members with Tim recording all of the guitar portions of the album.
As a former marine, Caraccioli played his first show with Adema in the Persian Gulf in April 2005. They performed for American troops stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates for the Armed Forces Entertainment.[16] Though the Iraq War was still raging, the band stressed that the tour was apolitical. Adema then promoted the release by touring with Brides of Destruction, a band that Kohls had briefly been involved in. Though proud of their identity change, the band noted that they had a mixture of fans from both the "old" and "new" Adema at live shows.[15]
In September of that year, the band released a second single from the album, "Planets." The music video for the single was featured in the film, Cry Wolf.[17]
In October 2005, Luke Caraccioli left the band, citing personal reasons. Following his departure, the band got in touch with Mark Chavez and according to the band, both parties were back on good terms. Both parties even had talks about Chavez singing for Adema again and even wrote some new songs together, nothing transpired from these events.[18]
In March 2006, Adema announced a new vocalist, Bobby Reeves a former member of the band LEVEL.[19] In August, the band recruited guitarist Ed Faris, also a former member of LEVEL.[20] With their new lineup, the band signed onto Immortal Records in February 2007.[21] They released Kill the Headlights, produced by Marshall Altman (Marc Broussard, Zebrahead) in August 2007. The first single, "Cold and Jaded," was released in July.[22] The Reeves incarnation of the group also appeared in the comic book series Koni Waves from Arcana Studio.
In early 2008 Dave Deroo announced the band has decided to go on a "hiatus" to regroup, take a break, and assured fans they have not broken up.
In July 2009, the band announced intentions on releasing a DVD containing footage from the band's original line-up. It has yet to be released.
On August 13, 2009, Mark Chavez stated that he had returned to Adema.
...the original band has not sat in a room together in 5 years, however we have all been in touch and are excited to reform THE REAL ADEMA. First comes a DVD full of Adema shows, backstage mayhem, and rare experiences found nowhere else.. Next we write a great record and hopefully tour before we drop the new record...[23]
It was later confirmed that both Mark Chavez and original guitarist Mike Ransom were back in the band.[24] A second blog from the band's Myspace stated that both Bobby Reeves and Ed Faris had agreed to leave the band and that this was the right thing to do for Adema and their fans, the blog went on to say, "This SURE won't be the last you see of Bobby or Ed, and we wanted to take the time to thank them for their service in the line of duty..."[25]
The original members of Adema played their first show together in over 5 years on January 14, 2010, at Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California. The band played another show the next day at Brick by Brick in San Diego, California.
Mike Ransom showed extreme minimal participation in the 2010 tour and left once again in 2010 and joined the band Black Heart Vacancy.[26] Following Ransom's departure, Mark Chavez abruptly left Adema once again before the start of the 2011 tour.[27] Guitarist Tim Fluckey and Bassist David DeRoo have since taken over lead vocals.[26]
In January 2011 bassist David DeRoo was arrested just prior to performing a concert in Connecticut, and was charged with being a fugitive of the law. A warrant for his arrest was issued in July 2010 for violating his probation issued from a prior DUI incident in November 2008.[28] DeRoo's bond was set at US$1 million.[29] Being contractually obligated to fulfill their already scheduled 2011 tour dates, Tim Fluckey, Kris Kohls and touring fill-in Marc DeLeon expect to perform as Adema in the absence of DeRoo.[30]
Upon the return of Dave DeRoo it was announced that touring bassist Marc DeLeon would become an official guitarist for the band, replacing Mike Ransom [31]
On their official MySpace page, the band announced on July 19th, 2011, "We're going in the studio this week! New music coming soon!". Since then they have also announced a new EP available for download in February 2012 along with a special edition disc in March. This will include new songs along with old songs re-recorded with the current line-up. A full length album was announced to be released later in summer 2012.
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