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Alien8
 
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| Alien8 |
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Bio
ALIEN8 was founded by singer, James Dean, in the summer of 2005, along with several of the area's top musicians from other projects. Originally a four-piece, ALIEN8 still seemed to lack something crucial and fifth-man, JJ Nold, a former drummer who'd only recently picked up the guitar, came in to try out. By the end of the first song, an energy had been added to the mix that Dean had been searching for. Nold agreed and joined ALIEN8, that night. Eventually, Nold and Dean wrote their album's first track, "Bombs Away", a gut-wrenching tale of James learning his wife suddenly wanted a divorce after she began taking medication for depression. It was the hardest thing he'd ever dealt with... but became the focal point for ALIEN8's first full-length album, appropriately titled, "MINOR EMERGENCY". 11 original tracks of life, love, loss and leniency.
ALIEN8 has been compared to Collective Soul, Shinedown and even Tool, by industry pros. They've performed with dozens of national acts as both opener and headliner, with bands like Flaw, 12 Stones, Adema, Neurosonic, Switched, Anew Revolution, Allele, Bobaflex, Modern Day Zero and more. TAXI, (the world's leading independent A&R company), recently wrote: "Great voice, solid writing, great playing, good production. You guys have it all. Very professional." They've also become a favorite on the rock charts of Ourstage.com, hitting #13 with "Inevitable".
The songwriting combination of Dean and Nold only grew stronger when they eventually called in Owen McLain, a lead singer and lead guitarist of another area band. The three minds collaborated on "Watch the World", a soundtrack-style anthem about a world that's destroying itself, on their very first meeting together. With McLain came a strong voice, alternating rhythm and lead guitar abilities and great writing skills. James believed he'd fit perfectly and he did. What Dean never expected was how strong he'd be on stage. "Owen's energy onstage is ridiculous," says, Dean. "ALIEN8 is making stage monsters out of every one of us because it's forcing us to keep up with one another. None of us want to be the weak link so we all keep upping the bar."
The bar was raised again with the addition of a new rhythm section that was open for touring. First came Kevin Hollinger, the youngest brother of two former members of SHUVEL, one of which also ended up touring as a drummer for CRAZYTOWN. Kevin watched his brothers become national and international rock and metal stars for years, dreaming of making his own mark. Hollinger hits like a tank and is known for breaking just about everything you could break and a few things you didn't know you could. His first kit was barely standing by the time he joined the band and upstart company, GARAGE RAGZ, sponsored him, getting him a brand new Gretsch Renoun kit, some heavier hardware and DW kick pedal. GARAGE RAGZ had already helped ALIEN8 get some badly needed merch produced and had even helped get the album finished. Two of the songs from it, "Inevitable" and "One Day", were written for GR's owners. "I didn't know what to get my wife for her birthday. James wrote her a song. She loved it," says Cole. "My partner's baby boy, our Godson, was taken from him by his mother. When he heard what James wrote for "One Day", he lost it." Says Dean, "Owen and JJ write great melodies. I just try not to ruin them. Johnny Cash wrote the best songs because they told a story."
The story of ALIEN8 continued to grow as they found themselves in need of a replaement bassist right before an international billing. Owen called in his long-time friend and former band mate, Daniel Worley. Worley learned the material in three days and impressed an international BODOG rep, who was amazed to find out he wasn't a regular in the band. He encouraged James to keep Daniel and to take a shot at the BODOG Battle of the Bands, (an interantional competition with a chance at appearing in a reality based TV show on Fuse network and a 1 million dollar recording deal). James took his advice on both accounts. Since then, Worley has surprised everyone, becoming a crowd favorite and rounding out ALIEN8 with a lighter side.
ALIEN8 took on the BODOG challenge as well, winning in OKC and moving on after Dallas wildcard voting to face off in the regional finals at the Chicago House of Blues. With their CD finished and set to be released a week before the battle, the band is poised to make 2008 the year of ALIEN8. |
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