Pist.On

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Pist.On

Pist.On, 1997. L-R: Jeff McManus, Val Ium, Burton Gans, and Henry Font.
Background information
Origin Brooklyn, New York, USA
Genres Heavy metal
Gothic metal
Alternative metal
Years active 1993–2001
Labels Mayhem/Fierce
Atlantic
Website pistonline.com
pistarmy.com
Past members Henry Font
Burton Gans
Jeff McManus
Val Ium
Paul Poulos
Danny Kavadlo
Johnny Kelly

Pist.On (also spelled Pist*On, Pist-On, PistOn, and Piston) was a heavy metal band from Brooklyn, New York. The band released two albums in the 1990s.

History

Original members

Formed around the core duo of Henry Font (vocals, guitars) and Val.Ium (bass, backing vocals), the band released two demos in the early 1990s, the second of which, Urine the Money, was produced by Josh Silver of Type O Negative. The band's friendship with Type O Negative (also based out of Brooklyn) brought them both help and scorn in subsequent years.

In 1996 the band, now rounded out by Paul Poulos (guitars, backing vocals) and Danny "Jam" Kavadlo (drums), released their first full-length album, Number One, to critical acclaim in both the United States and Europe. Subsequent tours with Type O Negative and Marilyn Manson helped improve the band's notoriety. Within a year, they moved from the independent Mayhem/Fierce record label to a major label, Atlantic Records. Also around this time, Poulos and Kavadlo both left the band.

Second lineup

New members Burton Gans (guitars) and Jeff McManus (drums) joined in time to see an Atlantic rerelease of Number One with new photos, artwork, and, perhaps most obvious of all, spelling; the band's name shifted from "Pist.On" to the "friendlier" spelling "PistOn". The removal of the "." led to criticism that the band had "sold out". Under the guise of their new name and label, the band again toured exhaustively. During this time, drummer Jeff McManus was forced into a brief respite for medical reasons, with Johnny Kelly of Type O Negative filling in.

1996–1997

Pist.on's debut album, successful on its face, had been picked up and rereleased by a major label, the band had deep friendships and histories with well-known acts such as Type O Negative, Marilyn Manson, the Misfits, and Queensrÿche, and had energetic new blood in the form of two members. However, the promises and possibilities of this era never panned out, and after a handful of tours and negative reviews, the band was unceremoniously dropped by Atlantic.

Second release

1999 saw the release of the band's second album, $ell.Out, again through Mayhem Records. The record was described as rife with crooked and spiteful poking at the music industry, the band's former label, the press, and the band itself. The album met with lukewarm reviews and sales, and breakup rumors swirled.

Breakup

After the band's second release, drummer Jeff McManus departed from the band, returning briefly to record a 3-song independent Saves EP in the spring of 2001. Despite the optimism brought on by Saves, the core duo of Pist.On broke apart in late August 2001 when bassist Val Ium decided to leave the band as well. Though still not officially broken up, Pist.On has not released any new material as a band since, although several band members including Henry Font and Jeff McManus have released recordings independently.

Members

  • Henry Font – Vocals, guitars (1993–2001)
  • Val Ium – Bass guitar, backing vocals (1993–2001)
  • Danny "Jam" Kavadlo – Drums (1993–1996)
  • Paul Poulos – Guitar, backing vocals (1993–1996)
  • Burton Gans – Guitar (1996–2001)
  • Jeff McManus – Drums (1996–2001)
  • Johnny Kelly – Drums (fill in)

Discography

  • First demo tape (1993, independent)
  • Urine the Money demo (1993, independent)
  • Number One (1996, Mayhem/Fierce; rereleased in 1997 by Atlantic Records)
  • $ell.Out (1999, Mayhem Records)
  • Saves EP (2001, independent)

Solo projects in the 2000s

  • Henry Font
    • SumMerFlu
  • Jeff McManus
    • Weekends with Dan (released the single Anna Rexia in 2006 which received acclaim in several punk rock publications)
  • Burton Gans
    • American Popular
    • The Deadlyz (released self-titled debut album in 2009, followed up by second studio album Fabulous Disaster in 2011)

Resources

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