Superdrag
Encyclopedia
Superdrag is an alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...

 band from Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...

. The band had a hit with its 1996 single "Sucked Out" off their album Regretfully Yours, for which a video clip was broadcast regularly on MTV. Of all the bands with "Buzz Bin
Buzz Bin
MTV's Buzz Bin was a select group of music videos by up and coming artists and bands that the network deemed "buzz worthy", "cutting edge", or "the next big thing"...

" videos in the second half of the '90s (the Refreshments, Wax
Wax (rock band)
Wax is a Los Angeles, California based punk rock band that emerged during the pop punk resurgence of the early 1990s, and includes Joe Sib, Tom "Soda" Gardocki, Dave Georgeff, and Loomis Fall. The band is best known for their MTV buzz clip video "California," directed by Spike Jonze.-History:Wax...

, et al.), Superdrag is one of the few to tour consistently until their self-imposed hiatus in 2003.

Early Years (1992-1995)

Superdrag formed in the early 1990s when Knoxville guitar
Guitar
The 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...

 player Brandon Fisher began dating the cousin of John Davis. Davis, a bit younger than Fisher, began playing the drums
Drum kit
A 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 ....

 in Brandon's band, The Used (posthumously renamed The Used to Be for a 2003 rerelease, and not to be confused with the Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...

-based emo
Emo (music)
Emo is a style of rock music characterized by melodic musicianship and expressive, often confessional lyrics. It originated in the mid-1980s hardcore punk movement of Washington, D.C., where it was known as "emotional hardcore" or "emocore" and pioneered by bands such as Rites of Spring and Embrace...

 band), along with Tom Pappas, also Davis's senior by a couple of years.

After a relatively unsuccessful stint under that arrangement, a friend of the band named Don Coffey Jr. overheard Davis play a few songs he had written on the guitar
Guitar
The 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...

 and began playing the drums to them. Soon after, Pappas switched from his guitarist role to become the band's bass player, Fisher resumed on the lead guitar, and Superdrag was born.

Elektra Years (1996-1999)

The band released three vinyl singles and their first CD 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...

, The Fabulous 8-Track Sound of Superdrag in 1995, and after having one of their A-sides
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...

 ("Señorita") on a CMJ comp, soon released their first proper full-length, Regretfully Yours
Regretfully Yours
Regretfully Yours is the thirteen-song major-label debut album released by Superdrag on Elektra Records in 1996. The first single off Regretfully Yours was "Sucked Out", which ironically expressed disdain for the major-label music industry....

in 1996 after attracting the attention of Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....

. Their first single, "Sucked Out," was played frequently on MTV and the radio, but it would be their only mainstream hit; as a result, they were soon classified as a one-hit wonder
One-hit wonder
A one-hit wonder is a person or act known mainly for only a single success. The term is most often used to describe music performers with only one hit single.-Characteristics:...

. The video clip to the single "Destination Ursa Major" on the same album was Superdrag's second and last video to make it to television.

They were, however, given more financial support from Elektra to record their next album—on the condition that they write more radio hits a la "Sucked Out". The product was 1998's Head Trip in Every Key
Head Trip in Every Key
Head Trip in Every Key is the thirteen-song album released by Superdrag on Elektra Records in 1998. It is the follow-up to 1996's success, Regretfully Yours. Elektra did not expect the fully orchestrated "Beatlesque" sound the band conveyed on this album. Elektra then focused its attention and...

, to date their most radio-unfriendly album, chock full of orchestras, pianos
Pianos
Pianos is a two-story bar/restaurant/live music venue in the Lower East Side section of Manhattan at 158 Ludlow Street.Its stage attracts local and national alternative rock groups as well as DJs, though a more typical performance consists of smaller name local and touring acts...

, sitar
Sitar
The 'Tablaman' is a plucked stringed instrument predominantly used in Hindustani classical music, where it has been ubiquitous since the Middle Ages...

s, organs
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...

, and other out-of-the-ordinary instrumentation. It was co-produced (along with the band) by Jerry Finn
Jerry Finn
Jerry Finn was an American record producer. He was perhaps best known for his work with Blink-182, as well as Morrissey, AFI, Bad Religion, Alkaline Trio, MxPx, Rancid, Green Day, Sum 41 and The Offspring.-Death:...

, who would later be successful producing albums for Blink-182
Blink-182
Blink-182 is an American rock band consisting of vocalist and bass guitarist Mark Hoppus, vocalist and guitarist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker. They have sold over 27 million albums worldwide since forming in Poway, California in 1992...

, Alkaline Trio
Alkaline Trio
Alkaline Trio is an American punk rock band that formed in McHenry, Illinois, in 1996. The band's line-up consists of Matt Skiba , Dan Andriano , and Derek Grant...

, and other radio-friendly artists.

It is believed by many that the intent of the band was to go purposely against Elektra's will with the overall sound of the album. Davis himself has admitted that they were taking advantage of the money Elektra provided to them in order to create the best studio album they could regardless of the label's demands for radio hits, knowing that Superdrag would probably never have that kind of funding again. Only one song, "Do the Vampire", received even minimal radio play and, as expected, Elektra Records subsequently cut most of the band's funding. Almost no touring was done in support of the album, and it remains unheard by many, though most die-hard fans consider it to be their greatest release.

The same thing happened to their fellow labelmates Nada Surf
Nada Surf
Nada Surf is an American alternative rock band. Formed in 1992, the New York band consists of Matthew Caws , Ira Elliot and Daniel Lorca .-Early years:...

, with whom they had toured in July 1996
1996 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1996.-January:* January – At the trial of two American teenagers, Nicholaus McDonald and Brian Bassett, for the murder of Bassett's parents and young brother, defense lawyers attempt to lay the blame for the murders on the fact...

, after the release in 1998
1998 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1998.-Events:*January 28 – "Weird Al" Yankovic gets LASIK surgery to cure his myopia...

 of their second LP, The Proximity Effect.

After hearing what Superdrag had in store for their next release (and at the band's request, as well), Elektra dropped the band from their label before they were even finished recording their third full-length album. Pappas left the band to pursue his own career (notably with his three-piece Flesh Vehicle and as a sideman in live performance with Bloodshot
Bloodshot Records
Bloodshot Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois which specializes in roots-inflected indie rock, punk blues, and a Chicago brand of outlaw country...

's Bobby Bare, Jr.
Bobby Bare, Jr.
Bobby Bare, Jr. is an American musician who has recorded several solo albums, along with two albums with his band, Bare, Jr....

), and the band moved back east to sign with Arena Rock Recording Co.
Arena Rock Recording Co.
The Arena Rock Recording Company is an independent record label based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Albums are distributed by Redeye in the United States and Koch in Canada.-History:...

, the New York-based label that put out their "N.A. Kicker" 7" single before Elektra came into the picture (they had also earlier dealt with another indie label, Darla).

Arena Rock Recordings Company Years (2000-2003)

By 2000 they had taken on a new bassist, Sam Powers, and released their third full-length album, In the Valley of Dying Stars
In the Valley of Dying Stars
In the Valley of Dying Stars is a twelve-song album from Superdrag released by Arena Rock Recording Co. in 2000. In the Valley of Dying Stars is the third professionally released full-length record from Superdrag...

, as produced by long-time friend Nick Raskulinecz
Nick Raskulinecz
Nick Raskulinecz is a Grammy-winning American record producer. He resides in Nashville, Tennessee.-Production career:Raskulinecz is from the Bearden area of Knoxville, Tennessee. He first produced and recorded bands in Knoxville on a 8-track recorder that his grandfather bought for him...

 with help from Don Coffey Jr, who was beginning to show a keen interest in life on the other side of the glass. In the Valley of Dying Stars is by far the most emotional and raw of all of their albums; and, musically, in stark contrast to Head Trips diverse instrumentation, Dying Stars kept to the standard rock format: guitar, drums, bass. The emotional core of Dying Stars emanates from the death of Davis's grandfather (his namesake), to whom John had been very close and had admired dearly. Davis' feelings on the record industry also emerged in songs such as "Keep it Close to Me:" "I want rock and roll, but I don't want to deal with the hassle. I know what I know, but I don't want to feel like an asshole."

With the absence of a major label or producer to influence their sound—although Raskulinecz was originally committed to the project, he had just signed on to produce an album for Foo Fighters in Los Angeles—Superdrag continued to evolve at their own pace, and in 2002 Last Call for Vitriol
Last Call for Vitriol
Last Call for Vitriol is the fourth professionally released full-length album by Superdrag, released by Arena Rock Recording Co. in 2002. Bassist Sam Powers decided to leave the band following the tour for Last Call for Vitriol; and during the making of the album, John Davis became a devout...

once again redefined the band's sound. Some of the songs moved toward a heavier, more alternative sound, while others were of pure country-western influence. Brandon Fisher had left the band prior to the release of In the Valley of Dying Stars, and Mic Harrison had eventually taken his place, adding a much more western feel to the guitar style.

Breakup

Davis had turned heavily to alcoholism in prior years and many of his songs were about that very topic. One night, before the release of their last album, while driving to his parents' house, Davis pulled his truck over to pray, feeling that he had finally hit rock-bottom. He described the experience as life-changing, as he stated he felt a definite answer to his prayer. He was able to get away from alcohol, but felt that Superdrag was a mouth-piece for the life he had left behind, and simply didn't feel his heart behind it anymore. Upon completion of touring for Last Call, the band disbanded, playing one last show for Boston's NEMO music industry conference at The Paradise Rock Club on September 5, 2003; the show was documented with a Clear Channel-produced 2-CD release titled "Instant Live: The Paradise."

Solo Projects

Coffey is presently pursuing a career in recording and producing, operating Independent Recorders in Knoxville, TN and organizing an annual multi-day rock festival titled Hottfest, "Donnie Hott" being an inner-circle nickname for the drummer. Powers joined Guided By Voices as a fill-in bassist for their final European tour, returning to his pre-Superdrag job at Sony Music Publishing in Nashville and starting a family; a solo album is in the works from Powers. Harrison remains in Knoxville as a solo artist, often playing live shows with Knoxville rockers The High Score and former bandmate Coffey in his backing band. Pappas plays bass and shares lead vocal duties in the Nashville rock group WHIP!.

Davis, too, is continuing as a performer. Davis released a gospel-influenced, spiritually-centered album—titled John Davis -- in 2005, then switched gears with an aggressive rock album, 2007's Arigato!. He has also become a session musician, most notably with Allison Moorer, which led to European touring and an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He also plays guitar for The Astronaut Pushers, who released its debut album in 2005.

Reunion Tour and New Album (2007-2009)

In July 2007, 6 reunion shows were announced, scheduled for October and November 2007. These shows featured the "original" lineup of Davis, Coffey, Fisher, and Pappas playing mostly from the first two Superdrag LPs, as well as one track from Davis' latest solo album.

In December 2007, two new demo tracks were posted on Superdrag's MySpace page, hinting at a new album in the future.

On January 8, 2008, John Davis announced on the Superdrag news section that the band is reunited indefinitely, stating that "Superdrag's original line-up will reconvene in the recording studio in February to begin work on our first new recording project together since 1998's Head Trip In Every Key." Also revealed was the fact that Superdrag will be co-headlining with Nada Surf on April 11, 2008, at Terminal 5 in NYC.

On March 8, 2008, Superdrag visited Lake Fever Productions in Nashville and recorded 4 songs for the upcoming album with Jason Bullock and Joe Colvert. Two of these new songs are entitled "Filthy & Afraid" and the Tom Pappas sung track "Cheap Poltergeist".

On October 15, 2008, Davis announced a new album, Industry Giants
Industry Giants
Industry Giants is the fifth and most recent album by Superdrag, released March 17, 2009 under the Superdrag Sound Laboratories banner. This is the band's first album since their 2003 hiatus and reformation with the original lineup in 2007...

, which was released on March 17, 2009. After a U.S. tour in the spring of 2009 and other dates later that year, Superdrag again became inactive. Pappas continues with Flesh Vehicle; Davis, Pappas, and Sam Powers play in Warthog, a Ramones tribute band; and Davis is planning a third solo release, as well as a new punk band Epic Ditch. Davis has not ruled out Superdrag reconvening.

Current members

  • John Davis - vocals, guitar (1992–2003, 2007–present)
  • Don Coffey Jr. - drums (1992–2003, 2007–present)
  • Brandon Fisher - guitar (1992–2000, 2007–present)
  • Tom Pappas - bass (1992–1999, 2007–present)

Former members

  • Sam Powers - bass (1999–2003)
  • Mic Harrison - guitar (2001–2003)
  • William "Willie T." Tyler - guitar (2000)

Discography







































































Year Title Label
1995 The Fabulous 8-Track Sound of Superdrag Darla Records
Darla Records
Darla Records is an independent record label founded by James Agren while he was in New York. Darla Record's first release was a 7-inch by Grifters, an indie rock/lo-fi band from Memphis.- Background :...

1996 Regretfully Yours
Regretfully Yours
Regretfully Yours is the thirteen-song major-label debut album released by Superdrag on Elektra Records in 1996. The first single off Regretfully Yours was "Sucked Out", which ironically expressed disdain for the major-label music industry....

Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....

1998 Head Trip in Every Key
Head Trip in Every Key
Head Trip in Every Key is the thirteen-song album released by Superdrag on Elektra Records in 1998. It is the follow-up to 1996's success, Regretfully Yours. Elektra did not expect the fully orchestrated "Beatlesque" sound the band conveyed on this album. Elektra then focused its attention and...

Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....

1998 Stereo "360 Sound" + Seven Inches & Unreleased
Stereo 360 Sound
Stereo "360 Sound" is the self-released debut album by Superdrag. It was originally released exclusively on cassette tape in April of 1994 with just six tracks. It was re-released in 1998 on CD with four additional tracks from out-of-print 7-inch records and other unreleased songs...

Superdrag Sound Laboratories
1999 Señorita EP
Señorita EP
Señorita is a five-song EP from Superdrag released by Darla Records in 1999. All five songs can be found on their previous album, Stereo "360 Sound".-Track listing:#"Señorita" - 3:17#"Cuts and Scars" - 2:07#"H.H.T." - 4:04#"My Prayer" - 2:23...

Darla Records
Darla Records
Darla Records is an independent record label founded by James Agren while he was in New York. Darla Record's first release was a 7-inch by Grifters, an indie rock/lo-fi band from Memphis.- Background :...

2000 In the Valley of Dying Stars
In the Valley of Dying Stars
In the Valley of Dying Stars is a twelve-song album from Superdrag released by Arena Rock Recording Co. in 2000. In the Valley of Dying Stars is the third professionally released full-length record from Superdrag...

Arena Rock Recording Co.
Arena Rock Recording Co.
The Arena Rock Recording Company is an independent record label based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Albums are distributed by Redeye in the United States and Koch in Canada.-History:...

2000 The Rock Soldier CD
The Rock Soldier CD
The Rock Soldier CD is a five-song EP from Superdrag released by the Arena Rock Recording Co. in 2000. The liner notes of the CD includes a message to the listener from John Davis as follows:...

Arena Rock Recording Co.
Arena Rock Recording Co.
The Arena Rock Recording Company is an independent record label based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Albums are distributed by Redeye in the United States and Koch in Canada.-History:...

2001 Greetings from Tennessee
Greetings from Tennessee
Greetings From Tennessee is a ten-song album from Superdrag released by Arena Rock Recording Co. and Two Children Records in 2001. Greetings From Tennessee contained four new songs and six re-recorded songs...

Two Children Records / Arena Rock Recording Co.
Arena Rock Recording Co.
The Arena Rock Recording Company is an independent record label based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Albums are distributed by Redeye in the United States and Koch in Canada.-History:...

2001 The Anniversary/Superdrag Split EP Vagrant Records
Vagrant Records
Vagrant Records is an indie rock label based in Los Angeles, California and is home to such artists as The Hold Steady, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, Active Child, PJ Harvey, Reptar, School of Seven Bells, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Thrice, James Vincent McMorrow, Placebo, and many...

 / Heroes & Villains
2002 Last Call For Vitriol
Last Call for Vitriol
Last Call for Vitriol is the fourth professionally released full-length album by Superdrag, released by Arena Rock Recording Co. in 2002. Bassist Sam Powers decided to leave the band following the tour for Last Call for Vitriol; and during the making of the album, John Davis became a devout...

Arena Rock Recording Co.
Arena Rock Recording Co.
The Arena Rock Recording Company is an independent record label based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Albums are distributed by Redeye in the United States and Koch in Canada.-History:...

2007 Changin' Tires On The Road To Ruin
Changin' Tires on the Road to Ruin
Changin' Tires on the Road to Ruin is a 14-song B-sides/rarities compilation album from Superdrag released by Arena Rock Recording Co. in 2007.-Track listing:All tracks by John Davis#"Here We Come" - 2:15*...


(rarities/B-sides compilation)
Arena Rock Recording Co.
Arena Rock Recording Co.
The Arena Rock Recording Company is an independent record label based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Albums are distributed by Redeye in the United States and Koch in Canada.-History:...

2007 4-Track Rock!!! 1992-1995 + Complete "Bender" Sessions
(2-disc demos compilation)
Superdrag Sound Laboratories
2009 Industry Giants
Industry Giants
Industry Giants is the fifth and most recent album by Superdrag, released March 17, 2009 under the Superdrag Sound Laboratories banner. This is the band's first album since their 2003 hiatus and reformation with the original lineup in 2007...

Superdrag Sound Laboratories / Thirty Tigers

External links

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