Super 8 (band)
Super 8 were an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. They were active from 1993 to 1997, releasing their sole full-length album through Hollywood Records.
Super 8 | |
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Origin | Los Angeles, California, USA |
Genres | Alternative rock, funk metal |
Years active | 1993-1997 |
Labels | Hollywood Records |
History
The band started in Los Angeles during 1993 with singer Bob Khaleel, a former hip hop artist from The Bronx. Khaleel had been working in the LA punk-funk scene since 1990, and Super 8's formation was encouraged by his friends in the Red Hot Chili Peppers.[1] He hooked up with John O'Brien (guitars), and the two began writing, later rounding out the band with Heming Borthene (bass), Joel Shearer (guitars) and John Steward (drums)[1] In 1995, they signed to Disney's Hollywood Records.[2] A Super 8 cover of the song "Well, Well, Well" was included on the 1995 Hollywood Records compilation Working Class Hero: A Tribute to John Lennon.[3] Khaleel listed The Beatles as being one of his biggest influences.[4]
The band recorded their self-titled debut at Seattle's London Bridge Studios, with Rick Parashar of Pearl Jam fame.[5] While recording the album, guitarist Joel Shearer got invited to play on the Alanis Morissette album Jagged Little Pill.[6] Super 8 was released in May 1996, and spawned the radio single "King of the World".[7] To support the album, Super 8 toured with AC/DC[8] and Deftones, an act Khaleel had helped discover.
From April 1997 to June 1997, the band opened for former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante on his Nuttstalk tour.[9][10][11] They ceased being active not long afterwards.
Khaleel went on to record a solo album for Hollywood Records in 1998,[12] while Joel Shearer became a well-known session musician, following his success with Jagged Little Pill.[6]
Musical style
According to AllMusic, the band's debut "falls somewhere between the soul-minded retro-rock of Lenny Kravitz and the Seattle grunge of Pearl Jam and Stone Temple Pilots."[5] They also note "Though some of the songs are fairly psychedelia-influenced (especially "Railroad" and "Going Nowhere"), no one will mistake this CD for a late-'60s or early-'70s recording--Rick Parashar's production techniques are very '90s, and John O'Brien's guitar playing has '90s alternative rock written all over it."[5]
Members
- Bob Khaleel - Vocals (1993 - 1997)
- Joel Shearer - Guitar (1993 - 1997)
- John O'Brien - Guitar (1993 - 1997)
- Heming Borthene - Bass (1993 - 1997)
- John Steward - Drums (1993 - 1997)
Discography
Super 8
Date | Region | Format | Label | [5] |
---|---|---|---|---|
May 7, 1996 | North America | CD | Hollywood | |
March, 1997 | Europe | CD w/ bonus track | Hollywood | |
March, 2020 | Worldwide | Digital | Hollywood | |
Singles
- "King of the World" (1995)
- "Natural" (1996)
Music videos
- "King of the World" (1996)
Appearances
- "Well, Well, Well" (Working Class Hero: A Tribute to John Lennon, 1995)
- "Early Walk" (Schooloaf (Everything But The Crust), 1997)
- "Pain" (Nightwatch, 1997)
References
- https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-RandR-IDX/IDX/90s/96/RR-1996-05-24-OCR-Page-0080.pdf
- http://www.emol.org/music/tina/tinasept96.html
- "Working Class Hero: The Definitive Lennon - John Lennon | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". Retrieved Jul 16, 2020 – via www.allmusic.com.
- News, Deseret (March 19, 1999). "Music connects people by dissolving barriers, singer says". Deseret News.
- "Super 8 - Super 8 | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". Retrieved Jul 16, 2020 – via www.allmusic.com.
- "COMPOSER". JOEL SHEARER.
- https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Hard-Report/1996/Hard-1996-06-21.pdf
- "AC/DC Tour History - 19 Aug. 1996 Denver (McNichols Sports Arena)". www.ac-dc.net.
- Writer), BEN JONES (Daily Staff. "Bring in da funk, bring in da noise: Nuttstalk '97". Iowa State Daily.
- "Road Shows". www.austinchronicle.com. May 23, 1997.
- "Red Hot Chili Peppers Live Archive". Red Hot Chili Peppers Live Archive.
- "People Watching - Khaleel | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". Retrieved Jul 16, 2020 – via www.allmusic.com.