The Pressure
Encyclopedia
Formed in September 1996, mod-punk-noise unit The Pressure played their first show in San Diego. During their existence the trio lived crammed together in a tiny studio apartment in Costa Mesa, California
, with their cat. The band played live several times on college radio, as well as television, where they not only hosted the alternative rock program Are-Oh-Vee twice, but would appear on The Gong Show. The energy of their live shows guaranteed almost continual coverage in the Orange County Weekly, which voted them one of the top unsigned bands in October 1997. In April 1998, a cover story asked, "Are The Pressure OC's favorite band?".
Their single, I Wanna Call Someone sold out of Orange County record stores the day it was released, and would wind up selling out completely in October 1998 after a deluge of European orders. Early in 1999 the band began working on their debut album with Alex Newport
in San Francisco, a place where they had all originally lived. An appearance on the Vans Warped Tour 1999 that July, with Eminem
, The Black Eyed Peas
, NOFX
and Pennywise
in San Bernardino wound up being their last. The day their debut album Things Move Fast was released, drummer Jason Thornberry
was found beaten nearly to death on the streets of Long Beach, and would remain in hospital for several months. The band didn't break up so much as break apart. Members Ronnie Washburn and Dana James went on to found Your Enemies Friends
Costa Mesa, California
Costa Mesa is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 109,960 at the 2010 census. Since its incorporation in 1953, the city has grown from a semi-rural farming community of 16,840 to a primarily suburban and "edge" city with an economy based on retail, commerce, and light...
, with their cat. The band played live several times on college radio, as well as television, where they not only hosted the alternative rock program Are-Oh-Vee twice, but would appear on The Gong Show. The energy of their live shows guaranteed almost continual coverage in the Orange County Weekly, which voted them one of the top unsigned bands in October 1997. In April 1998, a cover story asked, "Are The Pressure OC's favorite band?".
Their single, I Wanna Call Someone sold out of Orange County record stores the day it was released, and would wind up selling out completely in October 1998 after a deluge of European orders. Early in 1999 the band began working on their debut album with Alex Newport
Alex Newport
Alex Newport is a Grammy-nominated record producer, mixer and engineer, based in New York City.Newport was born in Wolverhampton, UK, in 1970 and grew up in the Midlands area....
in San Francisco, a place where they had all originally lived. An appearance on the Vans Warped Tour 1999 that July, with Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
, The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas are an American pop group , formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1995. The group includes rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo, and singer Fergie. Since the release of their third album Elephunk in 2003, the group has sold an estimated 56 million records worldwide...
, NOFX
NOFX
NOFX is an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California .The band was formed in 1983 by vocalist/bassist Fat Mike and guitarist Eric Melvin. Drummer Erik Sandin joined NOFX shortly after. In 1991 El Hefe joined to play lead guitar and trumpet, rounding out the current line-up...
and Pennywise
Pennywise (band)
Pennywise is a Californian punk rock band from Hermosa Beach, California, formed in 1988. The name is derived from the monster, It, from the Stephen King novel of the same title....
in San Bernardino wound up being their last. The day their debut album Things Move Fast was released, drummer Jason Thornberry
Jason Thornberry
Jason Michael Thornberry is a writer and musician who, after a severe beating, required months of hospital treatment, two-dozen casts, several medical procedures and over a year of intensive therapy before he could re-enter society....
was found beaten nearly to death on the streets of Long Beach, and would remain in hospital for several months. The band didn't break up so much as break apart. Members Ronnie Washburn and Dana James went on to found Your Enemies Friends
Your Enemies Friends
Your Enemies Friends is a post-hardcore rock band that formed in late 2001 in Los Angeles, California.They have shared the stage with bands such as ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, Blonde Redhead, The Icarus Line, TV on the Radio, The Promise Ring, and The Mars Volta.After enlisting...
Members
- Dana James – vocals, bass guitar.
- Jason ThornberryJason ThornberryJason Michael Thornberry is a writer and musician who, after a severe beating, required months of hospital treatment, two-dozen casts, several medical procedures and over a year of intensive therapy before he could re-enter society....
– drums, vocals. - Ronnie Washburn – vocals, guitar.
Discography
- My Heart Was Lost, cassette, Self Service Recs, 1997.
- The Pressure, cassette, Corporate Corp Recs, 1997.
- I Wanna Call Someone, 7" single, What Else? Recs, 1998.
- v/a Al's Bar Compilation, Vol. 2, Al's Bar Recs, 1998.
- v/a Styzine Compilation 1998.
- v/a Buddy List Compilation, 1999.
- v/a Brother Can You Spare Some Ska Vol. 4, Vegas Recs, 1998.
- Things Move Fast, Elastic Recs, 1999.
- v/a Orange County Weekly compilation’’ 1999.
- v/a Sampler WE 20.0, What Else? Recs, (year?).
External links
- Myspace page http://www.myspace.com/thepressureisdead
- What Else? Records http://whatelserecords.com/
- Elastic Records http://home.att.net/~amin.ghashghai/