Second Coming (band)

Second Coming was an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1990. They relocated to Seattle, Washington around 1992 and released their debut album L.O.V.Evil in 1994. This band underwent several lineup changes throughout its existence with drummer James Bergstrom being the sole constant member. He and bassist Johnny Bacolas were ostensibly the nucleus of the band as they were only members who appeared on every album.[1] The two of them have been friends since childhood and they had also formed the rhythm section in an early incarnation of Alice in Chains that also consisted of vocalist Layne Staley and guitarist Nick Pollock; they called themselves Alice N' Chains.[2]

Second Coming
Johnny Bacolas, Travis Bracht, James Bergstrom, Eric Snyder
Background information
OriginSeattle, Washington, USA
GenresIndustrial dance, post-grunge, hard rock, alternative rock
Years active1990–2008
LabelsRed Rocket, TimeStyle Music, Capitol
Associated actsSleze, Alice N' Chains, Sweet Water, Peace and Silence, Soulbender, The Crying Spell, Post Modern Heroes, Lotus Crush
Past membersJohnny Bacolas
James Bergstrom
Travis Bracht
Maxi (Jesse Holt)
Junkeye (Ron Holt)
Davis Martin
Eric Snyder
Stamatina
Dudley Taft

Initially, this band was led by singer-guitarist Jesse Holt, nicknamed Maxi, who was the main songwriter for L.O.V.Evil. After 1995, however, Bacolas and Bergstrom reemerged with a different lineup that included vocalist Travis Bracht from Peace and Silence and guitarist Dudley Taft from Sweet Water.[1] In 1998, they released Second Coming,[1] which garnered much attention.[3] In 2001, Taft was replaced by guitarist Eric Snyder and two years later the group released a third album 13.[1]

History

Formation (1990-1994)

Second Coming started as an industrial dance band in 1990 in Los Angeles, California. The original lineup consisted of Jesse "Maxi" Holt (vocals, guitar and keyboards), his brother Ron "Junkeye" Holt (bass guitar, vocals, keyboards), James Bergstrom (drums) and Stamatina (keyboards). In 1992, they relocated to Seattle, Washington. Junkeye soon left the band and was replaced by Johnny Bacolas whilst Stamatina was replaced by percussionist and keyboard player, Davis Martin.

L.O.V.Evil (1994-1995)

In 1994 Second Coming independently released their debut CD L.O.V.Evil through Red Rocket Records. The album was produced by Maxi and all songs were written by Maxi except for "It's Coming After" (featuring Layne Staley) and "So Wired" written by Junkeye, and "The Great Big Burn" written by T-Roy and Maxi. Second Coming had several most-requested songs on Seattle radio station KISW, including "M.T. Your Gun," "It's Coming After," and "So Beautiful (And Everything)." There also was a music video for the song "Afraid of Love". Eventually, however, this lineup split into two parties fighting over the band name with Bacolas and Bergstrom winning out in the end.[4]

Second Coming (1996-2000)

In 1996, Johnny Bacolas and James Bergstrom formed a different version of Second Coming with guitarist Dudley Taft and vocalist Travis Bracht, adopting a heavier sound and immediately began work on their next album.[3] To raise funds for this album, Second Coming moonlighted as a cover band called FTA (Funding the Album).[3][5] Two years later, they independently released their eponymous album Second Coming, which was later reissued with three additional tracks by Capitol Records after the band signed an exclusive recording contract with them on May 8, 1998.[3][5] The band toured heavily with such as acts as Godsmack, Kid Rock, Lenny Kravitz, VAST, Candlebox, Fuel, and Monster Magnet.

13 and Acoustic (2000-2007)

The band parted ways with Capitol Records in 2001, not long after President Gary Gersh, who personally signed Second Coming, parted from the label.[3] They also replaced Dudley Taft with guitarist Eric Snyder and once again began working independently on their next album.[3]

In 2002, Layne Staley died after a long battle with drugs. A few months after this tragedy occurred, Second Coming headlined what would be the first annual tribute held in Staley’s honor around his birthday in August.[6] This first tribute also featured the band Soulbender whose vocalist at that time was former Alice N’ Chains guitarist Nick Pollock.[7]

In 2003, Second Coming released their third studio album 13 along with a companion EP Acoustic on their own label Timestyle Music and distributed both through their own website, iTunes and Amazon.com.

Final years and post-Second Coming (2007-present)

In 2007, Bracht began pulling double duty fronting both Second Coming and Soulbender after Nick Pollock stepped down from the latter. Meanwhile, Second Coming was also said to be working on another album that was due in 2007 but also has not been released.[1] It has since been confirmed on Facebook that Second Coming has been put to rest.

In 2008, Bacolas and Snyder worked on another project called The Crying Spell, releasing an album titled Through Hell to Heaven. This band performed with Live vocalist Ed Kowalczyk at the 2009 Layne Staley Tribute Concert.[8] As of 2012, Snyder is still with The Crying Spell, which has put out a second album Disgraceland, whilst Bacolas has left and joined another band called Lotus Crush,[9] which put out an album in 2011 called Half Light Morning.

In 2009, Travis Bracht formed another band called Post Modern Heroes along with almost every other member of his first band Peace and Silence, releasing their debut album Post Modern Heroes a year later.

Members

Discography
Studio albums
Year Album details
1994 L.O.V.Evil
  • Released: June 16, 1994
  • Label: Red Rocket
1998 Second Coming
  • Released: September 22, 1998
  • Label: Capitol
2003 13
  • Released: 2003
  • Label: Timestyle
Extended plays
Year Album details
2002 Acoustic EP
  • Released: 2002
  • Label: Timestyle

Charted songs
Year Title Chart Album
US Mainstream Rock
1998 "Soft" 16 [10] Second Coming
1999 "Vintage Eyes" 16 [10]
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References
  1. Prato, Greg. "Allmusic overview". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-12-11.
  2. Prato, Greg. "Grunge is Dead:The Oral History of Seattle Rock Music." p. 217. April 2009.
  3. Stav, Steve The Second Coming of Second Coming, "Intermittent Signals" September 1, 2001. Retrieved on 8 June 2011.
  4. Benedetti, Winda (19 December 1997). "Second Coming Makes Comeback With New Members And New Cd". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  5. Gargano, Paul. "Second Coming Maximum Ink". Maximum Ink. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  6. "Layne Staley Tribute and Benefit Concert w/ My Sister's Machine". Seattlerockguy.com. 2010-08-18. Retrieved 2011-10-02.
  7. "KNAC Pure Rock Newswire 08/23/02 Layne Staley Tribute and Benefit Concert w/ My Sister's Machine". Knaclive.com. Retrieved 2011-10-02.
  8. "THE CRYING SPELL, FACELESS Added To LAYNE STALEY Eighth Annual Tribute & Benefit Concert - July 31, 2009". Roadrunnerrecords.com. Retrieved 2011-10-02.
  9. "Lotus Crush at Reverbnation". Reverbnation.com. Retrieved 2011-10-16.
  10. "Charted Songs". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-12-11.
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