Adema
From:
Bakersfield,
CA,
United States
Last Known Status: Active
Background
Adema not only lived up to the deafening advance buzz surrounding their 2001 self-titled debut, they surpassed every expectation. The first single, the Top 15 Modern Rock track "Giving In," was followed by the radio hit "The Way You Like It," helping to quickly push Adema to an impressive near Platinum sales status. The quintet's instantaneous fan base was cemented by an almost unheard-of coup - landing on the main stage of the 2001-2 Ozzfest on their first CD. More top-grossing tours kept Adema on the road for well over a year: the Music as a Weapon tour (with Drowning Pool and Disturbed), the SnoCore Rock Tour and Linkin Park's Projekt Revolution tour earned Adema fanatical fans. Not a bad start for a bunch of hyper and hungry young musicians from Bakersfield. In fact, a review in London's prestigious NME raved: "Adema's visceral, artfully succinct rock punch comes brilliantly wrapped in killer whistleable tunes." "Moody, hard and melodic," judged Rolling Stone, "a creative palette of soaring solos, singing lines and textures." The rabid fans - the only "reviewers" who truly count to Adema - have proclaimed the quintet nothing short of awesome.
The full-length follow-up to Adema's self-titled Arista debut, "Unstable," was recorded at Los Angeles' Bay 7 studios in early 2003 with producer Howard Benson (P.O.D., Hoobastank). "Unstable" is full of singer Marky Chavez' personal, often pained lyrics and the band's aggro rock intensity. "We'd all become better players from all our touring," bassist Dave DeRoo explains, "and we wanted to use that in the writing." Songs run the gamut from the suitably edgy "Unstable" to the full-on onslaught of the mosh-worthy "Needles" to the beautiful and timeless "Promises." "Unstable," the CD's first single, "is like the musical bridge between the last album and this one," explains Chavez. In "Unstable," the singer bares his soul with chilling vocals complementing the gut-wrenching words: "You bring me down like a bottle of pills / I hate the way that you make me feel / I keep coming back, I never get killed." While Chavez is unafraid to dig deep for both his soulful vocals and highly personal subject matter, some lyrics reflect the feelings and lives of others, including his bandmates. "As the mouthpiece, I try to write what the band feels and get feedback," Chavez explains.
Providing musical balance on "Unstable" are some unexpectedly poignant tunes. There is the beautiful, lilting melodicism of "So Fortunate," with its touches of strings (written about Chavez' infant son) to "Let Go," a song where Chavez flipped his perceptions. "I stopped thinking about what people weren't good at and looked at them as them, appreciating them as a person, and letting go of my bullshit and things that made me mad."
Adema's potent live show helped earn them millions of rabid rock fans. In fact, the seven-song remix and cover EP "Insomniac's Dream" EP, released in October 2002, was a "gift to fans" to keep Adema-maniacs happy. In addition to "Immortal" (recorded for the Mortal Kombat®: Deadly AllianceTM video game), the 7-song EP included two other previously unreleased tracks: "Shattered" and a mesmerizing cover of Alice In Chains' "Nutshell." Alternate versions of four songs from the debut album included the Chris Vrenna [Nine Inch Nails] remix of "Freaking Out"; the Sam Seaver [Beastie Boys] remix of "The Way You Like It"; a live version of "Do What You Want To Do," and the radio single version of "Giving In."
While Adema are clearly a mix of influences, unafraid to experiment, at the band's core, there's an inherent, instinctual combination of pure joy and fury: "We go on stage and rock!" states hard-hitting drummer Kris Kohls of Adema's live M.O. "We don't go onstage and nu metal,'" he laughs. "We're sick of that phrase. ROCK - it's such a broad word that it doesn't categorize you. From STP to Metallica to Weezer to the Cure, rock encompasses it all." "Unstable," like Adema's power-packed and emotional live gigs, does ROCK, even the CD's mellower tunes possess a visceral force and passion. "There are essentially no drum loops or keyboards on our new record," explains guitarist Tim Fluckey, adding, "Hey, live, we're not 'sequencers'; we're a balls-out rock band!" And new songs like the metallic monster of a tune that is "Needles" proves the guitar guru right. Adema's other guitarist, Ransom, couldn't be happier with how "Unstable" turned out. "Unstable makes me like our first record even better. It's like how every new U2 album makes me listen to their other stuff all over again."
Chavez kicked ass working on "Unstable," and is also justifiably proud of the CD. "I took a lot of initiative; three times a week I was in vocal training, because I believe that as a singer, you always need to top yourself." While his youth and street-wise vibe come across on stage, Chavez also notes that he wouldn't mind if Adema were like Led Zeppelin. "Not musically," he quickly clarifies. "But their elasticity of musical styles and the meaning behind the lyrics. U2 and Bono have really influenced me lately; I admire his vocal range. And also, Nirvana. I can't tell you how much I listened to the beautiful simplicity of Kurt's writing and was inspired," Chavez says. "This record, inside and out, is us," Chavez affirms. "We're not afraid to experiment, take the next step, but we're not capitalizing on any sound du jour," he states. "Everything about this band is personal. And the fans appreciate that we're not smoke and mirrors," he concludes. "When I look back on my life I need to know I was honest with music and myself and the band."
Latest Adema News
Gama Bomb Declares War On "Inferior Metal"
Irish thrashers Gama Bomb has come up with a unique idea for their upcoming "Thrashing Like A Maniac" tour with Bonded By Blood and Sworn Amongst.
Singer Philly Byrne explains: "The right to listen to neck-snapping turbo-charged metal is under threat. Gloomy, posey, idiotic metal stands between us and true enjoyment of thrash. We're all guilty of having bought some rubbish, not-quite-up-to-the-mark "metal" records at some point in our lives, but it’s time to root out those embarrassing t-shirts and albums and posters – because GAMA BOMB are offering YOU a chance to wipe the slate clean."
Starting at their first show on September 12th in Germany and running through each and every stop of the 10,000-mile, eleven-country tour, GAMA BOMB invite and encourage you to bring along the worst of your music collection – the embarrassing, the awkward and the downright rubbish CDs, records and merchandise hidden amongst your better purchases – and to collect them together so both you and GAMA BOMB can do what should have been done long ago – ritually shred, stamp and smash the living hell out of them! More...
Adema Go On Hiatus
Bassist Dave DeRoo of the Bakersfield, California-based rock band ADEMA issue the following udapte:
"It's been a little while since we've posted an update, and I want to apologize to all our fans in the ADEMA militia that have been patiently awaiting an update from us."
"We love you, and we appreciate all the friends we've made over the course of the last several months touring in support of our latest, 'Kill The Headlights' — and the continued support we receive from our familia over the last 8 years that we've been a band."
"We're starting fresh, and getting a whole new team over here in ADEMA-land! The band is cool; we just need a new crew (a new 'supporting cast,' if you will). We recently parted ways with our longtime manager, as well as our accountants/business management shortly before the end of last year." More...
Onesidezero Forced To Cancel European Tour
Onesidezero’s upcoming European tour, alongside Adema and Re:Ignition, has been cancelled due to personal reasons within the Adema camp. The band has released the following statement:
"Things like this happen and it sucks! Of course we're all bummed out, but Tiefdruck Musik, our German label, our manager, and Onesidezero have worked really hard to make this happen," commented drummer Rob Basile. "We're not looking at this as a complete cancellation, but an opportunity for all bands to regroup and reconvene at a later date. We're still hyped to get there!"
"While Adema, Onesidezero, and Re:Ignition will not be fulfilling the February and March '08 dates scheduled in Europe, we have intentions to revisit these tour plans sometime in the near future," added Onesidezero manager Shawna Morey. "Tiefdruck-Musik, Onesidezero's European label, has been very supportive of all artists involved, and we're looking forward to a long lasting relationship and all overseas touring opportunities to come."
Onesidezero is currently supporting their recently released Ulrich Wild (Static-X, Stabbing Westward, Taproot) produced sophomore album, which was released th rough Corporate Punishment Records. The album is the long awaited follow-up to the band’s critically acclaimed 2001 debut “Is This Room Getting Smaller”, which saw the group tour with the likes of Incubus, 311, Static-X, and Soulfly.
Here are the latest ONESIDEZERO tour dates:
Jan 26 Mesa, AZ @ Cell Block
Feb 01 Colorado Springs, CO @ Black Sheep
Feb 02 Denver, CO @ Independent Records *** Acoustic In-store performance
Feb 16 Las Vegas, NV @ Zia Record *** Acoustic In-store performance
Feb 16 Las Vegas, NV @ The Cheyenne Saloon
Feb 17 Redondo Beach, CA @ Venezia Grill
Onesidezero Announces Headlining Dates, Euro Tour
Los Angeles based Onesidezero has added more tour dates in support of their recently released self-titled sophomore album. The group will play a series of West Coast dates to round out the year, including a spot on
104.7 The Edge's "Not So Silent Night" show with Atreyu, Five Finger Death Punch and Fair To Midland.
Onesidezero will kick off 2008 with a European tour alongside Adema and Re:Ignition which is scheduled to begin February 27, 2008 in Hamburg, Germany. More cities and dates will be announced soon.
"I think I can speak for all of us in saying FINALLY! We love touring! We've seen most of the United States and Canada several times and it's been awesome. That being said, we're ready for Europe," says Onesidezero drummer Rob Basile. "Europe has produced so much amazing music and art, and I can't wait to experience that first hand. Personally I love history, and good beer, so I can't think of a better place to go. It's also going to be a pleasure hitting the road again with Adema, as we've toured with them on two separate occasions in the past, and Adema's live sh ow is amazing and they're great guys."
"We are really excited to finally be getting our ass's overseas and are grateful to Tiefdruck-Musik for giving us this opportunity," adds frontman Jasan Radford. "2008 is starting to look like a great year for Onesidezero and thank you all for the support!" More...
As I Lay Dying Debut At No. 8; Sixx:A.M. At No. 63
As I Lay Dying's new album 'An Ocean Between Us' has debuted at No. 8 on this weeks Billboard Top 200 chart with 39,000 copies sold. Sixx:A.M.'s debut 'The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack' debuted at No. 63 selling 11,000 copies while Adema moved 2,000 copies of 'Kill the Headlights'
Former Adema Frontman Working On Solo Effort
Former ADEMA frontman Marky Chavez is currently working on a solo album, tentatively due early next year via Thru The Roof Records. According to a posting on his MySpace page, the lineup for the project consists of the following musicians:
Marky Chavez - Vocals, Guitar, Bass
Joe Davis - Guitar, Drums
Adam Stahl - Guitar
Chavez — who is the half-brother of KORN's Jonathan Davis — left ADEMA in 2004 while the band was working on material for its third album. He was reportedly in talks about returning to the group after the departure of his replacement, Luke Caraccioli, but those plans have since been abandoned.
ADEMA's new album, "Kill the Headlights", was released on August 21 via Immortal Records. The CD was recorded in Los Angeles with producer Marshall Altman (MARC BROUSSARD, ZEBRAHEAD). Mastering duties were handled by Eddie Schreyer at Oasis Mastering in Burbank.
ADEMA last year announced the addition of vocalist Bobby Reeves of the Los Angeles-based band LEVEL to the group's ranks.
Adema Post New Single Online
ADEMA's new single, "Cold and Jaded", has been posted on the group's MySpace page. The song comes off the Southern California-based band's new album, "Kill the Headlights" due on August 21 via Immortal Records. The CD was recorded in Los Angeles with producer Marshall Altman (MARC BROUSSARD, ZEBRAHEAD). Mastering duties were handled by Eddie Schreyer at Oasis Mastering in Burbank. Check out the cover artwork at this location.
ADEMA was recently picked up by Union Entertainment Group, which also manages such well-known bands as NICKELBACK, DEFAULT and CANDLEBOX. More...
Adema Has New Album Pushed Back
ADEMA's new album, "Kill the Headlights" (Immortal Records), has had its release date pushed back to August 21 from the previously announced July 24. The album's first single, "Cold and Jaded", is scheduled to go for radio adds after July 4. The CD was recorded in Los Angeles with producer Marshall Altman (MARC BROUSSARD, ZEBRAHEAD). Mastering duties were handled by Eddie Schreyer at Oasis Mastering in Burbank. Check out the cover artwork at this location.
ADEMA was recently picked up by Union Entertainment Group, which also manages such well-known bands as NICKELBACK, DEFAULT and CANDLEBOX.
Video Interview With Adema's Bassist Online
Possum of Altitude TV recently conducted a video interview with ADEMA bassist Dave DeRoo at the Key Club in Los Angeles. DeRoo dishes on the band's new singer, Bobby Reeves ("I wish I would've met him 10 years ago; it would've made my life a lot easier," says DeRoo), the group's new record, their past mistakes, and how they've survived the business. Watch the four-minute clip at YouTube.
ADEMA will release its new album, "Kill the Headlights", on July 24 through Immortal Records. The CD was recorded in Los Angeles with producer Marshall Altman (MARC BROUSSARD, ZEBRAHEAD). Mastering duties were handled by Eddie Schreyer at Oasis Mastering in Burbank. More...
New Everyday Enemy Tracks Posted Online
Geza X, producer of records for a number of early and influential LA punk bands including the Dead Kennedys, The Germs, Black Flag, The Avengers and Merideth Brooks’ hit single “Bitch” has just finished work at his Malibu, Ca. recording studio with new SoCal hardcore upstarts Everyday Enemy. Three songs from the recordings have been posted on the band's MySpace page.
Everyday Enemy is a band that has taken life in 2007 combining members of several bands from Bakersfield, California’s substantial underground music scene. After playing shows to several packed houses in southern California , Risky Management and Geza X got together for what Geza X terms is his “passion project”. “The hope in this day and age is to find unique sounding bands and provide them with a springboard so fans of heavy music with style can get the opportunity to here it,” said Glenn Alderson, founder of Riskymanagement Inc.
After touring and recording for the first half of 2007 Everyday Enemy will kick off a slate of shows at the Viper room in Hollywood, California on June 20th with longtime friends Adema.
