- On Broken Wings
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On Broken Wings Origin Boston, Massachusetts, USA Genres Metalcore, Moshcore Years active 2001–2007, 2008–Present Labels Eulogy Recordings On Broken Wings is an American metalcore band from Boston, Massachusetts that formed in 2001. Often credited with pioneering the sound, and coining the term, of Moshcore,[1] a term originally used by the band to describe their fusion of metal with elements of post-hardcore and hardcore breakdowns. A sound evident in current bands such as Emmure and Recon.
After the self-released Number One Beautiful EP, they caught the attention of Eulogy Recordings, where they would then release 2 full length albums over the next 5 years, 2003's 'Some of us may Never see the World' and 2005's 'It's all a Long Goodbye'.
During this time, On Broken Wings was also subject to a variety of controversies, mostly concerning their unusually violent live shows and the band's apparent encouragement of crowd violence. As a result, the band is still banned from many clubs and venues across the United States.
In early 2007, On Broken Wings released an EP entitled Going Down which contained the original Number One Beautiful EP as well as 4 new songs. In an ironic twist, the title of the EP was soon considered foreshadowing as the band announced an indefinite hiatus mainly due to interest in other projects. Many considered OBW to have split up for good until a new year rolled around...
After a long hiatus, 2008 finally sees the band reuniting and doing some serious touring with the 'Mosh Lives' tour featuring headliners, Emmure and other metalcore acts such as Recon, Ligeia and on select dates, Red I Flight and Endwell. (for more information on the reuniting of OBW, read below)
Contents
Current members
- Jonathan Blake - Vocals
- Mike McMillen- Guitar
- Burke Medeiros - Guitar
- Jerome McBride - Bass
- Kevin Garvin - Drums
Past members
On Broken Wings has been through a multitude of members, including a seemingly endless rotation of fill-ins on guitar when Mike McMillen took a hiatus from touring to finish school. Some of the most notable alumni are below.
- John "Chuck" Lombardo - Bass (#1 Beautiful, Some Of Us May Never See The World)
- Sean Laforce - Guitar (#1 Beautiful, Some Of Us May Never See The World)
- John Earle (aka Johnny Cupcakes) - Sampling
- Wheeler - Bass (Live)
- Eric D - Vocals (Live)
- Rob Deangelis - Bass (Live)
- Stevie "Brutal" Murray - Drums (Live)
- Eric Ellis - Guitar (Live)
- Brendan Connors - Guitar (Live)
- Sean J. Murray - Guitar (Live - 2008)
- Josh "Skull" Long - Drums (Live - 2008)
Discography
- Number One Beautiful (2001)
- Some of Us May Never See the World (Eulogy Recordings, 2003)
- It's All A Long Goodbye (Eulogy Recordings, 2005)
- Going Down (Eulogy Recordings, 2007)
During their hiatus...
The members of On Broken Wings focused much of their time on other projects. Jonathan Blake and Mike McMillen devoted much of their time to straight edge punk band, Shere Khan with Black My Heart's vocalist Wheeler. McMillen had also taken an interest in production and started working with some bands from the Boston area.
Burke, Jerome, and Kevin were also hard at work writing new material for their band The Confrontation, while Kevin was working with a new band dubbed I'm Sorry New York, which takes a much more commercial route than either of the other two bands and also features Eric D and Brendan Connors of The Confrontation, as well as ex On Broken Wings guitarist Sean LaForce.
As of February 2008, Kevin Garvin, Mike McMillen, and Sean Laforce are also in the band Everybody Out!, with former Dropkick Murphys guitarist Rick Barton and former Dead Pets and Lost City Angels frontman Sweeney Todd, playing drums, guitar, and bass, respectively .
The Reformation
In 2008 the band announced a new tour, "Mosh Lives" with headliners Emmure. This tour came out of the blue after many circulating rumors that the band had broken up. OBW didn't mention anything about a possible new album, or if there would be any more tours after "Mosh Lives," leaving their hungry fans wondering if maybe this second coming would be short lived. It wasn't announced which lineup would be performing, but the band's Myspace page listeds their It's All A Long Goodbye-era line-up. Supporting acts included Recon, Ligeia and on select dates, Red I Flight and Endwell. In 2011, On Broken Wings announced via Twitter they would be a part of the North American tour featuring Bring Me the Horizon, Parkway Drive, Deez Nuts, and Architects.
Possible Split From Eulogy Recordings
Although it states on the band's Myspace that they are still signed with Eulogy Recordings, Eulogy's website has OBW listed in the past bands section leading some to believe that either On Broken Wings has possibly signed with a more prominent label or is currently searching for one. In a recent interview with Worldmovesfast.com, Jon Blake stated that the band has "fulfilled their contract" with Eulogy and have moved on. He also mentioned meeting with Tony Victory and being turned down a slot on Victory Records because "the label already has too many bands that sound like us."
References
- ^ "Sweat and Sacrifice" (feature on A Day to Remember). Alternative Press #254 (September 2009), p. 92.
External links
Categories:- American punk rock groups
- Heavy metal musical groups from Massachusetts
- Musical groups from Boston, Massachusetts
- American metalcore musical groups
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