Son of Dork
Encyclopedia
Son of Dork were a British
pop punk
band formed by James Bourne
after his previous band, Busted, split in January 2005. The name of the band came from a scene in the movie Problem Child
where the chant "Son of Dork" is used. Their debut single
, "Ticket Outta Loserville
", was released in November 2005, reaching #3 on the UK Singles Chart
. Their second single, "Eddie's Song", reached #10 in January 2006.
and The Stage
and Topper (comic) in order to recruit potential band members for his new project. The members that were chosen had all been involved in bands in the past. Drummer Danny Hall had previously spent ten years with hardcore metal band "Spiral Rocks" and Punk band "Like I Care", whereas guitarist Chris Leonard had been in band "Stamford Amp", the house band on BBC's The Saturday Show
in 2002 and had also toured with acts including Brian McFadden
and Busted. David Williams is now in a Kent based band called Adelaide. Steven Rushton was dividing his time between former band "Mr Cheerful", college studies and a job in Sainsbury's.
Son of Dork released their first single "Ticket Outta Loserville
" which reached number 3 in the UK Charts, followed a few weeks later with their debut album Welcome to Loserville
. Follow-up single "Eddie's Song
" was released in January 2006 and reached number 10 in the UK charts. Son Of Dork then penned their next single "We're Not Alone" for Ant and Dec’s film Alien Autopsy
, although it was never released as a single.
, Army of Freshmen
, and Bowling for Soup
in The Get Happy '07 Tour
. The tours were met with a favourable reception and the band performed a new song originally for the deluxe edition of their Welcome to Loserville album called "Colgate Smile".
The band during most of 2007 went under Bourne's
self-created record company Sic Puppy Records. During this time they headlined The Sic Tour which gave several unsigned bands an opportunity to perform to the public. The gig took place in Shepards Bush Empire on the 24th March and was met with high praise from fans. Son of Dork played several new songs during their stage time such as "What Happened To Your Band?" and "Go Home Monday" as well as old favourites. Shortly after the tour, Bourne announced they were to work on a new album and uploaded a demo on his Myspace called Loser With No Life. Despite this, Son of Dork was slowly disbanding.
Chris Leonard also left the band in October 2007, saying "I've left but to be honest there wasn't really anything to leave. The band wasn't doing anything at all so obviously I wasn't prepared to sit around doing nothing all day when there's so much other stuff I can be doing so I moved on and I'm making new music".
After Leonard's and Williams sudden departure, the Son of Dork went into an unannounced hiatus not performing a live concert or even meeting up in a year. This caused Rushton
to leave the band stating "I didn't pick up a guitar to leave it hanging on a wall gathering dust for two years".
With only two band members remaining, Son of Dork was no more. Despite this, the reading on the official website says "...Son Of Dork is not officially over... " although this has not changed since the split.
which would premier for two exclusive nights in South Hill Park Arts Centre in Bracknell on the 20 and 21 August. The play was met with favourable reviews, and is now signed to tour the West End.
has stated several times that he does wish Son of Dork went further than it did. In March 2010, he tweeted that he did 'miss SOD! Big Time! I'd tour with SOD again. BIG TIME!'. He also stated in an interview that if he was to reform Son of Dork he would only bring back the members who wanted to come back. However, he ended the interview stating it was very unlikely he'd make a new Son of Dork album as he'd rather 'work with Matt Willis
again.'
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...
pop punk
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
band formed by James Bourne
James Bourne
James Elliot Bourne is an English singer-songwriter and co-founder of pop bands Son of Dork and Busted. He is currently pursuing a solo career under the name Future Boy. His albums have sold over six million copies...
after his previous band, Busted, split in January 2005. The name of the band came from a scene in the movie Problem Child
Problem Child (1990 film)
Problem Child is a 1990 American comedy film. It stars John Ritter, Amy Yasbeck, Gilbert Gottfried, Jack Warden, Michael Richards and Michael Oliver. The film was directed by Dennis Dugan.-Plot:...
where the chant "Son of Dork" is used. Their debut single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "Ticket Outta Loserville
Ticket Outta Loserville
"Ticket Outta Loserville" is the lead single from British pop punk band Son of Dork's debut, and only, studio album Welcome to Loserville. Released on November 7, 2005, two weeks prior to the album, the single peaked at #3 on the UK Singles Chart, as well as reaching #15 in Ireland.-Music Video:The...
", was released in November 2005, reaching #3 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. Their second single, "Eddie's Song", reached #10 in January 2006.
Formation
James Bourne placed adverts in publications such as NMENME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
and The Stage
The Stage
The Stage is a weekly British newspaper founded in 1880, available nationally and published on Thursdays. Covering all areas of the entertainment industry but focused primarily on theatre, it contains news, reviews, opinion, features and other items of interest, mainly to those who work within the...
and Topper (comic) in order to recruit potential band members for his new project. The members that were chosen had all been involved in bands in the past. Drummer Danny Hall had previously spent ten years with hardcore metal band "Spiral Rocks" and Punk band "Like I Care", whereas guitarist Chris Leonard had been in band "Stamford Amp", the house band on BBC's The Saturday Show
The Saturday Show (BBC TV series)
The Saturday Show was a BBC children's Saturday morning show that first aired in 2001, replacing the popular Live & Kicking. It had a mix of audience participation, cartoons, games and gunge. Initially it was presented by Dani Behr and Joe Mace. They left in 2002 and were replaced by Fearne Cotton...
in 2002 and had also toured with acts including Brian McFadden
Brian McFadden
Brian Nicholas McFadden , is an Irish singer-songwriter who rose to fame in the late 1990s as a member of the Irish boyband Westlife...
and Busted. David Williams is now in a Kent based band called Adelaide. Steven Rushton was dividing his time between former band "Mr Cheerful", college studies and a job in Sainsbury's.
Welcome to Loserville (2005 - 2006)
In November 20052005 in music
-Events:*During the year 2005, 12 rock music albums scored number 1 in the USA. This was the first time even ten albums have scored number 1 since 1996.-January:...
Son of Dork released their first single "Ticket Outta Loserville
Ticket Outta Loserville
"Ticket Outta Loserville" is the lead single from British pop punk band Son of Dork's debut, and only, studio album Welcome to Loserville. Released on November 7, 2005, two weeks prior to the album, the single peaked at #3 on the UK Singles Chart, as well as reaching #15 in Ireland.-Music Video:The...
" which reached number 3 in the UK Charts, followed a few weeks later with their debut album Welcome to Loserville
Welcome to Loserville
Welcome to Loserville is the debut, and currently only studio album, from British pop punk band Son of Dork. The album was released on November 21, 2005, by Mercury Records. The album was later adapted into a musical by band members James Bourne and Elliot Davis. The show has since been tipped for...
. Follow-up single "Eddie's Song
Eddie's Song
"Eddie's Song" is the second and final single from British pop-punk band Son of Dork's debut, and only, studio album, Welcome to Loserville. Released on January 16, 2006, the single found relative success, peaking at #10 on the UK Singles Chart, as well as reaching #24 in Ireland...
" was released in January 2006 and reached number 10 in the UK charts. Son Of Dork then penned their next single "We're Not Alone" for Ant and Dec’s film Alien Autopsy
Alien Autopsy
Alien Autopsy is a 2006 British comedy film with elements of science fiction, directed by Jonny Campbell. Written by William Davies, it relates the events surrounding the famous "alien autopsy" film promoted by Ray Santilli and stars Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, also known as Ant & Dec...
, although it was never released as a single.
Get Happy Tour and Sic Puppy Records (2007)
On 6 February 2007 Son of Dork toured with WheatusWheatus
Wheatus are an American rock group from Northport, New York. They are known for their 2000 single "Teenage Dirtbag" which was featured in the movie Loser, as well as in the HBO miniseries Generation Kill.-1995-2002: Formation and Wheatus:...
, Army of Freshmen
Army of Freshmen
Army of Freshmen is an independent 6 piece rock band based out of Ventura, California that has played over 1,000 shows in 43 states and 11 countries.-Early Years :...
, and Bowling for Soup
Bowling for Soup
Bowling for Soup is an American pop-punk band which originally formed in Wichita Falls, Texas in 1994...
in The Get Happy '07 Tour
The Get Happy Tour
The Get Happy Tour is a regular concert package tour that has taken place in the United States, the UK and Europe. Co-founded in 2006 by the bands Bowling for Soup and Army of Freshmen, the tour is named after the Bowling For Soup song, “Get Happy.”...
. The tours were met with a favourable reception and the band performed a new song originally for the deluxe edition of their Welcome to Loserville album called "Colgate Smile".
The band during most of 2007 went under Bourne's
James Bourne
James Elliot Bourne is an English singer-songwriter and co-founder of pop bands Son of Dork and Busted. He is currently pursuing a solo career under the name Future Boy. His albums have sold over six million copies...
self-created record company Sic Puppy Records. During this time they headlined The Sic Tour which gave several unsigned bands an opportunity to perform to the public. The gig took place in Shepards Bush Empire on the 24th March and was met with high praise from fans. Son of Dork played several new songs during their stage time such as "What Happened To Your Band?" and "Go Home Monday" as well as old favourites. Shortly after the tour, Bourne announced they were to work on a new album and uploaded a demo on his Myspace called Loser With No Life. Despite this, Son of Dork was slowly disbanding.
Hiatus and 'Split' (2007 - 2008)
After months of speculation of a split, on 11 July 2007 David Williams posted on Son of Dork’s Myspace Page that the band had split. Within hours, however, James confirmed that the band had not split. Dave later announced that he had quit since he didn't want to be in a band that does nothing.Chris Leonard also left the band in October 2007, saying "I've left but to be honest there wasn't really anything to leave. The band wasn't doing anything at all so obviously I wasn't prepared to sit around doing nothing all day when there's so much other stuff I can be doing so I moved on and I'm making new music".
After Leonard's and Williams sudden departure, the Son of Dork went into an unannounced hiatus not performing a live concert or even meeting up in a year. This caused Rushton
Steve Rushton
Steven John Rushton is an English solo artist, and formerly bassist for the pop punk band, Son of Dork.-Biography:...
to leave the band stating "I didn't pick up a guitar to leave it hanging on a wall gathering dust for two years".
With only two band members remaining, Son of Dork was no more. Despite this, the reading on the official website says "...Son Of Dork is not officially over... " although this has not changed since the split.
Loserville: The Musical (2009)
In early 2009, Bourne and fellow play writer Elliot Davies announced a musical play based on Son of Dork's debut album Welcome to LoservilleWelcome to Loserville
Welcome to Loserville is the debut, and currently only studio album, from British pop punk band Son of Dork. The album was released on November 21, 2005, by Mercury Records. The album was later adapted into a musical by band members James Bourne and Elliot Davis. The show has since been tipped for...
which would premier for two exclusive nights in South Hill Park Arts Centre in Bracknell on the 20 and 21 August. The play was met with favourable reviews, and is now signed to tour the West End.
Possible reunion
James BourneJames Bourne
James Elliot Bourne is an English singer-songwriter and co-founder of pop bands Son of Dork and Busted. He is currently pursuing a solo career under the name Future Boy. His albums have sold over six million copies...
has stated several times that he does wish Son of Dork went further than it did. In March 2010, he tweeted that he did 'miss SOD! Big Time! I'd tour with SOD again. BIG TIME!'. He also stated in an interview that if he was to reform Son of Dork he would only bring back the members who wanted to come back. However, he ended the interview stating it was very unlikely he'd make a new Son of Dork album as he'd rather 'work with Matt Willis
Matt Willis
Matthew James Willis is an English singer-songwriter. He found fame as a founding member of the band Busted.- Early years :...
again.'
Members
- James BourneJames BourneJames Elliot Bourne is an English singer-songwriter and co-founder of pop bands Son of Dork and Busted. He is currently pursuing a solo career under the name Future Boy. His albums have sold over six million copies...
- lead vocalist, guitarist - Danny Hall - drummer
- David WilliamsDavid Williams-Musicians:* David Williams , Aboriginal musician and artist* David Williams , Welsh bassist* David Williams , Welsh guitarist and bassist in Son of Dork...
- bassist, guitarist - Chris Leonard - guitarist
- Steve RushtonSteve RushtonSteven John Rushton is an English solo artist, and formerly bassist for the pop punk band, Son of Dork.-Biography:...
- bassist, lead vocals
Tours
- Better Late Than Never Tour 2007 (Headline tour) (Cancelled)
- The Skegness Circular 2007
- Sic Tour 2007 - Headline Act
- Get Happy Tour 2007 (Support for Bowling for SoupBowling for SoupBowling for Soup is an American pop-punk band which originally formed in Wichita Falls, Texas in 1994...
with Army of FreshmenArmy of FreshmenArmy of Freshmen is an independent 6 piece rock band based out of Ventura, California that has played over 1,000 shows in 43 states and 11 countries.-Early Years :...
and WheatusWheatusWheatus are an American rock group from Northport, New York. They are known for their 2000 single "Teenage Dirtbag" which was featured in the movie Loser, as well as in the HBO miniseries Generation Kill.-1995-2002: Formation and Wheatus:...
throughout the UK) - Welcome to Loserville Live Radio Tour 2006
Studio albums
| Year | Album details | Peak positions | Certifications Music recording sales certification Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,... (sales threshold) |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
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| 2005 | Welcome to Loserville Welcome to Loserville Welcome to Loserville is the debut, and currently only studio album, from British pop punk band Son of Dork. The album was released on November 21, 2005, by Mercury Records. The album was later adapted into a musical by band members James Bourne and Elliot Davis. The show has since been tipped for...
|
35 |
British Phonographic Industry The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies... : Gold |
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
IRE Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
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| 2005 | "Ticket Outta Loserville Ticket Outta Loserville "Ticket Outta Loserville" is the lead single from British pop punk band Son of Dork's debut, and only, studio album Welcome to Loserville. Released on November 7, 2005, two weeks prior to the album, the single peaked at #3 on the UK Singles Chart, as well as reaching #15 in Ireland.-Music Video:The... " |
3 | 15 | Welcome to Loserville |
| 2006 | "Eddie's Song Eddie's Song "Eddie's Song" is the second and final single from British pop-punk band Son of Dork's debut, and only, studio album, Welcome to Loserville. Released on January 16, 2006, the single found relative success, peaking at #10 on the UK Singles Chart, as well as reaching #24 in Ireland... " |
10 | 24 | |