CKY
Describe CKY here...Where to start? CKY is either an Alternative Rock group or an Alternative Metal group whose roots date back to 1992. They are known for utilizing unique sounding distortion and heavy rift based songs. The band currently consists of Singer/Guitarist Deron Miller, Lead Guitarist Chad I. Ginsberg, Drummer Jess Margera and live bassist Matty J.
Two of its key members met in high school in West Chester, PA when 14-year-old drummer Jess Margera (Brother of Margera)met 16-year-old Deron Miller becoming friends. Years later in 1995 they started a Sci Fi death metal band Call Foreign Objects, producing a impressive sounding 5 song EP. Eventually they started a more radio friendly project called Oil.
The two began recording new material in January 1997, which would be released months later as their self-titled second EP cassette (referred to as the Gold Tape), limited to 500 copies. Oil continued on through November 1997, when they started recording their first official album (which would later become CKY's Volume 1). It was during these recording sessions where they met engineer/producer Chad Ginsburg. Chad was attracted to Oil's song "Disengage the Simulator", and was asked to join the band as a second guitarist. This addition is the true beginning of CKY.
By 1998, with a concrete writing core of Chad Ginsburg, Jess Margera, and Deron Miller, and their live bassist Ryan Bruni, Oil dissolved. Sitting around a pizza place in West Chester, Deron came up with Camp Kill Yourself as the new band name, the new direction, the new movement. No more mainstream and no more pop appeal. Camp Kill Yourself finished writing and recording their first album as a group. The album, titled Volume 1, was released on February 27, 1999. The same day, they released an unofficial compilation album titled Volume 2; the CD contained demos, b-sides, and prank phone calls, serving as a soundtrack album for Jess' brother's first skate video.
That June, preparing to play the 2000 Warped Tour, Chad recruited their fourth live bassist, Vernon Zaborowski, who would be their most concrete bass player to date. During the tour, the band put out their first EP, Disengage the Simulator, which was limited to 2,000 copies. Starting that October, CKY's music appeared on the hit MTV show "Jackass", generating a flood of new fans. The show also featured band members themselves on certain episodes.
They are still going strong, having recently released their fourth studio album.
The group is also known for their "Ask CKY" section of their website which features over 10,000 questions from fans answered by the group as well as being very approachable honest people offstage.
- A Good Name for a Rock Band: Though actually it was originally considered a good name for a horror movie.
- Brutal Honesty:
- Epic Riff: 96 Quite Bitter Beings, Flesh Into Gear, Sink into the Underground, and Escape from Hellview.
- Face of the Band: Averted for the most part, though there was a phase when people assumed Bam Margera was in the band for some reason.
- He Panned It, Now He Sucks: The band is known for being... brutally honest about what they think about other band's music.
- Internet Backlash: Not against the band itself, but Rolling Stone Magazine received two very strong ones when they gave the band's albums Infiltrate Destroy Rebuild and An Answer Can Be Found a 2/5 and a 1/5 respectively, leading to the band being banned from Rolling Stone Magazine. The banning is considered a Crowning Moment of Awesome by the band's fans.
- One of Us: Singer/Guitarist Deron Miller is well known as a lover of horror movies, slashers in particular. He appeared on Bravo's 100 Scaries movie moments to talk about a few of his favorites.
- The Other Darrin: The group has gone through more bassists than Spinal Tap has drummers! It is currently on its sixth bass player, Matty J. now that Matt Deis is no longer able to play with the band. The others include (In chronological order) Drew, Andy Smith, Ryan Bruni, Vernon Zaborowski, Matt Deis, and Matty J. Only Deis has appeared on any of their albums.