Coheed and Cambria
Encyclopedia
Coheed and Cambria is an American progressive rock
band from Nyack, New York. Formed in 1995, the group incorporates aspects of progressive rock
, punk rock
, metal
and post-hardcore
.
All of Coheed and Cambria's albums are concept album
s 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.
and Travis Stever
's band called Toxic Parents, they formed a band with Nate Kelley
called Beautiful Loser. The band featured Stever on vocals and guitar, Sanchez on guitar, Kelley on drums and Jon Carleo on bass. The group was short-lived, breaking up by June 1995 after an argument over gas money. Stever left the band, and the resulting trio was named Shabütie, a word taken from African tribe chants that means "naked prey" in the film The Naked Prey
.
The band spent nearly a year experimenting with a multitude of different musical styles, including punk rock
, indie rock
, acoustic rock, funk
, and heavy metal
. When Carleo left the band in August 1996, Kelley recruited Michael Todd
to take his place. Todd, who was primarily a guitarist, picked up the bass specifically for Shabütie. As Shabütie, the band wrote dozens of songs and released their first studio demo Plan to Take Over the World
in 1999. The band also released The Penelope EP
in 1999, shortly after which Stever rejoined the band.
Kelley left the band during a performance in late 1999, and Josh Eppard
, then of the band 3
, replaced him. The band went on to release Delirium Trigger in 2000, still featuring Kelley on the drums, but listing Eppard in the liner notes.
Several songs that appeared on Delirium Trigger were based on a series of science fiction
comics written by Claudio Sanchez called The Bag.On.Line Adventures, which was later renamed The Amory Wars
. Sanchez's side project originally developed during a 1998 trip to Paris, where the band members decided to rename themselves Coheed and Cambria, named after two of the story's protagonists, and adopted the concept story as a theme that would unify their future albums. This side project also created Coheed's official logo, the Keywork, a symbol for the planetary alignment of the Amory Wars
universe.
In February 2002 the band released its first studio album The Second Stage Turbine Blade
after signing with Equal Vision Records
. Influenced by the post-hardcore
group At The Drive In, the band's first release also featured a guest appearance from Dr. Know
of the hardcore-punk band, Bad Brains
, as well as the revised "Delirium Trigger", "33", and "Junesong Provision" from the Delirium Trigger EP. The band also released its first single and music video, "Devil in Jersey City
". The band eventually played several tour dates in the United States and Japan, as well as a brief stint on the 2002 Vans
Warped Tour
. In August 2002, Coheed and Cambria started working with manager
Blaze James, who would help propel the band to larger stages and a wider fan base.
Following extensive touring with groups Breaking Pangaea
, Linkin Park
, The Used
, and Slipknot
, in October 2003 the band released its second studio album In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth:3, also on Equal Vision Records. Featuring the singles "A Favor House Atlantic
" and "Blood Red Summer
" and corresponding videos which received airtime on MTV, the band supplemented the release by touring with various artists such as Thursday
, Thrice
, AFI
, and Rainer Maria
. Coheed and Cambria also made its second appearance on the Warped Tour
and performed additional European shows. The album peaked at #52 on the Billboard charts and was certified Gold by the RIAA. The band also supported the release by filming an August 2004 concert at New Jersey's Starland Ballroom
. The performance was converted into the band's first live DVD, Live at the Starland Ballroom
, which was released in March 2005.
The success of In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 attracted the attention of the record label Columbia Records
, with whom they signed a multi-album contract. The band stopped touring to record their third studio album and first major-label release Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness
in early 2005 for a September 2005 release.
Their most commercially successful album to date, Good Apollo Volume One has sold almost 1 million copies and peaked at #7 on the Billboard charts. The album represented a departure from their previous melodic post-hardcore
influenced rock toward a progressive rock
sound. The single "Welcome Home" was described by John A. Hanson as "a heavily Led Zeppelin-influenced metal tune". The band supported the album with American and European tours accompanied by The Blood Brothers, Circa Survive
, Dredg
, Head Automatica
, and Avenged Sevenfold
, tours culminating in the release of the exclusive iTunes EP Kerrang!/XFM UK Acoustic Sessions and their second live DVD The Last Supper: Live at Hammerstein Ballroom
.
Claudio Sanchez released an album from his side-project The Prize Fighter Inferno
in October 2006 titled My Brother's Blood Machine
. Like Coheed and Cambria's albums, it was a concept album, related to Coheed and Cambria via a character that appears in both stories: Jesse, "The Prize Fighter Inferno". The album was intended to be a prequel to the Coheed and Cambria albums. Claudio says "when we were called Shabütie, the initial idea for Coheed and Cambria was to be an acoustic/electronic side project. So I guess The Prize Fighter Inferno is kind of the original idea for Coheed and Cambria."
In early November 2006, Josh Eppard and Michael Todd left the band for personal reasons, forcing Matt Williams and the band's drum technician, Michael Petrak, to fill out temporarily the band's rhythm section for a handful of shows. In April 2007, bassist Michael Todd rejoined Coheed and Cambria, and the band entered the Los Angeles-based studio with new producer Nick Raskulinecz
. The following June Chris Pennie
, formerly of the Dillinger Escape Plan, joined Coheed and Cambria as its drummer, but due to contractual restrictions with his previous record label, Pennie did not appear on the band's fourth release. Instead, Foo Fighters
drummer Taylor Hawkins
recorded the drums, making use of several ideas Pennie had previously written in correspondence with Sanchez.
The band's fourth studio album, and second release with Columbia Records
, Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow
, was released in October 2007, debuting at number 6 on the Billboard charts. The album's first single, "The Running Free", was released to radio in August 2007. The second single was "Feathers" with a video starring Rena Riffel
. The band has continued touring, headlining portions of the 2007 Warped Tour
, a tour supported by Clutch
and The Fall of Troy
, and opened for Linkin Park
's 25-city U.S. tour, which forced the cancellation of Coheed and Cambria's performances on Australia's Soundwave Festival
. In addition to the return of Todd on bass and new drummer Pennie, the band also recruited a touring keyboardist and backup vocalists for its live performances.
In November 2007, their song "Welcome Home" was included as a playable track in the video game Rock Band, and a cover of their song "Ten Speed (of God's Blood & Burial)
" was later made available as a download for Rock Band. In 2009 two more songs were made available for download, "The Running Free" and "A Favor House Atlantic", for the video game Rock Band, later joined in 2010 by the songs "Guns of Summer", "Here We Are Juggernaut" and "The Broken".
The band prepared a four-month world tour beginning in January 2008. They later headlined at The Bamboozle 2008
music festival.
The band headlined the 2008 Kerrang!
Tour in the U.K., where the band performed and recorded a cover of "The Trooper" by Iron Maiden
, which is featured on Kerrang!'s Iron Maiden tribute album, Maiden Heaven, that came with the July 16 issue. They were nominated for Best International Band and Best Music Video (for Feathers) in the 2008 Kerrang! Awards.
In October and November 2008, the band played at Neverender
, a four-night concert series in which the band played one album per night. The event was held in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and in London in early December. Neverender: Children of The Fence Edition
, a CD/DVD box set of their Neverender performance, was released on March 24, 2009.
In 2009 the song "Welcome Home" was also used in the trailer for the animated movie 9.
and Trivium
on the Slipknot-headlined All Hope Is Gone tour. In August 2009, Coheed and Cambria toured in support of Heaven & Hell on their tour in support of The Devil You Know. On September 16, 2009, they performed at the Puyallup Fair alongside Brand New and Jaguar Love. In October they performed at the Austin City Limits Music Festival
in Austin, Texas. They also performed at the Wacken Open Air
festival, at the UK leg of the Sonisphere Festival
tour, and at the Lollapalooza
festival in Chicago.
Coheed and Cambria has recently finished their fifth studio album Year of the Black Rainbow
. It is a prequel to their conceptual story, having events that take place before The Second Stage Turbine Blade. A novel was released to accompany the album co-written by Sanchez and Peter David
. This novel is currently only available with the special edition of the album, or can be bought on its own directly from the band's merchandise tables on their 2010 tour.
The second track from the new album, "The Broken", was released on iTunes on February 9, 2010. "Here We Are Juggernaut
" became available for streaming on MySpace on March 4, 2010 and became available to purchase through iTunes on March 9, 2010. On April 7, the entire album became available for streaming on Myspace. The album was released on April 13 in both a standard, iTunes special, and deluxe edition (with the deluxe edition including the "Year of the Black Rainbow" novel and a special Year of the Black Rainbow "Black Card" that provides the holder early access to some Coheed shows.)
"The Broken", "Guns of Summer" and "Here We Are Juggernaut" were released on the Rock Band music store on April 20, 2010.
Sanchez recently stated that with the Coheed and Cambria saga completely chronicled on the group's first five albums, he has been contemplating the direction of future releases. "I've thought of telling stories of the future and stories of the past, maybe getting involved more in the story of Cyrus Amory (sic - Sirius Amory in the stories), the fellow who figured out the value of the Keywork," he said. "Or even stories that kind of parallel the one that we’re telling. It’s kind of up in the air. I’ve started writing music for that next record, and I'm kind of hoping that maybe in doing that it's going to tell me which one to do.”
On July 10, 2011, bassist Michael Todd was arrested and taken into police custody in Attleboro, Massachusetts
on charges of armed robbery. Wes Styles
will act as a temporary replacement for the remaining dates. On August 4th, 2011, the band announced through their tumblr
account they and Mic Todd mutually agreed that the band would continue without Todd. Additionally, they announced that they had started writing and recording songs for a new record.
From August 2, 2011 until August 11, 2011, Sanchez posted (via his Twitter account) cryptic videos of random music and scenes. Ten total videos were posted, the final accompanied with the message "End Transmission."
On August 25, 2011, it was revealed that Coheed and Cambria would be recording a cover of ZZ Top
's song, Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers.
The band announced on September 6, 2011 that a new song called "Deranged" would be appearing on the soundtrack for the videogame Batman: Arkham City.
On the 11th of November, 2011, Claudio Sanchez tweeted a returning video for the cryptic videos series with "Eleven" with a message saying "Transmitting". This video also mentioned that the date was 11.11.11 and told the audience to "Make a Wish", also having a character play Coheed & Cambria's "theme tune" that has appeared on every one of their albums.
On November 2, 2011, Chris Pennie departed the band by mutual agreement due to creative differences.
On November 16, 2011, the band announced they had reunited with former drummer, Josh Eppard
and were in the studio recording their sixth album and that they are currently "3 songs in".
, Pink Floyd
, The Police
, Misfits, Queen
, and Thin Lizzy
. Apart from these roots in classic rock
, Sanchez also acknowledges an eclectic array of influences, including post-hardcore
group At the Drive-In
, and heavy metal
pioneers Iron Maiden
. Contrary to rumors, bassist Michael Todd said the band was not influenced by Saga
and that he had never heard of that group. Many draw similarities between Rush
and Coheed and Cambria, but Josh Eppard stated in an interview that neither he nor the other band members were Rush fans or influenced by Rush. They began listening to Rush after their second album. Influences of punk rock
have been cited as well, especially the Misfits and Bad Brains
. Dr. Know of Bad Brains
plays a guitar solo on the track "Time Consumer" from Second Stage Turbine Blade. Sanchez and Stever's early band Toxic Parents drew many similarities from Jane's Addiction
and Misfits. Sanchez has stated that The Amory Wars
, the story on which Coheed and Cambria base its lyrics, has similarities to other stories, especially to the Star Wars trilogy. For example, when the character Coheed returns home to his wife Cambria, she says, "Somehow I’ve always known," a line that Princess Leia said to Luke Skywalker
in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
.
by Equal Vision, Spin
, and Allmusic. Songs such as "Blood Red Summer" and "Three Evils (Embodied in Love and Shadow)" have been noted in many reviews of the band to also contain several elements of pop, as exemplified by one review by Sputnikmusic
, which says "Coheed and Cambria manage to bring new life to a dying genre, and mix up the standard pop-punk scheme with creative and original riffs." The band has also been described as new prog
.
with
Former
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band from Nyack, New York. Formed in 1995, the group incorporates aspects of progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
, punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
and post-hardcore
Post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a genre of music that developed from hardcore punk, itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. Like post-punk, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups...
.
All of Coheed and Cambria's albums are concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
s that reveal a science fiction storyline called The Amory Wars
The Amory Wars
The Amory Wars, originally entitled The Bag.On.Line Adventures, is an ongoing series of comic books written by Coheed and Cambria frontman Claudio Sanchez and published by Evil Ink Comics. The story of The Amory Wars is also the focus of the band's music...
, a story written by lead singer Claudio Sanchez
Claudio Sanchez
Claudio Paul Sanchez is an American writer and musician best known for being the lead singer and guitarist for the alternative/progressive rock group Coheed and Cambria. He is also the creator of the comic book series, The Amory Wars and Kill Audio, co-written with wife Chondra Echert...
, 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
Neverender
Neverender is a four-night concert series performed by Coheed and Cambria. It took place in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and London, and consists of one of the band's four studio albums being played in full each night, telling the story of the concept in sequence according to each album...
, during which they played their first four studio albums in succession. Their fifth studio album, Year of the Black Rainbow
Year of the Black Rainbow
Year of the Black Rainbow is the fifth studio album by American progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria, released on April 13, 2010 on Columbia. The album is a prequel to the band's previous four concept albums, which comprise The Amory Wars narrative. Year of the Black Rainbow marks drummer Chris...
, which is a prequel to the series, was released on April 13, 2010.
Shabütie (1995–2001)
In March 1995, after the split of Claudio SanchezClaudio Sanchez
Claudio Paul Sanchez is an American writer and musician best known for being the lead singer and guitarist for the alternative/progressive rock group Coheed and Cambria. He is also the creator of the comic book series, The Amory Wars and Kill Audio, co-written with wife Chondra Echert...
and Travis Stever
Travis Stever
Travis Stever is the lead/rhythm guitarist for Coheed and Cambria, a progressive rock band from New York.-Shabűtie:Travis joined the band Shabűtie in 1995 along with vocalist/guitarist Claudio Sanchez, bassist Jon Carleo, and drummer Nate Kelley. After an argument over gas money the band split up,...
's band called Toxic Parents, they formed a band with Nate Kelley
Nate Kelley
Nate Kelley was the original drummer and backing vocalist for the progressive rock band Shabutie . Kelley, along with Claudio Sanchez, Travis Stever and Jon Carleo formed the band Beautiful Loser in 1995, which later became Shabutie after Stever left. Kelley left Shabutie in February 2000...
called Beautiful Loser. The band featured Stever on vocals and guitar, Sanchez on guitar, Kelley on drums and Jon Carleo on bass. The group was short-lived, breaking up by June 1995 after an argument over gas money. Stever left the band, and the resulting trio was named Shabütie, a word taken from African tribe chants that means "naked prey" in the film The Naked Prey
The Naked Prey
The Naked Prey is a 1966 adventure film starring Cornel Wilde, who also directed and produced. It was released by Paramount Pictures. Set in the South African veld, the film is a wilderness survival story loosely based on the experiences of explorer John Colter, who was pursued by Blackfoot...
.
The band spent nearly a year experimenting with a multitude of different musical styles, including punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
, acoustic rock, funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
, and heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
. When Carleo left the band in August 1996, Kelley recruited Michael Todd
Michael Todd (musician)
Michael Todd or Mic Todd was the bassist for progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria. Todd left the band in August 2006 because of personal issues, but officially rejoined the group on April 25, 2007. Upon the time of his initial departure, he had been with the band for ten years. He officially...
to take his place. Todd, who was primarily a guitarist, picked up the bass specifically for Shabütie. As Shabütie, the band wrote dozens of songs and released their first studio demo Plan to Take Over the World
Plan to Take Over the World
Plan to Take Over the World was the first EP released by the band Shabütie in 1999. It features the extra songs that were on the pre-release track listing for the The Penelope EP.-Track listing:...
in 1999. The band also released The Penelope EP
The Penelope EP
The Penelope EP is an EP by Shabutie, released in 1999.The second EP by Shabutie features five songs played by the band back in the late 1990s. Penelope is one of the two Shabutie EPs with songs not repeated or played as Coheed and Cambria...
in 1999, shortly after which Stever rejoined the band.
Kelley left the band during a performance in late 1999, and Josh Eppard
Josh Eppard
Josh Eppard is an American musician from Kingston New York and the drummer for progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria. He has worked as a solo rapper under the name Weerd Science and was the drummer for supergroup rock band Terrible Things...
, then of the band 3
3 (band)
3, also known as Three, is an American hybrid band formed in Woodstock, New York in the early 90s.-History:...
, replaced him. The band went on to release Delirium Trigger in 2000, still featuring Kelley on the drums, but listing Eppard in the liner notes.
Starting out (2001–2006)
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
comics written by Claudio Sanchez called The Bag.On.Line Adventures, which was later renamed The Amory Wars
The Amory Wars
The Amory Wars, originally entitled The Bag.On.Line Adventures, is an ongoing series of comic books written by Coheed and Cambria frontman Claudio Sanchez and published by Evil Ink Comics. The story of The Amory Wars is also the focus of the band's music...
. Sanchez's side project originally developed during a 1998 trip to Paris, where the band members decided to rename themselves Coheed and Cambria, named after two of the story's protagonists, and adopted the concept story as a theme that would unify their future albums. This side project also created Coheed's official logo, the Keywork, a symbol for the planetary alignment of the Amory Wars
The Amory Wars
The Amory Wars, originally entitled The Bag.On.Line Adventures, is an ongoing series of comic books written by Coheed and Cambria frontman Claudio Sanchez and published by Evil Ink Comics. The story of The Amory Wars is also the focus of the band's music...
universe.
In February 2002 the band released its first studio album The Second Stage Turbine Blade
The Second Stage Turbine Blade
The Second Stage Turbine Blade is the first studio album released by rock band Coheed and Cambria. It was originally released on February 5, 2002 through Equal Vision Records. It is the second part of a five-part pentalogy, telling the story of The Amory Wars...
after signing with Equal Vision Records
Equal Vision Records
Equal Vision Records is a record label based in Albany, New York, which has a focus in metal or punk-based rock genres. Equal Vision Records was founded in the early 1990s by Ray Cappo ....
. Influenced by the post-hardcore
Post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a genre of music that developed from hardcore punk, itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. Like post-punk, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups...
group At The Drive In, the band's first release also featured a guest appearance from Dr. Know
Dr. Know (guitarist)
Dr. Know is the stage name of Gary Miller, guitarist for Bad Brains, regarded as one of punk rock's most innovative and important bands...
of the hardcore-punk band, Bad Brains
Bad Brains
Bad Brains is an American hardcore punk band formed in Washington, D.C., in 1977. They are widely regarded as among the pioneers of hardcore punk, though the band's members objected to this term to describe their music. They are also an adept reggae band, while later recordings featured elements of...
, as well as the revised "Delirium Trigger", "33", and "Junesong Provision" from the Delirium Trigger EP. The band also released its first single and music video, "Devil in Jersey City
Devil in Jersey City
"Devil in Jersey City" is a song by rock band Coheed and Cambria from their 2002 album The Second Stage Turbine Blade.-Music video:The music video features the band in an abandoned space station playing while switching with scenes that correspond with the lyrics. There are scenes of a mysterious...
". The band eventually played several tour dates in the United States and Japan, as well as a brief stint on the 2002 Vans
Vans
Vans is an American based manufacturer of sneakers, skateboarding shoes, BMX shoes, snowboarding boots and other shoe types.- History :On March 16, 1966, at 704 E. Broadway, in Anaheim, California, brothers Paul Van Doren, James Van Doren, and three other partners opened up their first store...
Warped Tour
Warped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
. In August 2002, Coheed and Cambria started working with manager
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
Blaze James, who would help propel the band to larger stages and a wider fan base.
Following extensive touring with groups Breaking Pangaea
Breaking Pangaea
Breaking Pangaea was an emo/indie rock band from Philadelphia, PA. The band gained a small but passionate following from early 2000 to 2003, especially among college students....
, Linkin Park
Linkin Park
Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the band rose to international fame with their debut album, Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-platinum in several other countries...
, The Used
The Used
The Used is an American rock band from Orem, Utah. The band was founded in 2001 and signed to Reprise Records the same year. They rose to fame in June 2002 after releasing their self-titled debut album. They followed up with their second album, In Love and Death, in September 2004 and their third...
, and Slipknot
Slipknot (band)
Slipknot is an American heavy metal band from Des Moines, Iowa. Formed in 1995, the group was founded by percussionist Shawn Crahan and bassist Paul Gray...
, in October 2003 the band released its second studio album In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth:3, also on Equal Vision Records. Featuring the singles "A Favor House Atlantic
A Favor House Atlantic
"A Favor House Atlantic" is a song by rock band Coheed and Cambria from their 2003 album In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3.The song was one of Coheed and Cambria's breakout singles. It features the characters Claudio and Al the Killer, and is part of the sci-fi saga that is present in all of...
" and "Blood Red Summer
Blood Red Summer
"Blood Red Summer" is the second single and sixth track from Coheed and Cambria's second studio album, In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3. A video was recorded and received irregular airplay on MTV, MTV2, and FUSE...
" and corresponding videos which received airtime on MTV, the band supplemented the release by touring with various artists such as Thursday
Thursday (band)
Thursday were an American rock band from New Brunswick, New Jersey. Formed in 1997, the group has released six full-length albums, their most recent being No Devolución, which was released in April 2011 on Epitaph Records...
, Thrice
Thrice
Thrice is an American rock band from Irvine, California, formed in 1998. The group was founded by guitarist/vocalist Dustin Kensrue and guitarist Teppei Teranishi while they were in high school....
, AFI
AFI (band)
AFI is an American alternative rock band from Ukiah, California that formed in 1991. They have consisted of the same lineup since 1998: lead vocalist Davey Havok, drummer and backup vocalist Adam Carson, with bassist Hunter Burgan and guitarist Jade Puget, who both play keyboard and contribute...
, and Rainer Maria
Rainer Maria
Rainer Maria was an indie rock/emo band originally from Madison, Wisconsin, later residing in Brooklyn, New York. Named after the German-language poet Rainer Maria Rilke, they formed in the late summer of 1995 and released five full length albums, a live DVD, numerous live recordings, and EPs...
. Coheed and Cambria also made its second appearance on the Warped Tour
Warped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
and performed additional European shows. The album peaked at #52 on the Billboard charts and was certified Gold by the RIAA. The band also supported the release by filming an August 2004 concert at New Jersey's Starland Ballroom
Starland Ballroom
The Starland Ballroom is a concert venue located in Sayreville, New Jersey, USA. Opening night was December 7, 2003 and featured a performance by former Van Halen lead singer David Lee Roth...
. The performance was converted into the band's first live DVD, Live at the Starland Ballroom
Live at the Starland Ballroom
Live at The Starland Ballroom is a double DVD/CD from rock quartet Coheed and Cambria, released on March 22, 2005. The concert was filmed August 20, 2004 at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey. The New York City radio station, 92.3 K-Rock put on the show and sold tickets for 92 cents...
, which was released in March 2005.
The success of In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 attracted the attention of the record label Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
, with whom they signed a multi-album contract. The band stopped touring to record their third studio album and first major-label release Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness
Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness
Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness is the third studio album by prog quartet Coheed and Cambria. It was released on September 20, 2005...
in early 2005 for a September 2005 release.
Their most commercially successful album to date, Good Apollo Volume One has sold almost 1 million copies and peaked at #7 on the Billboard charts. The album represented a departure from their previous melodic post-hardcore
Post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a genre of music that developed from hardcore punk, itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. Like post-punk, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups...
influenced rock toward a progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
sound. The single "Welcome Home" was described by John A. Hanson as "a heavily Led Zeppelin-influenced metal tune". The band supported the album with American and European tours accompanied by The Blood Brothers, Circa Survive
Circa Survive
Circa Survive is an American alternative rock band from the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania suburb of Doylestown, formed in 2004. The band consists of vocalist Anthony Green, former singer of Saosin and members of the now-defunct This Day Forward....
, Dredg
Dredg
Dredg is an American rock group formed in 1993 in Los Gatos, California. The band consists of vocalist Gavin Hayes, guitarist Mark Engles, bassist Drew Roulette and drummer Dino Campanella....
, Head Automatica
Head Automatica
Head Automatica is a Dance Rock band, formed by Glassjaw frontman Daryl Palumbo with Jarvis Holden, formerly of Give Up the Ghost or American Nightmare, Jim Greer, and Brandon Arnovick.-History:...
, and Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold is an American heavy metal band from Huntington Beach, California. Formed in 1999, the group consists of vocalist M. Shadows, lead guitarist Synyster Gates, rhythm guitarist Zacky Vengeance, bassist Johnny Christ....
, tours culminating in the release of the exclusive iTunes EP Kerrang!/XFM UK Acoustic Sessions and their second live DVD The Last Supper: Live at Hammerstein Ballroom
The Last Supper: Live at Hammerstein Ballroom
The Last Supper: Live at Hammerstein Ballroom, a concert DVD from rock band Coheed and Cambria was released on Tuesday, October 31, 2006. This DVD captured Coheed's entire performance at Hammerstein Ballroom on May 20, 2006 and has many extras including band and fan interviews, pre-show band...
.
Departures and No World for Tomorrow (2006–2009)
The Prize Fighter Inferno
The Prize Fighter Inferno is an acoustic/electronica solo project of Claudio Sanchez, the lead singer and lead/rhythm guitarist for the band Coheed and Cambria. The first album, called My Brother's Blood Machine was released on October 31, 2006 through indie label Equal Vision Records...
in October 2006 titled My Brother's Blood Machine
My Brother's Blood Machine
My Brother's Blood Machine is the first solo album by the lead singer of Coheed and Cambria, Claudio Sanchez and was released on October 31, 2006...
. Like Coheed and Cambria's albums, it was a concept album, related to Coheed and Cambria via a character that appears in both stories: Jesse, "The Prize Fighter Inferno". The album was intended to be a prequel to the Coheed and Cambria albums. Claudio says "when we were called Shabütie, the initial idea for Coheed and Cambria was to be an acoustic/electronic side project. So I guess The Prize Fighter Inferno is kind of the original idea for Coheed and Cambria."
In early November 2006, Josh Eppard and Michael Todd left the band for personal reasons, forcing Matt Williams and the band's drum technician, Michael Petrak, to fill out temporarily the band's rhythm section for a handful of shows. In April 2007, bassist Michael Todd rejoined Coheed and Cambria, and the band entered the Los Angeles-based studio with new producer Nick Raskulinecz
Nick Raskulinecz
Nick Raskulinecz is a Grammy-winning American record producer. He resides in Nashville, Tennessee.-Production career:Raskulinecz is from the Bearden area of Knoxville, Tennessee. He first produced and recorded bands in Knoxville on a 8-track recorder that his grandfather bought for him...
. The following June Chris Pennie
Chris Pennie
Chris Pennie is the former drummer for the progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria and former drummer and co-founder of mathcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan.-Background:...
, formerly of the Dillinger Escape Plan, joined Coheed and Cambria as its drummer, but due to contractual restrictions with his previous record label, Pennie did not appear on the band's fourth release. Instead, Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
drummer Taylor Hawkins
Taylor Hawkins
Oliver Taylor Hawkins is an American musician, best known as the drummer of the rock band Foo Fighters....
recorded the drums, making use of several ideas Pennie had previously written in correspondence with Sanchez.
The band's fourth studio album, and second release with Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
, Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow
Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow
Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow, often shortened to No World For Tomorrow, is the fourth studio album by American prog band Coheed and Cambria, released on October 23, 2007. The album is a direct sequel to their previous album, Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV,...
, was released in October 2007, debuting at number 6 on the Billboard charts. The album's first single, "The Running Free", was released to radio in August 2007. The second single was "Feathers" with a video starring Rena Riffel
Rena Riffel
Rena Riffel is an American actress, singer, dancer, model, writer, producer, and director. She is best known for her supporting roles in films such as Showgirls, Striptease, and Mulholland Drive.-Childhood and early career:...
. The band has continued touring, headlining portions of the 2007 Warped Tour
Warped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
, a tour supported by Clutch
Clutch (band)
Clutch is an American rock band from Germantown, Maryland, formed in 1990. The band's first release was an EP entitled Pitchfork, which debuted in October 1990. Their first studio album, Transnational Speedway League, was released three years later in 1993. To date, Clutch has released nine studio...
and The Fall of Troy
The Fall of Troy
The Fall of Troy was an American progressive math rock trio from Mukilteo, Washington. The trio consisted of Thomas Erak , Andrew Forsman and Frank Ene...
, and opened for Linkin Park
Linkin Park
Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the band rose to international fame with their debut album, Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-platinum in several other countries...
's 25-city U.S. tour, which forced the cancellation of Coheed and Cambria's performances on Australia's Soundwave Festival
Soundwave Festival
Soundwave Festival, held every year at the Scarborough Spa Ocean Room, Scarborough, UK, is a music and arts festival created by the DIY Collective, a group of young people from around the Scarborough area. It was first held in 1999 on South Bay Beach, Scarborough and was moved to the Spa Complex...
. In addition to the return of Todd on bass and new drummer Pennie, the band also recruited a touring keyboardist and backup vocalists for its live performances.
In November 2007, their song "Welcome Home" was included as a playable track in the video game Rock Band, and a cover of their song "Ten Speed (of God's Blood & Burial)
Ten Speed (of God's Blood & Burial)
"Ten Speed " is a song by rock band Coheed and Cambria from their 2005 album Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness. It is the third single from the album...
" was later made available as a download for Rock Band. In 2009 two more songs were made available for download, "The Running Free" and "A Favor House Atlantic", for the video game Rock Band, later joined in 2010 by the songs "Guns of Summer", "Here We Are Juggernaut" and "The Broken".
The band prepared a four-month world tour beginning in January 2008. They later headlined at The Bamboozle 2008
The Bamboozle
The Bamboozle is an annual rain-or-shine, three-day music festival held in New Jersey. Every year, new bands compete for spots during the two days. The event evolved out of the Skate and Surf Festival.- The Characters:...
music festival.
The band headlined the 2008 Kerrang!
Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
Tour in the U.K., where the band performed and recorded a cover of "The Trooper" by Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
, which is featured on Kerrang!'s Iron Maiden tribute album, Maiden Heaven, that came with the July 16 issue. They were nominated for Best International Band and Best Music Video (for Feathers) in the 2008 Kerrang! Awards.
In October and November 2008, the band played at Neverender
Neverender
Neverender is a four-night concert series performed by Coheed and Cambria. It took place in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and London, and consists of one of the band's four studio albums being played in full each night, telling the story of the concept in sequence according to each album...
, a four-night concert series in which the band played one album per night. The event was held in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and in London in early December. Neverender: Children of The Fence Edition
Neverender: Children of The Fence Edition
Neverender: Children of the Fence Edition is a live CD/DVD box set by rock band Coheed and Cambria that was released on March 24, 2009. It contains five DVDs and four CDs featuring live footage of the concert series Neverender and audio from each night. In addition, a fifth disc features a...
, a CD/DVD box set of their Neverender performance, was released on March 24, 2009.
In 2009 the song "Welcome Home" was also used in the trailer for the animated movie 9.
Year of the Black Rainbow (2009-2011)
Coheed and Cambria toured through most of early 2009. Between January and March, they toured with SlipknotSlipknot (band)
Slipknot is an American heavy metal band from Des Moines, Iowa. Formed in 1995, the group was founded by percussionist Shawn Crahan and bassist Paul Gray...
and Trivium
Trivium (band)
Trivium is an American heavy metal band from Orlando, Florida, formed in 1999. Signed to Roadrunner Records, the band has released five studio albums, eleven singles, and twelve music videos...
on the Slipknot-headlined All Hope Is Gone tour. In August 2009, Coheed and Cambria toured in support of Heaven & Hell on their tour in support of The Devil You Know. On September 16, 2009, they performed at the Puyallup Fair alongside Brand New and Jaguar Love. In October they performed at the Austin City Limits Music Festival
Austin City Limits Music Festival
The Austin City Limits Music Festival is an annual three-day American music festival that takes place in Austin, Texas at the city's central public park, Zilker Park...
in Austin, Texas. They also performed at the Wacken Open Air
Wacken Open Air
Wacken Open Air is a summer open air heavy metal music festival. It takes place annually in the small town of Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany...
festival, at the UK leg of the Sonisphere Festival
Sonisphere Festival
The Sonisphere Festival is a touring music festival which takes place across Europe between June and August. The festival is owned by John Jackson and Kilimanjaro Live. It is jointly-promoted by K2 and Kilimanjaro Live...
tour, and at the Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
festival in Chicago.
Coheed and Cambria has recently finished their fifth studio album Year of the Black Rainbow
Year of the Black Rainbow
Year of the Black Rainbow is the fifth studio album by American progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria, released on April 13, 2010 on Columbia. The album is a prequel to the band's previous four concept albums, which comprise The Amory Wars narrative. Year of the Black Rainbow marks drummer Chris...
. It is a prequel to their conceptual story, having events that take place before The Second Stage Turbine Blade. A novel was released to accompany the album co-written by Sanchez and Peter David
Peter David
Peter Allen David , often abbreviated PAD, is an American writer of comic books, novels, television, movies and video games...
. This novel is currently only available with the special edition of the album, or can be bought on its own directly from the band's merchandise tables on their 2010 tour.
The second track from the new album, "The Broken", was released on iTunes on February 9, 2010. "Here We Are Juggernaut
Here We Are Juggernaut
"Here We Are Juggernaut" is the first single from the Coheed and Cambria album Year of the Black Rainbow. The song was released for streaming on the band's Myspace on March 4, 2010. It was made available for purchase on March 9, 2010. It was made available as downloadable content for the music...
" became available for streaming on MySpace on March 4, 2010 and became available to purchase through iTunes on March 9, 2010. On April 7, the entire album became available for streaming on Myspace. The album was released on April 13 in both a standard, iTunes special, and deluxe edition (with the deluxe edition including the "Year of the Black Rainbow" novel and a special Year of the Black Rainbow "Black Card" that provides the holder early access to some Coheed shows.)
"The Broken", "Guns of Summer" and "Here We Are Juggernaut" were released on the Rock Band music store on April 20, 2010.
Sanchez recently stated that with the Coheed and Cambria saga completely chronicled on the group's first five albums, he has been contemplating the direction of future releases. "I've thought of telling stories of the future and stories of the past, maybe getting involved more in the story of Cyrus Amory (sic - Sirius Amory in the stories), the fellow who figured out the value of the Keywork," he said. "Or even stories that kind of parallel the one that we’re telling. It’s kind of up in the air. I’ve started writing music for that next record, and I'm kind of hoping that maybe in doing that it's going to tell me which one to do.”
On July 10, 2011, bassist Michael Todd was arrested and taken into police custody in Attleboro, Massachusetts
Attleboro, Massachusetts
Attleboro is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States and is immediately north of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Once known as "The Jewelry Capital of the World" for its many jewelry manufacturers, Attleboro had a population of 42,068 at the 2000 census, and a population of 43,645 as of...
on charges of armed robbery. Wes Styles
Wes Styles
Wes Styles is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer, earned his stage name by playing several different "styles" of music...
will act as a temporary replacement for the remaining dates. On August 4th, 2011, the band announced through their tumblr
Tumblr
Tumblr is a website and microblogging platform that allows users to post text, images, videos, links, quotes and audio to their tumblelog, a short-form blog. Users can follow other users, or choose to make their tumblelog private. The service emphasizes ease of use. The site ranks as the 10th...
account they and Mic Todd mutually agreed that the band would continue without Todd. Additionally, they announced that they had started writing and recording songs for a new record.
From August 2, 2011 until August 11, 2011, Sanchez posted (via his Twitter account) cryptic videos of random music and scenes. Ten total videos were posted, the final accompanied with the message "End Transmission."
On August 25, 2011, it was revealed that Coheed and Cambria would be recording a cover of ZZ Top
ZZ Top
ZZ Top is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based boogie rock, has come to incorporate elements of arena, southern, and boogie rock. The band, from Houston Texas, formed in 1969...
's song, Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers.
The band announced on September 6, 2011 that a new song called "Deranged" would be appearing on the soundtrack for the videogame Batman: Arkham City.
On the 11th of November, 2011, Claudio Sanchez tweeted a returning video for the cryptic videos series with "Eleven" with a message saying "Transmitting". This video also mentioned that the date was 11.11.11 and told the audience to "Make a Wish", also having a character play Coheed & Cambria's "theme tune" that has appeared on every one of their albums.
New album and lineup changes (2011-onward)
Claudio announced at New York Comic Con in "Radio.com" that the upcoming album is written and that the recordings will begin in November 2011. "We will be staying within the world of the Amory Wars and go further into the past. Fans should be excited who of the characters we have picked to follow in this prequel saga… I will say that it will hint and influence the pre-existing saga, and that it is all related.”On November 2, 2011, Chris Pennie departed the band by mutual agreement due to creative differences.
On November 16, 2011, the band announced they had reunited with former drummer, Josh Eppard
Josh Eppard
Josh Eppard is an American musician from Kingston New York and the drummer for progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria. He has worked as a solo rapper under the name Weerd Science and was the drummer for supergroup rock band Terrible Things...
and were in the studio recording their sixth album and that they are currently "3 songs in".
Musical style and influences
Sanchez has several times stated he is envious of his father's era of music, and that the band is influenced by groups of that era, such as Led ZeppelinLed Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
, Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
, The Police
The Police
The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For the vast majority of their history, the band consisted of Sting , Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland...
, Misfits, Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
, and Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums...
. Apart from these roots in classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
, Sanchez also acknowledges an eclectic array of influences, including post-hardcore
Post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a genre of music that developed from hardcore punk, itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. Like post-punk, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups...
group At the Drive-In
At the Drive-In
At the Drive-In was an American rock band from El Paso, Texas, considered part of the post-hardcore genre and active from 1993 to 2001. They were known for their extremely energetic stage shows which hearkened back to the 1980s hardcore scene...
, and heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
pioneers Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
. Contrary to rumors, bassist Michael Todd said the band was not influenced by Saga
Saga (band)
Saga is a progressive rock quintet, formed in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. Jim Crichton and Welsh-born vocalist Michael Sadler have been the principal songwriters for Saga. Ian Crichton is the band's guitarist; apart from his work with Saga, he has recorded several solo albums as well as sessions...
and that he had never heard of that group. Many draw similarities between Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
and Coheed and Cambria, but Josh Eppard stated in an interview that neither he nor the other band members were Rush fans or influenced by Rush. They began listening to Rush after their second album. Influences of punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
have been cited as well, especially the Misfits and Bad Brains
Bad Brains
Bad Brains is an American hardcore punk band formed in Washington, D.C., in 1977. They are widely regarded as among the pioneers of hardcore punk, though the band's members objected to this term to describe their music. They are also an adept reggae band, while later recordings featured elements of...
. Dr. Know of Bad Brains
Bad Brains
Bad Brains is an American hardcore punk band formed in Washington, D.C., in 1977. They are widely regarded as among the pioneers of hardcore punk, though the band's members objected to this term to describe their music. They are also an adept reggae band, while later recordings featured elements of...
plays a guitar solo on the track "Time Consumer" from Second Stage Turbine Blade. Sanchez and Stever's early band Toxic Parents drew many similarities from Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction is an American alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985. The band's original line-up featured Perry Farrell , Dave Navarro , Eric Avery and Stephen Perkins . After breaking up in 1991, Jane's Addiction briefly reunited in 1997 and again in 2001, both times...
and Misfits. Sanchez has stated that The Amory Wars
The Amory Wars
The Amory Wars, originally entitled The Bag.On.Line Adventures, is an ongoing series of comic books written by Coheed and Cambria frontman Claudio Sanchez and published by Evil Ink Comics. The story of The Amory Wars is also the focus of the band's music...
, the story on which Coheed and Cambria base its lyrics, has similarities to other stories, especially to the Star Wars trilogy. For example, when the character Coheed returns home to his wife Cambria, she says, "Somehow I’ve always known," a line that Princess Leia said to Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the original film trilogy of the Star Wars franchise, where he is portrayed by Mark Hamill. He is introduced in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, in which he is forced to leave home, and finds himself apprenticed to the Jedi master...
in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi is a 1983 American epic space opera film directed by Richard Marquand and written by George Lucas and Lawrence Kasdan. It is the third film released in the Star Wars saga, and the sixth in terms of the series' internal chronology...
.
Genre
The band's style is described as progressive rockProgressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
by Equal Vision, Spin
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
, and Allmusic. Songs such as "Blood Red Summer" and "Three Evils (Embodied in Love and Shadow)" have been noted in many reviews of the band to also contain several elements of pop, as exemplified by one review by Sputnikmusic
Sputnikmusic
Sputnikmusic, or simply Sputnik, is a music website offering music criticism and music news alongside features commonly associated with wiki-style websites...
, which says "Coheed and Cambria manage to bring new life to a dying genre, and mix up the standard pop-punk scheme with creative and original riffs." The band has also been described as new prog
New prog
New prog is a term used to describe a number of recent alternative rock/experimental bands who incorporate elements from progressive rock.Most notable bands described as new prog include:...
.
Members
Current- Claudio SanchezClaudio SanchezClaudio Paul Sanchez is an American writer and musician best known for being the lead singer and guitarist for the alternative/progressive rock group Coheed and Cambria. He is also the creator of the comic book series, The Amory Wars and Kill Audio, co-written with wife Chondra Echert...
– lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, synthesizer, thereminThereminThe theremin , originally known as the aetherphone/etherophone, thereminophone or termenvox/thereminvox is an early electronic musical instrument controlled without discernible physical contact from the player. It is named after its Russian inventor, Professor Léon Theremin, who patented the device...
, programming (since 1995) - Travis SteverTravis SteverTravis Stever is the lead/rhythm guitarist for Coheed and Cambria, a progressive rock band from New York.-Shabűtie:Travis joined the band Shabűtie in 1995 along with vocalist/guitarist Claudio Sanchez, bassist Jon Carleo, and drummer Nate Kelley. After an argument over gas money the band split up,...
– guitar, lap steel, backing vocals, synthesizer (1995, since 1999) - Josh EppardJosh EppardJosh Eppard is an American musician from Kingston New York and the drummer for progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria. He has worked as a solo rapper under the name Weerd Science and was the drummer for supergroup rock band Terrible Things...
– drums, percussion, backing vocals, keyboards (2000–2006, since 2011)
with
- Wes StylesWes StylesWes Styles is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer, earned his stage name by playing several different "styles" of music...
– keyboards (2007–2010), bass (since 2011)
Former
- Jon Carleo – bass (1995–1996)
- Nate KelleyNate KelleyNate Kelley was the original drummer and backing vocalist for the progressive rock band Shabutie . Kelley, along with Claudio Sanchez, Travis Stever and Jon Carleo formed the band Beautiful Loser in 1995, which later became Shabutie after Stever left. Kelley left Shabutie in February 2000...
– drums, backing vocals percussion (1995–2000) - Michael ToddMichael Todd (musician)Michael Todd or Mic Todd was the bassist for progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria. Todd left the band in August 2006 because of personal issues, but officially rejoined the group on April 25, 2007. Upon the time of his initial departure, he had been with the band for ten years. He officially...
– bass, backing vocals (1996–2006, 2007–2011) - Chris PennieChris PennieChris Pennie is the former drummer for the progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria and former drummer and co-founder of mathcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan.-Background:...
– drums, percussion (2007–2011)
Discography
- The Second Stage Turbine BladeThe Second Stage Turbine BladeThe Second Stage Turbine Blade is the first studio album released by rock band Coheed and Cambria. It was originally released on February 5, 2002 through Equal Vision Records. It is the second part of a five-part pentalogy, telling the story of The Amory Wars...
(2002) - In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3Notes: It is debated whether tracks 7-9 are titled "The Camper Velourium" or "The Velourium Camper." The original CD and most websites list the tracks as "Velourium Camper," but the re-released CD case and the official website both say "Camper Velourium." Claudio referred to the ship that the...
(2003) - Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of MadnessGood Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of MadnessGood Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness is the third studio album by prog quartet Coheed and Cambria. It was released on September 20, 2005...
(2005) - Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for TomorrowGood Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for TomorrowGood Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow, often shortened to No World For Tomorrow, is the fourth studio album by American prog band Coheed and Cambria, released on October 23, 2007. The album is a direct sequel to their previous album, Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV,...
(2007) - Year of the Black RainbowYear of the Black RainbowYear of the Black Rainbow is the fifth studio album by American progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria, released on April 13, 2010 on Columbia. The album is a prequel to the band's previous four concept albums, which comprise The Amory Wars narrative. Year of the Black Rainbow marks drummer Chris...
(2010)
Awards
| Year | Award | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | MTVU Woodie Award | Soundtrack of My Life Woodie (Best Album) (In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 Notes: It is debated whether tracks 7-9 are titled "The Camper Velourium" or "The Velourium Camper." The original CD and most websites list the tracks as "Velourium Camper," but the re-released CD case and the official website both say "Camper Velourium." Claudio referred to the ship that the... ) |
| 2004 | MTVU Woodie Award | The Road Woodie (Best Live Performance) |
| 2006 | Metal Hammer Metal Hammer Metal Hammer is a monthly heavy metal music magazine published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing, and in several other countries by different publishers. Metal Hammer articles feature both mainstream bands and more unusual acts from the whole spectrum of heavy metal music... Awards |
Best Album (Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness is the third studio album by prog quartet Coheed and Cambria. It was released on September 20, 2005... ) |
| 2008 | Kerrang! Kerrang! Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper... Awards |
Best Music Video ("Feathers") |
| 2010 | MTV MTV MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs.... Musical March Madness |
Championship Title |