Papa Roach, Silverstein, Story of the Year, and Origami Angel

Papa Roach’s music style has been largely debated and the band has been referred to under many different genres. These include hard rock, electronic rock, alternative metal, nu metal, rap rock and rap metal. Generally, however, they are simply referred to as a rock band.

Papa Roach formed in 1993, when two of its members discussed the potential of a band on their school football field. Jacoby Shaddix and drummer Dave Buckner started the band and were soon joined by bass guitarist Will James and lead guitarist Jerry Horton. During these early days the band played every gig they could get, balancing school with performing. A year later they released their first EP, bizarrely entitled ‘Potatoes for Christmas’. In 1996 James was replaced by Tobin Esperance. In 1997 the band released their first full length album, entitled the self-explanatory ‘Old Friends from Young Years’. Their last two independent releases were in 1998 and 1999. The latter EP, ‘Let ‘Em Know’, earned them a record deal by DreamWorks Records.

Since signing and entering the mainstream market, Papa Roach have continued to garner a steady stream of support and success, touring with esteemed bands such as Guns N’ Roses. However, one of their earliest tracks, ‘Last Resort’, still remains their most popular single to date. They have toured worldwide, indicating just how successful the band has become since their early days. The current line up now consists of original, Jacoby Shaddix, Jerry Horton, Tobin Esperance and Tony Palermo who replaced Buckner after he entered rehab.

Despite their mainstream success, Papa Roach remain indie at heart. Their name is an indication of the real bond between the members and the history between them: Papa Roach was the nickname of Shaddix’s step-grandfather, who committed suicide in 2006 after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. The band paid homage to him with the song ‘Roses on my Grave’.

After the formation of the band in 2000, they worked through a number of line up changes before settling on a unit that they were content and confident with as a band. This happened to include an early fan who found their advertisement for a bass guitarist on an internet message board. By 2002 the band had signed to Victory Records and worked out a complete line up. Silverstein take influence from Green Day, The Promise Ring, Orchid, Gorilla Biscuits and more.

Their album releases have all been moderate commercial successes, their first LP 'When Broken Is Easily Fixed' entered the US Billboard Independent charts at #45 which was considered a great achievement for the new band. The follow-up 'Discovering The Waterfront' rocketed up the same chart to #3 and debuted at #34 on the US Billboard chart. The band continued on headline tours as well as supporting a number of artists on the road to promote their material and their name. The next release was 'Arrivals & Departures' which topped the independent charts and peaked at #25 on the US album charts, this remains their highest chart position to date.

In 2012 the band released an album entitled 'Short Songs' which featured a side of original material and a side of cover versions playing homage to some of their greatest inspirations such as The Promise Ring, Gob and Dead Kennedys. The band have always been known for an intense touring schedule to promote their latest releases, in 2014 they spent the majority of the summer on the road with stops at a number of festivals.

Like most bands, Story of the Year went through inevitable name changes and genre bending before finding the style that they were comfortable with, however transcended with the release of each album whilst maintaining fans.

They struck a deal signed to Maverick Records, and released their debut album “Page Avenue”, on September 16th 2003. The album peaked at number 51 in the Billboard 200 chart and featured the debut single “Until the Day I Die” which peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Alternative Chart and number 62 on the UK Singles Chart. It also featured the songs “Anthem of Our Dying Day” which reached number 10 in the Billboard Alternative Chart. They concluded the campaign of “Page Avenue” with the release of “Sidewalks” an acoustic ballad that reached number 40. In 2005, they released a live album in their hometown of St. Louis called “Live in the Lou” which made it to 138 in the US Charts.

Next came the release of “We Don’t Care Anymore”, which would be the debut release of “In the Wake of Determination”, later released on October 11th 2005. It also peaked at number 38 on the Australian Chart too. They also released “Take Me Back” the following year, complete with a video.

“The Black Swan” was a notable departure from the major labels, as the band signed with Epitaph Records, and charted higher than they had before with album reach number 4 in the Billboard Alternative charts. It also reached number 18 in the Billboard 200, and 25 in Australia. Following their routine of touring international touring, the band, with their explosive and memorable live shows, would go back into the studio to record an album called “The Constant”. It peaked at number 42 on the Billboard 200.