Super 8 | |
---|---|
Origin | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Genres | Alternative rock, funk metal |
Years active | 1993–1997 |
Labels | Hollywood Records |
Super 8 was an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. They were active from 1993 to 1997, releasing their sole full-length album through Hollywood Records.
History
The band started in Los Angeles during 1993 with singer Bob Khaleel, a former hip hop artist from the Bronx. Khaleel had been working in the Los Angeles punk-funk scene since 1990, and Super 8's formation was encouraged by his friends in the Red Hot Chili Peppers.[1] He hooked up with John O'Brien (guitars), and the two began writing, later rounding out the band with Heming Borthne (bass), Joel Shearer (guitars) and John Steward (drums)[1] In 1995, they signed to Disney's Hollywood Records.[2] A Super 8 cover of the song "Well, Well, Well" was included on the 1995 Hollywood Records compilation Working Class Hero: A Tribute to John Lennon.[3] Khaleel listed the Beatles as being one of his biggest influences.[4]
The band recorded their self-titled debut at Seattle's London Bridge Studios, with Rick Parashar of Pearl Jam fame.[5] Just prior to recording, guitarist Joel Shearer got invited to play on the Alanis Morissette album Jagged Little Pill.[6][7] Jagged Little Pill started gaining immense popularity by the time Super 8 had begun making their album in Seattle.[6] Super 8 was released in May 1996, and spawned the radio single "King of the World".[8] To support the album, Super 8 toured with AC/DC[9] and Deftones, an act Khaleel had helped discover through his manager Guy Oseary.[6]
From April 1997 to June 1997, the band opened for former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante on the Nuttstalk tour.[10][11][12] They ceased being active not long afterwards.[6][13]
Khaleel went on to record a solo album for Hollywood Records in 1998,[14] while Joel Shearer became a well-known session musician, following his success with Jagged Little Pill.[6]
Musical style
According to AllMusic, the band's debut "falls somewhere between the soul-minded retro-rock of Lenny Kravitz and the Seattle grunge of Pearl Jam and Stone Temple Pilots."[5] They also note "Though some of the songs are fairly psychedelia-influenced (especially "Railroad" and "Going Nowhere"), no one will mistake this CD for a late-'60s or early-'70s recording—Rick Parashar's production techniques are very '90s, and John O'Brien's guitar playing has '90s alternative rock written all over it."[5]
Members
- Bob Khaleel – vocals (1993–1997)
- Joel Shearer – guitar (1993–1997)
- John O'Brien – guitar (1993–1997) (died 2011)
- Heming Borthne – bass (1993–1997)
- John Steward – drums (1993–1997)
Discography
Super 8
Date | Region | Format | Label | [5] |
---|---|---|---|---|
May 7, 1996 | North America | CD | Hollywood | |
March 1997 | Europe | CD with bonus track | Hollywood | |
March 2020 | Worldwide | Digital | Hollywood | |
Singles
- "King of the World" (1995)
- "Natural" (1996)
Music videos
- "King of the World" (1996)
Appearances
- "Well, Well, Well" (Working Class Hero: A Tribute to John Lennon, 1995)
- "Early Walk" (Schooloaf (Everything But The Crust), 1997)
- "Pain" (Nightwatch, 1997)
References
- 1 2 "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 5, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
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: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 7, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ↑ "Working Class Hero: The Definitive Lennon - John Lennon | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
- ↑ "Music connects people by dissolving barriers, singer says". Deseret News. March 19, 1999.
- 1 2 3 4 "Super 8 - Super 8 | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "COMPOSER". Joelshearer.com.
- ↑ Shearer, Joel. "2018 Joel Shearer Interview". YouTube.
- ↑ "The Hard" (PDF). Wortldradiohistory.com. June 21, 1996. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
- ↑ "AC/DC Tour History - 19 Aug. 1996 Denver (McNichols Sports Arena)". Ac-dc.net.
- ↑ Jones, Ben (April 25, 1997). "Bring in da funk, bring in da noise: Nuttstalk '97". Iowa State Daily. Archived from the original on July 7, 2020.
- ↑ "Road Shows". Austinchronicle.com. May 23, 1997.
- ↑ "Setlist Jun 8, 1997 Los Angeles CA". Red Hot Chili Peppers Live Archive. Archived from the original on July 5, 2020.
- ↑ "Meet Joel Shearer". Voyage LA Magazine. April 29, 2020. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022.
- ↑ "People Watching - Khaleel | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved July 16, 2020.