DramaGods
Encyclopedia
DramaGods is a rock
band led by Extreme
guitarist Nuno Bettencourt
.
The band originally started as a solo project from Bettencourt when he released his album Population 1
in 2002. On the album, he recorded all the instruments on most of the tracks. When he decided to go on tour to support the album, he formed a touring band with Joe Pessia on bass guitar, Steve Ferlazzo
on keyboards and back-up vocals, and Kevin Figueiredo
on drums and back-up vocals. In 2004, under the moniker of Population 1, they released an EP
titled Sessions from Room 4
.
In 2005, due to legal issues, Bettencourt dropped the name Population 1 and changed it to DramaGods with the same lineup.
DramaGods released their debut effort in December 2005, available as an import via Victor Entertainment
(Japan). The band then made their record available as a digital download on iTunes
in early 2006. They are currently seeking a record deal for release of their first album under the new name in the U.S.
The band frequently tours in Japan, where they appeared at the Udo Music Festival along with KISS
, Santana
, Jeff Beck
, The Doobie Brothers
, Alice in Chains
, The Pretenders
, Ben Folds Five
, and others in July 2006 shortly after Bettencourt took part in a three-date reunion tour with Extreme
in New England
.
Two members of DramaGods, Nuno Bettencourt and drummer Kevin Figueiredo, were for a short while a part of Satellite Party, Perry Farrell
's latest musical venture. They both quit the band in August 2007. Steve Ferlazzo has also played live with Satellite Party.
Figueiredo joined the reunited Extreme for their latest album Saudades de Rock
and subsequent tours in 2008-09. Bettencourt joined Rihanna
's band as lead guitarist in late 2009 and has been on tour with her since.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band led by Extreme
Extreme (band)
Extreme is an American rock band, headed by frontmen Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencourt, that reached the height of their popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s.Among some of Extreme's musical influences are Queen and Van Halen...
guitarist Nuno Bettencourt
Nuno Bettencourt
Nuno Duarte Gil Mendes Bettencourt is a Portuguese guitarist and singer-songwriter best known for his role as the lead guitarist of the Boston rock band Extreme whose hits include the acoustic ballads "More Than Words" and "Hole Hearted"...
.
The band originally started as a solo project from Bettencourt when he released his album Population 1
Population 1 (album)
Population 1 is the debut album of the project of the same name. The project is led by Nuno Bettencourt, formerly of Extreme. Bettencourt recorded all the instruments in the album....
in 2002. On the album, he recorded all the instruments on most of the tracks. When he decided to go on tour to support the album, he formed a touring band with Joe Pessia on bass guitar, Steve Ferlazzo
Steve Ferlazzo
Stephen Anthony Ferlazzo Jr., better known as Steve Ferlazzo, is an American keyboard player, based in California. After graduating at the Berklee School of Music, he has played with two members of Extreme in their projects after the band broke up: he was the keyboardist for Gary Cherone in his...
on keyboards and back-up vocals, and Kevin Figueiredo
Kevin Figueiredo
Kevin 'kFigg' Figueiredo is an American drummer.Kevin began playing drums at the age of ten, when his grandfather bought him a drum kit. He has studied with jazz drummer Bob Gullotti "The Fringe" and Mike Mangini, whom collectively exposed him to many different approaches to drumming.He has...
on drums and back-up vocals. In 2004, under the moniker of Population 1, they released an EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
titled Sessions from Room 4
Sessions from Room 4
Sessions From Room 4 is an EP released by the band Population 1, led by ex-Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt.-Tracks:All songs written by Bettencourt.# "What U Leave Behind" - 5:53# "Exit" - 4:05# "Nothing But Trouble" - 4:46# "Tragedy" - 3:15...
.
In 2005, due to legal issues, Bettencourt dropped the name Population 1 and changed it to DramaGods with the same lineup.
DramaGods released their debut effort in December 2005, available as an import via Victor Entertainment
Victor Entertainment
is a subsidiary of Japan Victor Company that produces and distributes music, movies and other entertainment products such as anime and television shows in Japan. It was formerly known as...
(Japan). The band then made their record available as a digital download on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
in early 2006. They are currently seeking a record deal for release of their first album under the new name in the U.S.
The band frequently tours in Japan, where they appeared at the Udo Music Festival along with KISS
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
, Santana
Carlos Santana
Carlos Augusto Alves Santana is a Mexican rock guitarist. Santana became famous in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band, Santana, which pioneered rock, salsa and jazz fusion...
, Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
, The Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers are an American rock band. The group has sold over 40 million units worldwide throughout their career. The Doobie Brothers were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004.-Original incarnation:...
, Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. The initial lineup was rounded out by drummer Sean Kinney, and bassist Mike Starr...
, The Pretenders
The Pretenders
The Pretenders are an English rock band formed in Hereford, England in March 1978. The original band consisted of initiator and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde , James Honeyman-Scott , Pete Farndon , and Martin Chambers...
, Ben Folds Five
Ben Folds Five
Ben Folds Five is an alternative rock trio formed in 1993 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The group comprises Ben Folds , Robert Sledge , and Darren Jessee . The group achieved mainstream success in the alternative, indie and pop music scenes...
, and others in July 2006 shortly after Bettencourt took part in a three-date reunion tour with Extreme
Extreme (band)
Extreme is an American rock band, headed by frontmen Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencourt, that reached the height of their popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s.Among some of Extreme's musical influences are Queen and Van Halen...
in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
.
Two members of DramaGods, Nuno Bettencourt and drummer Kevin Figueiredo, were for a short while a part of Satellite Party, Perry Farrell
Perry Farrell
Perry Farrell is the frontman for the alternative rock band Jane's Addiction. Farrell created the touring festival Lollapalooza as a farewell tour for Jane's Addiction in 1991; it has since evolved into an annual destination festival. Farrell continues to produce Lollapalooza with partners William...
's latest musical venture. They both quit the band in August 2007. Steve Ferlazzo has also played live with Satellite Party.
Figueiredo joined the reunited Extreme for their latest album Saudades de Rock
Saudades de Rock
* Track 14 appears only on the European version released by Frontiers Records.* Japanese edition includes bonus track "Mr. Bates " instead of "Americocaine ".- Chart information :-Credits:*Gary Cherone - lead vocals...
and subsequent tours in 2008-09. Bettencourt joined Rihanna
Rihanna
Robyn Rihanna Fenty , better known as simply Rihanna, is a Barbadian recording artist. Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, Rihanna moved to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue a recording career under the guidance of record producer Evan Rogers...
's band as lead guitarist in late 2009 and has been on tour with her since.
Band members
- Nuno BettencourtNuno BettencourtNuno Duarte Gil Mendes Bettencourt is a Portuguese guitarist and singer-songwriter best known for his role as the lead guitarist of the Boston rock band Extreme whose hits include the acoustic ballads "More Than Words" and "Hole Hearted"...
- guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Steve FerlazzoSteve FerlazzoStephen Anthony Ferlazzo Jr., better known as Steve Ferlazzo, is an American keyboard player, based in California. After graduating at the Berklee School of Music, he has played with two members of Extreme in their projects after the band broke up: he was the keyboardist for Gary Cherone in his...
- keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - Joe Pessia - bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Kevin FigueiredoKevin FigueiredoKevin 'kFigg' Figueiredo is an American drummer.Kevin began playing drums at the age of ten, when his grandfather bought him a drum kit. He has studied with jazz drummer Bob Gullotti "The Fringe" and Mike Mangini, whom collectively exposed him to many different approaches to drumming.He has...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
As Population 1
- Population 1Population 1 (album)Population 1 is the debut album of the project of the same name. The project is led by Nuno Bettencourt, formerly of Extreme. Bettencourt recorded all the instruments in the album....
, 2002 - Sessions from Room 4Sessions from Room 4Sessions From Room 4 is an EP released by the band Population 1, led by ex-Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt.-Tracks:All songs written by Bettencourt.# "What U Leave Behind" - 5:53# "Exit" - 4:05# "Nothing But Trouble" - 4:46# "Tragedy" - 3:15...
, 2004 (EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
)