The Exploding Hearts

Infobox musical artist
Name = The Exploding Hearts


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Origin = Portland, Oregon, United States
Genre = Punk rock, power pop
Years_active = 2001–2003
Label = Vinyl Warning
Pelado
Screaming Apple
Dirtnap
Associated_acts = The Nice Boys
URL = [http://www.explodinghearts.com/ explodinghearts.com]
Past_members = Adam Cox (deceased)
Matt Fitzgerald (deceased)
Terry Six
Jeremy Gage (deceased)
Jim Evans
King Louie Bankston

The Exploding Hearts were a punk rock and power pop band from Portland, Oregon. The band comprised of vocalist/guitarist Adam Cox, bassist Matt Fitzgerald, guitarist Terry Six, and drummer Jeremy Gage. Three of the band's members died in a car accident in 2003, after which no attempt was made to continue using the band name in any capacity.

History

During the early 2000s the band rose to prominence in the US Pacific Northwest scene with a combination of energetic live shows and extremely well received singles.

The band drew their influence from early British punk bands like The Undertones, Buzzcocks, The Jam, The Boys and The Only Ones, as well as pop acts like Nick Lowe. The Exploding Hearts led a revival of 1970s-era power pop and new wave in the Seattle and Portland area along with bands like The Briefs and the Epoxies on the then-Seattle-based Dirtnap Records. They released only one album, "Guitar Romantic", during their existence as a band.

On July 20, 2003 the band was in a car accident which claimed the lives of three members. Their touring van flipped over on Interstate 5 just north of Eugene, Oregon while en route from San Francisco to Portland. Jeremy Gage and Adam Cox were thrown from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, Matthew Fitzgerald, died at a hospital. Terry Six and band manager Rachelle Ramos both survived with minor injuries. [ [http://www.punknews.org/article/6618 "In Memoriam: Adam Cox, Matt Fitzgerald, and Jeremy Gage of the Exploding Hearts."] Punknews.org. July 21, 2003.]

The band ceased to exist in the aftermath of the accident. Their popularity has continued to grow through word of mouth, however.

Their song "Your Shadow" is featured in the EA skateboarding video game "Skate".

Post-Exploding Hearts projects

Terry Six went on to front and play guitar for the Portland-based power pop band, The Nice Boys. Other members of the band include three former members of the Portland-based The Riffs: guitarist Gabe Lageson, bassist Colin Jarrell, and drummer Johnny Perrin. They have released a 7" single on Discourage Records entitled "You Won't See Me Anymore" b/w "Lipstick Love" and a S/T full length album on Birdman Records.

King Louie Bankston moved back to New Orleans and performs as the King Louie One Man Band. He also plays with The Royal Pendeltons and the Black Rose Band.

Albums

*"Guitar Romantic" (CD/LP, 2003): The LP was released on Screaming Apple Records with an initial pressing of 1000. The CD was released on Dirtnap Records on March 24, 2003 with an initial pressing of 2300.

*"Shattered" (CD, 2006): This Dirtnap Records CD is a compilation of all of the Hearts' singles, including their unreleased final recordings. There is also a five-song video collection of live performances from the band's second to final show at the Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco.

ingles

*"(Making) Teenage Faces" (2002): Single release on [http://www.vinylwarning.com Vinyl Warning Records] with an initial press of 200 white and 300 black vinyl. The b-side is "Your Shadow". A second pressing of 500 on black vinyl was also made. The planned third pressing (which was to have a different cover) was canceled after the accident.

*"Modern Kicks" (2003): The single version is different from the version on the full length album. The single was released on Pelado Records in a pressing of 700 black, 200 mixed colors. The b-side is "Busy Signals"

Compilations

*"Dirtnap Across the Northwest" (2003): This Dirtnap Records label compilation featured The Exploding Hearts' cover of FU2's song "Sniffin' Glue."

References

External links

* [http://www.explodinghearts.com/ The Exploding Hearts] (official site)
*MusicBrainz artist|id=e0fc22ed-6fff-4161-8ff7-a568cdbe7850|name=The Exploding Hearts
* [http://www.deafsparrow.com/FeatureExplodingHearts.htm Article on the Exploding Hearts History]
* [http://www.operationphoenixrecords.com/explodingheartsinterview1.html Maximumrocknroll Interview] - Exploding Hearts interview from MRR #240