Cupcakes (band)

Cupcakes were a Power pop band from Chicago who were signed to the DreamWorks record label and released one self-titled album in 2000. The band's drummer, Matt Walker, had previously played with the Smashing Pumpkins and Filter and would go on to play with Garbage and Morrissey.[1][2][3][4] Guitarist Greg Suran would go on to tour with the Goo Goo Dolls[5] and the B-52's.[6]

Cupcakes
OriginChicago, IL
GenresPower pop
Years active1996-2000
LabelsDreamWorks
Associated actsThe Smashing Pumpkins, Filter
WebsiteFacebook
Past membersMatt Walker
Preston Graves
Greg Suran
Solomon Snyder

History

Prior to forming the Cupcakes, Matt Walker, Solomon Snyder and Preston Graves had previously played together in a band called Tribal Opera. Following the break-up of Tribal Opera, Graves started working with Greg Suran, and by 1996 both Walker and Snyder had joined. They started performing as the Cupcakes. By 1997 they were signed by DreamWorks and they flew to London to record with notable producer, Stephen Street (The Smiths, Blur, the Cranberries). However, the label dropped the band shortly after their self-titled album was released in 2000.

Following the end of Tribal Opera, Walker had been touring with Filter when he was recruited by the Smashing Pumpkins to replace Jimmy Chamberlin.[7] He joined the Smashing Pumpkins, but left when Cupcakes got signed by DreamWorks.[8]

After Cupcakes

In December 2012, Graves and Walker formed a new band called Stuttgart, with Scott Tallarida, Thomas Walker and Michael Sinclair rounding out the line-up.[9]

Reception
  • "Alternating arena roar with moments of fey, falsetto fragility, and threading android synthesizers through power-chord anthems, the Cupcakes' debut is a big, bombastic dare." (Greg Kot, Chicago Tribune)[10]
  • "Ably propelled by former Smashing Pumpkins and Filter drummer Matt Walker and produced by Stephen Street (Blur, the Smiths, the Cranberries), these 13 tracks court wretched excess with walls of snarling guitars and chirping keyboards" (Jim DeRogatis, Chicago Sun-Times)[11]

Members
  • Preston Graves — vocals
  • Greg Suran — guitar, vocals
  • Solomon Snyder — bass
  • Matt Walker — drums

Discography

Albums
  • Cupcakes 2000 DreamWorks[12]

Compilation appearances
  • "Vidiots" - Back to School Domestic Sampler 1999 DreamWorks[13]
  • "Exaggerator" - 8 Trax Plus 2 1999 DreamWorks[14]
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References
  1. Phares, Heather. Cupcakes biography at AllMusic. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  2. Houlihan-Skilton, Mary (January 2, 1998). "Club Hopping". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  3. "Bye Pumpkins, Hello Cupcakes". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. November 18, 1997. Retrieved November 10, 2013. Smashing Pumpkins carves off a drummer — again. Matt Walker was hired by the band last year to replace Jimmy Chamberlin, who the other Pumpkins said was hitting controlled substances a bit hard. Walker will concentrate full time on his own band, Cupcakes. His final appearance with the band will be Dec. 5, when the Pumpkins open for the Stones at Miami's Orange Bowl.
  4. Carter, Nick (March 24, 2000). "Fans tune into the varied sounds and emotions of emo-core". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved November 10, 2013. Lead singer Preston Graves may garner recognition among those familiar with Chicago's industrial-rock scene a few years back, when he screamed for Tribal Opera
  5. Kim, Jae-Ha (May 31, 2002). "Goo Goo Dolls not ready for shelf". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  6. Eldredge, Richard L. (January 4, 2013). "Barnstorming days at an end for one B-52's member". Atlanta magazine. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  7. Kim, Jae-Ha (August 9, 1996). "Pumpkins name new tour musicians". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  8. Hindin, Seth (November 18, 1997). "Walker Leaving Smashing Pumpkins". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  9. "Stuttgart * Lucky 3 Blues Band * Ambassadors to Earth". Chicago: Bottom Lounge. November 7, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  10. Kot, Greg (Apr 7, 2000). "The Newly Minted, the Darling ... Cash Audio, Cupcakes, the Dishes and others". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  11. DeRogatis, Jim (March 19, 2000). "Cupcakes album review". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  12. Cupcakes (self-titled) at Discogs
  13. Back to School Domestic Sampler at Discogs
  14. 8 Trax Plus 2 at Discogs
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