Owl (band)

Last updated
Owl
OwlBand2015.jpg
Owl performing in 2015
Background information
Origin Los Angeles, California
Genres Hard rock
experimental rock
alternative rock
Years active2007 (2007)–present
LabelsOverit Records, Magnetic Eye Records
Members Chris Wyse
Dan Dinsmore
Eric Bradley
Past membersJason Achilles Mezilis
Website www.owltheband.net

Owl is a three piece Los Angeles-based hard rock band. Led by vocalist/bassist Chris Wyse, the long-time bassist for the Cult and a member of Ace Frehley's band, Owl released their eponymous debut in 2009 and their second album, The Right Thing, in 2013. [1] [2]

Contents

History

Chris Wyse has used the bass more prominently in Owl, including using an upright bass Chris Wyse.jpg
Chris Wyse has used the bass more prominently in Owl, including using an upright bass

Wyse began playing bass while in grade school in upstate New York. [3] As a teenager, he met drummer Dan Dinsmore, then 17; shortly thereafter, they began playing together in a local band, East Wall. After touring regionally, Wyse, who had garnered national attention as a bass player, [4] moved to Los Angeles, while Dinsmore remained in Albany, joining the industrial rock band The Clay People. [5]

Wyse's success came quickly in Los Angeles, where he played with Guns N' Roses' Chris Pitman, Tool's Paul D'Amour, Tal Bachman, Mick Jagger, Scott Weiland, and Ozzy Osbourne [6] before joining the Cult in 2006. [7] Dinsmore's band also achieved significant success, particularly with the single Awake, from the Strangeland soundtrack [8] which hit #1 on the metal charts. [9] When the Clay People went on hiatus in 2001, Dinsmore continued his career as a drummer, playing with producer Mike Clink, known for his work with Metallica, among others. [10]

In 2002, Wyse met guitarist Jason Achilles Mezilis through a mutual friend. A classically trained pianist, Mezilis had recently graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts in Music. After graduation, he interned at several prominent recording studios and played guitar with Los Angeles bands, including Your Horrible Smile. In 2011, Mezilis founded Organic Audio Recorders, a boutique analog & digital recording studio in downtown Los Angeles. [11]

An early version of Owl was formed in 2001 to recorded a cover of "Behind The Sun" for the record Flammable: A Tribute To the Red Hot Chili Peppers. In reviewing the album, All Music Guide wrote "Owl's version of "Behind the Sun" is appropriately trippy, and even replicates Flea's dominating bassline with aplomb." [12]

In 2007, Wyse, Mezilis and Dinsmore once again came together as Owl. Although Wyse occasionally performed on the upright bass with the Cult, with Owl, it became his trademark; playing with a bow, and using delays and sound effects techniques, Wyse uses the bass as a lead instrument. In a 2013 interview, Wyse responded to a question regarding the motivation behind the group. "There would be no other format like this unless I created it. When I was a kid people used to say "you can't play bass like that!," he stated. "Rock music is not supposed to have rules. That's the whole point. As soon as I hear about all the rules a band has I get turned off because they are worried about being cool and not a being vibrant artist. I don't want to fit into anyone's idea. I want to show you new ones." [13] Wyse, who is also Owl's main songwriter and vocalist, produced Owl's self-titled debut, which was recorded at Matt Sorum's Drac Studios in Los Angeles and released in 2009. [14] The band supported the record, which was described as a "swirling epic," [15] through a video for the track "Pusher" [16] and through live performances, including shows with Helmet, Jet, In This Moment and Hollywood All Star rock collective Camp Freddy. [17]

Owl began writing what would become the band's self-produced album The Right Thing in early 2011, recording at Matt Sorum's Drac Studios in Los Angeles. In addition, Owl recorded at Overit Studios in upstate New York, a studio Dinsmore opened in conjunction with Overit Media, a media and marketing company he founded in 1993. Deemed a "no nonsense hard rock album with stadium sized hooks," The Right Thing was released on April 9, 2013, on Overit Records [18] and Magnetic Eye Records as a joint release. The first video from the album, "The Right Thing,"premiered on Rolling Stone's website; [1] it was followed by "Destroyer" and "Perfect." [19]

A third album, Things You Can't See, was released in the summer of 2015. [20] Bass Player wrote it was Owl's "boldest and most experimental album." [21] A video for the song "Lake Ego" was released in 2017. It was followed by a performance video for the title track in 2018. [22]

Discography

Albums

Compilations

Videography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jane's Addiction</span> American rock band

Jane's Addiction is an American rock band from Los Angeles, formed in 1985. The band consists of vocalist Perry Farrell, guitarist Dave Navarro, drummer Stephen Perkins and bassist Eric Avery. Jane's Addiction was one of the first bands from the early 1990s alternative rock movement to gain both mainstream media attention and commercial success in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Living Colour</span> American rock band

Living Colour is an American rock band from New York City, formed in 1984. The band currently consists of guitarist Vernon Reid, lead vocalist Corey Glover, drummer Will Calhoun and bassist Doug Wimbish. Stylistically, their music is a creative fusion influenced by heavy metal, funk, jazz, hip hop, punk, and alternative rock. The band's lyrics range from the personal to the political, including social commentary on racism in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Cult</span> British rock band

The Cult are an English rock band formed in Bradford in 1983. Before settling on their current name in January 1984, the band performed under the name Death Cult, which was an evolution of the name of lead vocalist Ian Astbury's previous band Southern Death Cult. They gained a dedicated following in the United Kingdom in the mid-1980s as a post-punk and gothic rock band, with singles such as "She Sells Sanctuary", before breaking into the mainstream in the United States in the late 1980s establishing themselves as a hard rock band with singles such as "Love Removal Machine". Since its initial formation in 1983, the band have had various line-ups; the longest-serving members are Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy, who are also the band's two main songwriters.

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

Steppenwolf was an American-Canadian rock band that was prominent from 1968 to 1972. The group was formed in late 1967 in Los Angeles by lead singer John Kay, keyboardist Goldy McJohn, and drummer Jerry Edmonton, all formerly of the Canadian band the Sparrows. Guitarist Michael Monarch and bass guitarist Rushton Moreve were recruited via notices placed in Los Angeles-area record and musical instrument stores.

<i>The Real Thing</i> (Faith No More album) 1989 studio album by Faith No More

The Real Thing is the third studio album by American rock band Faith No More, released on June 20, 1989, by Slash and Reprise Records. It was the first album by the band not to feature vocalist Chuck Mosley, instead, the album featured Mike Patton from the experimental/funk band Mr. Bungle. On this album, Faith No More continued to advance their sound range, combining funk metal, rap metal and alternative rock.

<i>Sonic Temple</i> 1989 studio album by The Cult

Sonic Temple is the fourth studio album by British rock band The Cult, released on 10 April 1989. The album features some of the band's most popular songs, including "Fire Woman" and "Edie ". Sonic Temple was the last album recorded with longtime bassist Jamie Stewart, who left in 1990, and the first to feature session drummer Mickey Curry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Clay People</span> American rock band

The Clay People is an American rock band based in Albany, New York. Singer Daniel Neet has been the only constant member throughout the band's history, providing lyrics and a frontman persona. Guitarist Brian McGarvey and drummer Dan Dinsmore joined in '94 and '96 respectively. These three formed the core unit that would include an ever-changing lineup of musicians, as its style evolved from American coldwave to post-grunge rock and metal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Duffy</span> British guitarist

William Henry Duffy is an English rock musician, best known as the guitarist of the band The Cult.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wicked Tinkers</span>

The Wicked Tinkers are an American Celtic music group who perform at many Scottish/Irish festivals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamie Stewart (English musician)</span> British bassist

James Alec Stewart is a retired British musician who was the bassist of the post-punk/hard rock band The Cult. He recorded on The Cult's first four albums, Dreamtime, Love, Electric and Sonic Temple.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Wyse</span> American musician

Chris Wyse is an American bassist and vocalist. He is best known for his performances with Hollywood Vampires, Ace Frehley, The Cult and Ozzy Osbourne. He is the vocalist and bassist for Owl, a band he founded in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tal Wilkenfeld</span> Australian bass player and singer

Tal Wilkenfeld is an Australian singer, songwriter, bassist, and guitarist. She has performed with artists including Jeff Beck, Prince, Incubus, Eric Clapton, Herbie Hancock, and Mick Jagger. In 2008, Wilkenfeld was voted "The Year's Most Exciting New Player" by Bass Player magazine readers' choice poll. In 2013, Wilkenfeld was awarded Bass Player Magazine's "Young Gun Award" by Don Was, where she performed "Chelsea Hotel" by Leonard Cohen.

<i>Saints of Los Angeles</i> 2008 studio album by Mötley Crüe

Saints of Los Angeles is the ninth and most recent studio album by the American heavy metal band Mötley Crüe, released on June 24, 2008. This was the only full-length studio album with the band's original lineup since 1997's Generation Swine, following the return of drummer Tommy Lee, and it would also be their last to feature guitarist Mick Mars before he was fired from Mötley Crüe in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flea (musician)</span> Australian musician (born 1962)

Michael Peter Balzary, known professionally as Flea, is an American musician and actor. He is a founding member and bassist of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers (RHCP) and, along with vocalist Anthony Kiedis, the only member to appear on every RHCP album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Franky Perez</span> American musician

Franky Perez is an American musician best known as a solo artist, touring vocalist of the Finnish metal band Apocalyptica, and a former guitarist for Scars on Broadway. He has also released three solo albums, Poor Man's Son, My 4th of July, and Addict, and performed with guitarist Slash in his live band before Slash assembled the touring band that backed him during his first full solo tour with Myles Kennedy. Perez has also collaborated with Slash's Velvet Revolver bandmate Dave Kushner, releasing songs under the pseudonym of DKFXP, as well as the virtual band Pusher Jones, contributing the song "Count Me Out" to The Avengers soundtrack.

<i>Choice of Weapon</i> 2012 studio album by The Cult

Choice of Weapon is the ninth album by the British rock band The Cult. The album was initially planned for release in 2011, but the release date was pushed back to May 2012. It was initially released on 18 May in Europe, before being released in the UK on 21 May and then in the US the following day. Recording sessions for Choice of Weapon began in March 2011 with Chris Goss, who produced the 2010 Capsule EPs. The sessions took place at studios in New York City, Los Angeles, California, and the "California desert". The album was finished in January 2012. During the recording sessions, Bob Rock teamed up with The Cult for the first time since 2001's Beyond Good and Evil and co-produced Choice of Weapon. Choice of Weapon was named iTunes "Rock Album of the Year" in 2012.

Gaza was an American metalcore band from Salt Lake City, Utah.

White Noise Owl is a rock supergroup composed of lead vocalist Pete Murray of Lo-Pro and Ultraspank, bassist John Fahnestock of Lo-Pro, Snot, and Amen, drummer Will Hunt of Evanescence and Dark New Day, and guitarist Chris Shy of Aurora Sky. Their debut EP, produced by Ben Grosse, Until We Meet Again, was released on March 11, 2014. After a series of delays, their debut full-length album, Condition Critical, is scheduled for release on November 1, 2019. The first single, "Something", was released on August 1, 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Djordje Stijepovic</span> American singer-songwriter

Djordje Stijepovic is a Serbian-American double bass player, singer and composer. He is best known as bassist for the psychobilly band Tiger Army and for Nickelodeon star Drake Bell. He is also a former member of Lemmy Kilmister's (Motörhead) side project The Head Cat.

References

  1. 1 2 "Owl Examine Consequences in the 'Right Thing'". Rolling Stone. February 26, 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  2. ↑ Amador, Valery (March 5, 2013). "Owl Releases "The Right Thing"". Bass Musician Magazine. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  3. ↑ Campbell, Ty (April 1, 2013). "Interview With Chris Wyse". Bass Frontiers Magazine. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  4. ↑ "The Right Thing: Chris Wyse". Icon vs. Icon. March 22, 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  5. ↑ "Clay People at All Music". All Music Guide. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  6. ↑ Frederick, Brittany (March 7, 2013). "Chris Wyse Finds the Right Thing". Starpulse. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  7. ↑ Appleford, Steve (June 26, 2012). "The Cult's Choice of Weapon". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  8. ↑ "Strangeland Soundtrack At All Music". All Music. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  9. ↑ "The Clay People". Coldwaves. Archived from the original on 7 September 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  10. ↑ "Discography". MCP Productions. Archived from the original on 23 November 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  11. ↑ Trucker, Space (September 24, 2009). "Awesome New Band Owl". Rock Choice. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  12. ↑ "Flammable: A Tribute To The Red Hot Chili Peppers". All Music. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  13. ↑ Moore, Bruce (May 30, 2013). "Interview with Owl; Frontman Chris Wyse Speaks About the New Record 'The Right Thing'". Pure Grain Audio. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  14. ↑ O'Donnell, Shauna (April 2013). "Owl Interview with Chris Wyse". The Gauntlet. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  15. ↑ Hassan, Emon (April 16, 2013). "Guitar Chat With Chris Wyse". Guitarkadia. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  16. ↑ "Pusher video". YouTube. August 29, 2009. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  17. ↑ "Exclusive: Owl, Led by The Cult Bassist Chris Wyse, Reveal Title of New Album and Release Date". Revolver. February 6, 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  18. ↑ Ramirez, Carolos (April 8, 2013). "The Cult Bassist and Company Deliver No Nonense Hard Rock". Noisecreep. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  19. ↑ "Videos at owltheband.net". owltheband.net. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  20. ↑ "Musician Chris Wyse coming back to area for show at Putnam Den". Times Union. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
  21. ↑ BassPlayer.com, Electric & Acoustic Bass Gear, Lessons, News, Video, Tabs and Chords -. "Chris Wyse and Owl Premiere Music Video for New Single "Lake Ego" (WATCH)" . Retrieved 2018-01-31.
  22. ↑ BassPlayer.com, Electric & Acoustic Bass Gear, Lessons, News, Video, Tabs and Chords -. "Chris Wyse and Owl Debut Video For "Things You Can't See" (WATCH)" . Retrieved 2018-01-31.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.