Rock n Roll Soldiers
Encyclopedia
The Rock n Roll Soldiers are a rock
band from Eugene, Oregon
. Its members are: Marty Larson-Xu (vocals, guitar), Oliver Brown (drums), and Evan Sernoffsky (bass guitar). Their sound has been described as "skuzzy, sleazy punk tailored for drinking, fighting and tattooing" by MTV News reporter James Montgomery. Larson-Xu himself describes it as high energy old-school rock and roll with a "greater modern sensibility" (Rocket Net Webzine).
The Soldiers are known for their energetic live performances.
) came together to form the band that would one day become the Soldiers. The four friends, just barely out of middle school, were only beginning to learn to play their instruments as the band started to take shape. The name of the band itself came from the name of a Radio Birdman
tour. Larson-Xu explains to MTV.com:
"Our favorite band was Radio Birdman, so we got our name from them," frontman Marty Larson-Xu said. "One of their tours was named Rock 'n' Roll Soldiers, and we were like, 'Yes! That's it!'" (MTV.com)
Once their music began to become popular, the Soldiers began opening for bands like The Donnas and the New Bomb Turks.
Fresh out of high school, Lucas and the rest of the Soldiers parted ways, and the band picked up French guitarist Kevin Sciou, former guitarist of StarrGunn.
They continued touring the West coast, and recorded two EPs; "The High School Sessions EP," and "The Weak Blame the Strong EP." These two EPs were picked up by San Francisco label Gearhead Records, and released only on vinyl. In 2005, with producer Scott Mathews at the helm, the Soldiers signed a deal with Atlantic Records, and Warner Music Group's subsidiary East West released the two EPs as a compilation CD, aptly titled, "The Two EPs". This CD served as their unofficial nationwide debut. As their influence spread, the Soldiers began touring the country, frequently making it out to the East coast. The Soldiers played a series of West coast shows in support of Shooter Jennings, they also toured supporting Kasabian, Less Than Jake, and KillRadio.
The Rock n Roll Soldiers' song "Funny Little Feeling" received national play, being featured in a Verizon wireless commercial, popular television shows such as One Tree Hill
, Smallville
, and Malcolm In The Middle
and several video games including MVP Baseball 2005
, L.A Rush, and Gran Turismo 4
. Their song "Flag Song" is featured in several of Electronic Arts' 2006 video game titles. Their song "Guns Out" is featured in a Payless Shoes commercial. The Soldiers are also featured on the Drive-Thru Records compilation CD "Listen to Bob Dylan: A Tribute Album," in which they covered "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35".
They were featured on episodes of MTV
's You Hear It First and True Life
.
In July 2006, Kevin Sciou left the Soldiers to go play with former StarrGunn band mate Carter Falco. He was replaced by the band's original guitarist, Lucas Gunn.
In June 2006, they released their debut album, So Many Musicians to Kill.
They also announced that the new album would be released in 2008, and that they would soon set out on a tour of Europe.
Their European tour spanned 48 shows in 53 days and went through Spain, France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Italy, Austria, Holland, Belgium, Denmark
Currently the band is on hiatus while the members pursue various side projects.
In a 2005 interview entitled 'Steve Perry: Mother, Father By Mitch Lafon', Mr. Perry was quoted as saying, “There's a band I like. I think they're fun and reckless called The Rock 'N Roll Soldiers. The lead singer is a talented kid called Marty... they're working on a record right now which I think is coming out on Atlantic. I like it – I believe in them.”
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 from Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
. Its members are: Marty Larson-Xu (vocals, guitar), Oliver Brown (drums), and Evan Sernoffsky (bass guitar). Their sound has been described as "skuzzy, sleazy punk tailored for drinking, fighting and tattooing" by MTV News reporter James Montgomery. Larson-Xu himself describes it as high energy old-school rock and roll with a "greater modern sensibility" (Rocket Net Webzine).
The Soldiers are known for their energetic live performances.
Current lineup
- Marty Larson-Xu (Vocals/Guitar)
- Oliver Brown (Drums)
- Evan Sernoffsky (Bass)
- Lucas Gunn (Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals)
Previous members
- Jeremy Briggs (Bass, parted ways to pursue other interests)
- Quinn Brown (lead Guitar, parted ways after passing out on stage at a concert.)
- Kevin Sciou (Replaced Lucas Gunn when he left the band after high school. Left to play in a country band with former Starrgunn bandmate Carter Falco. Replaced by Lucas Gunn.)
History
In 1997, childhood friends Marty, Oliver, Evan, and original guitarist Lucas Gunn (brother of Chris Gunn, guitarist for The HunchesThe Hunches
The Hunches was a garage punk band from Portland, Oregon. The Hunches comprised bass player Sarah Epstein, singer Hart Geldhill, guitarist Chris Gunn, and drummer Ben Spencer. The band's albums were released by In the Red Records, while singles and contributions to compilation albums were...
) came together to form the band that would one day become the Soldiers. The four friends, just barely out of middle school, were only beginning to learn to play their instruments as the band started to take shape. The name of the band itself came from the name of a Radio Birdman
Radio Birdman
Radio Birdman was one of the first punk bands in Australia along with The Saints. Deniz Tek and Rob Younger formed the group in Sydney, Australia in 1974...
tour. Larson-Xu explains to MTV.com:
"Our favorite band was Radio Birdman, so we got our name from them," frontman Marty Larson-Xu said. "One of their tours was named Rock 'n' Roll Soldiers, and we were like, 'Yes! That's it!'" (MTV.com)
Once their music began to become popular, the Soldiers began opening for bands like The Donnas and the New Bomb Turks.
Fresh out of high school, Lucas and the rest of the Soldiers parted ways, and the band picked up French guitarist Kevin Sciou, former guitarist of StarrGunn.
They continued touring the West coast, and recorded two EPs; "The High School Sessions EP," and "The Weak Blame the Strong EP." These two EPs were picked up by San Francisco label Gearhead Records, and released only on vinyl. In 2005, with producer Scott Mathews at the helm, the Soldiers signed a deal with Atlantic Records, and Warner Music Group's subsidiary East West released the two EPs as a compilation CD, aptly titled, "The Two EPs". This CD served as their unofficial nationwide debut. As their influence spread, the Soldiers began touring the country, frequently making it out to the East coast. The Soldiers played a series of West coast shows in support of Shooter Jennings, they also toured supporting Kasabian, Less Than Jake, and KillRadio.
The Rock n Roll Soldiers' song "Funny Little Feeling" received national play, being featured in a Verizon wireless commercial, popular television shows such as One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill (TV series)
One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster...
, Smallville
Smallville (TV series)
Smallville is an American television series developed by writers/producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar based on the DC Comics character Superman, originally created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The television series was initially broadcast by The WB Television Network , premiering on October...
, and Malcolm In The Middle
Malcolm in the Middle
Malcolm in the Middle is an American television sitcom created by Linwood Boomer for the Fox Network. The series was first broadcast on January 9, 2000, and ended its six-and-a-half-year run on May 14, 2006, after seven seasons and 151 episodes...
and several video games including MVP Baseball 2005
MVP Baseball 2005
MVP Baseball 2005 is a baseball video game developed and published by Electronic Arts. It features former Boston Red Sox left fielder Manny Ramirez on its game cover. The game features full Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball, and Major League Baseball Players Association licenses. It...
, L.A Rush, and Gran Turismo 4
Gran Turismo 4
is a racing simulator for the Sony PlayStation 2 which was developed by Polyphony Digital. It was released on December 28, 2004 in Japan and Hong Kong , February 22, 2005 in North America , and March 9, 2005 in Europe , and has since been re-issued under Sony's 'Greatest Hits' line...
. Their song "Flag Song" is featured in several of Electronic Arts' 2006 video game titles. Their song "Guns Out" is featured in a Payless Shoes commercial. The Soldiers are also featured on the Drive-Thru Records compilation CD "Listen to Bob Dylan: A Tribute Album," in which they covered "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35".
They were featured on episodes of 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....
's You Hear It First and True Life
True Life
True Life is a documentary series running on MTV since 1998. Each episode follows a particular topic, such as heroin addiction as in the first episode, "Fatal Dose." The show is created by following a series of subjects by a camera crew through a certain part of their lives.-Topics covered:True...
.
In July 2006, Kevin Sciou left the Soldiers to go play with former StarrGunn band mate Carter Falco. He was replaced by the band's original guitarist, Lucas Gunn.
In June 2006, they released their debut album, So Many Musicians to Kill.
They also announced that the new album would be released in 2008, and that they would soon set out on a tour of Europe.
Their European tour spanned 48 shows in 53 days and went through Spain, France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Italy, Austria, Holland, Belgium, Denmark
Currently the band is on hiatus while the members pursue various side projects.
Albums
- So Many Musicians to Kill (RNRS Records/Beverly Martel, June 2006)
- Upcoming Album (RNRS Records, TBA)
EPs
- The Weak Blame the Strong (Gearhead, 200?)(Vinyl only)
- High School Sessions (Gearhead, 200?)(Vinyl only)
- The Two EPsThe Two EPs (Rock n Roll Soldiers)The Two EPs is the third EP released from the Rock N Roll Soldiers. It was released in April, 2005. The labels on the EP are Atlantic and East West.-Track listing:*1. Anthem - 2:34*2. Funny Little Feeling - 2:48*3. Flag Song - 2:10...
(Atlantic/East West, April 2005)
In a 2005 interview entitled 'Steve Perry: Mother, Father By Mitch Lafon', Mr. Perry was quoted as saying, “There's a band I like. I think they're fun and reckless called The Rock 'N Roll Soldiers. The lead singer is a talented kid called Marty... they're working on a record right now which I think is coming out on Atlantic. I like it – I believe in them.”