Blacklistt

Blacklistt
Origin Waitakere, New Zealand
Genres Alternative metal, alternative rock, nu metal
Years active 2010–present
Associated acts Blindspott, , Forever Now, City Of Souls
Members Damian Alexander
Marcus Powell
Karl Vilisini
Gareth Fleming
Past members Tristan Reilly

Blacklistt is an alternative metal band formed by 4 original members of the New Zealand-based group Blindspott, Damian Alexander (vocals), Marcus Powell (guitar, backing vocals), Gareth Fleming (bass) and Karl Vilisini (turntables, keyboards, Production).[1]

History

In 2010, 4 original members of the band Blindspott reformed the group with new drummer Tristan Reilly and appeared at the 2011 Homegrown Music Festival, but the band subsequently entered a legal battle with former drummer Shelton Woolright over the use of the name.[2] Eventually, the band opted to tour and release music under the name Blacklistt.[3] The band performed tracks from the two Blindspott albums, as well as debuting single From the Blind Spot which had been receiving generous airplay at the time at the Homegrown festival.[4] Following the Homegrown performance, the band went quiet for several months as they continued the legal battle with Woolright. Alexander described the long legal battle as unfortunate; "it sucks actually. We're doing this for the love of the music and for our fans. I've had fans stop me in the street and ask when we'll start making music again."[2] In the mean time, fans could download the group's single From the Blind Spot for free through a Vodafone promotion.[2] The band eventually reached a stalemate with the legal process and decided to continue as Blacklistt.[3]

In late 2011, after months of silence, the band was announced as a headliner for the 2012 Homegrown festival, alongside other big-name New Zealand artists Shihad, P-Money and The Feelers.[5] Prior to the February 18th performance at Homegrown, the band premiered their music video for From the Blind Spot online and on music video channels. The song was released on iTunes on February 22 as part of the Songs For the South charity compilation album. In a YouTube video posted on their official user page in February, the band announced that they were working on a new single and album which they hoped to release by the end of 2012.[6] On the first of May 2012, the band's second single, Worth Fighting For was released on iTunes[7] followed by a video the 16th.[8] The band went on their first national tour in May and June 2012. The band then played the Waihi Beach Summer Festival on the 22nd of December.

On the 9th of April 2013, the band released a new single and video. Titled Burn, the track debuted on the NZ singles chart in the number 7 position.

The band released a new single titled Home on the 9th of August, which debuted at number 13 on the NZ singles chart. The band will release their debut, self-titled album on the 13th of September.[9] The band will embark on a national tour of New Zealand in September/October to promote the release.[9] Tristan Rielly stepped down from permanent drum duties in the band in 2013, however he remains with the group as a touring/session member and appears on all tracks on the album bar Home (for which Albert Cook of Three Houses Down performed).

After going Gold in 2014 Blacklistt won "The Best Rock Album" at The Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards.

In March 2015, Marcus Powell released a track called Sleep with his side project - "City of Souls"

Members

Previous Members

Discography

Albums

Year Title Details Peak chart
positions
NZ[10]
2013 Blacklistt
  • Released: 13 September 2013
  • Label: Blindspott Ltd
  • Catalogue: BL001
1
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions Album
NZ[10] NZ singles
2012 "From the Blind Spot" Blacklistt
"Worth Fighting For"
2013 "Burn" 7[11]
"Home" 11[12]

References

External links