Cornerstone (Austrian band)
| Cornerstone | |
|---|---|
|
F.l.t.r.: Christoph, Alina, Steve, Michael | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Moedling, Lower Austria, Austria |
| Genres | Rock, Pop, AOR |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Labels | ATOM Records (U.S.A.) |
| Website |
www |
| Members |
Alina Peter Michael Wachelhofer Steve Wachelhofer Christoph Karas |
| Past members |
Anja Schirmer Patricia Hillinger Markus Bousska Hannah Wachter Mike Pawlowitsch |
Cornerstone is an Austrian rock band formed in 1998 in Moedling, Lower Austria. The band has gone through several phases, but its strongest success came 2008, when they signed a record deal with US-label ATOM Records and released their debut Head Over Heels in the same year. ATOM also works with artists like Jon Butcher and Barefoot Servants in the United States.[1] In March 2008 the band won the “Next Big Thing"-Contest, hosted by Alternative Addiction, and reached No.1 on Chungaradio (Scottsdale/AZ, U.S.A.).[2] In early 2012 the song "Right or Wrong" was awarded as "Ballad of the Year" by British Rock Realms Magazine.[3]
History
The band started in summer 1998, when Steve and Michael Wachelhofer began to play bass/guitar and formed a band, together with drummer Markus Bousska, interpreting cover songs, originally played by The Cure, R.E.M. and Soul Asylum. During this period the band started writing their first originals, but a few internal difficulties arose - new band members came and went - and after many personnel changes, some moderately successful gigs and a disastrous recording-session, which has never been finished, the band teetered on the brink of collapse in summer 2004. But after Hannah Wachter and Rock-Shouter Anja Schirmer serendipitously joined the band, they were able to move forward.
In 2007 the band played on several Open-Air Festivals in Europe, i.e. in Italy at the "Spirit of Woodstock Festival". At this time, the band also started to record their debut "Head Over Heels", which was released in 2008 and received very positive reviews from the European and American press and radios.[4] In the same year the band toured Austria and UK, where they did a lot of interviews at radio stations, i.e. on ARFM-Radio/London with the legendary Steve Price. In 2009 the band went on another UK tour, appearing at the famous Z Rock Festival together with Ted Poley and John Waite (Ex-Bad English, Ex-The Babys),[5] and in summer 2009 they did a three weeks USA-tour, including appearances on several Radio- and TV-stations.[6]
In the fall of 2011, Cornerstone released their sophomore effort Somewhere in America, which sold out within three weeks. They continued to do shows in Austria , the surrounding countries and in the UK, where the band participated in the biggest rock-events of the country, including the Rock and Bike Fest (with New Model Army),[7] the famous Cambridge Rock Festival, where the band shared the stage with musical legends like The Animals, Magnum and Hazel O'Connor[8] and the Pop Overthrow Festival in Liverpool. Later this year the band released their version of the Eighties-hit Smalltown Boy by the Synthie-Pop-Band Bronski Beat and appeared in the Charts,[9] whereas all the proceeds of the Single went to the "Room to Breathe"-campaign for the research and treatment of the immunodeficiency illness cystic fibrosis of the Nottingham City Hospital.[10] In 2015 the band will tour through Europe again partly with Gary Howard (Flying Pickets, Alan Parsons Project).[11]
The band went to a few changes over the years, but the optimum Line-Up was found with drummer Christoph Karas, who had previsouly played in other local bands before, and the singer/guitarist Alina Peter. Although the band registered their band name as an international trademark, there is another band that also uses this name, too, so some magazines and Distributors have often added an ® or an (AT) to their band name.
Band members
Current members
- Alina Peter - vocals, guitars
- Michael Wachelhofer - bass, keyboards, vocals
- Steve Wachelhofer - guitars, vocals
- Christoph Karas - drums, percussion
Former members
- Anja Schirmer - vocals
- Patricia Hillinger - vocals
- Markus Bousska - drums, percussion
- Hannah Wachter - drums, percussion
- Mike Pawlowitsch - drums, percussion
References in popular culture
Film
- In the 2009 Austrian-movie Little Alien, filmmaker Nina Kusturica used two Cornerstone songs, "Regret" and "I Can't Even Say No" for the soundtrack.
Music television
- "Something In The Way" was used several times in the TV-show Mulatschag on Austrian television station OKTO, as well as the latest video for "Stay", which has been broadcast many times by Austrian music station Go TV.
Other Appearances
- Michael Wachelhofer and Roadie Karl Ernsthofer make brief appearances in some commercials, aired on several TV-stations, Michael Wachelhofer also work as a model for several advertisements.
Discography
- Head Over Heels (2008, Re-Release 2010)
- Somewhere in America'' (2011)
- Smalltown Boy'' (2013)
References
- ↑ "ATOM Records". ATOM Records. Retrieved 2013-08-09.
- ↑ "Home Of Chunga Radio". Chungaradio.com. Retrieved 2013-08-09.
- ↑ "The Rock Realms Awards 2011". Rock Realms. Retrieved 2013-08-09.
- ↑ "Collection of Reviews and Interviews". Cornerstone. Retrieved 2013-08-09.
- ↑ "Z Rock 2009 Line-Up". Blabbermouth. Retrieved 2015-04-24.
- ↑ "Tour Dates Cornerstone 2009". Cornerstone. Retrieved 2015-04-24.
- ↑ "Official Poster Rock and Bike Fest 2011". Last.fm. Retrieved 2015-04-24.
- ↑ "Official Poster Cambrigde Rock Festival 2013". Attica Rage. Retrieved 2015-04-24.
- ↑ "Austria Top 75". Austrian Charts. Retrieved 2015-04-24.
- ↑ "Band rocking to bring the cash in for appeal" (PDF). The Nottingham Post. Retrieved 2013-10-09.
- ↑ "Pressbulletin APA". Austrian Press Agency (APA). Retrieved 2015-04-27.
External links
Official Sites:
Reviews, Interviews, etc.: