Greenwheel

Infobox musical artist
Name = Greenwheel

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Img_capt = Greenwheel. Left to right: Andrew Dwiggins, Brandon Armstrong, Ryan Jordan, Drew Bailey.
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Origin = St. Louis, Missouri
Genre = Alternative metal Progressive rock
Years_active = 2000 - present
Label = Unsigned currently; formerly Island Records
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Current_members = Ryan Jordan Vocals, Guitar Brandon Armstrong Bass Andrew Dwiggins Guitar Drew Bailey Drums
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Greenwheel is an American alternative metal band formed by friends Ryan Jordan , Brandon Armstrong, Andrew Dwiggins, Douglas Randall, and Mark Wanninger in 1999. A close friend/relative, Jamison Clifford Kane, would also play intermittently from the band's formation until 2006. The band was formed in St. Charles, Missouri in a local record shop. This group of high school bandmates were originally called Hindsight before changing their name to Soma Holiday. They released a self titled album that same year which garnered them local attention. After this brief period, they went underground, performing only occasionally. In 2000, the group renamed themselves Greenwheel and released a four song demo and began performing at various venues in New York City before they were signed by Island Records.

Greenwheel worked with producer Jim Wirt in early 2004 on 16 new songs for a second full-length release on Island Records. The tentative name of the record was "Electric Blanket", but it never came out since the band parted ways with the label in 2004. The band made the unreleased tracks available through a media player on their official website. The band has expressed interest at their shows that fans distribute the CD amongst themselves if they don't have a copy, and the band provides burned copies of the disc for free at their shows.

After parting ways with Island, the band remixed and remastered their first independent self-titled release, and they re-released it to the public in 2005. While it shared the same name as their first major-label release, it actually consisted of a completely different track lineup with the exception of "Drowning Man" and "Louder Than Words," which appear on both releases.

In addition to parting ways with Island, the band also parted ways with long-time drummer Doug Randall, and Drew Bailey joined the band to fill the vacant spot behind the drum kit. Long-time guitarist Marc Wanninger also departed the band, resulting in the current four-member lineup.

On March 28, 2006, the band released a brand new five song EP entitled "Bridges For Burning". The new release was accompanied by Greenwheel's five month long "Bridges for Burning Tour".

In 2007, the band announced that they were changing their name to Go Van Gogh and releasing a new album "Ruby and the Starlight Ballroom".

"Breathe" Controversy

In 2003, some Greenwheel fans were alarmed as they began hearing the Greenwheel song called "Breathe" hit the airwaves being performed by Island Records recording artist Melissa Etheridge. Pockets of fans on forums and crowd gatherings began spreading rumors that Etheridge had stolen the song, since Greenwheel was no longer with Island Records. However, Greenwheel had been paid the appropriate royalties for the song and the band fully supports the song being played by her. Andrew Dwiggins, at a Houston show during the "Bridges for Burning" tour was approached by fans and asked about the song. "A lot of people ask us about that," he said. "A lot of people will come up to us now after our shows and even ask us why we're covering a Melissa Etheridge song... We were paid good money for the song, and it's getting heard, so we're excited for the opportunity that we've had to get our song heard by people, even if it's not being performed by us."

"Breathe" became the first single off her 2004 release, "Lucky". Etheridge's cover version of "Breathe" went on to reach the Top 10 on the radio charts in three different formats, as well as earn a Grammy Award nomination.

Discography

External links

* [http://greenwheel.net/ Greenwheel's official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/greenwheel Greenwheel's Myspace]