Soulbender is an American-Canadian hard rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 2002.[1][2] The band independently released their album Soulbender in 2004, which they reissued with four additional tracks through Rat Pak Records under the title Soulbender II in 2014. Though the band underwent multiple lineup changes in that ten-year timespan, both releases featured the original five-piece incarnation of two Americans and three Canadians who previously played in several different bands respectively from Seattle and Vancouver:[1][2]Nick Pollock (lead vocals), formerly of Alice N' Chains and My Sister's Machine; Michael Wilton (guitar) from Queensrÿche; Dave Groves (guitar), formerly of Tin Pan[3] and Fallen Angel; Wes Hallam (drums), formerly of Assault[4] and Fallen Angel; and Marten Van Keith (bass guitar).
Soulbender
Founding members Dave Groves, Wes Hallam, Nick Pollock, and Michael Wilton
Soulbender has chiefly been noted as a side-project of Michael Wilton, borne out of his desire to return the heavy metal sound that his main band Queensrÿche had drifted away from.[1][5] After completing 17 original tracks, Soulbender played their first live show opening for Queensrÿche vocalist Geoff Tate's solo band at the Experience Music Project in Seattle on June 22, 2002.[6] They also performed at the very first Layne Staley Tribute later that August.[7]
With the addition of bass player Marten Van Keith, who also hailed from Vancouver according to Wilton,[8] the group released their self-titled debut album through Licking Lava Records in 2004 and they immediately began to tour in support of the album. Prior to the release of the album, Sefany Jones of KNAC was given a demo CD of six songs. In her review, she wrote, "The overall feel of this album is entrancing, inasmuch as I would describe Tool." She also likened it to Marilyn Manson, Alice in Chains, and Michael Monroe.[9] Wilton said in an interview a year later that "a lot of people are apparently comparing it to Alice in Chains and Tool." Despite playing a couple sellout shows, the band has experienced much difficulty getting off the ground due to Wilton's Queensrÿche duties. Wilton compared this predicament to that of singer Maynard James Keenan, who pulls double duty with Tool and A Perfect Circle, saying "I'll do a little tour here with one band and a little tour there with the other band."[10] Van Keith was replaced in 2005 by bass player Chuck Miller, formerly of the band Peace and Silence.[11][12]
In 2007, Pollock and Hallam stepped down from their respective roles as vocalist and drummer and replaced by Travis Bracht of Second Coming and for a brief spell Van Williams of Nevermore. Bracht had previously worked with Chuck Miller in Peace and Silence.[11] Later that year, Ray Hartman replaced Van Williams on drums and Soulbender released a song called "Loaded" on Unleashed 3, a compilation album of songs by various artists from Rat Pak Records.[13] They also performed at the sixth annual Layne Staley Tribute along with Daughtry in 2007.[14]
In 2008 and 2009, Wilton said he was "six songs into" finishing a second album.[12] By this time, he said that Tim "Ripper" Owens had assumed vocal duties.[12] In 2011, Wilton said, "I actually have 75% of the Soulbender 2 written so it will get finished I just don’t know when."[15]
In 2014, the original members of Soulbender reunited and signed a world-wide distribution deal with Rat Pak Records.[16] On September 30, 2014, they released Soulbender II, a remastered version of their original album with four new songs.[17]
In 2018, a GoFundMe campaign was set up for Marten Van Keith after he was diagnosed with throat cancer. On January 13, 2020, Queensrÿche announced on their Facebook page that Van Keith had died from the cancer.
Original Lineup with Michael Wilton, Nick Pollock, Dave Groves, Wes Hallam, Marten Van Keith
"Seraphim"
"Shoal"
"Slave to Reality"
Referencesedit
^ abcHeaton, Brian J. (1 October 2002). "EYES OF A STRANGER - Michael Wilton Discusses the Future of Queensrÿche" (PDF). Anybody Listening. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
^ abDean, Mark (1 October 2014). "Interview With Michael Wilton (Guitars) (Soulbender And Queensryche)". My Global Mind. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
^"Tin Pan at Rate Your Music". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
^"Wes Hallam at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
^"Soulbender". The BNR Metal Pages. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
^"QUEENSRYCHE Guitarist Teams Up With Ex-MY SISTER'S MACHINE Singer In SOULBENDER". Blabbermouth. 3 May 2002. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
^"KNAC.COM - News - Pure Rock Newswire". Knaclive.com. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
^Interview with Michael Wilton at Metalshrine Archived 2013-04-18 at archive.today
^"Log In or Sign Up to View". Facebook.com. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
^"Soulbender Guitarist Happily Does Double Duty". Straight.com. 12 August 2004. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
^ ab"Peace And Silence at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
^ abc"Welcome to Dave's On Tour!!". Davesontour.com. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
soulbender, american, canadian, hard, rock, band, formed, seattle, washington, 2002, band, independently, released, their, album, 2004, which, they, reissued, with, four, additional, tracks, through, records, under, title, 2014, though, band, underwent, multip. Soulbender is an American Canadian hard rock band formed in Seattle Washington in 2002 1 2 The band independently released their album Soulbender in 2004 which they reissued with four additional tracks through Rat Pak Records under the title Soulbender II in 2014 Though the band underwent multiple lineup changes in that ten year timespan both releases featured the original five piece incarnation of two Americans and three Canadians who previously played in several different bands respectively from Seattle and Vancouver 1 2 Nick Pollock lead vocals formerly of Alice N Chains and My Sister s Machine Michael Wilton guitar from Queensryche Dave Groves guitar formerly of Tin Pan 3 and Fallen Angel Wes Hallam drums formerly of Assault 4 and Fallen Angel and Marten Van Keith bass guitar SoulbenderFounding members Dave Groves Wes Hallam Nick Pollock and Michael WiltonBackground informationOriginSeattle Washington U S GenresAlternative metal hard rockYears active2002 2014 on hiatus LabelsLicking Lava RecordsRat Pak RecordsPast membersSee Members Contents 1 History 2 Members 3 Discography 4 References 5 External linksHistory editSoulbender has chiefly been noted as a side project of Michael Wilton borne out of his desire to return the heavy metal sound that his main band Queensryche had drifted away from 1 5 After completing 17 original tracks Soulbender played their first live show opening for Queensryche vocalist Geoff Tate s solo band at the Experience Music Project in Seattle on June 22 2002 6 They also performed at the very first Layne Staley Tribute later that August 7 With the addition of bass player Marten Van Keith who also hailed from Vancouver according to Wilton 8 the group released their self titled debut album through Licking Lava Records in 2004 and they immediately began to tour in support of the album Prior to the release of the album Sefany Jones of KNAC was given a demo CD of six songs In her review she wrote The overall feel of this album is entrancing inasmuch as I would describe Tool She also likened it to Marilyn Manson Alice in Chains and Michael Monroe 9 Wilton said in an interview a year later that a lot of people are apparently comparing it to Alice in Chains and Tool Despite playing a couple sellout shows the band has experienced much difficulty getting off the ground due to Wilton s Queensryche duties Wilton compared this predicament to that of singer Maynard James Keenan who pulls double duty with Tool and A Perfect Circle saying I ll do a little tour here with one band and a little tour there with the other band 10 Van Keith was replaced in 2005 by bass player Chuck Miller formerly of the band Peace and Silence 11 12 In 2007 Pollock and Hallam stepped down from their respective roles as vocalist and drummer and replaced by Travis Bracht of Second Coming and for a brief spell Van Williams of Nevermore Bracht had previously worked with Chuck Miller in Peace and Silence 11 Later that year Ray Hartman replaced Van Williams on drums and Soulbender released a song called Loaded on Unleashed 3 a compilation album of songs by various artists from Rat Pak Records 13 They also performed at the sixth annual Layne Staley Tribute along with Daughtry in 2007 14 In 2008 and 2009 Wilton said he was six songs into finishing a second album 12 By this time he said that Tim Ripper Owens had assumed vocal duties 12 In 2011 Wilton said I actually have 75 of the Soulbender 2 written so it will get finished I just don t know when 15 In 2014 the original members of Soulbender reunited and signed a world wide distribution deal with Rat Pak Records 16 On September 30 2014 they released Soulbender II a remastered version of their original album with four new songs 17 In 2018 a GoFundMe campaign was set up for Marten Van Keith after he was diagnosed with throat cancer On January 13 2020 Queensryche announced on their Facebook page that Van Keith had died from the cancer Members editLast line upMichael Wilton guitar Dave Groves guitar Nick Pollock vocals Wes Hallam drums Marten Van Keith bass guitar died 2020 Former membersChuck Miller bass guitar Ray Hartman drums Tim Ripper Owens vocals Travis Bracht vocalsTouring membersVan Williams drumsDiscography editStudio albumsSoulbender 2004 Other appearancesYear Song Title Label Notes2007 Loaded Unleashed 3 Rat Pak Records Travis Bracht sings on Loaded 2008 Three Towers Unleashed 4 Taken from debut album 2009 Clockwork and Compass Unleashed 52014 Turn Anger Up Soulbender II Original Lineup with Michael Wilton Nick Pollock Dave Groves Wes Hallam Marten Van Keith Seraphim Shoal Slave to Reality References edit a b c Heaton Brian J 1 October 2002 EYES OF A STRANGER Michael Wilton Discusses the Future of Queensryche PDF Anybody Listening Retrieved 22 April 2022 a b Dean Mark 1 October 2014 Interview With Michael Wilton Guitars Soulbender And Queensryche My Global Mind Retrieved 21 April 2022 Tin Pan at Rate Your Music Rate Your Music Retrieved 25 April 2022 Wes Hallam at Discogs Discogs Retrieved 25 April 2022 Soulbender The BNR Metal Pages Retrieved 26 April 2022 QUEENSRYCHE Guitarist Teams Up With Ex MY SISTER S MACHINE Singer In SOULBENDER Blabbermouth 3 May 2002 Retrieved April 19 2016 KNAC COM News Pure Rock Newswire Knaclive com Retrieved 19 November 2020 Interview with Michael Wilton at Metalshrine Archived 2013 04 18 at archive today Log In or Sign Up to View Facebook com Retrieved 19 November 2020 Soulbender Guitarist Happily Does Double Duty Straight com 12 August 2004 Retrieved 19 November 2020 a b Peace And Silence at Discogs Discogs Retrieved 14 July 2012 a b c Welcome to Dave s On Tour Davesontour com Retrieved 19 November 2020 Unleashed 3 Three Year Anniversary Compilation CD Discogs Retrieved 24 April 2022 Layne Staley benefit Blog seattlepi com 24 August 2007 Retrieved 19 November 2020 SarkoTalk Interview Michael Wilton 05 01 11 Sarkophag rocks com Retrieved 19 November 2020 QUEENSRŸCHE Guitarist MICHAEL WILTON s SOULBENDER To Release New Album Roadrunnerrecords com 17 August 2014 Retrieved 2014 08 18 Michael Wilton Ratpakrecordsamerica com Retrieved 19 November 2020 External links editSoulbender discography at Discogs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Soulbender amp oldid 1148812844, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
