Pist.On
Encyclopedia
Pist.On was a heavy metal
band from Brooklyn
, New York
. The band released two albums in the 1990s.
of Type O Negative
. The band's friendship with Type O Negative (also based out of Brooklyn) brought them both help and scorn in subsequent years.
In 1996 the band, now rounded out by Paul Poulos (guitars, backing vocals) and Danny "Jam" Kavadlo (drums), released their first full-length album, Number One
, to critical acclaim in both the United States
and Europe
. Subsequent tours with Type O Negative
and Marilyn Manson
helped improve the band's notoriety. Within a year, they moved from the independent Mayhem/Fierce record label to a major label, Atlantic Records
. Also around this time, Poulos and Kavadlo both left the band.
filling in.
, Marilyn Manson
, the Misfits, and Queensrÿche
, and had energetic new blood in the form of two members. However, the promises and possibilities of this era never panned out, and after a handful of tours and negative reviews, the band was unceremoniously dropped by Atlantic.
EP in the spring of 2001. Despite the optimism brought on by Saves, the core duo of Pist.On broke apart in late August 2001 when bassist Val Ium decided to leave the band as well. Though still not officially broken up, the Pist.On has not released any new material as a band since, although several band members including Henry Font and Jeff McManus have released recordings independently.
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...
band from Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The band released two albums in the 1990s.
Original members
Formed around the core duo of Henry Font (vocals, guitars) and Val.Ium (bass, backing vocals), the band released two demos in the early 1990s, the second of which, Urine the Money, was produced by Josh SilverJosh Silver
Josh Silver was the keyboardist and producer for the band Type O Negative. He joined the band at Peter Steele's request...
of Type O Negative
Type O Negative
Type O Negative was a gothic metal band from Brooklyn, New York City. The band also incorporated elements of doom metal and thrash metal. Their dramatic lyrical emphasis on themes of romance, depression, and death resulted in the nickname "The Drab Four"...
. The band's friendship with Type O Negative (also based out of Brooklyn) brought them both help and scorn in subsequent years.
In 1996 the band, now rounded out by Paul Poulos (guitars, backing vocals) and Danny "Jam" Kavadlo (drums), released their first full-length album, Number One
Number One (Pist.On album)
Number One is the debut album from the heavy metal band Pist.On . It was first released in 1996 by Fierce Recordings/Futurist Label Group, before being repackaged and re-released by Atlantic Records in the following year.-Track listing:...
, to critical acclaim in both the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. Subsequent tours with Type O Negative
Type O Negative
Type O Negative was a gothic metal band from Brooklyn, New York City. The band also incorporated elements of doom metal and thrash metal. Their dramatic lyrical emphasis on themes of romance, depression, and death resulted in the nickname "The Drab Four"...
and Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson (band)
Marilyn Manson is an American metal band from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Formed in 1989 by Brian Warner and Scott Putesky, the group was originally named Marilyn Manson & the Spooky Kids with their uniquely theatrical performances gathering a local cult following in the early '90s. This attention...
helped improve the band's notoriety. Within a year, they moved from the independent Mayhem/Fierce record label to a major label, Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
. Also around this time, Poulos and Kavadlo both left the band.
Second lineup
New members Burton Gans (guitars) and Jeff McManus (drums) joined in time to see an Atlantic rerelease of Number One with new photos, artwork, and, perhaps most obvious of all, spelling; the band's name shifted from "Pist.On" to the "friendlier" spelling "PistOn". The removal of the "." led to criticism that the band had "sold out". Under the guise of their new name and label, the band again toured exhaustively. During this time, drummer Jeff McManus was forced into a brief respite for medical reasons, with Johnny Kelly of Type O NegativeType O Negative
Type O Negative was a gothic metal band from Brooklyn, New York City. The band also incorporated elements of doom metal and thrash metal. Their dramatic lyrical emphasis on themes of romance, depression, and death resulted in the nickname "The Drab Four"...
filling in.
1996-1997
Pist.on's debut album, successful on its face, had been picked up and rereleased by a major label, the band had deep friendships and histories with well-known acts such as Type O NegativeType O Negative
Type O Negative was a gothic metal band from Brooklyn, New York City. The band also incorporated elements of doom metal and thrash metal. Their dramatic lyrical emphasis on themes of romance, depression, and death resulted in the nickname "The Drab Four"...
, Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson (band)
Marilyn Manson is an American metal band from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Formed in 1989 by Brian Warner and Scott Putesky, the group was originally named Marilyn Manson & the Spooky Kids with their uniquely theatrical performances gathering a local cult following in the early '90s. This attention...
, the Misfits, and Queensrÿche
Queensrÿche
thumb|250px|right|Queensrÿche's classic line-up performing at the [[Sauna Open Air Metal Festival]] 2011 in [[Tampere]], [[Finland]]. Left to right: bass Eddie Jackson, lead vocals Geoff Tate, drums Scott Rockenfield and guitars Michael Wilton....
, and had energetic new blood in the form of two members. However, the promises and possibilities of this era never panned out, and after a handful of tours and negative reviews, the band was unceremoniously dropped by Atlantic.
Second release
1999 saw the release of the band's second album, $ell.Out, again through Mayhem Records. The record was described as rife with crooked and spiteful poking at the music industry, the band's former label, the press, and the band itself. The album met with lukewarm reviews and sales, and breakup rumors swirled.Breakup
After the band's second release, drummer Jeff McManus departed from the band, returning briefly to record a 3-song independent SavesSaves (Pist.On EP)
Saves is an EP released by heavy metal band Pist.On. The EP saw limited release in 2001 before the band went on hiatus.-Credits:* Henry Font* Burton Gans* Val Ium* Jeff McManusRecorded at Systems Two Recorders, Brooklyn, New York...
EP in the spring of 2001. Despite the optimism brought on by Saves, the core duo of Pist.On broke apart in late August 2001 when bassist Val Ium decided to leave the band as well. Though still not officially broken up, the Pist.On has not released any new material as a band since, although several band members including Henry Font and Jeff McManus have released recordings independently.
Members
- Henry Font - vocals, guitars
- Val Ium - bass, backing vocals (1993–2001)
- Burton Gans - guitars (1996 - ?)
- Jeff McManus - drums (1996 - ?)
- Paul Poulos - guitars, backing vocals (1993–1996)
- Danny "Jam" Kavadlo - drums (1993–1996)
- Johnny KellyJohnny KellyJohnny Kelly is the former drummer for the gothic metal band Type O Negative from Brooklyn, New York. He is the current drummer for the bands Danzig, and A Pale Horse Named Death.He joined Type O Negative in 1994 to replace Sal Abruscato...
- drums (fill-in)
Discography
- First demo tape (1993, independent)
- Urine the Money demo (1993, independent)
- Number OneNumber One (Pist.On album)Number One is the debut album from the heavy metal band Pist.On . It was first released in 1996 by Fierce Recordings/Futurist Label Group, before being repackaged and re-released by Atlantic Records in the following year.-Track listing:...
(1996, Mayhem/Fierce; rereleased in 1997 by Atlantic Records) - $ell.Out (1999, Mayhem Records)
- SavesSaves (Pist.On EP)Saves is an EP released by heavy metal band Pist.On. The EP saw limited release in 2001 before the band went on hiatus.-Credits:* Henry Font* Burton Gans* Val Ium* Jeff McManusRecorded at Systems Two Recorders, Brooklyn, New York...
EP (2001, independent)
Solo projects in the 2000s
- Henry Font
- SumMerFlu
- Jeff McManus
- Weekends with Dan (released the single Anna Rexia in 2006 which received acclaim in several punk rockPunk rockPunk 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...
publications)
- Weekends with Dan (released the single Anna Rexia in 2006 which received acclaim in several punk rock
Resources
- http://www.myspace.com/pistonnyc - official MySpace page, run by Val.Ium
- http://www.pistonline.com - an unofficial resource on the band
- http://www.pistarmy.com - a collection of Pist.On fans the world over
- http://www.tattudelady.com - ex-bassist Val.Ium's personal website
- http://www.paulpoulos.com - former guitarist Paul Poulos' website