Simon Says (band)

Last updated
Simon Says
Origin Sacramento, California, U.S.
Genres Alternative metal, alternative rock, hard rock, nu metal [ citation needed ]
Years active
  • 19922004
  • 2023present
Labels Hollywood Records
SpinoffsKey to Arson

Simon Says is an American rock band from Sacramento, California. In 2001, they changed their name to Key to Arson, and they broke up in 2004. In 2023, Simon Says reunited, added their albums to streaming music platforms, and promised new music would be coming in the future. [1]

Contents

History

Simon Says was formed by a group of California high schoolers (Matt Franks, Zac Diebels, and Mike Johnston) who got their start playing high school auditoriums around the state in the early 1990s. Adding bassist Mike Arrieta in 1995, the group self-released two records, which attracted the attention of manager Jeff Saltzman. Saltzman set them up with noted mixer/producer Mark Needham and got them signed to Hollywood Records in July 1998. [2] In 1999, they released their major-label debut, Jump Start, which yielded two hit modern rock singles, and the follow-up Shut Your Breath netted a third radio hit, "Blister". [3] The group appeared on the ESPN X Games Experience tour in 1999. [4]

In 2001, Simon Says left Hollywood Records over promotional issues and changed their name to Key to Arson; soon after, drummer Mike Johnston left the band, to be replaced by Dave "Stixx" Marich. In 2004, Key to Arson announced the completion of an album entitled Light 'Em Up, but by the end of the year the band had broken up. It is now known that Zac Diebels and Matt Franks have formed Automatic Static and will release a full album soon as of 2012, called Number IV.

The group reunited in 2023, promising a 3-track EP in early 2024 and a full-length due out in May 2024. [5]

Band members

Current members

Former members

Discography

Extended plays

Albums

Singles

Related Research Articles

<i>Suffer</i> (album) 1988 studio album by Bad Religion

Suffer is the third album by American punk rock band Bad Religion, released on the Californian independent record label Epitaph Records on September 8, 1988. It was the first album that was both released and distributed by the label. Following the release of the EP Back to the Known (1985), Bad Religion went on a temporary hiatus, then reunited with its original members and went to work on their first full-length studio album in five years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Company Flow</span> American hip hop group

Company Flow was an American hip hop trio from Brooklyn, New York City, consisting of Bigg Jus, El-P and Mr. Len.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Dead Milkmen</span> American satirical punk rock band

The Dead Milkmen is an American punk rock band formed in 1983 in Philadelphia. Their original lineup consisted of vocalist and keyboardist Rodney Linderman, guitarist and vocalist Joe Genaro, bassist Dave Schulthise and drummer Dean Sabatino.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Days of the New</span> American rock band

Days of the New was an American rock band from Charlestown, Indiana, formed in 1995. The band later relocated to Louisville, Kentucky. They consisted of vocalist/guitarist Travis Meeks and a variety of supporting musicians. They are best known for the hit singles "Touch, Peel and Stand", "The Down Town", "Shelf in the Room", and "Enemy", as well as radio hits "Weapon and the Wound", "Hang On To This" and "Die Born". "Touch, Peel and Stand" was named, ″Greatest of All-Time Mainstream Rock Song″ by Billboard Magazine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Screeching Weasel</span> American punk rock band

Screeching Weasel is an American punk rock band consisting of Ben Weasel (vocals), Mike Kennerty (guitar), Mike Hunchback (guitar), Zach "Poutine" Brandner (bass) and Pierre Marche (drums). Screeching Weasel is originally from the Chicago suburb of Prospect Heights, Illinois. The band was formed in 1986 by Ben Weasel and John Jughead. Since their formation, Screeching Weasel have reformed several times with lineup changes. Ben Weasel has been the only constant member, though Jughead was present in every incarnation of the band until 2009. Other prominent members include guitarist/bassist Dan Vapid and drummer Dan Panic, who have each appeared on six of the band's studio albums, and Green Day bassist Mike Dirnt who appeared on one.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dance Hall Crashers</span> American ska punk band

Dance Hall Crashers was an American ska punk band formed in 1989 in Berkeley, California. Initially founded by former Operation Ivy members Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman, the band has had a fluid lineup over its career, with the most recent lineup includes Elyse Rogers and Karina Deniké on vocals, brothers Jason Hammon and Gavin Hammon on guitar and drums respectively, and Mikey Weiss on bass. They have released four studio albums, highlighted by the 1995 release Lockjaw which featured the minor hit song "Enough", produced by Rob Cavallo and featured in the film Angus.

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

Damn Yankees were an American rock supergroup formed in New York City, in 1989. Consisting of singer/guitarist Tommy Shaw of Styx, singer/bassist Jack Blades of Night Ranger, guitarist Ted Nugent of the Amboy Dukes, and drummer Michael Cartellone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tracii Guns</span> American guitarist

Tracy Irving Richard Ulrich, known professionally as Tracii Guns, is an American guitarist best known as the co-founder of glam metal group L.A. Guns, as well as the supergroups Brides of Destruction and Contraband. He was also a founding member of Guns N' Roses, but left shortly afterwards and was replaced by guitarist Slash.

<i>Clarity</i> (Jimmy Eat World album) 1999 studio album by Jimmy Eat World

Clarity is the third studio album by American rock band Jimmy Eat World. It was released on February 23, 1999, through Capitol Records, with which Jimmy Eat World clashed several times while recording their second studio album Static Prevails (1996). The band recorded a follow-up with producer Mark Trombino in May and June 1998, and were free to make it however they wanted without interference from Capitol. The recording sessions began at Sound City in Van Nuys, California, before moving to Clear Lake Audio in North Hollywood, California. Clarity, which is described as an emo, pop punk, and punk rock release, marked the beginning of frontman Jim Adkins' tenure as the band's main vocalist, taking over from guitarist Tom Linton.

Squirtgun is an American punk rock band from Lafayette, Indiana formed by record producer Mass Giorgini in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Lou Lord</span> American singer-songwriter

Mary Lou Lord is an indie folk musician who started out performing as a busker in Boston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Huntingtons</span> American punk band

Huntingtons are a punk band from Baltimore, Maryland which formed in 1994 in the Maryland and Delaware area by Cliff Powell, Mike Holt and Mike Pierce. The band is heavily influenced by the Ramones and has extensively toured with numerous ramonescore bands.

Strife is an American hardcore punk band from Thousand Oaks, California. They formed in 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shotgun Messiah</span> Swedish rock band

Shotgun Messiah was a Swedish glam metal band from Skövde. The band was formed in 1985 by guitarist Harry Cody and bassist Tim Sköld, with singer Zinny J. Zan and drummer Stixx Galore taking part in their most commercially successful lineup. The band released three studio albums, Shotgun Messiah, Second Coming and Violent New Breed, with Cody and Sköld being the only constant members of the band. Shotgun Messiah disbanded in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gallon Drunk</span> English alternative rock band formed in London in 1988

Gallon Drunk were an English alternative rock band formed in London in 1988. Their sound contains a variety of influences, from noise to blues and jazz, and is noted for its dark subject matter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Size 14</span> US musical group

Size 14 was an American rock band in the late 1990s based out of Hollywood that gained some notoriety with the novelty song "Claire Danes Poster". This song appeared on the Dude, Where's My Car? soundtrack; other Size 14 songs appeared on movies such as Sugar & Spice, 100 Girls, and 100 Women. They released one self-titled album on Volcano Entertainment in 1997.

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

Cavo is an American hard rock band from St. Louis, Missouri. Because of their sound and musical influences, they are sometimes classified as post-grunge as well as alt rock.

Alien Crime Syndicate, often abbreviated to ACS, were a rock band formed in San Francisco, California, in 1997. From 1999 to the band's breakup in 2005, the lineup consisted primarily of Joe Reineke, Jeff Rouse, Nabil Ayers (drums), while guitarists Jason Krevey, Mike Squires and Mike Davis were also members of the band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keaton Simons</span> American musician

Keaton Simons is an American recording and performing artist. He is signed to Best Revenge Records, his independent label created in 2012. His music has been featured on shows such as Sons of Anarchy, Hollywood Heights, Private Practice, NCIS: Los Angeles, Crash, Suits, American Dad!, Harper's Island, and The Cleaner.

Dissident Prophet is an apocalyptic indie rock band from Birmingham, England. They have released six albums so far; We're Not Grasshoppers, in 1996; with a follow-up, 21st Century Spin, released in 2002; Modern Man, in 2005; Weapons of Mass Deception, in 2012; Red Moon Rising, in 2015. Their most recent album, Strange Days released on 24 October 2017.

References

  1. Simon Says reunite, new music on the way. Lambgoat, September 19, 2023.
  2. Biography, Allmusic.com
  3. Chuck Taylor, Review of "Blister". Billboard , June 30, 2001, p. 20.
  4. "Popular Uprisings". Billboard, April 17, 1999, p. 14.
  5. Simon Says Reunite With Original Lineup, New Album & EP On The Way. ThePRP, September 19, 2023.
  6. Joel Whitburn, Rock Tracks 1981-2008. Record Research Inc., 2008, p. 229. ISBN 978-0-89820-174-1. passim.