{"key":"195","name":"Muse","bio":"Muse are an alternative rock band from Teignmouth, England, United Kingdom. The band consists of Matthew Bellamy on lead vocals, piano, keyboard and guitar, Chris Wolstenholme on backing vocals and bass guitar, and Dominic Howard on drums and percussion. They have been friends since their formation in early 1994 and changed band names a number of times (such as Gothic Plague, Fixed Penalty, and Rocket Baby Dolls) before adopting the name Muse. Since the release of their fourth album, Morgan Nicholls has also appeared with the band at live performances to provide keyboards, samples\/synth, and backing vocals.Their sound is a blend of alternative rock, classical music, electronica, metal, spanish guitars, and progressive rock. Usually they use the bass line as the driving force, often with the guitar providing only an extra layer to the song rather than carrying the melody, the bass has distortion and other effects applied to it to achieve a greater weight, allowing the guitar to digress from the main tune and play higher notes. Another peculiarity is Muse\u00b4s piano style in many of their songs; their music has been inspired by the works of Romantic pianist-composers such as Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky and Liszt, and has thus resulted in a fusion of Romantic style with modern rock.The band are known for their energetic live performances and front man Matthew Bellamy's eccentric and avid interests in global conspiracy, extraterrestrial life, theology and the apocalypse (as much as in Space and theoretical physics). Their lyrical themes involve madcap conspiracy theory, revolutionary rabble-rousing, weird stuff about aliens (or Zetas, if you please), religions and other such classic Muse concerns. In general their music and lyrics gaze on helplessly at the subjugation of humanity by corrupt world leaders and encroaching environmental or galactic disasters (and certainly their fourth album 'Black Holes And Revelations' has its fair share of climate change\/oil crisis\/global inflagration paranoia). In October 1999, Muse released their first full length LP; 'Showbiz'. The album received mixed reviews among critics, and music fans, labeling the band as 'Radiohead copycats'. This, however, did not stop the album from selling over 700,000 copies, with success coming from singles; Unintended and Muscle Museum. The album also earned Muse a nomination at the 2000 BRIT Awards, for Best New Act.2001, with John Leckie behind the desk again, saw the release of Origin of Symmetry along with Top 20 entries for Plug in Baby and New Born. The album went unreleased in the United States until 2005 because their record label at the time, Madonna's Maverick, allegedly thought the falsetto vocals would discourage radio play and wanted the band to re-record alternate vocals. The band refused, and terminated its contract with Maverick.Muse followed up with a b-side\/live CD\/DVD named Hullabaloo Soundtrack, showcasing the band's concert from France in late 2001. To promote the album, Muse also released the Dead Star\/In Your World EP, which charted high in the UK charts and proving Muse could also write \"radio-friendly\" rock tunes, as well as the 7 minute long epics on Origin of Symmetry. Muse polished off their impressive year by winning Best Live Band at the 2002 Kerrang! Awards.In 2003, Muse asked Rich Costey to step behind the desk to help create Absolution. The album had very strong sales all over the world, and helped the band achieve their first UK number 1 album. Its release was preceded by a download-only single and online video for the song Stockholm Syndrome. Followed by the singles Time is Running Out and Hysteria, which charted well in the UK charts and helped Muse secure a headline spot at the 2004 Glastonbury Festival.Glastonbury saw Muse storm troop onto the high table of classic Glastonbury headline acts and prove themselves a formidable force in British rock. Although many had their doubts at putting Muse on the bill with names such as Paul McCartney, Muse proved them all wrong and played what Bellamy described as \"the best gig of our lives.\" It was only with that triumph fresh in their throats, they claim, that they realised they'd 'made it'. However tragedy struck just shortly after Muse came off stage when Dom Howard's father (a big Muse fan) collapsed after witnessing his son play and died on the site.Later that year, Muse toured the US, promoting Absolution, before returning home to play two sell-out gigs at London's Earls Court at the end of the year.In 2006 and after a long and exhaustive tour, the band returned to the studio, and released Black Holes and Revelations.Interview with Dominic 2006With the LP, the band secured their second UK album chart number one, whilst reaching the top spot in several other countries, as well as a Top 10 in the US billboard chart. The controversial single Supermassive Black Hole became Muse's highest UK entry in the charts, reaching number four, and also scored high entries in other countries. The album's second single, Starlight, reached number 13 in the UK charts in September 2006. The 3rd UK single was fan-favourite Knights of Cydonia, released on November 27th, and it reached number 10 in the UK charts. The 4th single from Black Holes & Revelations was Invincible, and was released April 15th 2007. It entered the UK singles chart at 21st place, and was the first single from the new album not to enter in the Top 20. On November 2, 2006, the band won an award for Best Alternative Act at the annual MTV EMA in Copenhagen. Muse were also named 'Best Live Act' at the Brit Awards in 2006 and have retained the title in 2007.Two of the album's singles reached the highest US Modern Rock chart positions in the band's career during 2007: Starlight reached #2 in February 2007, and the all-falsetto Supermassive Black Hole reached #6 in October. 2007 also saw the band play to sellouts at Madison Square Garden and the Forum in Los Angeles, as well as headlining Austin City Limits Festival and Lollapalooza.Even when the band says they do not see themselves as a massive stadium band, their headline concert on June 16th 2007, at the rebuilt Wembley Stadium, sold out in 45 minutes six months before the gig and the band had to add a second show on June 17, where they proved to be more than worthy of stadium gigs. The Wembley gigs became two of the biggest hyped concerts of 2007. Already the gigs have been compared by music journalists to Live Aid and Queen gigs, also performed on the \"Hallowed Ground.\" The band's next release, HAARP: Live from Wembley, is expected to be made up of footage from the June 17th show.In July 2007, Bellamy confirmed that he had begun to work on a new studio album and new songs, some more in line with electronic or \"dance\" music and others more with classical or symphonic music. In January 2008 the song \"Knights of Cydonia\" was voted number 1 on the Triple J Hottest 100, Australia's biggest annual alternative music countdown.In 2009, the band released The Resistance, which contained the successful single \"Uprising\", the band's first Top 40 pop hit in the United States (achieving this with very little radio airplay) and their first #1 on the Billboard Modern Rock Chart. Followup singles \"Resistance\" and \"Undisclosed Desires\" also proved successful. The band's sixth album, The 2nd Law, was released on 1 October 2012. The album's first single, \"Survival\", is the official song of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. The second single, \"Madness\" was released on 20 August 2012. The third single, \"Follow Me\" was released on 7 December 2012, with an accompanying lyrics video released on the band's YouTube channel on 1 November 2012. The album has recieved generally positive reviews, with Allmusic noting \"their excursions into dubstep and dance music on tracks like \"Madness\" and \"Follow Me\" feel more like remixes than original songs.\"Their latest album Drones was released on June 5 2015","featuredImage":"https:\/\/assets.allamericanmusic.com\/images\/195_h_0.jpg","feeRange":"500,000 - 1,000,000"}

{"key":"24386","name":"Dream Theater","bio":"Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts, before they dropped out to support the band. Though a number of lineup changes followed, including Portnoy's departure in 2010, Petrucci and Myung remain today along with James LaBrie, Jordan Rudess and Mike Mangini.The band has had moderate mainstream success, notably with Pull Me Under in the early 1990s, which received extensive MTV rotation. Dream Theater's (commonly abbreviated 'DT') three highest selling albums are the gold selling Images and Words (1992), despite it reaching only #61 on the Billboard 200 charts, and Awake (1994) which reached #32 on the Billboard 200. Systematic Chaos entered US Billboard 200 at #19. Black Clouds and Silver Linings reached #6 on the Billboard 200 Charts. On November 30, 2011, the album's lead single, \"On the Backs of Angels\", was nominated for a Grammy Award in the \"Best Hard Rock\/Metal Performance\" category, marking the band's first ever Grammy nomination. Dream Theater's self-titled twelfth studio album was released on September 23, 2013 and earned their second Grammy Award nomination, this time for \u201cBest Metal Performance\u201d, for the album's first single, \"The Enemy Inside\".Dream Theater has sold over two million albums in the U.S., and over 8 million albums and DVDs worldwide.In January of 2005, the band obtained their first United States platinum disc (representing 100 000 DVDs sold) with Live At Budokan, recorded April 2004 in Tokyo, Japan.The band released an album entitled Systematic Chaos, their ninth studio album, in collaboration with their new label Roadrunner Records. The album is available in two formats, first one being just a regular edition CD and the other being a CD\/DVD album with the entire album mixed in 5.1 surround sound and also \"Chaos in Progress - The Making of Systematic Chaos\" (a 90-minute documentary directed by Mike Portnoy).The band is well-known for the technical proficiency of each instrumentalist, winning many awards from music magazines. They are highly respected by many of rock and metal's biggest names, leading to collaborations between Dream Theater members and many other well known musicians. In a famous example, guitarist John Petrucci was named as the third player on the G3 tour with Steve Vai and Joe Satriani, following in the foot steps of Eric Johnson, Robert Fripp, and Yngwie Malmsteen.Dream Theater is also noted for their musical versatility and the many different genres their music incorporates, which has made it possible for them to perform with a very diverse range of acts. Some of their more notable touring partners include Deep Purple, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Iron Maiden, Joe Satriani, King's X, Marillion, Megadeth, In Flames, Pain of Salvation, Porcupine Tree, Opeth, Queensr\u00ffche, Spock's Beard, Fear Factory, Enchant, Symphony X, Yes, Big Wreck, I Mother Earth and Fates Warning.Current members:* James LaBrie - Vocals, percussion (1991 - present)* John Myung - Bass, Chapman Stick (1985 - present)* John Petrucci - Guitars, backing vocals (1985 - present)* Mike Mangini - Drums, percussion (2010 - present)* Jordan Rudess - Keyboards, lap steel guitar, Continuum (1999 - present)Former members:* Chris Collins - Vocals (1985-1986)* Charlie Dominici - Vocals (1987- 1990)* Kevin Moore - Keyboards (1985-1994)* Derek Sherinian - Keyboards (1994-1998)* Mike Portnoy -Drums, percussion, backing vocals (1985-2010)Studio albums and EPs:1989 - When Dream and Day Unite1992 - Images and Words1994 - Awake1995 - A Change of Seasons (EP)1997 - Falling into Infinity1999 - Metropolis Part 2: Scenes From a Memory2002 - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence2003 - Train of Thought2005 - Octavarium2007 - Systematic Chaos2009 - Black Clouds & Silver Linings2011 - A Dramatic Turn of Events2013 - Dream Theater2016 - The AstonishingSingles:1992 - Pull Me Under1992 - Another Day1994 - Lie1994 - The Silent Man1997 - Hollow Years2000 - Through Her Eyes2003 - As I Am2007 - Constant Motion2009 - A Rite of Passage2009 - WitherLive albums:1993 - Live at the Marquee1998 - Once in a LIVEtime2001 - Live Scenes From New York2004 - Live at Budokan2006 - Score: 20th Anniversary World Tour Live with the Octavarium Orchestra2008 - CHAOS in MotionOfficial Bootlegs (from Ytse Jam Records):1985-1986 - The Majesty (Demo)1987-1989 - When Dream And Day Unite Demo (Demo)1989-1991 - Images and Words Demo (Demo)1994 - Awake Demo (Demo)1995 - Tokyo, Japan (10\/28\/95) (Live)1996 - Old Bridge, New Jersey (12\/14\/96) (Live)1999 - The Making of Scenes From a Memory (Studio Recordings)2002 - The Number of the Beast (10\/24\/02) (Live)2002 - Master of Puppets (02\/19\/02) (Live)2004 - When Dream and Day Reunite (03\/06\/04) (Live)2005 - Dark Side of the Moon (10\/25\/05) (Live)2007 - Made in Japan (Live)International Fan Club Releases (Christmas CDs):1996 - Christmas CD1997 - The Making Of Falling Into Infinity (Studio Recordings)1998 - Once In A LIVEtime Outtakes1999 - Cleaning Out The Closet2000 - Scenes From A World Tour2001 - Four Degrees Of Radio Edits2002 - Taste The Memories2003 - Graspop 20022004 - A Sort Of Homecoming2006 - A Walk Beside The BandIt may also be noted that Dream Theater's previous name was Majesty, after the band listened to the song Bastille Day by Rush and described it as being majestic. However, this name was short-lived as another band were performing and recording under the same name. So, they re-named themselves Dream Theater after a small cinema which was close to where drummer Mike Portnoy's father was living at the time. The name Majesty is the source of the band's \"M\" logo appearing on the cover artwork of several albums. The Dream Theater song entitled \"Ytse Jam\" is \"Majesty\" backwards and \"Ytse Jam\" is also the name of Mike Portnoy's record label.Official website: http:\/\/www.dreamtheater.net\/","featuredImage":"https:\/\/assets.allamericanmusic.com\/images\/24386_h_0.jpg","feeRange":"please contact"}

{"key":"25039","name":"Opeth","bio":"Opeth is a progressive metal band from Sweden that is influenced by many diverse musical styles ranging from jazz, 1970s progressive rock, death metal, and blues. Their recent releases have deviated from their traditional death metal influenced style, with more emphasis on progressive elements. Vocalist Mikael \u00c5kerfeldt is also noted for utilizing both clean singing and death growls, often in the same track. Due to their unique blend of melodic and progressive elements, Opeth are often classified separately from more typical death metal acts. The name Opeth was taken from Wilbur Smith's novel Sunbird and derived from Opet, a city of the moon named in the novel.HistoryOpeth was formed in Stockholm, S\u00f6dermanland, Sweden in 1990 by David Isberg. Isberg invited Mikael \u00c5kerfeldt to join the band at a practice session as a bass player, but failed to inform the current bass player or any of the other members of the band. Because of this, all band members except for Isberg quit, and \u00c5kerfeldt soon joined Opeth after his band, Eruption, faltered. With \u00c5kerfeldt on guitar and David Isberg on vocals, Opeth still lacked members and needing more, they were soon joined by long-time friend of \u00c5kerfeldt and former Eruption drummer Anders Nordin and Nick D\u00f6ring on bass. Andreas Dimeo was recruited as a second guitarist. Rehearsing in an elementary school with old equipment they had found, this lineup lasted less than a year and only played one show. In 1991 they spent the summer rehearsing on the island of Hamnholmen outside Stockholm with their old school friend and bass player Max Jaderberg, who suggested a more prominent bass sound.After their first performance, Andreas Dimeo and Nick D\u00f6ring quit the band. For the second performance, guitarist Kim Pettersson and bassist Johan DeFarfalla joined the group. After the show, DeFarfalla left to spend time with his girlfriend and did not return until 1994. Pettersson stuck with the band for another show before leaving in late 1991. DaFarfall was replaced by Peter Lindgren, playing the bass. However, once Pettersson left, Lindgren returned to the guitar, his original instrument. Isberg left the band in early 1992 due to creative differences and boredom. Since Mikael had previous experience as a vocalist from fronting Eruption, he became the new vocalist and immediately began writing material with Peter Lindgren. They rehearsed as a 3-piece for more than a year but eventually found a new bass player, Stefan Guteklint, who was dismissed by the band before they signed their record contract with Candlelight Records.Impressed by their originality, Candlelight Records released their debut full-length Orchid in 1995. It featured a rhythm section of bassist Johan DeFarfalla and drummer Anders Nordin. Dan Swan\u00f6, of Edge of Sanity fame, produced the band's ambitious second album Morningrise in 1996. After this Opeth embarked on a brief tour with Morbid Angel. Century Media took notice and not only licensed Opeth's first two albums for the United States, but also planned on releasing their next album on both sides of the Atlantic.The next album would introduce a change in style as well as line-up. With the recruitment of bassist Martin Mendez to replace DeFarfalla and drummer Martin Lopez (ex-Amon Amarth) replacing Nordin, Opeth's third album, entitled My Arms, Your Hearse, was released in 1998 to glowing reviews, establishing the band as a leading force in progressive metal with death roots. The album is conceptually based on a character who dies and returns to Earth as a ghost. 1999's Still Life displayed even more of the band's progressive rock influences, and the following year the band played its first U.S. concert at the Milwaukee Metalfest. This was the first album on which Martin Mendez contributed. Like My Arms, Your Hearse before it, Still Life is also a concept album, revolving around a man who is banished from his village for dissenting religious beliefs. The album then then regals the tale of his courtship of the character Melinda. Their next album, Blackwater Park, was released in early 2001 and was titled after an obscure psychedelic progressive rock band from the '70s. Blackwater Park is considered to be Opeth's magnum opus and the defining document of their career. The album created a huge buzz among progressive metal fans, who had begun to lump the band in with other experimental metal bands like Tiamat. It was the first of three albums that Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree fame would produce. Wilson also contributed backing vocals and guitar. Instead of waiting until the buzz died down, the band released Deliverance (also known as D1) in the fall of 2002, which was intended to be a double album, Damnation (or D2) comprising the other half. Deliverance presented the typical death metal aspect of Opeth while Damnation presented a new side of Opeth: the album that was almost completely devoid of any heavy metal trappings and focused instead on acoustic instruments and traditional songwriting. Steven Wilson again contributed by co-authoring one song, Death Whispered a Lullaby, and by providing backing vocals and playing mellotron, piano, electric piano, keyboards, and guitar.Opeth then released a DVD, \"Lamentations\", filmed in England during the Damnation Tour, in fall of '03. It featured the Damnation album in its entirety along with some highlights from the previous two albums. Now signed to the major label Roadrunner Records, Opeth's next album Ghost Reveries arrived in 2005 and proved to be a return to form for the band. Shortly before the recordings of this album, Per Wiberg (Spiritual Beggars) officially joined the band to play keyboards, as he did on the tour that supported Damnation. He can also be seen on the \"Lamentations\" DVD. More lineup changes followed in May of 2006, when long time drummer Martin Lopez left the band due to complications from a rare disease he has. After a short delay, he was replaced by Martin Axe Axenrot, former drummer of Bloodbath.On May 17th, 2007, an open letter from Peter Lindgren was posted on the official Opeth website where he wrote that he had decided to leave the band. He said that he had lost some of the enthusiasm and inspiration needed to participate in a band that has grown to become a world-wide industry. It was especially the massive amount of touring, and being away from home for long periods of time that caused this decision. \"I have come to a point where I realise I won't be able to give the band 100%, and from both sides this will not be good enough for what Opeth stands for.\" On the same day Fredrik \u00c5kesson (ex-Arch Enemy, Krux) was announced as the new guitar-player and full-time member of Opeth.In Fall 2007, Opeth released their first live album, The Roundhouse Tapes, recorded in the famous Roundhouse concert hall in Great Britain.The progressive rock\/metal band Dream Theater announced in November of 2007 that Opeth would be joining them on the Progressive Nation 2008 tour. Joining these two bands were Between the Buried and Me and 3.Opeth's ninth studio album, entitled Watershed was released on June 3, 2008. It was well received by most fans and critics. The first single from the album, Porcelain Heart, was released on April 19th, 2008. The track The Lotus Eater is also available on RoadRunner Record's website for free.Former members:* David Isberg \u2013 Vocals (1990-1992)* Andreas Dimeo \u2013 Guitar (1991)* Kim Pettersson \u2013 Guitar (1991)* Johan DeFarfalla \u2013 Bass (1991,1994-1996)* Stefan Guteklint \u2013 Bass (1992-1993)* Mattias Ander \u2013 Bass (1992)* Nick D\u00f6ring \u2013 Bass (1990-1991)* Anders Nordin \u2013 Drums (1990-1997)* Martin Lopez \u2013 Drums (1997-2006)* Peter Lindgren \u2013 Guitars (1991-2007)Discography:1995 Orchid1996 Morningrise1998 My Arms, Your Hearse1999 Still Life2001 Blackwater Park2002 Deliverance2003 Damnation2005 Ghost Reveries2008 WatershedOfficial site: Opeth.com","featuredImage":"https:\/\/assets.allamericanmusic.com\/images\/25039_h_0.jpg","feeRange":"please contact"}

{"key":"250","name":"A Perfect Circle","bio":"A Perfect Circle is a rock band conceived by Billy Howerdel, a former guitar technician for David Bowie, Guns N' Roses, Nine Inch Nails, The Smashing Pumpkins, Fishbone and Tool. Howerdel met singer Maynard James Keenan in 1992 when Fishbone was opening for Tool, and the two became friends. Three years later, Keenan offered Howerdel, who was looking for lodging, a room in his North Hollywood home. This provided Howerdel the opportunity to play demos of his music for Keenan. Pleased with what he heard, Keenan remarked, \"I can hear myself singing .\" Although he originally desired a female vocalist, Howerdel agreed that Keenan would be a good fit, and A Perfect Circle was formed a short time later. They were then joined by bassist and violinist Paz Lenchantin, former Failure guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen, and the previous drummer for Primus, Tim Alexander. The band played their first show at LA's Viper Club Reception on August 15, 1999. After playing shows in Los Angeles California, the band entered the studio to begin work on their first album. Alexander was soon replaced with session drummer and member of The Vandals, Josh Freese, but Alexander's performance can still be heard on the album version of the song \"The Hollow\".The members of A Perfect Circle changed between albums, while many of the musicians made guest appearances on the records. Maynard James Keenan, Billy Howerdel and Josh Freese were the only permanent members of A Perfect Circle. The first line up which recorded Mer de Noms was Paz Lenchantin on bass and Troy Van Leeuwen of Failure, on rhythm guitar. When Van Leeuwen left for Queens of the Stone Age and Lenchantin for Billy Corgan's short-lived Zwan, two new members joined for the recording of Thirteenth Step: James Iha of the then defunct but now reformed (sans Iha) The Smashing Pumpkins and Marilyn Manson's Jeordie White aka Twiggy Ramirez on rhythm guitar and bass, respectively. A Perfect Circle is an extension of the progressive rock\/metal style popularized by the aforementioned Tool in the early to mid-'90s. They have released two studio albums of mostly original material (Mer De Noms(2000) and Thirteenth Step(2003)) as well as the covers album eMOTIVe(2004) and the compilation CD\/DVD set aMOTIOn(2004).As early as December 9, 2008, Keenan had announced that he and Howerdel had been writing new music for A Perfect Circle. However, Keenan also said that the band has no plans to resume full-scale touring, or even to write and record a new album. Instead, they will focus on \"one or two songs at a time\", which will most likely be released via the Internet, rather than on compact disc. Keenan jokingly mentioned that CDs have become \"plastic discs that no one cares about anymore.\" Additionally, it wasn't until over year and a half later, mid-2010, when various band member's began teasing a return a respective Twitter accounts, that the band actually became active. This lead up to a September announcement of tour dates in which they would be playing the entirety of each of their three albums at each concert, with one album being played per night. The new touring lineup was announced Maynard James Keenan, Billy Howerdel, Josh Freese, Matt McJunkins, and James Iha.In recent news Billy Howerdal had been recording demos over that past few year, and A Perfect Circle has toured a good fraction of 2010. \"I kind of had the biggest void of writing in the past few years that I\u2019ve ever had,\" he said. \"I don\u2019t really have a great place to work. I had a house with a studio and sold that, and so I don\u2019t have this readily available studio. And it\u2019s the worst reason in the world to not be doing it, but we\u2019re basically an unsigned band, we can kind of do what we want and put it out how we want, and we can kind of turn it around pretty quickly\u2026 that is if I find a place to start working.\" Though Howerdal and Keenan, song wise, have been looking at the songs and are judging whether they're A Perfect Circle tracks, or ASHES dIVIDE tracks, keep your eyes open for a new album for 2011 or early 2012.Their official website is: http:\/\/www.aperfectcircle.com\/.","featuredImage":"https:\/\/assets.allamericanmusic.com\/images\/250_h_0.jpg","feeRange":"40,000 - 75,000"}

{"key":"1444","name":"Katatonia","bio":"There are multiple bands named Katatonia: 1) Swedish metal band. 2) Polish death\/thrash metal band.1) Katatonia is a Swedish metal band formed in Stockholm in 1991 by Jonas Renkse and Anders Nystr\u00f6m. The bands music has doom metal elements and influences with their progressive metal style, noting the overall bleak melancholy and despair sound. After more than a year of rehearsals and composing, the first real fruits of their labour came to light in mid 1992 with the release of the demo \"Jhva Elohim Meth\", recorded at Sweden's Gorysound Studio and produced by the multi-musician Dan Swan\u00f6. The demo sold out immediately, bringing Katatonia to the attention of Dutch label Vic Records, who went on to re-release the demo as a mini CD, titled \"Jhva Elohim Meth - The Revival\". With the CD selling out fast and their reputation spreading like a wildfire through the underground, the duo knew they would need a fuller line-up to move the band up and forward. So, bassist Guillaume Le Huche (aka Israphel Wing) was enlisted to their ranks, enabling them to perform live in concert for the first time in their career. In 1993, things progressed at pace and at the end of 1992 the trio entered into a one-album deal with the now defunct Swedish label No Fashion records. April 1993 saw Katatonia re-enter Gorysound (now renamed Unisound) to record their first full-length album 'Dance of December Souls', produced by Katatonia and Dan Swan\u00f6. It then seemed like the album would never see the light of day, but was eventually released in a desirable match to the album title in December 1993. The album was an immediate hit with both the critics and the metal scene. Gone were the black metallic meanderings of their earlier attempts, to be replaced with distinguished melancholy & epic melodious emotion. An essential and now classic chapter in the doom metal genre. The reaction to the new sound was just what Katatonia needed to hear, encouraged and driven by the ever growing quest for progression, they pushed the boundaries even further and set about re-entering Unisound in early 1994 to record the classic 10 minute goth epic 'Scarlet Heavens'. The track eventually found a home, with Misanthropy records releasing it as a limited split 10\" (with Primordial in 1996). Spring 1994 and Wrong Again records approached the band to appear on a compilation album they were putting together and in the same year Italian label Avantgarde Music approached them with a new record deal. Determined to still make a successful future in the metal scene, the band returned to the sound crafted on 'Dance of December Souls' but compressed the epic proportions into a more live adjusted style. Back at the familiar Unisound studio, Katatonia emerged with the tracks 'Black Erotica' and 'Love of the Swan' for the compilation and the 'For Funerals to Come' ep to be released by Avantgarde Music in early 1995. Katatonia then surprised everyone by taking a sabbatical the whole following year. Nystr\u00f6m & Renkse's problem to find a complete & stable line-up to help them realise their master plan eventually made the two members destined to go separate ways. The time that followed, Renkse spent his time in a new founded side project called October Tide while Nystr\u00f6m divided his occupation in newly formed constellations Diabolical Masquerade and Bewitched. In 1996, Eventually frustrated by abandoning the uncharted promising future of Katatonia and little action within the walls of gloom, the friends got back together with a different approach and reunited Katatonia in early 1996. Now finally, having found a new permanent third member in ex-October Tide guitarist Fred Norrman, the trio went back into the ever open doors of Unisound, but this time armed only with ideas and an intricate vision, no actual songs had been written at this stage. After a two week's recording session, Katatonia emerged with the album 'Brave Murder Day', proof positive that this new daring way of working had paid off. Opeth's Mikael \u00c5kerfeldt was asked to step in and perform vocal duties after Renkse declared his voice had taken its toll. Katatonia & Dan Swan\u00f6's production values perfectly captured the highly original and newly emerging Katatonia sound; emotional and cutting edge, simple and direct while still retaining the dark void so integral to the whole Katatonia vibe. The band had re-invented their sound and this album proved to be a groundbreaking influence for many bands to emerge thereafter. After successfully touring Europe for the first time in the autumn of 1996, Katatonia felt excited to re-enter the studio early 1997 to quickly unleash new material. Facing the fact that their second home Unisound had closed its doors for good, they chose the only logical alternative in Sunlight Studio located in their home city of Stockholm. Figuring this would push their originality and experimentation to new places the result was justified in the mini-album 'Sounds of Decay', again for Avantgarde Music. Produced by the band & mixed by Tomas Skogsberg the CD followed a similar path to 'Brave Murder Day' and again saw Mikael \u00c5kerfeldt perform vocal duties.In 1998, Fuelled and at the top of their peak of creativity, it wasn't long before Nystr\u00f6m, Renkse & Norrman and new member and bassist Mikael Oretoft returned to Sunlight later again in mid 1997, to begin work on their third full-length album 'Discouraged Ones', a rebirth of sorts, which saw Renkse again take his old classic role as Katatonia's combined vocalist and drummer. This time \u00c5kerfeldt's input moved from a primal screamer to the more eloquent vocal producer position, and it is on this release we get the first real taste of Renkse's clean and distinct vocal style. A brave and radical move away from the old was a big risk for the band, but the sheer quality of the music on offer blew all away. The gothic flourishes of yore having been replaced by more contemporary leanings, dealing with feelings of loss and desolation, of despair and hope. This is where the band had fully taken off on their dark stylistic turn. In 1999, Peaceville Records had been following the bands career from almost the very beginning, but it was 'Discouraged Ones' with its modernity and dynamics that made the label really fall in love with their sound. Realising that Katatonia was perfect for their roster of highly original acts, the label offered the band a long-term deal, spanning five albums. Delighted to find themselves working with a label that had previously produced some of their favourite music, Katatonia now back again as a trio, set about working on their fourth studio album in 1999, 'Tonight's Decision'. This album saw Katatonia back in Sunlight, produced again by the band with \u00c5kerfeldt still co-producing the vocals; they were skilfully assisted by Tomas Skogsberg on the mix. The old long-time producer\/mixer Dan Swan\u00f6 came on board as this session's guest drummer \u2013 enabling Renkse to focus all his attention on his ever-improving sharp vocals. With strong international distribution now firmly in place via Peaceville, Katatonia saw their popularity soar to unimagined new heights and at the end of the year Katatonia toured Scandinavia opening up for the legends Paradise Lost with a brand new line-up in Fredrik Norrman's brother Mattias Norrman on bass and Daniel Liljekvist on drums. In 2001, Being busy in the millennium year of 2000 recording the fifth album and also visiting Poland and USA together with Opeth on a number of gigs, Katatonia released 'Last Fair Deal Gone Down' in the early summer of 2001. The album release was preceded by a 3 track CD single, the title track being 'Teargas' culled from 'Last Fair Deal Gone Down' and spiced up by two tracks specially written for the single \u2013 'Sulfur' & 'March 4'. Perhaps more than ever, we saw Katatonia really expanding in their self-belief. With their hallmark tears of sorrow spilling over the songs, there was also a confidence and warmth about the band that added a new dynamic to the sound. Maybe this was due to the fact that Katatonia produced the album themselves over a vast period of time; maybe it was the persuasive use of light and dark, used to illustrate perfectly the emotional gravitas of the songs, either way this was the album that made the whole world sit up and listen. Renkse really had come into his own as one of the most honest and distinctive vocalists around from this scene. There was vulnerability in his vocal style that made you believe every word, giving ever so much without sounding fake. All this underpinned by the genius guitar work of Nystr\u00f6m, who seemed to have opened up the door from that slightly narrow gothic doom sound to rays of modern darkness and an altogether more contemporary approach. After the success of the '3 days-3 countries' sprint that was the Peacefest in March 2001, Katatonia came back to the UK in May and embarked on a headline mini tour. Fuelled by the crowds reaction, they were quick to set their sails on a full tour opening up for Opeth later same year taking place in Central Europe and the UK again. To coincide with the tour Katatonia released their second single of 2001 \u2013 'Tonight's Music'. The title track again was taken from their last album, 'Last Fair Deal Gone Down', released in March. The EP also contained the exclusive tracks 'Help Me Disappear', and 'O How I Enjoy the Light'. 2002 was in total a pretty silent year for the band and the months were mostly spent with by having time off mixed with writing for the next album. In 2003, April 2003 saw the release of Katatonia's sixth studio album for empty souls and hearts. Titled 'Viva Emptiness', the album was recorded in the dark Swedish winter at 301 Studios in Stockholm and Fascination Street in \u00d6rebro, at the end of 2002. Produced by Nystr\u00f6m\/Renkse and mixed by Jens Bogren. Using the metal genre as an early template Katatonia had never been a band to stand still or stagnate in any way. With this album, the band now proved to be purveyors of an understated kind of grandeur that had long outgrown all or any generic restrictions, still ostensibly digging deeper into the identity of a metal band. Without a halo of limiting genre above their heads, the music alone said more about the enigmatic Swedes than a 1000 word effort ever could. The release was supported by a full European headline tour over the months April and May, 2003. In 2004 Katatonia toured Scandinavia two times and did a mini European tour and a bunch of festival shows all around the world. In between the live activity, the band yet again took well-deserved time off and started planning the next moves and how to create their next masterpiece.The New Year 2005 brought the release of two compilation albums. The first being Avantgarde Music's 'Brave Yester Days', a complete look back into the early days of 1992 \u2013 1997. Included over 2 discs were the singles, demo, compilation tracks and a selection of the finest moment on the two first full-lengths. Peaceville's 'The Black Sessions' was the second compilation featuring 2 discs of classic material from 1998 - 2004, plus a DVD concert from 2003's Viva Emptiness tour filmed in Poland. Included were all the singles and b-sides to date, together with the very best tracks from 1998's 'Discouraged Ones' up to 2004's Viva Emptiness (including 'Wait Outside', an unreleased track from the 'Viva Emptiness' sessions).To warm up and get a doze of live action before making a start on recording the new album, the band hit the road in March added to the Metalmania bill, playing a few dates in Eastern Europe. Renkse and Nystr\u00f6m then returned home to the making of their seventh album and spent the whole spring completing the process. At the end of the year the band made it to Russia for the first time in their career, playing the two biggest cities to a crowd that had been waiting over a decade for the dark quintet to arrive. In 2006, In the dying light of 2005 and Katatonia delivered their brand new single, 'My Twin' (a 4-track EP containing 3 exclusive tracks) and, shortly after, their decisive seventh full-length album, aptly titled 'The Great Cold Distance'. The album was recorded in the summer of 2005 at Fascination Street Studios, \u00d6rebro, Sweden and was released early 2006 to universal acclaim. This was backed up soon afterwards by the release of follow-up single, 'Deliberation' and extensive touring throughout Europe in the Spring supported by label-mates Novembre and topped off with an American tour with Moonspell later on in the year, concluding a fantastic year for the band.Katatonia gained great commercial & critical response to the album with many hailing it as the band's greatest work. Two more singles were lifted from the album ('Deliberation' & 'July') while both singles were also accompanied by video tracks. The band went from strength to strength with their extensive touring & festival duties before the release of 'Live Consternation' in 2007, which captured the band live at their glorious best at the Summerbreeze festival in 2006. Katatonia would then resume writing for the eagerly awaited follow-up to 'The Great Cold Distance' after having completed a headline American tour in 2007.In 2009, With such a monumental album to follow, it was 2009 before Katatonia was ready to enter the studio for their eagerly awaited eighth studio album, 'Night is the New Day'. It was recorded throughout July 2009 & was co-produced, engineered and mixed by David Castillo. Recording was divided between Studio Mega (for drums) and Ghost Ward Studios, where most recording took place & which provided a dose of inspiration from the darker corners of life with it's choice of location, as Anders describes: \u201cBroken glass, blood on the walls at the front door to the building and threatening messages written on the elevator - Even excrement and urine on the floor in the basement that makes you wonder if the caretaker is a serial killer himself\". Mastering was completed at Fascination Street Studios (where 'The Great Cold Distance' was recorded) with Jens Bogren. A continuation of the heaviness, depth & atmosphere of their previous album, 'Night Is the New Day' is also a more multi-dimensional effort - waltzing between prog moments, doom, folk & the classic melodic anthems that are the staple of Katatonia's uncompromising sound, completed by the haunting tones of Jonas Renkse's journeys of urban & emotional decay, & now joined by Frank Default on keyboards, notable for his work on the track 'Unfurl' from the 'July' EP - utilising his expertise to the fullest to texture the soundscapes. On January 27, 2012, Katatonia announced they would head into the studio on January 30, 2012 to begin recording their ninth studio album. On May 28, 2012, the band announced that their ninth studio album would be called Dead End Kings and would be released on August 27, 2012 in Europe and August 28, 2012 in the US.Katatonia will tour with The Devin Townsend Project, Paradise Lost and Stolen Babies for the North American \"Epic Kings & Idols Tour\" in September 2012. Katatonia and The Devin Townsend Project will alternate headlining each show.Katatonia will embark on the \"Dead Ends of Europe Tour\" with Alcest and Junius in December 2012.2) Katatonia was a Polish death\/thrash metal band. They released one demo, \"It's Only Dream\", in 1993 before splitting up.","featuredImage":"https:\/\/assets.allamericanmusic.com\/images\/1444_h_0.jpg","feeRange":"please contact"}

{"key":"6235","name":"deadmau5","bio":"Born (January 5, 1981) and raised in Niagara Falls, Canada, Joel Zimmerman (aka \"deadmau5\") has become one of the most sought-after artists on the electronic music scene in recent times. He is known for his highly entertaining live gigs, often performing wearing a large cartoon mouse head.He first started his career as co-producer of the Niagara Falls radio show \u201cThe Party Revolution\u201d (101.1 The Planet). After gaining exposure to all the many facets of electronic music, Joel then moved on to collaborate with many other artists and record labels around the world.In 2005, deadmau5 released his first album, \"Get Scraped, which had many genres and was very different from his new sound.\" After that, he released Vexillology, in 2006. His first mainstream album, and his third album, was Random Album Title in 2008, which went towards a progressive house sound and featured many hit songs like Arguru, Not Exactly and I Remember, with Kaskade. His next album was For Lack of a Better Name, which had more of a tech house style. After that was 4x4=12, which contains his two released dubstep songs. His album > album title goes here < shows a few similarities to Get Scraped. His latest album is \"while(1<2),\" released in 2014.He has worked with a number of artists both underground and mainstream - including Melleny Melody, Orgy, Kaskade, MC Flipside, Rob Swire of Pendulum, Skrillex, Ti\u00ebsto and Steve Duda.'Deadmau5', Zimmermans' DJ name, originates from an incident where a mouse crawled into his computer and died. He then posted on an internet forum of his shenanigans, and the members began calling him TheDeadMouseGuy. 'Dead Mouse' was too long for an IRC login name, so he abbreviated it to \"deadmau5\".He has also done collaborations with top names such as Chris Lake, Glenn Morrison and Wolfgang Gartner.January 2, 2012: On his birthday, Deadmau5 began his year long residency at XS Night Club in Las Vegas, NV.Awards\/Nominations: 1) Deadmau5 was ranked #6 on the DJ Mag Top 100 DJ Poll 2009, and #4 in 2010.2) In 2009, he was nominated for Grammy Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical (\"The Longest Road\" (Deadmau5 Remix) by Morgan Page featuring Lissie)3) In 2010, he won 3 awards from the international dance music awards.4) He has been voted #1 DJ in the world by BeatPort.","featuredImage":"https:\/\/assets.allamericanmusic.com\/images\/6235_h_0.jpg","feeRange":"750,000 - 1,000,000"}

{"key":"23190","name":"Rush","bio":"Rush is a progressive rock band which formed in Willowdale, Ontario, Canada in 1968. The band currently performs with the lineup of Geddy Lee (vocals, bass, keyboards), Alex Lifeson (guitar) and Neil Peart (drums). John Rutsey was the original drummer, later replaced by Neil Peart in 1974, shortly after the release of their first album, and three weeks before their first American tour. Neil Peart also became the band\u2019s lyricist, and wrote the words for many of the band\u2019s best known songs. As a group, Rush possesses 24 gold records and 14 platinum (3 multi-platinum) records. According to the RIAA, Rush\u2019s sales statistics place them third behind The Beatles and The Rolling Stones for the most consecutive gold or platinum albums by a rock band. Rush also ranks 78th in U.S. album sales with 25 million units. Although total worldwide album sales are not calculated by any single entity, as of 2004 several industry sources estimated Rush's total worldwide album sales at over 40 million units. The band were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.Starting out as a bar band in 1968 in Willowdale, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and then drummer John Rutsey were perhaps the hardest working unsigned act of the day. Refusing to conform and play top 40 material, they were determined to play what they wanted to play, and on their own terms.In 1974, after the release of their self-titled debut, Neil Peart took over for John Rutsey and soon proved to be not only an amazing drummer, but also an excellent lyricist. His often epic compositions fit perfectly with the band's playing.From their metal-edged, more classic rock type material of the early- to mid-70s, Rush were on their way to the top. It wasn't until their late-70's\/early-80s material that the band broke through. Rush's 80's output was unlike anything else anyone had produced back then, but still managed to do well. In the 90's, Rush very suddenly changed styles with the release of Counterparts, focusing on a more modern type of rock that was becoming popular right around that time. Most of the albums became similar to hard rock, and arena rock. However, Rush never lost their signature sound, setting them apart from all other bands. While they have not had many radio hits, few hard rock fans have not heard of the band's bigger hits like \"Working Man\", \"The Spirit of Radio\", \"Limelight\" and of course the enigmatic \"Tom Sawyer\", which catapulted the band into the limelight in 1981.Now in their fourth decade of making music together, the hard working men of Rush still continue to wow their audience, and even bring aboard some new fans. In 2005, the band released another DVD concert, filmed in Frankfurt, Germany on their 2004 30th Anniversary tour; Rush still shows no signs of stopping. Rush's last-but-one album was released on May 1st, 2007, Snakes & Arrows. Its first single was \"Far Cry\". The single aired on radios and released on the internet on March 12th. The trio began touring to support the album on an international schedule on June 13, 2007.Rush released two new songs (\"Caravan\" and \"BU2B\") on June 1, 2010. In the digital booklet provided on iTunes, they are said to be parts One and Two of \"Clockwork Angels\", a work in progress.In 2012 Rush finally released album \"Clockwork Angels\" and on 7th of September started 1st part of their Clockwork Angels Tour (official dates : September 7 - December 2 2012; May 22, 2013 - June 10, 2013).","featuredImage":"https:\/\/assets.allamericanmusic.com\/images\/23190_h_0.jpg","feeRange":"300,000 - 500,000"}

{"key":"26643","name":"Coheed and Cambria","bio":"Coheed and Cambria is an American rock band from Nyack, New York. Formed in 2001, the group incorporates aspects of progressive rock, punk rock, metal and post-hardcore.All of Coheed and Cambria's albums are concept albums that reveal a science fiction storyline called The Amory Wars, a story written by lead singer Claudio Sanchez, which has been transcribed into a series of comic books, as well as a full length novel. The band has released five studio albums, three live albums, and several special-edition releases. In 2008, the band held a four-day concert series, Neverender, during which they played their first four studio albums in succession. Their fifth studio album, Year of the Black Rainbow, which is a prequel to the series, was released on April 13, 2010.","featuredImage":"https:\/\/assets.allamericanmusic.com\/images\/26643_h_0.jpg","feeRange":"50,000 - 100,000"}

{"key":"25221","name":"Mastodon","bio":"Mastodon is an American sludge metal\/progressive metal band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 1999. The band comprises bassist\/vocalist Troy Sanders, guitarist\/vocalist Brent Hinds, guitarist Bill Kelliher and drummer\/vocalist Brann Dailor. They have released six full-length albums to date, expanding their musical borders from early raw sludgy riffs to later psychedelic multi-layered songs, yet maintaining progressive style with unusual time signatures and odd instrumentation. It was announced, in late 2005, that, having fulfilled contractual obligations to indie label, Relapse Records, Mastodon had been offered a deal by a major music label, a spot on the Warner Music roster. Despite this, however, Relapse Records released a DVD, and re-released the band's only demo.An album titled Call of the Mastodon, comprising the material recorded for the band's first and only untitled demo, which featured Eric Saner on vocals, was released in early 2006. A DVD entitled \"The Workhorse Chronicles\" was released not long after and a full length album, the band's Warner Music debut, Blood Mountain, was released September 12th, 2006. In an interview with MTV news, Brann Dailor revealed that the band's sound, on this upcoming release would be decidedly different and more \"progressive.\" He also expressed excitement over the possibility of the birth of a new \"prog movement,\" naming bands such as Isis, along with Mastodon, as prospective leaders of said movement.Blood Mountain met critical acclaim with reviews ranging from Metal Hammer and Kerrang! who stated it was as good or better than their last release Leviathan, while other critics view it as the essential release of the decade and UK Metal Hammer named it best album of '06. Blood Mountain also featured guest appearances by Scott Kelly of Neurosis on the track \"Crystal Skull\", Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age on \"Colony of Birchmen\", as well as The Mars Volta's keyboardist Isaiah \"Ikey\" Owens on \"Pendulous Skin\" and singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala on \"Siberian Divide\".Mastodon's fourth album Crack the Skye was released on March 24, 2009 as a normal version and a deluxe version (which includes all songs in instrumental versions as well as their normal versions). The album is produced by Brendan O'Brien, and Scott Kelly of Neurosis returns as a guest musician on the title-track. The band had debuted three new tracks at the Bonnaroo Music Festival, but did not play anymore live before the album's release, due to fears of internet distribution and wanting to play the songs to the right audience. In a MusicRadar interview, guitarist Bill Kelliher confirmed that the album is about an \"out of body experience,\" and looks at the concepts of astral travel, wormholes, Stephen Hawking's theories and the spiritual realm. Drummer Brann Dailor has a section of vocals on the song \"Oblivion\" following the intro and chorus. The band has announced that they will play the album in its entirety incorporating a stage show on their upcoming tour. Mastodon was a headliner at the Scion Rock Fest on February 28, 2009, performing a set containing three tracks from Crack The Skye, the first time these songs were played since being finalized and recorded. Scott Kelly made an appearance performing his guest vocals for the songs \"Crack the Skye,\" \"Aqua Dementia,\" and \"Crystal Skull.\"Mastodon's fifth album The Hunter was released on September 26, 2011 in the UK and one day later in the US via Reprise Records. The Hunter Songfacts says that the album was titled in honor of guitarist\/vocalist Brent Hinds' brother, Brad, who unexpectedly passed away while hunting in December 2010. Mastodon actually had two working titles for the album in honor of Brad: \"The Hunter\" or \"Brother.\"Mastodon have previously appeared on the second stage at Ozzfest 2005 and have toured with the likes of Slayer, Lamb of God and Children of Bodom on the Unholy Alliance US tour and have 3 songs recorded live on the accompanying tour DVD.On June 24, 2014, the band released their sixth studio album \"Once More 'Round the Sun.\"Mastodon is:Brann Dailor - Drums. (Formerly of Today Is The Day, Lethargy, Discordance Axis)Troy Sanders - Vocals, Bass. (Also in Social Infestation, Four Hour Fogger, Knuckle, Bully)Bill Kelliher - Guitar. (Formerly of Today Is The Day, Lethargy, Butterslax)Brent Hinds - Guitar, Vocals. (Also in Fiend Without A Face, West End Motel, The Blood Vessels, Four Hour Fogger)Aforementioned former member, Eric Saner, left the band soon after the release of the 2000 demo. Troy Sanders, the then bassist, was announced as the new lead vocalist, although vocal duties were increasingly shared with guitarist Brent Hinds to the point where they are considered co-vocalists.","featuredImage":"https:\/\/assets.allamericanmusic.com\/images\/25221_h_0.jpg","feeRange":"40,000 - 75,000"}