The Bled
Encyclopedia
The Bled is a hardcore
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...

 band from Tucson, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...

. The group formed in 2001, originally under the name "The Radiation Defiance Theory", but changed it because of its length. They have since released four albums, Pass the Flask
Pass the Flask
Pass the Flask is the first full album released by the Hardcore band The Bled. Track 2 was originally labeled "Dale Earnhardt's Seatbelt", but was changed for legal reasons. It is still listed as "Dale Earnhardt's Seatbelt" on the inside of the album booklet.- Reissue :The Bled originally released...

, Found In The Flood
Found in the Flood
Found in the Flood is the second album released by the Hardcore band The Bled. It is their first album recorded to feature bassist Darren Simoes, who replaced previous bassist, Mike Celi.-Track listing:All music written by The Bled....

, Silent Treatment
Silent Treatment (The Bled album)
Silent Treatment is the third album from Arizona Hardcore band The Bled.-Pre-Order:People who pre-ordered the album through interpunk.com were to receive a limited edition, green vinyl print of the album along with the cd, limited to 300. This was changed to a 2 LP press a day before the official...

, and their most recent Heat Fetish
Heat Fetish
Heat Fetish is the fourth and final studio album released by American hardcore band The Bled. The album is their first release through Rise Records after parting ways with Vagrant Records in 2009...

which was released on March 9, 2010.

Formation and early years (2001–2002)

The Bled formed in 2001 under the name "The Radiation Defiance Theory" but changed the name because they felt it was too lengthy. Their music style was largely influenced by hardcore punk bands such as Refused
Refused
Refused was a Swedish hardcore punk band originating from Umeå, Sweden, formed in 1991. In total the band released five EPs and three albums, before splitting up in 1998...

, metalcore bands such as 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...

, and the mathcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan
The Dillinger Escape Plan
The Dillinger Escape Plan is an American mathcore band from Morris Plains, New Jersey. The group originated in 1997 after the disbanding of Arcane, a hardcore punk trio consisting of Ben Weinman, Dimitri Minakakis, and Chris Pennie. The band's current line-up consists of guitarist Ben Weinman,...

. After being a band for only two months, the band released an EP titled His First Crush
His First Crush
His First Crush is an EP recorded by Hardcore band The Bled. It was released after only two months of the band being together, on a friend's record company, Rocket Records. Only 1,000 copies were pressed, which sold quickly as interest in the band grew...

, and released a self-titled EP
The Bled (EP)
The Bled is a self-titled EP by Hardcore band The Bled. Its four songs were pressed on one-sided 12" vinyl, released in 2002 by Ambit Records. It was a small DIY release, without much marketing attempt. Production was limited to only 666 copies, 100 of which were on translucent blood-red vinyl. The...

 a year later, both of which featured Adam Goss on vocals. The Bled quickly began to build a name for themselves in Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...

, and started to play sold out shows.

Pass the Flask (2003–2004)

After achieving local success, The Bled caught the attention of Fiddler Records
Fiddler Records
Fiddler Records was a small independent record label serving as the launching pad for several artists seminal to the pop, punk and emo genres. Starting as the brainchild of 16 year old entrepreneur Amy Fleisher in 1996, the label became well known for its early releases from marquee artists...

 and later got signed. A day before the band started to record their debut album Pass the Flask
Pass the Flask
Pass the Flask is the first full album released by the Hardcore band The Bled. Track 2 was originally labeled "Dale Earnhardt's Seatbelt", but was changed for legal reasons. It is still listed as "Dale Earnhardt's Seatbelt" on the inside of the album booklet.- Reissue :The Bled originally released...

, vocalist Adam Goss quit the band and suggested James Muñoz as a replacement. The rest of the band felt that Muñoz was a much better fit than Goss, and he became a permanent member of the band. Pass the Flask was released in July 2003 and the band toured relentlessly in support of it. This also marked the first time The Bled left Arizona to tour as a band. The album demonstrated The Bled's skills in both a lyrical sense and music sense as the band incorporated a wide variety of genres including metalcore, mathcore, melodic hardcore, and post hardcore. The album was also a major success within the hardcore community.

Found in the Flood (2005–2007)

The Bled was not content with Fiddler Records, and decided to change labels. The band was a big fan of 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...

, and in 2005 they signed to the indie record label, ensuring that a major label was not for them. Before working on their new album, the band parted ways with bass player Mike Celi and hired Darren Simoes as a permanent replacement. For their second studio album, Found in the Flood
Found in the Flood
Found in the Flood is the second album released by the Hardcore band The Bled. It is their first album recorded to feature bassist Darren Simoes, who replaced previous bassist, Mike Celi.-Track listing:All music written by The Bled....

, The Bled worked with producer Mark Trombino
Mark Trombino
Mark Trombino is a rock music producer. He started his career as the drummer of Night Soil Man, before playing for Drive Like Jehu. He also played in a Long Beach-based punk rock band called First Offense which released a seven inch on Mystic Records entitled "Broken Home."-Bands:*Alive in Wild...

 (Jimmy Eat World, Blink-182). The album expanded both the heavier and lighter sides of the band. This album is also their first album to chart on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...

, which peaked at #87.

The success of the album landed The Bled a spot on Warped Tour
Warped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...

 in the summer of 2006 on the Vagrant Stage featuring many rising names signed to Vagrant Records, and the international Taste of Chaos
Taste of Chaos
Taste of Chaos is a hardcore tour that was started in the winter of 2005 by Kevin Lyman, the creator of the successful Warped Tour along with friend and business partner, John Reese. The Taste Of Chaos tour caters for fans of the post-hardcore, screamo, and metal genres, while offering the same...

 in early 2007 alongside bands like Rise Against
Rise Against
Rise Against is an American punk rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1999. The band currently consists of Tim McIlrath , Zach Blair , Joe Principe and Brandon Barnes .Rise Against spent its first five years signed to the independent record label Fat Wreck Chords, on which it...

, The Used
The Used
The Used is an American rock band from Orem, Utah. The band was founded in 2001 and signed to Reprise Records the same year. They rose to fame in June 2002 after releasing their self-titled debut album. They followed up with their second album, In Love and Death, in September 2004 and their third...

, and Aiden
Aiden
Aiden is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington that formed in the spring of 2003. The members are WiL Francis , Nick Wiggins , and Angel Ibarra . wiL originally played bass but took over lead vocals when the original singer left...

.

During this time Pass the Flask went out of print. The Bled was unable to sell it on tour because it was released on their previous label (that has since gone out of business). Many fans believed that Found in the Flood was the band's first and only album. To fix this, a reissue of Pass the Flask was created. The new version was released on Vagrant, and in addition to the original track listing the new album featured songs from The Bled's original EPs and three unreleased songs.

Silent Treatment (2007–2008)

After touring on the Taste of Chaos tour, the band started working on their new album. The process of writing and recording was slightly different from previous efforts. For the first two albums, Muñoz and Talley each wrote half an album worth of songs individually. For Silent Treatment
Silent Treatment (The Bled album)
Silent Treatment is the third album from Arizona Hardcore band The Bled.-Pre-Order:People who pre-ordered the album through interpunk.com were to receive a limited edition, green vinyl print of the album along with the cd, limited to 300. This was changed to a 2 LP press a day before the official...

Muñoz and Talley wrote songs together. The band also had five months to write songs for the album, the longest writing period to date for any album. While recording, The Bled set up a live webcam in the studio so fans could watch the progress. Silent Treatment was produced by Brian McTernan
Brian McTernan
Brian McTernan is a record producer who has worked with bands from all over the world. He works out of the Baltimore, MD area at Salad Days Studio. Brian was voted to be one of the 50 most influential people in Maryland by the Maryland Daily Record...

 (Thrice
Thrice
Thrice is an American rock band from Irvine, California, formed in 1998. The group was founded by guitarist/vocalist Dustin Kensrue and guitarist Teppei Teranishi while they were in high school....

, Converge
Converge (band)
Converge is an American band from Salem, Massachusetts. Playing a blend of hardcore punk and metal since 1990, Converge has helped to define many of the elements of the metalcore genre.-Description:...

) and featured a more evolved and heavy sound than what is found on Pass the Flask in addition to the slower melodic songs found on Found in the Flood.

Shortly before the release of Silent Treatment, The Bled toured in the 2007 Projekt Revolution Tour
Projekt Revolution
Projekt Revolution is a music festival hosted by Linkin Park, bringing artists of various genres of music together. Linkin Park started Projekt Revolution in the year 2002 with just one stage...

 alongside Linkin Park
Linkin Park
Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the band rose to international fame with their debut album, Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-platinum in several other countries...

, My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance is an American alternative rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, and bassist Mikey Way and have a diverse sound incorporating elements of punk, emo, glam metal, and progressive rock...

, 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 ....

 and others. After the album was released they toured the Take Action Tour
Take Action Tour
The Take Action Tour is an annual spring tour that not only hosts several bands, but also tries to get people alerted about the issues with teen suicide, and ultimately tries to prevent it. The tour was created by both Sub City and Hopeless Records...

 with Every Time I Die
Every Time I Die
Every Time I Die is a metalcore band from Buffalo, New York, formed in 1998. Their musical style is rooted in technical hardcore with strong southern metal and mathcore elements, and is also characterised by their cryptic, bitingly sarcastic lyrics. The band announced on July 14, 2008 that they had...

 and From First to Last
From First to Last
From First to Last was an American rock band based out of Los Angeles, originally hailing from Valdosta, Georgia and Tampa, Florida. The band released their first EP titled Aesthetic in 2003 with vocalist Phillip Reardon, followed by Dear Diary, My Teen Angst Has a Body Count in 2004 and Heroine in...

 followed by a short tour supporting The Dillinger Escape Plan
The Dillinger Escape Plan
The Dillinger Escape Plan is an American mathcore band from Morris Plains, New Jersey. The group originated in 1997 after the disbanding of Arcane, a hardcore punk trio consisting of Ben Weinman, Dimitri Minakakis, and Chris Pennie. The band's current line-up consists of guitarist Ben Weinman,...

. On April 18, while playing with the Dillinger Escape Plan at Ridglea Theater in Fort Worth, TX, vocalist James Muñoz told the crowd "this is our last tour for a long while" due to mutual exhaustion among the band members from extensive touring over the past year and financial turmoil within the band. During the hiatus, bassist Darren Simoes toured with New York hardcore act Warship
Warship (band)
Warship was a post-hardcore band formed in Long Island in 2008. Former From Autumn to Ashes members Francis Mark and Rob Lauritsen formed the band following the From Autumn to Ashes' announced indefinite hiatus on June 9, 2008...

 alongside Reggie and the Full Effect
Reggie and the Full Effect
Reggie and the Full Effect was a Kansas City indie rock band, the solo project for The Get Up Kids keyboardist James Dewees.-Early years, Greatest Hits 1984-1987, Promotional Copy and Under the Tray :...

 and guitarist Jeremy Ray formed the band Starving Arms with past members of the bands The Funeral March and Versus the Mirror.

Lineup changes, Heat Fetish and break up (2009–2011)

After touring in support of Silent Treatment, The Bled found themselves in debt. Each band member found a way outside of The Bled to earn money, such as getting regular jobs or playing in other bands. The end result was that three core members decided to no longer be a part of the band. Mike Pedicone joined Gavin Rossdale as drummer, Ross Ott started working for a company called ArtistForce, and Darren Simoes decided to finish college. These members were replaced by Robbie Burbidge, Brad Murray, Josh Skibar, and The Bled is currently working on a new album with this new lineup. The band will record their follow-up to Silent Treatment after their spring tour with The Used
The Used
The Used is an American rock band from Orem, Utah. The band was founded in 2001 and signed to Reprise Records the same year. They rose to fame in June 2002 after releasing their self-titled debut album. They followed up with their second album, In Love and Death, in September 2004 and their third...

, and proceed to tour in support of the new album this summer. On March 30, it was reported by Alternative Press Magazine that The Bled have been dropped from their label, 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...

. On March 31, The Bled put up two demo tracks on their MySpace titled "Mouthbreather" and "When Exiting Your Vehicle." It was confirmed that the two demos would be on the new record. On September 4, The Bled embarked on their first nationwide tour in over a year.

On August 13, 2009 it was announced that The Bled signed a two record contract with Rise Records and would release their next full-length in February 2010 On November 13, 2009, Talley told Noisecreep that the forthcoming album would be called Heat Fetish
Heat Fetish
Heat Fetish is the fourth and final studio album released by American hardcore band The Bled. The album is their first release through Rise Records after parting ways with Vagrant Records in 2009...



On May 8, 2010, it was announced that Shane Sheffer, vocalist of The Fade and formerly of The Funeral March and Starving Arms, would be replacing bassist Brad Murray on the Rise Records
Rise Records
-History:Rise was founded in 1991 by Craig Ericson in Roseburg, Oregon. He released a small number of 7" records before putting the label on hiatus to attend college. Ericson didn't release anything further until 1999, after moving to Portland, Oregon. He began issuing small-print 7" records, and...

 Tour and that Murray is no longer a part of The Bled. After the Rise Records tour, Mike Patton, a close friend to the band, their touring sound engineer and of no relation to Mike Patton
Mike Patton
Michael Allan "Mike" Patton is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and actor, best known as the lead singer of the metal/experimental rock band Faith No More. He has also sung for Mr...

 of Faith No More
Faith No More
Faith No More is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed originally as Faith No Man in 1981 by bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist Wade Worthington, vocalist Michael Morris and drummer Mike Bordin. A year later when Worthington was replaced by keyboardist Roddy Bottum, and Mike...

, was picked to fill in on bass until further notice.

The Bled announced their breakup in August 2011 stating that it was, "time to move on to new things." A final tour is expected in November 2011.

Guitarist Jeremy Talley announced via the band's Facebook that he will be forming a new project based around material intended for The Bled's final release. Talley also said information regarding this project will be released following The Bled's farewell tour.

Vocalist James Munoz has moved on to writing and acting in the weekly FunnyOrDie comedy sketch show, Apartment Sketch Show.

Members

Final lineup
  • Robbie Burbidge – 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...

     (2009–2011)
  • James Muñoz – vocals
    Singing
    Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...

     (2003–2011)
  • Mike Patton – bass guitar
    Bass guitar
    The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....

     (2010–2011)
  • Josh Skibar – 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 ....

     (2009–2011)
  • Jeremy Ray Talley – guitar (2001–2011)


Former members
  • Mike Celi – bass guitar (2001–2004)
  • Adam Goss – vocals (2001–2003)
  • Brad Murray – bass guitar (2009–2010)
  • Ross Ott – guitar (2001–2008)
  • Mike Pedicone – drums (2001–2008)
  • Darren Simoes – bass guitar (2004–2008)
  • Shane Sheffer – bass guitar
    Bass guitar
    The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....

     (2010–2011)

Discography

Studio albums
  • Pass the Flask
    Pass the Flask
    Pass the Flask is the first full album released by the Hardcore band The Bled. Track 2 was originally labeled "Dale Earnhardt's Seatbelt", but was changed for legal reasons. It is still listed as "Dale Earnhardt's Seatbelt" on the inside of the album booklet.- Reissue :The Bled originally released...

    (2003)
  • Found in the Flood
    Found in the Flood
    Found in the Flood is the second album released by the Hardcore band The Bled. It is their first album recorded to feature bassist Darren Simoes, who replaced previous bassist, Mike Celi.-Track listing:All music written by The Bled....

    (2005)
  • Silent Treatment
    Silent Treatment (The Bled album)
    Silent Treatment is the third album from Arizona Hardcore band The Bled.-Pre-Order:People who pre-ordered the album through interpunk.com were to receive a limited edition, green vinyl print of the album along with the cd, limited to 300. This was changed to a 2 LP press a day before the official...

    (2007)
  • Heat Fetish
    Heat Fetish
    Heat Fetish is the fourth and final studio album released by American hardcore band The Bled. The album is their first release through Rise Records after parting ways with Vagrant Records in 2009...

    (2010)


EPs
  • His First Crush
    His First Crush
    His First Crush is an EP recorded by Hardcore band The Bled. It was released after only two months of the band being together, on a friend's record company, Rocket Records. Only 1,000 copies were pressed, which sold quickly as interest in the band grew...

    (2001)
  • The Bled
    The Bled (EP)
    The Bled is a self-titled EP by Hardcore band The Bled. Its four songs were pressed on one-sided 12" vinyl, released in 2002 by Ambit Records. It was a small DIY release, without much marketing attempt. Production was limited to only 666 copies, 100 of which were on translucent blood-red vinyl. The...

    (2002)


Split EPs
  • Alexisonfire / The Bled
  • The Bled / From Autumn to Ashes


Non-album tracks
  • Masters of Horror – "Nervous Breakdown" (Black Flag
    Black Flag (band)
    Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...

     cover)
  • Tony Hawk's American Wasteland Soundtrack
    Tony Hawk's American Wasteland (soundtrack)
    The Tony Hawk's American Wasteland soundtrack features a lineup of punk-based bands, each covering a song from a classic punk rock or hardcore punk group. The cover art is a parody of the 1979 album London Calling by The Clash. Similarly, the back cover art is also a parody of the back cover art of...

    – "House of Suffering" (Bad Brains
    Bad Brains
    Bad Brains is an American hardcore punk band formed in Washington, D.C., in 1977. They are widely regarded as among the pioneers of hardcore punk, though the band's members objected to this term to describe their music. They are also an adept reggae band, while later recordings featured elements of...

     cover)
  • Resident Evil: Extinction Soundtrack – "Asleep on the Frontlines" (Appliantz remix)

External links

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