The War on Drugs (band)

For other uses, see War on Drugs (disambiguation).
The War on Drugs

Adam Granduciel from The War on Drugs
Background information
Origin Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Genres Indie rock, Americana,[1] shoegazing, neo-psychedelia, new wave, post-punk
Years active 2005–present
Labels Secretly Canadian,[2] Atlantic
Associated acts Kurt Vile, Nightlands, Sharon Van Etten, The Capitol Years
Website www.thewarondrugs.net
Members Adam Granduciel
David Hartley
Robbie Bennett
Charlie Hall
Jon Natchez
Anthony LaMarca
Past members Kurt Vile
Kyle Lloyd
Angela Fleegle
Mike Zanghi
Steven Urgo
Patrick Berkery

The War on Drugs is an American indie rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, formed in 2005. The band consists of Adam Granduciel (vocals, guitar), David Hartley (bass), Robbie Bennett (keyboards), Charlie Hall (drums), Jon Natchez (saxophone, keyboards) and Anthony LaMarca (guitar).

Founded by close collaborators Granduciel and Kurt Vile, The War on Drugs released their debut studio album, Wagonwheel Blues, in 2008. Vile departed shortly after its release to focus on his solo career. The band's second studio album Slave Ambient was released in 2011 to favorable reviews and extensive touring.

Written and recorded following extensive touring and a period of loneliness and depression for primary songwriter Granduciel, the band's third album, Lost in the Dream, was released in 2014 to widespread critical acclaim and increased exposure. Previous collaborator Charlie Hall joined the band as its full-time drummer during the recording process, with saxophonist Jon Natchez and additional guitarist Anthony LaMarca accompanying the band for its world tour.

History

Beginnings and Wagonwheel Blues (2003–2008)

In 2003, frontman Adam Granduciel moved from Oakland, California to Philadelphia, where he met Kurt Vile, who had also recently moved back to Philadelphia after living in Boston for two years.[3] The duo subsequently began writing, recording and performing music together.[4] Vile stated, "Adam was the first dude I met when I moved back to Philadelphia in 2003. We saw eye-to-eye on a lot of things. I was obsessed with Bob Dylan at the time, and we totally geeked-out on that. We started playing together in the early days and he would be in my band, The Violators. Then, eventually I played in The War On Drugs."[5]

Granduciel and Vile began playing as The War on Drugs in 2005. Regarding the band's name, Granduciel noted, "My friend Julian and I came up with it a few years ago over a couple bottles of red wine and a few typewriters when we were living in Oakland. We were writing a lot back then, working on a dictionary, and it just came out and we were like "hey, good band name” so eventually when I moved to Philadelphia and got a band together I used it. It was either that or The Rigatoni Danzas. I think we made the right choice. I always felt though that it was the kind of name I could record all sorts of different music under without any sort of predictability inherent in the name"[6]

While Vile and Granduciel formed the backbone of the band, they had a number of accompanists early in the group's career, before finally settling on a lineup that added Charlie Hall as drummer/organist, Kyle Lloyd as drummer and Dave Hartley on bass.[7] Granduciel had previously toured and recorded with The Capitol Years, and Vile has several solo albums.[8] The group gave away its Barrel of Batteries EP for free early in 2008.[9] Their debut LP for Secretly Canadian, Wagonwheel Blues, was released in 2008.[10]

Following the album's release, and subsequent European tour, Vile departed from the band to focus on his solo career, stating, "I only went on the first European tour when their album came out, and then I basically left the band. I knew if I stuck with that, it would be all my time and my goal was to have my own musical career."[5] Fellow Kurt Vile & the Violators bandmate Mike Zanghi joined the band at this time, with Vile noting, "Mike was my drummer first and then when The War On Drugs' first record came out I thought I was lending Mike to Adam for the European tour but then he just played with them all the time so I kind of had to like, while they were touring a lot, figure out my own thing."[11]

Slave Ambient (2008–2012)

The lineup underwent several changes, and by the end of 2008, Kurt Vile, Charlie Hall, and Kyle Lloyd had all exited the group. At that time Granduciel and Hartley were joined by drummer Mike Zanghi, whom Granduciel also played with in Kurt Vile's backing band, the Violators.

After recording much of the band's forthcoming studio album, Slave Ambient, Zanghi departed from the band in 2010. Drummer Steven Urgo subsequently joined the band, with keyboardist Robbie Bennett also joining at around this time. Regarding Zanghi's exit, Granduciel noted: "I loved Mike, and I loved the sound of The Violators, but then he wasn't really the sound of my band. But you have things like friendship, and he's down to tour and he's a great guy, but it wasn't the sound of what this band was."[12]

The band's second studio album, Slave Ambient was released to favorable reviews in 2011.

In 2012, Patrick Berkery replaced Urgo as the band's drummer.[13]

Lost in the Dream (2013–present)

The War on Drugs at Best Kept Secret Festival, 2014

On 4 December 2013 the band announced the upcoming release of its third studio album, Lost in the Dream (March 18, 2014). The band streamed the album in its entirety on NPR's First Listen site for a week before its release.[14]

Lost in the Dream was featured as the Vinyl Me, Please record of the month in August 2014. The pressing was a limited edition pressing on mint green colored vinyl.

In June 2015, The War on Drugs signed with Atlantic Records for a two-album deal.[15]

Side projects and collaborations

Kurt Vile & the Violators

The War on Drugs performing at the Kaufleuten Club in Zurich, 2014

Adam Granduciel and Mike Zanghi are both former members of founding guitarist Kurt Vile's backing band The Violators, with Granduciel noting, "There was never, despite what lazy journalists have assumed, any sort of falling out, or resentment"[16] following Vile's departure from The War on Drugs. In 2011, Vile stated, "When my record came out, I assumed Adam would want to focus on The War On Drugs but he came with us in The Violators when we toured the States. The Violators became a unit, and although the cast does rotate, we’ve developed an even tighter unity and sound. Adam is an incredible guitar player these days and there is a certain feeling [between us] that nobody else can tap into. We don’t really have to tell each other what to play, it just happens."

Sharon Van Etten

Both David Hartley and Adam Granduciel contributed to singer-songwriter Sharon Van Etten's fourth studio album, Are We There (2014). Hartley performs bass guitar on the entire album, with Granduciel contributing guitar on two tracks.

Sore Eros

Adam Granduciel is currently producing the new Sore Eros album. They have been recording it in Philadelphia and Los Angeles on and off for the past several years.[5]

Members

Current members

  • Adam Granduciel - vocals, guitars, harmonica, keyboards, samplers (2005–present)
  • David Hartley - bass guitar, electric guitars (2005–present)
  • Robbie Bennett - keyboards, piano, guitars (2010–present)
  • Charlie Hall - drums, organ (2008, 2013–present)
  • Jon Natchez - saxophone, keyboards (2014–present)
  • Anthony LaMarca - guitar, keyboards (2014–present)

Former members

  • Patrick Berkery - drums, percussion (2012–2013)
  • Steven Urgo - drums, percussion, sampler (2010–2012)
  • Mike Zanghi - drums, percussion, sampler (2008–2010)
  • Kyle Lloyd - drums
  • Kurt Vile - electric guitar (2005–2009)

Discography

Studio albums

Year Album Peak positions Sales
US US Heat AUS
[17]		 BEL
[18]		 DEN
[19]		 NED
[20]		 SWE
[21]		 SWI
[22]		 UK
[23]		 UK Indie
2008 Wagonwheel Blues — — — — — — — — — — —
2011 Slave Ambient — 4 — 180 — — — — 127 — —
2014 Lost in the Dream 26 — 28 3 19 18 26 66 18 2 UK: Gold

EPs

Singles

Year Single Peak positions Album
BEL
[18]		 US
AAA
[24]
2014 "Red Eyes" 53 — Lost in the Dream
"Under the Pressure" — 19

References

  1. ↑ "Slave Ambient by The War On Drugs reviews". Any Decent Music. Retrieved 2013-05-12.
  2. ↑ "The War On Drugs". Secretly Canadian. Retrieved 2013-05-12.
  3. ↑ Greene, Jayson. "Q&A - Kurt Vile on His Favourite Bob Seger Song and the Neil Young Solo That Changed His Life". villagevoice.com. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  4. ↑ Band of the Week: The War on Drugs. Paste Magazine, June 15, 2008.
  5. 1 2 3 Freeman, John. "Interview - Kurt Vile | The Line of Best Fit". thelineofbestfit.com. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  6. ↑ "Pop Headwound: [Interview] The War on Drugs". popheadwound.blogspot.com. Retrieved 26 February 2012. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  7. ↑ The War on Drugs at Allmusic
  8. ↑ Breaking: The War on Drugs. Rolling Stone, August 6, 2008.
  9. ↑ War on Drugs Sign to Secretly Canadian, Give Away EP. Pitchfork Media, March 20, 2008.
  10. ↑ Review of Wagonwheel Blues. Prefix Magazine, June 18, 2008.
  11. ↑ Power, Ian. "Kurt Vile: The extended interview". citypages.com. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  12. ↑ http://www.nashvillescene.com/nashville/the-war-on-drugs-adam-granduciel-finds-himself-anew-while-lost-in-the-dream/Content?oid=4721559
  13. ↑ "Watch The War On Drugs perform "Arms Like Boulders" from Austin City Limits Festival". Thekey.xpn.org. 2012-10-14. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
  14. ↑ "First Listen: The War On Drugs, 'Lost In The Dream'". NPR.org. 2014-03-09. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
  15. ↑ http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/record-labels/6597801/the-war-on-drugs-signs-with-atlantic-records
  16. ↑ "Features | Escape Velocity | Sincerely Ambient: An Interview With The War On Drugs". The Quietus. Retrieved 2013-05-12.
  17. ↑ "The War on Drugs discography". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  18. 1 2 "The War on Drugs discography". ultratop.be/nl/. Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  19. ↑ "The War on Drugs discography". danishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  20. ↑ "The War on Drugs discography". dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  21. ↑ "The War on Drugs discography". swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  22. ↑ "The War on Drugs discography". hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  23. ↑ "CHART LOG UK: NEW ENTRIES UPDATE - COMBINED SINGLES (200) Chart Date: 3.09.2011". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 2013-05-12.
  24. ↑ "The War on Drugs – Chart History: Adult Alternative Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved October 14, 2015.

External links

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