God Fires Man
Encyclopedia
God Fires Man is an American rock band that formed in the summer 2006 in Brooklyn, New York. The band consists of Arthur Shepherd (vocals/guitar), Joseph Grillo (vocals/guitar), John Wilkinson (bass), and Drew Thomas (drums).
, Instruction
, while along with God Fires Man is also currently a member of Gay For Johnny Depp
(using the name Marty Leopard). Joe Grillo has been a member of Garrison
and Instruction
, while he is currently an active member in both Gay For Johnny Depp
(using the name Sid Jagger) and I Hate Our Freedom. John Wilkinson was previously a part of The Symphony Case, who were formed in 2004. Drew Thomas is a current member of the band Bloody Social.
, in which both Arty and Joe were members, and after the duos creation of the band Gay For Johnny Depp
. God Fires Man, whose name started out as “Fires”, released a 5 track EP, following it with a tour in the United Kingdom
in January 2007 with Hundred Reasons
and Kids in Glass Houses
. After God Fires Man toured the UK, they signed a record deal with InDeGoot Recordings, and XTRA Mile
in the UK. They then recorded their debut album, “A Billion Balconies Facing the Sun” with Ethan Dussault (Cave In
, Lot 6) and Brian Virtue (Audioslave
, Deftones
, Jane's Addiction
, Chevelle
)". Subsequent to the albums release in March 2008, God Fires Man went on a US tour with Filter
, while also sharing a stage with acts like Taking Back Sunday
, Thursday
, 65daysofstatic
, and Scott Weiland
. God Fires Man was also named one of iTunes
“Top 10 New Rock Artists” in 2008.
, The Melvins
), and released on Arctic Rodeo Recordings (EU/JP). Swimming against the current of music conformity, Life Like was originally released on vinyl LP
format. On September 22, 2009, Life Like became available for purchase on iTunes
. In October and November 2009, God Fires Man toured in Germany with the Picture Books, which was GFM's first time as a headliner. God Fires Man also played at the 20th anniversary show for the music magazine Visions. At the end of the year, iTunes
named Life Like as one of the best rock albums in 2009 in their “iTunes Rewind 2009”.
in May 2010.
Former bands
The members of God Fires Man have been involved in several bands before GFM’s creation. Arthur Shepherd has been part of Mind Over Matter, Errortype: ElevenErrortype: Eleven
Errortype:11 was a Punk/Indie band formed in New York, USA. Members were: Arthur Shepherd , Phil Hanratty , Adam Marino, Scott Martin , Erik Matheu, Keith Moore, Leroy Getaway, Sammy Siegler, Ti Krek, Steve Sanderson .-History:Errortype:11 were formed in 1997 by ex-members of Mind Over Matter,...
, Instruction
Instruction (band)
Instruction were an alternative rock band that formed in 2002 in Brooklyn, New York. The band consisted of lead vocalist Arthur Shepherd, bassist Adam Marino, lead guitarist Tom Capone and drummer Ti Kreck.-Band history:...
, while along with God Fires Man is also currently a member of Gay For Johnny Depp
Gay for Johnny Depp
Gay for Johnny Depp was a hardcore band formed in New York, USA. Members were: Sid Jagger , Marty Leopard , Chelsea Piers , JJ Samanen...
(using the name Marty Leopard). Joe Grillo has been a member of Garrison
Garrison (band)
Garrison was a post-hardcore/punk band based in Boston, Massachusetts from 1996-2004. Garrison released two full length albums, both on Revelation Records...
and Instruction
Instruction (band)
Instruction were an alternative rock band that formed in 2002 in Brooklyn, New York. The band consisted of lead vocalist Arthur Shepherd, bassist Adam Marino, lead guitarist Tom Capone and drummer Ti Kreck.-Band history:...
, while he is currently an active member in both Gay For Johnny Depp
Gay for Johnny Depp
Gay for Johnny Depp was a hardcore band formed in New York, USA. Members were: Sid Jagger , Marty Leopard , Chelsea Piers , JJ Samanen...
(using the name Sid Jagger) and I Hate Our Freedom. John Wilkinson was previously a part of The Symphony Case, who were formed in 2004. Drew Thomas is a current member of the band Bloody Social.
Formation and debut album
God Fires Man was formed in 2006 following the disbandment of InstructionInstruction (band)
Instruction were an alternative rock band that formed in 2002 in Brooklyn, New York. The band consisted of lead vocalist Arthur Shepherd, bassist Adam Marino, lead guitarist Tom Capone and drummer Ti Kreck.-Band history:...
, in which both Arty and Joe were members, and after the duos creation of the band Gay For Johnny Depp
Gay for Johnny Depp
Gay for Johnny Depp was a hardcore band formed in New York, USA. Members were: Sid Jagger , Marty Leopard , Chelsea Piers , JJ Samanen...
. God Fires Man, whose name started out as “Fires”, released a 5 track EP, following it with a tour in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in January 2007 with Hundred Reasons
Hundred Reasons
Hundred Reasons are an English rock band from Farnborough, Hampshire, composed of Colin Doran , Larry Hibbitt , Andy Gilmour , Andy Bews and Ben Doyle . Originally, the band was signed to Columbia Records in mid April 2001, after fourteen months of near-constant touring...
and Kids in Glass Houses
Kids in Glass Houses
Kids in Glass Houses are a Welsh rock band from Cardiff, and are considered a significant part of the Cardiff music scene. The band's name is inspired by the lyrics "not throwing stones at you anymore" from Glassjaw song "Tip Your Bartender". The band achieved success on the strength of the singles...
. After God Fires Man toured the UK, they signed a record deal with InDeGoot Recordings, and XTRA Mile
Xtra Mile Recordings
Xtra Mile Recordings are an independent record label based in London, United Kingdom. It was founded in 2003 by Charlie Caplowe and they release rock albums and singles...
in the UK. They then recorded their debut album, “A Billion Balconies Facing the Sun” with Ethan Dussault (Cave In
Cave In
Cave In is an American rock band that formed in 1995, in Methuen, Massachusetts. After several members changes in the late 90's, their lineup solidified with the 1998 release of Until Your Heart Stops through Hydra Head Records. Their early albums were prominent releases in the independent...
, Lot 6) and Brian Virtue (Audioslave
Audioslave
Audioslave was an American rock supergroup that formed in Los Angeles, California in 2001. It consisted of former Soundgarden lead singer/rhythm guitarist Chris Cornell and the former instrumentalists of Rage Against the Machine: Tom Morello , Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk...
, Deftones
Deftones
Deftones are an American alternative metal band from Sacramento, California, founded in 1988. The band consists of Chino Moreno , Stephen Carpenter , Chi Cheng , Frank Delgado , and Abe Cunningham . Currently Sergio Vega is standing in on bass while Cheng recovers from a car accident...
, 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...
, Chevelle
Chevelle
Chevelle is an American alternative metal trio that formed in 1995 in Grayslake, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. The band was originally composed of two brothers and a local friend: Pete Loeffler , Sam Loeffler , and Matt Scott . Matt was later replaced by brother Joe Loeffler...
)". Subsequent to the albums release in March 2008, God Fires Man went on a US tour with Filter
Filter (band)
Filter is a rock group formed in 1993 in Cleveland by singer Richard Patrick and guitarist/programmer Brian Liesegang. Filter has released five studio albums, the most recent being The Trouble with Angels, which was released on August 17, 2010....
, while also sharing a stage with acts like Taking Back Sunday
Taking Back Sunday
Taking Back Sunday is a rock band from Long Island, NY, formed in 1999 by guitarist Eddie Reyes. Current members of the band are Adam Lazzara , John Nolan , Eddie Reyes , Shaun Cooper and Mark O'Connell ....
, 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...
, 65daysofstatic
65daysofstatic
65daysofstatic are an instrumental post-rock and math rock band from Sheffield, England comprising Paul Wolinski, Joe Shrewsbury, Rob Jones and Simon Wright...
, and Scott Weiland
Scott Weiland
Scott Weiland is an American musician, lyricist, and vocalist, most notable for his work with Grammy Award-winning rock band Stone Temple Pilots. Weiland is also known for his five-year career with supergroup Velvet Revolver as well as his own solo career...
. God Fires Man was also named one of 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....
“Top 10 New Rock Artists” in 2008.
Life Like
In January 2009, God Fires Man finished their second album titled Life Like for a June 26, 2009 release. Life Like was produced by Alex Newport (At The Drive In, Mars Volta, Death Cab for CutieDeath Cab for Cutie
Death Cab for Cutie is an American alternative rock band formed in Bellingham, Washington in 1997. The band consists of Ben Gibbard , Chris Walla , Nick Harmer and Jason McGerr ....
, The Melvins
The Melvins
The Melvins are an American band that formed in 1983. They usually perform as a trio, but in recent years have performed as a four piece with two drummers. Since 1984, singer and guitarist Buzz Osborne and drummer Dale Crover have been the band's constant members...
), and released on Arctic Rodeo Recordings (EU/JP). Swimming against the current of music conformity, Life Like was originally released on vinyl LP
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
format. On September 22, 2009, Life Like became available for purchase 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 October and November 2009, God Fires Man toured in Germany with the Picture Books, which was GFM's first time as a headliner. God Fires Man also played at the 20th anniversary show for the music magazine Visions. At the end of the year, 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....
named Life Like as one of the best rock albums in 2009 in their “iTunes Rewind 2009”.
Past Shrugs (2005-2009)
Past Shrugs is a compilation album featuring God Fires Man songs from 2005-2009 that were not released on either of the bands two full length studio albums. Past Shrugs features songs from the bands Dark EP along with all of the bonus tracks found on versions of Life Like. Along with those songs, God Fires Man premiers four songs never released. The album was released to iTunesITunes
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 May 2010.
A Billion Balconies Facing the Sun
- "Braille Graffiti"
- "Be Here Forever"
- "The Killer"
- "Happy, Unhappy, Afraid"
- "Heartbreak"
- "Melt Away"
- "Dark"
- "Simple Things"
- "The Shrug"
- "Sermons"
Life Like
- "Kill the Pundits"
- "Archetype"
- "Always Late"
- "Procreating Atheists"
- "Billion Balconies"
- "The Future is Old Obey the Past"
- "Training Bullets"
- "I'm Worth More Dead than Alive"
- "Let 'Em Burn"
Past Shrugs (2005-2009)
- "There's Nothing Left to Underachieve"
- "Bombs"
- "Sorted Backwards"
- "Redefine"
- "The Day I Knew Everything"
- "Transgression"
- "Miracle"
- "Unfold"
- "The Great Wake Up Call"
- "Still?"