The Semantics was an American pop rock band from Nashville, Tennessee, formed by Jody Spence (drums), Millard Powers (bass) and Will Owsley (guitars, vocals). Zak Starkey later replaced Spence on drums. The band recorded one album, Powerbill, which was released in Japan. After being dropped by their record label shortly after recording the album, the band members at the time (Powers, Owsley, and Starkey) all went on to successful careers in the music industry. Powers has performed as a bassist with Ben Folds and Counting Crows and has worked as a record engineer and producer. Owsley had a successful solo career before his death in 2010. Starkey has served as the drummer for the bands Oasis and The Who.
Jody Spence and Owsley began writing songs after a couple of years of touring with Judson Spence, Jody's brother. Jody and Owsley soon got publishing contracts with Sony Music Publishing which were facilitated by Scott Siman in 1990. In 1991, Siman attended a show in North Carolina where a band called Majosha performed, which featured Ben Folds and Millard Powers. Not long after that, Siman brought Folds to Nashville and Powers later followed. Siman furnished a small demo studio that the Spence brothers, Owsley and Folds would often share. Folds would eventually introduce Millard Powers to Jody Spence and Owsley.
Within a month of meeting each other, Spence, Powers and Owsley had written and recorded entire albums worth of songs at the Sony Tree studio, 7 of which would later end up on the Geffen Records album Powerbill. The trio played a few shows in and around Nashville under the names "Spence Powers Owsley" and "Parade" with Folds sitting in on keys sometimes. The name "Jody's Powerbill", often confused with "The Semantics", was a name that Folds had suggested for the trio which they didn't use. Folds used the name himself for a while before becoming Ben Folds Five. After a trip to Los Angeles and changing their name to "The Semantics", the trio developed a buzz within the major labels which eventually brought John Kalodner of Geffen Records to Nashville, Tennessee for a showcase and the band ended up signing with him.[3]
In the search for a producer, tensions grew between the three and Jody Spence ended up leaving the band. Spence was eventually replaced by drummer Zak Starkey, Ringo Starr's son. A producer was eventually found in Peter Asher, under whose tutelage the band members worked for four years on the album Powerbill, a process which had taught the band members much about the production process[4] and about management.[3]Powerbill was initially slated for release in 1993, but was never released in the U.S for being "too pop for alternative and too alternative for pop."[5] It eventually got distributed in Japan through Alfa International on December 21, 1996.[6][7][8]
Although suddenly being dropped from the label initially left the members of the band members destitute and broke,[3] all band members have overcome this shock and continued to pursue a career in music, while also paying tribute to The Semantics. In 1999, Owsley re-recorded the "Coming Up Roses" for his eponymous first solo album Owsley. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album. Millard Powers' 2001 solo album featured "Jenny Won't Play Fair", a re-recording of the song off Powerbill.
Powers, Starkey and Spence continue to perform and record. Will Owsley died in April 2010, as the result of an apparent suicide.[citation needed]
^ abc"Second chance: Nashville rocker gets burned, emerges from the ashes with a winning LP". Nashville Scene. Nashville, TN. March 18, 1999.
^"Picks and pans main: Song". People. Vol. 51, no. 15. New York. April 26, 1999.
^Everything2 (February 7, 2001). Owsley. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
^Publishing information listed on packaging of physical copy of Japanese pressing of Powerbill
^Damas, Jason. "The Semantics". AllMusic. Retrieved 2010-12-27.
^VanTassell, Kathy (November 21, 2004). "Zak Starkey's work with: The Semantics", Kathy's Zak Starkey Site. Retrieved May 12, 2010.
February 22, 2023
semantics, american, rock, band, from, nashville, tennessee, formed, jody, spence, drums, millard, powers, bass, will, owsley, guitars, vocals, starkey, later, replaced, spence, drums, band, recorded, album, powerbill, which, released, japan, after, being, dro. The Semantics was an American pop rock band from Nashville Tennessee formed by Jody Spence drums Millard Powers bass and Will Owsley guitars vocals Zak Starkey later replaced Spence on drums The band recorded one album Powerbill which was released in Japan After being dropped by their record label shortly after recording the album the band members at the time Powers Owsley and Starkey all went on to successful careers in the music industry Powers has performed as a bassist with Ben Folds and Counting Crows and has worked as a record engineer and producer Owsley had a successful solo career before his death in 2010 Starkey has served as the drummer for the bands Oasis and The Who The SemanticsAlso known asSpence Powers Owsley ParadeOriginNashville Tennessee United StatesGenresPop rock 1 power pop 2 Years active1990 1996LabelsSony Music Publishing Geffen Alfa InternationalPast membersWill Owsley Millard Powers Jody Spence Zak StarkeyHistory EditJody Spence and Owsley began writing songs after a couple of years of touring with Judson Spence Jody s brother Jody and Owsley soon got publishing contracts with Sony Music Publishing which were facilitated by Scott Siman in 1990 In 1991 Siman attended a show in North Carolina where a band called Majosha performed which featured Ben Folds and Millard Powers Not long after that Siman brought Folds to Nashville and Powers later followed Siman furnished a small demo studio that the Spence brothers Owsley and Folds would often share Folds would eventually introduce Millard Powers to Jody Spence and Owsley Within a month of meeting each other Spence Powers and Owsley had written and recorded entire albums worth of songs at the Sony Tree studio 7 of which would later end up on the Geffen Records album Powerbill The trio played a few shows in and around Nashville under the names Spence Powers Owsley and Parade with Folds sitting in on keys sometimes The name Jody s Powerbill often confused with The Semantics was a name that Folds had suggested for the trio which they didn t use Folds used the name himself for a while before becoming Ben Folds Five After a trip to Los Angeles and changing their name to The Semantics the trio developed a buzz within the major labels which eventually brought John Kalodner of Geffen Records to Nashville Tennessee for a showcase and the band ended up signing with him 3 In the search for a producer tensions grew between the three and Jody Spence ended up leaving the band Spence was eventually replaced by drummer Zak Starkey Ringo Starr s son A producer was eventually found in Peter Asher under whose tutelage the band members worked for four years on the album Powerbill a process which had taught the band members much about the production process 4 and about management 3 Powerbill was initially slated for release in 1993 but was never released in the U S for being too pop for alternative and too alternative for pop 5 It eventually got distributed in Japan through Alfa International on December 21 1996 6 7 8 Although suddenly being dropped from the label initially left the members of the band members destitute and broke 3 all band members have overcome this shock and continued to pursue a career in music while also paying tribute to The Semantics In 1999 Owsley re recorded the Coming Up Roses for his eponymous first solo album Owsley The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album Millard Powers 2001 solo album featured Jenny Won t Play Fair a re recording of the song off Powerbill Powers Starkey and Spence continue to perform and record Will Owsley died in April 2010 as the result of an apparent suicide citation needed Discography EditPowerbill 1993 Geffen Records unreleased Powerbill December 21 1996 Alfa International Japan References Edit McCall Michael 18 March 1999 Second Chance Los Angeles Times Retrieved 28 July 2015 Damas Jason The Semantics Artist Biography AllMusic All Media Network Retrieved 9 May 2014 a b c Second chance Nashville rocker gets burned emerges from the ashes with a winning LP Nashville Scene Nashville TN March 18 1999 Picks and pans main Song People Vol 51 no 15 New York April 26 1999 Everything2 February 7 2001 Owsley Retrieved May 17 2010 Publishing information listed on packaging of physical copy of Japanese pressing of Powerbill Damas Jason The Semantics AllMusic Retrieved 2010 12 27 VanTassell Kathy November 21 2004 Zak Starkey s work with The Semantics Kathy s Zak Starkey Site Retrieved May 12 2010 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Semantics amp oldid 1105668242, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
