Deep Blue Something

Deep Blue Something
Also known as Leper Messiah
Origin Denton, Texas, United States
Genres Alternative rock
Post-grunge
Emo
Years active 1992–2001
Labels Interscope Records
Website Official Myspace
Past members Todd Pipes
Toby Pipes
John Kirtland
Clay Bergus
Kirk Tatom

Deep Blue Something were an American rock band who are best known for their 1995 hit single "Breakfast at Tiffany's" from their second album Home.[1] Home achieved gold-record status; however, the band parted ways with Interscope and went on creative hiatus for several years, only releasing the follow-up Byzantium in Japan and some European countries. They eventually signed with the Azera label and released Deep Blue Something in mid-2001, breaking up shortly after. With only one single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, they are often considered a one-hit-wonder.

History

The group was founded in 1992 in Denton, Texas, by brothers Todd and Toby Pipes, students at the University of North Texas at the time. The brothers enlisted drummer John Kirtland and guitarist Clay Bergus. Deep Blue Something originally performed as Leper Messiah, after the line from Ziggy Stardust.[2]

Bergus left the band before the band started recording their first album, 11th Song. The band independently released the album in 1993. Kirk Tatom joined the band after the album's release. In 1994, the band released their second album, Home via an independent label named Thornton Records. Home was re-released a year later by major label Interscope Records. The accompanying single "Breakfast at Tiffany's" peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the charts in the United Kingdom.[3][4] According to Todd Pipes, the lyrics of the song were inspired by Audrey Hepburn's performance in the feature film Roman Holiday, but he thought that the Hepburn film Breakfast at Tiffany's would make a better song title.[5]

The huge success of the single and lack of follow-up activity led to their classification as a one-hit-wonder band within music circles.[6] In late 1995, Tatom left the band and Bergus returned to his role as guitarist. The band worked on their sophomore album titled Byzantium with a planned release in 1996. However, the Deep Blue Something came into legal troubles over the copyright of 11th song and "Breakfast At Tiffany's".[7] As a result, Interscope put the album on hold. In 1998, the album was released only in Japan and some European countries. In the wake of the Universal/PolyGram merger, the band parted ways with Interscope. They later signed with Azera Records, an independent label based in Phoenix, Arizona. Their self-titled album, which contains five tracks from Byzantium, was released later that year. Shortly after the album's release, the band went separate ways.

Other activities of band members

Todd and Toby Pipes have become producers for Flickerstick, Demp, Calhoun, the Greater Good, Coma Rally, Moonshot Radio, Porter Block, and The Nadas. They have earned Best Producer honors from the Fort Worth Weekly three years in a row and have been highlighted in Mix Magazine. The Pipes brothers work primarily out of Bass Propulsion Laboratories in Dallas, a three-studio facility which they also own.

Todd Pipes (born 9 November 1967),[8] has released a solo album, Taurus Petals, on Authentic Records. It was released on November 25, 2008.[9] Later on he released an EP, Polar Patterns, on Idol Records. It was released on September 25, 2012. Pipes, who is now a professing Christian, teaches College English, and is the assistant coach for the 4 time state champions mens varsity soccer team at Grapevine Faith Christian School in Texas. Winning their 1st state title in the 2010 season, and they are still defending that title in 2014.

Toby Pipes (born 28 June 1971),[8] formed the band The Hundred Inevitables, with Jeff Whittington and released an album, Studder, in early 2000. In 2005, he formed a new band Little Black Dress with Nolan Thies. In 2009 they were the first band signed onto Exploding Plastic Records, a new Idol Records sub-label. Their debut album Snow in June was released June 2009.

John Kirtland runs an independent record label, Kirtland Records.[10] Based in Dallas, Texas and Los Angeles, California, Kirtland's business dealings led to his ownership of the back-catalog of the band Bush and royalty rights on the sales of certain albums by the band No Doubt. Kirtland has since sold off his rights to the No Doubt material, but Bush remains on the label along with indie bands such as Bril and the Burden Brothers.

Clay Bergus has been a manager at Eddie V's Prime Seafood in Fort Worth since its opening in spring 2009.[11]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales threshold)
US
[12]		 AUS
[13]		 AUT
[14]		 GER
[15]		 NL
[16]		 SWE
[17]		 SWI
[18]		 UK
[4]
11th Song
  • Release date: 1993
  • Label: Doberman Records
  • Formats: CD
 — — — — — — — —
Home 46 31 32 16 26 39 20 24
Byzantium
  • Release date: 1998
  • Label: Interscope
  • Formats: CD
 — — — — — — — —
Deep Blue Something
  • Release date: 2001
  • Label: Aezra Records
  • Formats: CD
 — — — — — — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions Album
US
[3]		 AUS
[20]		 AUT
[21]		 GER
[22]		 NL
[23]		 NZ
[24]		 SWE
[25]		 SWI
[26]		 UK
[4]
1995 "Breakfast at Tiffany's" 5 3 12 6 11 21 9 19 1 Home
1996 "Halo" 102
[+]		 — — — — — — — —
"Josey" — — — — — — — — 27
1998 "She Is" — — — — — — — — — Byzantium
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.
Notes
  • +^ "Halo" peaked outside of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, therefore they are listed on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.

References

  1. ↑ Ruhlmann, William. "Allmusic: Deep Blue Something". Allmusic. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  2. ↑ "Deep Blue Something : Deep Blue Something's Toby Pipes - Rhapsody Music Downloads". VH1.com. Retrieved 2012-05-09.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Deep Blue Something Album & Song Chart History - Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Artist Chart History: Deep Blue Something". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  5. ↑ British Hit Singles & Albums (Edition 18), Guinness World Records Limited
  6. ↑ Taylor, Chuck (5 May 2001). Reviews & Previews. Billboard. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  7. ↑ "Dallas Copywrong?". Dallas Observer. Retrieved 2012-05-09.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Biography for Deep Blue Something". at imdb.co.uk.
  9. ↑
  10. ↑ "Kirtland Records". Kirtland Records. Retrieved 2014-05-03.
  11. ↑ "Eddie V's Prime Seafood - Fort Worth, TX - Fort Worth - Lounge, Bar - Info". Facebook. Retrieved 2014-05-03.
  12. ↑ "Deep Blue Something Album & Song Chart History - Billboard". Retrieved January 15, 2011.
  13. ↑ "australian-charts.com - Australian charts portal". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
  14. ↑ "austriancharts.at - Austria Top 40". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
  15. ↑ "Media Control Charts - German Albums". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
  16. ↑ "dutchcharts.nl - Dutch charts portal". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
  17. ↑ "swedishcharts.com - Swedish charts portal". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
  18. ↑ "Die Offizielle Schweizer Hitparade und Music Community". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
  19. ↑ "RIAA - Gold & Platinum - January 15, 2011: Home certified awards". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
  20. ↑ "australian-charts.com - Australian charts portal". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
  21. ↑ "austriancharts.at - Austria Top 40". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
  22. ↑ "Media Control Charts - German Singles". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
  23. ↑ "dutchcharts.nl - Dutch charts portal". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
  24. ↑ "charts.org.nz - New Zealand charts portal". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
  25. ↑ "swedishcharts.com - Swedish charts portal". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
  26. ↑ "Die Offizielle Schweizer Hitparade und Music Community". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2011.

External links