The Cunninghams

Infobox musical artist
Name = The Cunninghams


Img_capt = The Cunninghams 1996, left to right: Tim Forsander, Scott Bickham, Seven Pearson, Eliot Freed and Eric Craig
Img_size = 250
Landscape = yes
Background = group_or_band
Origin = city-state|Seattle|Washington, USA
Genre = Alternative rock, Pop rock
Years_active = 1996–1998
Label = Revolution Records
URL = [http://www.myspace.com/thecunninghams Official MySpace]
Current_members = Seven Pearson
Eric Craig
Scott Bickham
Eliot Freed
Johnny Martin (musician)
Past_members = Corey Petro,Tim Forsander

The Cunninghams is an American band, originally formed in 1996 in Seattle, Washington. Described as power-pop or pop-punk, The Cunninghams made one album, Zeroed Out which was released in 1997 via Revolution Records/Warner Bros. Records. Members included Seven Pearson, Eric Craig, Scott Bickham, Eliot Freed and Johnny Martin (musician).

History

The Cunninghams were formed out of the ashes of Seattle rock band "Jesus Headtrip" in the spring of 1996 by vocalist Seven Pearson, guitarist Eric Craig,and guitarist Scott Bickham. Soon after recording demos for Giant Records, drummer Eliot Freed joined the fold and the band began playing the transitioning Northwest club scene. By the winter of 1996 the band was picked up by newly re-tooled label, Revolution Records (formerly Giant Records) headed by industry legend Irving Azoff. The Cunninghams debut album, "Zeroed Out" was released May 20, 1997 and was produced by Don Gilmore (Linkin Park, Dashboard Confessional, Lit, Pearl Jam) and mixed by Tom Lord-Alge. Los Angeles bassist and vocalist Johnny Martin was added to the line up and the single, "Bottle Rockets" debuted as the 3rd most added song at rock and alternative radio, behind only Collective Soul and The Wallflowers.Fact|date=August 2008 The band toured behind the album opening up for Matchbox Twenty, Cheap Trick, INXS, and Third Eye Blind. The accompanying music video for the "Bottle Rockets" single, directed by Nigel Dick (Oasis, Third Eye Blind, Matchbox Twenty) caught airplay on MTV’s 120 Minutes and was added to regular rotation on MTV2. The band performed on MTV’s Road Rules with Third Eye Blind, as well as MTV variety show "Oddville", in addition to having several tracks used on MTV’s Road Rules and The Real World. By the end of 1997 the band had appeared on CNN’s Showbiz Tonight, performed with Blur on Rockline, live at KNDD’s Endfest in Seattle, Wa. with headliners such as Offspring, Candlebox, Radiohead, Matchbox Twenty and at St. Louis’s Pointfest with headliners such as Cheap Trick, and Beck.

By 1998 the band had parted ways with vocalist Seven Pearson and brought in Vancouver writer and vocalist Wenzel Templeton, formerly of the band "The Daisy Chain". The newly fronted band wrote, recorded, and produced new music for Revolution Records only to learn that while the band was recovering from turmoil, the label was just entering into it. Label-head Irving Azoff began cleaning house, gutting the staff and most of the artists. The band re-named themselves "Boy Girl Radio" and proceeded to headline shows in Seattle and showcase in Los Angeles at The Opium Den, Roxy, and The Viper Room in search of a new label home. Upon returning from Los Angeles empty handed, Wenzel Templeton returned to Vancouver and the band called it quits.

In 1999, while Scott Bickham and Eliot Freed remained in Seattle, Eric Craig relocated to Los Angeles and took a position within Dreamworks Records marketing department. Seven Pearson also relocated to Los Angeles, and with bassist Johnny Martin in-tow formed the band "Jimmy Girl". In 2001 vocalist Seven Pearson was found dead in his Los Angeles apartment. Johnny Martin went on to become a member of the Los Angeles rock band The Chelsea Smiles.

In 2001 Eric Craig met writer and vocalist John Heintz, formerly of the band Farmer (Aware Records). The pair rounded out the line-up with drummer Eliot Freed (formerly of The Cunninghams), keyboardist Jamie Bennett and bassist Rodney Mollura, formerly of the band "Sonichrome" (Capitol Records) and called themselves "The Blue Mondays". The newly formed group was quickly courted by several major labels and signed by legendary executive Jimmy Iovine and Interscope Records. Soon after signing, the band discovered that a name change was imminent, as a copyright could not be obtained for The Blue Mondays. They settled on a new name; "Daysleeper". Next the band wrote some 75 songs, and by the end of 2002 headed into the studio with producer Ron Aniello (Lifehouse, Days Of The New, Guster) to produce their debut album, "Every Waking Moment". Upon completion the album was mixed by Randy Staub (Metallica, Nickleback) and delivered to Interscope. After months of discussion in regard to the sound of the album, the band executed a clause in their contract and departed Interscope before the album would be released.

In the spring of 2003 Eric Craig retired from music professionally and accepted a position with Lakeshore Records and Lakeshore Entertainment as Director of A&R and in-house music supervisor. Summer 2005 Wenzel Templeton and Eric Craig completed a new track, "Miss Disinformation Junkie" under Wenzel Templeton’s moniker "Zero The Antistar" that can be heard on the associated MySpace page. In the winter of 2006 Eliot Freed returned to Seattle. Johnny Martin continues to live in Los Angeles and play with The Chelsea Smiles.

Discography

*1997: "Zeroed Out" – The Cunninghams
*1998: "One Small Step" – Boy Girl Radio
*2003: "Every Waking Moment" – Daysleeper

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/thecunninghams The Cunninghams]
* [http://www.myspace.com/jonheintzmusic John Heintz]
* [http://www.myspace.com/jimmygirltheband Jimmy Girl]
* [http://www.myspace.com/zerotheantistar Zero The Antistar]
* [http://www.myspace.com/thechelseasmiles The Chelsea Smiles]

ources

* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:kpfyxqusldte~T4 Eric Craig on Allmusic]
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:dxfpxqthldte~T4 John Heintz on Allmusic]
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:fifwxqyhldje~T0 The Cunninghams on Allmusic]
* [http://www.michaelhutchenceinfo.com/seven_by_tinahutchence_feb04.htm Notes on Seven Pearson on Michael Hutchence Official site]