The Queen Killing Kings

Last updated
The Queen Killing Kings
The Queen Killing Kings at SXSW 2009.jpg
TQKK at SXSW 2009: Zac Clark, Joe Ballaro, Dan Duggins and Coley O'Toole, with interviewer Derek Nicoletto
Background information
Origin New Haven, Connecticut, USA
Genres Indie rock
Years active2006–present
Labels Wind-up Records
Website TQKK on Facebook
MembersColey O'Toole
Joe Ballaro
Dan Duggins
Zac Clark
Past membersJon Scerbo

The Queen Killing Kings are an American rock band based out of New Haven, Connecticut. Originally a duo started in 2006 by lead singer/songwriter/pianist Coley O'Toole, the band has expanded into a four-piece with the release of their debut album, Tidal Eyes.

Contents

Biography

Growing up in Shelton, Connecticut, frontman Coley O'Toole cited the rock music of Neil Young, Elton John, Supertramp, and the Doors along with the energy of the mid- to late-1990s Connecticut music scene as having a great influence on him. [1]

The inspiration for the band's name came from O'Toole's realization that all things must come to an end. Starting the band in the midst of a broken heart, O'Toole used a Queen and a King to depict two very powerful forms of an alliance. The alliance would eventually end and the Queen and King would ultimately destroy each other. [2]

In 2006, after a decade of playing in various projects based in Connecticut, O'Toole formed the Queen Killing Kings with drummer Jon Scerbo. The duo was met with praise in the local venues and media. [3] [4]

With performances in Los Angeles and New York City, the band's initial success was extended beyond the local area, gaining them industry attention. After entering the Manhattan's Pyramid Studios to record what would become their debut album, former Hot Rod Circuit member and O'Toole's childhood friend Joe Ballaro joined the band on bass. Scerbo left the band early in the recording process, prompting O'Toole to bring in former Hot Rod Circuit drummer Dan Duggins. After signing to Wind-up Records, Zac Clark joined to play Fender Rhodes and organ, making the band a quartet. [4]

The band's debut album, Tidal Eyes, was released digitally by Wind-up Records on July 14, 2009. [1]

Discography

Related Research Articles

Earth, Wind & Fire American band

Earth, Wind & Fire is an American band that has spanned the musical genres of R&B, soul, funk, jazz, disco, pop, dance, Latin, and Afro pop. They have been described as one of the most innovative and are among the most commercially successful acts of all time. With sales of over 90 million records, they are one of the world's best-selling bands of all time.

The Mojos were a British beat group from the 1960s, best known for their hit UK single, "Everything's Alright", with two other singles charting low in the UK Singles Chart in 1964.

The Stills

The Stills were a Canadian rock band from Montreal, Quebec, formed in 2000 and disbanded in 2011.

The Jeff Beck Group English blues rock band

The Jeff Beck Group was a British rock band formed in London in January 1967 by former Yardbirds guitarist Jeff Beck. Their innovative approach to heavy-sounding blues, rhythm and blues and rock was a major influence on popular music.

Connecticut is a state of the United States in the New England region.

Verdine White American musician (born 1951)

Verdine White is an American musician, best known as a founding member and bassist for the band Earth, Wind & Fire. White was placed at No. 27 on Bass Player's list of The 100 Greatest Bass Players of All Time.

Seals and Crofts American soft rock duo

Seals and Crofts were an American soft rock duo made up of James Eugene "Jim" Seals and Darrell George "Dash" Crofts. They are best known for their hits "Summer Breeze" (1972), "Diamond Girl" (1973), and "Get Closer" (1976), each of which peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Both members have long been public advocates of the Baháʼí Faith. Though the duo disbanded in 1980, they reunited briefly in 1991–1992, and again in 2004, when they released their final album, Traces.

Hot Rod Circuit (HRC) is an American emo band from Auburn, Alabama established in 1997.

Randy is a Swedish punk rock band from Hortlax, Sweden, formed in 1992. They were first inspired by skate punk bands like NOFX and Propagandhi but after the release of The Rest Is Silence and the departure of their bass player Patrik Trydvall, they radically changed their musical style and adopted an older sound reminiscent of Thin Lizzy, The Misfits and Ramones, heavily leaning on a fusion of garage punk and pop punk to form their new sound. Their first album after the transition in style, You Can't Keep a Good Band Down, earned praise from MaximumRockNRoll, which called it "the best melodic punk CD since Bad Religion's No Control." After his departure, Patrik went on to contribute lead vocals in his now-disbanded punk rock group, Diefenbaker.

Journey South

Journey South were an English singing duo, consisting of brothers Andy and Carl Pemberton. They are from Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire. Initially the brothers lead a five piece rock band 'The Answer' featuring musicians from the North East of England. After various line-up changes the band moved from Teesside to Essex in July 2000 changing their name to Journey South and becoming a four piece pop/rock band. The initial line-up of Journey South featured Andy and Carl Pemberton along with Paul Williams on keyboard, Max Justice on drums and Matt Ellis on bass. The line up disbanded in 2001 leaving Andy and Carl as the only members. The duo achieved third place on the second UK series of television talent show The X Factor in 2005. In July 2015, Andy announced that Journey South had disbanded.

The Fratellis Scottish indie rock band

The Fratellis are a Scottish rock band from Glasgow, formed in 2005. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Jon Fratelli, bassist and backing vocalist Barry Fratelli, and drummer and backing vocalist Mince Fratelli. Their singles "Chelsea Dagger" and "Whistle for the Choir" were both top ten hits in the UK charts.

England Dan & John Ford Coley American soft rock duo

England Dan & John Ford Coley were an American soft rock duo composed of Danny Wayland "England Dan" Seals and John Edward "John Ford" Coley, active throughout the 1970s. Native Texans, they are best known for their 1976 single "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight", a No. 2 hit in the Billboard Hot 100 and a No. 1 Adult Contemporary hit. After they disbanded, Seals began performing as Dan Seals and launched a country music career through the 1980s which produced 11 No. 1 country hits.

Rhett Forrester American musician

Rhett Forrester was an American musician best known as the lead singer for New York-based band Riot from 1981 until 1984.

The Miami Showband were an Irish showband in the 1960s and 1970s led by singer Dickie Rock and later by Fran O'Toole. They had seven number one records on the Irish singles chart.

We the Kings American band

We the Kings is an American rock band from Bradenton, Florida. The band's self-titled full-length debut album, released in 2007, included the platinum single "Check Yes Juliet", and went on to sell over 250,000 copies in the US. The group's second album Smile Kid (2009) included Top 40 singles "Heaven Can Wait" and "We'll Be a Dream", as well as the single "She Takes Me High".

Port OBrien

Port O'Brien was an American musical group combining elements of acoustic, folk and indie rock.

<i>Tidal Eyes</i> 2009 studio album by The Queen Killing Kings

Tidal Eyes is the first full-length studio album by American indie band The Queen Killing Kings. It was released on July 17, 2009 by Wind-up Records.

Young Guns (band) English alternative rock band

Young Guns are an English alternative rock band from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. The members, working with each other in various musical interests throughout the 2000s, formally formed the band in 2008, and rose to prominence after their debut EP, Mirrors, earned them spots opening live shows for Bon Jovi and Guns N' Roses. Their debut album, All Our Kings Are Dead, on 12 July 2010. Their second album, Bones, was released in February 2012. Their single "Bones" reached no. 1 on the Billboard Active Rock charts in the US in May 2013. Their third album, Ones and Zeros, was released on 9 June 2015. The band's fourth album, Echoes, was released on September 16, 2016.

<i>Stripped</i> (We the Kings album) 2014 studio album by We the Kings

Stripped is an acoustic album by American rock band We the Kings, and features acoustic versions of eight songs off their previous album, Somewhere Somehow, it was released through Ozone Entertainment on November 24, 2014 on iTunes. It also includes two brand new songs, "Stone Walls" and "Is This the End?".

<i>Strange Love</i> (We the Kings album) 2015 studio album by We the Kings

Strange Love is the fifth studio album by the American rock band We the Kings. It was released on November 20, 2015. The album succeeds the band's commercially successful album, Somewhere Somehow, that was released in December 2013. It was produced by Blake Healy, the former member of Metro Station, who also produced the band's last album. The album was released independently by We the Kings and was distributed by Ozone Entertainment. The album had two singles that promoted its release. “Love Again” was released on October 30, 2015, and “Runaway” was released on November 6, 2015.

References

  1. 1 2 La Gorce, Tammy (July 11, 2009). "Rock 'n' Roll, Locally Grown". New York Times. Retrieved July 31, 2009.
  2. Frances, Susan. "The Queen Killing Kings". Hybrid Magazine. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  3. Ferrucci, Patrick (February 20, 2009). "Queen Killing Kings and more local news". New Haven Register. Retrieved July 31, 2009.
  4. 1 2 LaRue, Brian (February 17, 2009). "Killer Queen". New Haven Advocate. Retrieved July 31, 2009.[ dead link ]