Brett Scallions

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Brett Scallions
Brett Scallions (Riders on the storm) - 4935194800.jpg
Scallions performing in 2008
Background information
Birth nameBrett Allen Scallions
Born (1971-12-21) December 21, 1971 (age 52)
Origin Brownsville, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • musician
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, bass, drums, percussion
Years active1989–present
Labels
  • MegaForce
  • Epic
  • Golden Robot
Formerly of
Spouse
Abby Gennet
​
(m. 2005)​
Children2

Brett Allen Scallions (born December 21, 1971) [1] is an American singer and musician. He is best known for being one of the founding members and the original lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for the alternative rock band Fuel from 1993 to 2006 and then from 2010 to 2020. He formed Fuel with Jeff Abercrombie, Jody Abbott, and Carl Bell. During that time, the band released four major-label albums including the double platinum Something Like Human . His initial stint with the band ended in February 2006. [2] [3] Scallions has been ranked in the Top 100 Heavy Metal Vocalists by Hit Parader (#50).

Contents

Early life

Scallion was born in Brownsville, Tennessee. As a child, he listened to Elvis records. He would sing in choir in church and was cast as lead actor in plays throughout his high school. He was awarded scholarships to Lambuth University for music and theater. [4]

Career

Fuel

Scallions joined Fuel in 1993 after bassist Jeff Abercrombie saw him perform in a bar in Jackson, Tennessee. The band achieved its greatest success with Scallions as lead singer. Scallions later moved to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania with the rest of the band where they would perform at local bars and nightclubs under the name Real 2 Reel. [5]

World Fire Brigade

Outside Re-Fueled, Scallions was busy with Sean Danielsen of Smile Empty Soul and producer Eddie Wohl, writing and recording an album under the name World Fire Brigade. "It's much heavier than anything I ever did with Fuel," Scallions said of World Fire Brigade's sound in August 2009. "We've done a lot of stuff in lower tones which is a first for me also, it's very deep, heavy, and even growly at times." He also said that the World Fire Brigade album was "almost three-quarters of the way complete, and planned to be released early next spring, fingers crossed". [6] Two new tracks "Shot Down" and "Take Me Away" were available on MySpace since March 2011. [7] The album is currently available for streaming through Riptide Music website (under working title Weight of the World). [8]

The debut album titled Spreading My Wings was released by FrostByte Media Inc. on August 28, 2012. [9]

The World Fire Brigade line-up consisted of Scallions (vocals/guitar), Sean Danielsen (vocals/guitar), and Eddie Wohl (keyboards). Guest musicians on the album included former Candiria drummer Ken Schalk, Mike McCready (Pearl Jam), Rob Caggiano (Anthrax), and Andy Andersson (Black Robot). [9] Brad Stewart had been announced as the group's touring bassist. Even though he recorded bass tracks for the album, Scallions had stated that he will be playing rhythm guitar when the group goes on tour.

On April 3, 2013, the following message was posted on the World Fire Brigade Facebook page:

"Thanks to everyone that has discovered our music and has questions about touring and new music. Right now we're all too busy with our other bands to tour, but that doesn't mean it will never happen." The post went on to invite fans to support the bands Fuel and Smile Empty Soul "on the road all year". [10]

Post-Fuel / other projects

After leaving Fuel, Scallions joined bands with The X's and Circus Diablo playing bass. Both bands ultimately became one-album projects and concluded shortly after subsequent tours.

In March 2007, Scallions was selected as the lead singer for Riders on the Storm, [11] a project featuring former members of The Doors, Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek.

Brett Scallions contributed lead vocals to the charity single "Something to Believe", released by the band Hollow on iTunes via Koch Records on March 9, 2010. [12]

Departure and return to Fuel

Scallions left Fuel in early 2006. According to an interview with Alternative Addition, Scallions cited the reason due to the band becoming a "one-man band" throughout the years.

The last Fuel record we did, nobody was into it, at least not in the band. Speaking for myself, there was no fun in it, because there was no activity within the band. It was kinda a one man show really, and what’s the fun in that? The word “band” doesn’t even come into play in a situation like that. It wasn’t an enjoyable environment for me, and I don’t think for any of us really, except for Carl [Bell] maybe – because Carl’s mind was set into his songs, his music, and that’s the way it was. For me, growing up and being a fan of music, being a fan of creativity, you wanna be a part of things, you wanna actually feel like you are in a band, and it just wasn’t feeling like that anymore."

Scallions, August 2007

The three remaining members of the band, however, chose to continue with new vocalist Toryn Green. With Green, Fuel would record one unsuccessful album, 2007's Angels & Devils and would largely be inactive by 2008 due to legal issues with their then-label Epic Records. [13]

During Fuel's inactivity, Scallions and bassist Jeff Abercrombie teamed up for the first time since Scallions' departure in 2006 to tour as "Re-Fueled". Scallions and Abercrombie recruited guitarist Yogi Lonich of Chris Cornell and Buckcherry fame and drummer Ken Schalk, formerly of Candiria to round out the unit. Their debut performance was a free event that took place on August 28, 2009 at the Tempe Marketplace, playing songs from the Sunburn and Something Like Human albums exclusively. [14]

Still without word from the official incarnation of Fuel and with Re-Fueled increasing its tour schedule, speculation surrounding the future for Fuel began to increase including some confusion on the part of vocalist Toryn Green. Green explained he had not heard anything from the other members, but expressed his support for seeing Scallions back on stage singing classic Fuel songs again. Finally, On April 8, 2010, it was announced that Re-Fueled had disbanded, and that original guitarist/songwriter Carl Bell, and bassist Jeff Abercrombie had left Fuel to pursue other endeavors. Toryn Green and drummer Tommy Stewart left the band as well. On the same day, Brett Scallions reformed Fuel with Lonich, Schalk, and former Shinedown bassist Brad Stewart.

A couple of new songs worked their way into Fuel's live sets between 2010 and 2013, beginning with a track titled "Headache", and in March 2012 it was announced that Fuel intended to release a new album, which would be the first Fuel contribution to include Scallions since 2003's Natural Selection. By the end of April 2013, tracking for the new album had been completed and the band promised that a new single was soon to come.

On December 5, 2013, the first new track from the forthcoming Puppet Strings album was unveiled, and the first official single was set for a January 2014 release with the album release to follow on March 4. [15]

In June 2014, the album release was followed-up with the song "Cold Summer" being released as a single. [16] Scallions has stated that he penned the song during his original tenure in Fuel, somewhere around 2002. Originally known as "Hit and Sorry", he recalls having recorded it so many times he almost gave up on the track. After adding a new chorus with contributions from producer Eddie Wohl and consulting the opinions of his bandmates, the decision was made to include the song on the album. [17] [18]

In 2015, Scallions embarked on his first unplugged tour. He performed Fuel songs as well as covering some of his favorite songs that were seminal in his musical journey.

Scallions again chose to leave Fuel after internal conflicts with original bandmates arose in October 2020.

Personal life

Scallions is married to Abby Gennet, guitarist and lead singer of Slunt. They have two sons together; born 2007 and 2010. [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fuel (band)</span> American rock band

Fuel is an American rock band from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, formed by guitarist-songwriter Carl Bell in 1993. After several independent releases, the band signed with 550 Music and Epic Records to release their debut studio album Sunburn (1998), which was supported by their first hit single, "Shimmer". The song peaked at number 42 on the Billboard Hot 100, while their 2000 single, '"Hemorrhage " peaked at number 30. The latter, along with the moderate hit "Bad Day" spawned from the band's second album, Something Like Human (2000). Their 2003 single, "Falls on Me", led their third album, Natural Selection (2003), which was met with moderate success and followed by several lineup and personnel changes.

<i>Sunburn</i> (Fuel album) 1998 studio album by Fuel

Sunburn is the debut album by American rock band Fuel, released by 550 Music, an imprint of Epic Records on March 3, 1998. It was produced by Steven Haigler. The songs "Shimmer", "Jesus or a Gun", and "Bittersweet" were issued as commercial singles following its release; the former peaked at number 42 on the Billboard Hot 100. Critically, the album was met with average reviews, and commercially, the album modestly entered the Billboard 200 at number 77. Sunburn received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) — signifying sales of one million units — on May 24, 2000.

<i>Something Like Human</i> 2000 studio album by Fuel

Something Like Human is the second album by American rock band Fuel, released on September 19, 2000, by Epic Records. Something Like Human peaked at number 17 on the Billboard 200, and was preceded by the single "Hemorrhage ", which peaked at number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains their highest-charting song. The album's title comes from the lyric heard on its sixth track, "Prove".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy Stewart</span> American drummer

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<i>Natural Selection</i> (Fuel album) 2003 studio album by Fuel

Natural Selection is the third album by American rock band Fuel, released on September 23, 2003, by Epic Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Circus Diablo</span> American rock band

Circus Diablo is an American rock band formed in early 2006 by Billy Morrison (vocals), Billy Duffy and Ricky Warwick. Fuel frontman Brett Scallions and Velvet Revolver drummer Matt Sorum subsequently joined the band on bass and drums, respectively. To date, Circus Diablo have released one studio album, entitled Circus Diablo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hemorrhage (In My Hands)</span> 2000 song by the rock band Fuel

"Hemorrhage (In My Hands)" is a song by American rock band Fuel. It was released on September 14, 2000 as the lead single from their second studio album, "Something Like Human". It spent 12 weeks at number 1 on Billboard's Alternative Airplay chart, and a total of 40 weeks on the survey; in 2023, Billboard ranked "Hemorrhage" as the 12th largest hit in the chart's history. It also hit number two on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. To date, it is Fuel's highest charting single on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 30. It also peaked number 17 on the Adult Top 40 chart and number 22 on the Mainstream Top 40 chart.

<i>Fuel</i> (EP) 1994 EP by Fuel

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<i>Porcelain</i> (EP) 1996 EP by Fuel

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<i>Angels & Devils</i> (Fuel album) 2007 studio album by Fuel

Angels & Devils is the fourth studio album by American rock band Fuel. Released on August 7, 2007, it was their first studio effort since 2003's Natural Selection and was the last Fuel album to feature original songwriter/guitarist Carl Bell and bassist Jeff Abercrombie. It was also Fuel's only studio album to feature new vocalist Toryn Green, and their final album for Epic Records. With a new singer, the album also introduced a new Fuel logo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bad Day (Fuel song)</span> 2001 single by Fuel

"Bad Day" is a song by American rock band Fuel from their second album Something Like Human (2000). It was released as the album's third single in May 2001 and peaked at number 64 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart that August. Immediately following the September 11 attacks, Clear Channel deemed the song inappropriate for radio airplay due to its subject matter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carl Bell (musician)</span> American songwriter from Tennessee

Carl William Bell is an American songwriter, record producer, arranger, engineer, and mixer. He formed the Tennessee-based hard rock band Fuel in 1989, for which he served as principal lyricist, lead guitarist, and producer. He has written the band's singles including "Shimmer", "Hemorrhage ", and "Bad Day". He has also co-produced each of Fuel's albums, including the Grammy Award-nominated Natural Selection (2003). Although often a backing vocalist for the band, Bell had yet to perform as a lead vocalist until the release of his first solo project in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manzarek–Krieger</span> American rock band

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<i>Puppet Strings</i> 2014 studio album by Fuel

Puppet Strings is the fifth studio album by American rock band Fuel. Released March 4, 2014, it is their first and only studio effort since 2003's Natural Selection to feature original lead singer Brett Scallions and the only Fuel album not to feature original songwriter/guitarist, Carl Bell and bassist Jeff Abercrombie. Additionally, no one who participated in the recording of Puppet Strings participated in the recording of Fuel's previous album Angels & Devils or the next album Anomaly.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soul to Preach To</span> 2014 single by Fuel

"Soul to Preach To" is the first single released from Fuel's album Puppet Strings. It is also the first single released featuring original lead singer Brett Scallions since Fuel's 2003 studio album Natural Selection.

"Cold Summer" is the second single released from Fuel's album Puppet Strings. The song dates back to the early 2000s (decade) before the band's 2003 album Natural Selection. According to Scallions the band had recorded the song several times and lost hope in it until producer Eddie Wohl convinced Scallions to record it for Puppet Strings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Danielsen</span> American musician and artistic painter

Sean Julian Danielsen (born February 14, 1982) is an American musician and artistic painter, best known as the guitarist and lead vocalist of American rock bands Smile Empty Soul and World Fire Brigade. In addition to creating one studio album and three independent extended play albums, Danielsen has also collaborated on Noise Refinery compilation album Anger Management with former He Is Legend rhythm guitarist Mitchell Ray Marlow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Fire Brigade</span>

World Fire Brigade is an American rock ensemble formed in 2009 by Sean Danielsen of Smile Empty Soul and Brett Scallions of American rock band Fuel.

<i>Spreading My Wings</i> 2012 studio album by World Fire Brigade

Spreading My Wings is the debut studio album from American rock band World Fire Brigade. The album, starring percussionist Ken Schalk of Candiria, in addition to Andy Andersson, Mike McCready and Rob Caggiano on guitar, was released on 28 August 2012 via FrostByte Media. The title track "Spreading My Wings", was published on 4 June 2012.

References

  1. ↑ "Monday, December 21: Happy Birthday Brett Scallions of Fuel". December 21, 2015.
  2. ↑ Brett Scallions Tells His Story Archived October 20, 2007, at the Wayback Machine Alternative Addiction August 5, 2007.
  3. ↑ KAOS 2000 Magazine interview w/ Carl Bell Archived March 5, 2016, at the Wayback Machine Kaos2000 Magazine. March 3, 1999.
  4. ↑ "Biography".
  5. ↑ "The Life and Work of Carl Bell".
  6. ↑ "Brett Scallions Forms New Band Refueled Archived March 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine " AlternativeAddiction.com. August 15, 2009.
  7. ↑ "World Fire Brigade Stream New tracks Archived March 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine " Tunelab.com. March 22, 2011.
  8. ↑ "World Fire Brigade Stream New album Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine " RockAccess.net. February 25, 2012.
  9. 1 2 "Hard Rock Supergroup WORLD FIRE BRIGADE To Release Debut Album in August". Bravewords.com. June 4, 2012. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  10. ↑ "WORLD FIRE BRIGADE Facebook Message To Fans". Facebook.com. April 3, 2013. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  11. ↑ New Lead Singer for Riders!!, Riders on the Storm website Archived September 14, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  12. ↑ Gears of Rock Review "Something to Believe" Archived April 22, 2016, at the Wayback Machine Gears of Rock. February 21, 2010.
  13. ↑ "Fuelies.net - A collaborative Fansite - An Interview With Carl". Archived from the original on May 13, 2008. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Re-Fueled - (Untitled) Live 8/28/09 @ Tempe Marketplace". YouTube. August 29, 2009. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  15. ↑ "New Music, Music News, Interviews, & More". Alternative Addiction. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Fuel - Cold Summer". YouTube. July 24, 2014. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  17. ↑ Gary Graff (February 20, 2014). "Fuel, 'Cold Summer': Exclusive Song Premiere". Billboard. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Fuel's Brett Scallions Discusses 'Puppet Strings' + More". Loudwire.com. April 8, 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  19. ↑ [ dead link ]
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