Mars Electric

Mars Electric
Mars Electric, 1999
Background information
Also known as	Wish
Origin	Birmingham, Alabama
Genres	Hard rock Glam rock
Years active	1995–2003
Labels	Atlantic Records Columbia Records Portrait Records Atenzia Records
Associated acts	Lynam
Members
Jacob Bunton Chris Simmons Carl Ray Hopper Matt Finn

Mars Electric was an American rock band from Birmingham, Alabama.

History

Lead singer Jacob Bunton first formed the group under the name Wish in Birmingham in 1995.^[1] They signed with Atlantic Records in 1997 and recorded an album, but Atlantic dropped them before releasing any of their material.^[2] In 1999, legendary A&R guru John Kalodner signed the band to Columbia and released their debut record Beautiful Something in February 2000.^[3][4][5][6] The band consisted of Bunton on lead vocals, guitarist Michael Swann (later replaced by Chris Simons), Bassist Carl Ray Hopper, and drummer Matt Finn. The group toured with Stone Temple Pilots, Mötley Crüe, Live, 3 Doors Down, Nickelback, Vertical Horizon, Alice Cooper and Papa Roach following the album's release.^[2]

Mars Electric broke up at the end of 2000, and Bunton put together a group called Lynam, which would go on to have its own major-label contract a few years later.^[7] However, in 2003, Magnus Soderkvist of Swedish label Atenzia Records learned the group had recorded a second album which was never released, and offered to put it out on his label.^[2] The result was Fame Among the Vulgar, released in May 2003.^[8][9] By this time, Lynam had become Bunton's primary concern, and Simmons went on to play with Leon Russell later in the decade.

Members

• Jacob Bunton - vocals, guitar
• Chris Simmons - guitar
• Carl Hopper - bass
• Matt Finn - drums

Discography

• Beautiful Something (Portrait/Columbia, 2000)
• Fame Among the Vulgar (Atenzia Records, 2003)

References

1. ^ Radio Audiences Have Yet to Hear Hard Pop Sound of Mars Electric. The Sun News (Myrtle Beach, South Carolina), April 14, 2000. Accessed February 1, 2008.
2. ^ ^{a b c} Interview with Mars Electric. Ink 19. Accessed February 1, 2008.
3. ^ Mars Electric at Allmusic
4. ^ Review of Beautiful Something. Pop Matters. Accessed February 1, 2008.
5. ^ Review of Beautiful Something. laut.de. Accessed February 1, 2008.
6. ^ Review of Beautiful Something. Iowa State Daily. Accessed February 1, 2008.
7. ^ Review of Lynam, Life in Reverse. Alternative Addiction, November 13, 2004. Accessed February 1, 2008.
8. ^ Review of Fame Among the Vulgar. Melodic.net. Accessed February 1, 2008.
9. ^ Review of Fame Among the Vulgar. Ink 19. Accessed February 1, 2008.