Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
Answers.com

Candlebox

 
Gale Musician Profiles:

Candlebox

Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Musicians

Rock group

The first band signed to Madonna’s Maverick Recording Company, Candlebox’s career grew from a spark to a multiplatinum flame with their self-titled debut. The group remained a viable force for nearly seven years, but never matched the success of their first release. The band dissolved in 2000 following the release of their third album, Happy Pills, in 1998.

The group’s original members—singer Kevin Martin, guitarist Peter Klett, bassist Bardi Martin, and drummer Scott Mercado—all hailed from Seattle, Washington. Kevin Martin moved to Washington from Texas at the age of 15 where he formed a friendship with the other members. In December of 1991, the foursome decided to start a band together. They named themselves Candlebox after the lyric "boxed in like candles" from the song "Tin Legs and Tin Miles" by Midnight Oil.

During this time, Seattle was a breeding ground for hit bands. Record company executives were flying to the city to discover the next popular band to come out of what was known as the "grunge scene" of the Pacific Northwest. Local bands faced a highly competitive environment in the club scene, and Candlebox could not get invitations to play in the hottest clubs. Instead,

they poured their savings into an eight-song demo, produced by their longtime friend Kelly Gray.

In 1992, Guy Oseary, an A&R representative for the Maverick Recording Company, arrived at a showcase at Los Angeles’ Club Lingerie. He was there to see Green Apple Quickstep, but showed up early enough to catch a performance by Candlebox. Oseary signed Candlebox to the first contract on the Maverick label. Since the company was owned by pop sensation Madonna, Candlebox received a great deal of attention—both good and bad.

Candlebox was released in 1993 and included the singles "You," "Change," and "Far Behind." Many critics bashed the band relentlessly. Some accused Candlebox of trying to cash in on the grunge movement. Almost a year after the album’s release, sales picked up, and it was certified gold. Not long after, the album burned up the charts, selling four million copies in the United States alone. "We’ve been pretty spoiled," Klett told Chris Gill in Guitar Player."It’s been very easy for us, but that’s due to the fact that the music’s good and people like it. It just seemed to click." Klett wrote most of the songs on Candlebox.

Despite brisk sales, critics did not give the band a break. The members of Candlebox soon learned to ignore the bad press and all of the comparisons to what were then considered "uncool" rock bands. "We’ve been compared to Kik Tracee, and we’ve been compared to Saigon Kick," Mercado told Alec Foege in Rolling Stone. "When people say we sound like an honest rock band," Kevin Martin continued, "that’s what we are."

After the release of Candlebox, the group embarked on an 18-month, 400-show tour. They opened for several different bands including Rush and Metallica, and they were in the lineup for Woodstock ’94. "We have fun onstage; we goof around," Kevin Martin explained to Jason Cohen in Rolling Stone. "We want people to have a good time."

The band headed right back into the studio after their tour ended to record their sophomore effort, Lucy."Being on the road for 18 months straight taught us a lot about ourselves—the inner mixing of the band and crew," Klett told Gill. "We’ve grown up and experienced life. I think that shows on this record." Despite the growth the band felt they had accomplished with the album, many critics continued to give them bad reviews. In Entertainment Weekly, Jim Farber called Lucy "fat-bottomed and lifeless."

Candlebox followed the release with its first headlining tour. In 1995, the group recorded a cover version of John Lennon’s "Steel and Glass" for Working Class Hero: A Tribute to John Lennon. In 1997, Mercado left the band and was replaced by Dave Krusen, who played drums on Pearl Jam’s Ten album. "We wanted to find a drummer who is as excited about music as we are," Kevin Martin told iMusic online. "Dave was the first guy I thought of. I’d seen him play, I’d known him for many years, and I knew he was an exciting drummer. He came in and made everybody comfortable with their ability." The day Krusen joined Candlebox, the group wrote four songs together and soon headed back into the recording studio.

In 1998, Candlebox released their third and final album, Happy Pills. It was produced by Ron Nevison, who had also produced for Led Zeppelin and The Who. "It’s Alright" was the first single released from the album. By this time, the members of Candlebox were fully prepared for the press bashing that they had received with their first two releases. "I don’t think the record is going to be readily accepted by the media, and that’s fine," Kevin Martin explained to Michael Moses at Launch.com. "We don’t sit down and write a record to please the critics, or to please Details, or Rolling Stone, or Spin magazine. We have a solid fanbase…. Those are the people we care about."

With Happy Pills in stores and on the radio, Candlebox headed out on tour that same year. In January of 1999, Krusen left the tour and the band with very little notice. Krusen was expecting his second child and decided that he needed to stay home with his family instead of continuing the tour. The remaining dates were postponed until the band could find a replacement. A month later, they recruited Shannon Larking, who played drums for Ugly Kid Joe. Larking agreed to temporarily fill in until the end of the Candlebox tour when the band could begin searching for a permanent replacement.

Neither Lucy nor Happy Pills came close to reaching the success of Candlebox. The group had gone through two drummers, and Kevin Martin and Klett decided to leave the band. Klett left Seattle and moved to Southern California to pursue a solo career.

Selected discography
Candlebox (includes "You," "Change," "Far Behind"), Maverick/Warner Bros. Records, 1993.
Lucy, Maverick/Warner Bros. Records, 1995.
(Contributor) Working Class Hero: A Tribute to John Lennon, Hollywood Records, 1995.
Happy Pills, Maverick/Warner Bros. Records, 1998.

Sources
Periodicals
Entertainment Weekly, September 23, 1994; October 13, 1995; July 24, 1998.
Guitar Player, July 1994; January 1996.
New York Times, December 7, 1995.
People, November 6, 1995.
Rolling Stone, January 27, 1994; February 23, 1995; November 2, 1995.
Stereo Review, January 1996.

Online
"Candlebox," iMusic Modern Showcase, http://imusic.artistdirect.com (January 13, 2001).
"Candlebox Continues Tour with Ugly Kid Joe Drummer," MTV News Gallery,http://www.mtv.com">http://www.mtv.com">http://www.mtv.com">http://www.mtv.com">http://www.mtv.com">http://www.mtv.com">http://www.mtv.com">http://www.mtv.com">http://www.mtv.com">http://www.mtv.com">http://www.mtv.com">http://www.mtv.com">http://www.mtv.com">http://www.mtv.com">http://www.mtv.com">http://www.mtv.com (January 13, 2001).
Candlebox Virtual Museum,http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Venue/7607/cboxinfo.html (January 13, 2001).
"Don’t Box Them In," Launch.com ,http://www.launch.com (January 13, 2001).
"Drummer Dave Krusen Leaves Candlebox," MTV News Gallery,http://www.mtv.com">http://www.mtv.com">http://www.mtv.com">http://www.mtv.com">http://www.mtv.com">http://www.mtv.com">http://www.mtv.com">http://www.mtv.com">http://www.mtv.com">http://www.mtv.com">http://www.mtv.com">http://www.mtv.com">http://www.mtv.com">http://www.mtv.com">http://www.mtv.com">http://www.mtv.com (January 13, 2001).
Search unanswered questions...

Enter a question here...
Search: All sources Community Q&A Reference topics

AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Artists:

Candlebox

Top
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Pop Artists
  • Genres: Rock

Biography

Candlebox rode the grunge bandwagon to multi-platinum success in the early '90s, despite howls of protest from the Seattle faithful who considered their music a watered-down version of the genuine article. To be sure, Candlebox's take on grunge diluted the punk and indie elements inherent in its original form; instead, they were rooted in the bluesy, classic-style hard rock that grunge had ostensibly replaced. Their resulting commercial appeal made them highly suspect in the minds of authenticity-obsessed scenesters, and it didn't help matters that the band hadn't formed until well after the Seattle hype machine had begun. Nonetheless, Candlebox unwittingly helped usher in the post-grunge era; along with Bush, they showed how the more challenging aspects of grunge could be ironed out and polished into a sound that mainstream rock radio could embrace without reservation.

Candlebox were formed in Seattle in December 1991 by singer/guitarist Kevin Martin, a native of Elgin, IL, who'd grown up partly in San Antonio, and drummer Scott Mercado. Initially calling the band Uncle Duke, they added lead guitarist Peter Klett and bassist Bardi Martin (no relation to Kevin) and changed the group's name to Candlebox, after a line in a Midnight Oil song. Their demo tape found its way to Madonna's Maverick label, which quickly resulted in a record deal in 1992. Candlebox's self-titled debut was released in 1993, and while the first single, "Change," began to build them a following, it wasn't until 1994, when the follow-up, "You," appeared, that Candlebox really started to take off. "You" gave them a breakthrough hit on mainstream rock radio, which set the stage for the success of "Far Behind," essentially a power ballad for the grunge era. "Far Behind" was a major hit on both mainstream and alternative radio, and also made the pop Top 20; its exposure helped Candlebox climb into the Top Ten on the LP chart and eventually sell over three million copies.

By the time Candlebox returned with their second album, 1995's Lucy, the backlash was already in full swing. Partly because of the group's previous momentum, the lead single, "Simple Lessons," earned some rock radio airplay, and the album itself went gold and barely missed the Top Ten. However, it was largely ignored or dismissed by much of the mainstream media, and was ultimately hurt by a relative lack of memorable songs. In 1997, founding member Mercado left the band and was replaced by original Pearl Jam drummer Dave Krusen. Candlebox's third album, Happy Pills, appeared in 1998 and marked a return to the more basic sound of their debut. "It's Alright," "10,000 Horses," and the title cut all landed some airplay, but the album sold poorly; by this time, countless bands were working in a similar style, and the band's early momentum had long since dissipated. Krusen departed in 1999, as did Bardi Martin; they were replaced by Shannon Larkin (ex-Ugly Kid Joe) and Rob Redick, respectively, but the group disbanded the following year. The original lineup of Martin, Klett, and Mercado re-formed for a handful of shows in 2006 to support the release of Rhino's Best of Candlebox compilation. The overall positive reunion stirred rumors of a new studio album, culminating in 2008's Into the Sun. ~ Steve Huey, Rovi
Wikipedia on Answers.com:

Candlebox

Top
Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
Candlebox

The band in 2008
Background information
Origin Seattle, Washington, United States
Genres Alternative rock, post-grunge
Years active 1991–2000, 2006–present
Labels Warner, Silent Majority Group
Associated acts The Gracious Few, The Hiwatts, The Kings Royal
Website www.candleboxrocks.com
Members
Kevin Martin
Peter Klett
Sean Hennesy
Adam Kury
Scott Mercado
Past members
Dave Krusen
Rob Reddick
Shannon Larkin
Bardi Martin

Candlebox is an American alternative rock band from Seattle, Washington. Since their debut, the group has released four studio albums, which have achieved multi-platinum and gold certification, as well as numerous charting singles, a compilation, and a CD+DVD.

The band has toured with such bands as Living Colour, The Flaming Lips, Our Lady Peace, Rush, Henry Rollins, Aerosmith, Godsmack, and Metallica. They were also a featured band on the main-stage at Woodstock '94 and made repeat live performances on Late Show with David Letterman.

Candlebox was the first successful act on Madonna's Maverick Records, which went on to sign Alanis Morissette, Deftones, and The Prodigy. After troubles with the label, however, Candlebox went on indefinite hiatus in 2000 after an alleged attempt to be freed from their contract. The band reunited in 2006, releasing their first studio album in 10 years and touring extensively.

Contents

History

Formed in November 1990, Candlebox originally went by the name Uncle Duke; they changed their name the following year, purportedly inspired by lyrics from the Midnight Oil song "Tin Legs and Tin Mines". The band was originally composed of Kevin Martin on lead guitar and vocals and Scott Mercado on drums. They then added Peter Klett on guitar and Bardi Martin on bass in late 1991.[1][2]

Rise to fame (1993–2000)

Kevin Martin in 2010

In their early career, Candlebox was occasionally looked down upon by members of the grunge movement; they criticized Candlebox's style and image as riding the grunge bandwagon.[3] Nevertheless, the band played the Seattle club circuit and toured relentlessly.

Their persistence paid off when their 8-song demo tape gained the attention of Maverick Records.[4] On July 20, 1993, Candlebox released their self-titled debut album. It sold more than 4 million copies and peaked at #7 on Billboard's album charts. Candlebox featured the hit singles "Change", "You", "Far Behind", and "Cover Me". "Far Behind" entered Billboard's top 20 in July 1993, peaked at #18, and stayed on the charts until January 1994. The tremendous radio, concert, and television success gained them a main-stage slot at Woodstock '94 and put Candlebox at the forefront of the 1990s post-grunge scene.

Hot off the success of Candlebox, the band was eager to progress and by April 1994 had 36 new songs for a follow-up record.[4] On October 3, 1995, Candlebox released their second album, Lucy. Although it marked the beginning of a commercial subsidence, Lucy was certified gold thanks to singles such as "Simple Lessons" and "Understanding". Two days after the release of Lucy, Candlebox appeared on Working Class Hero: A Tribute to John Lennon with their cover of "Steel and Glass". Drummer Scott Mercado left the band the following year and was replaced by former Pearl Jam member Dave Krusen.

On July 21, 1998, Candlebox released their third studio album, Happy Pills. While a return to the simpler sound of their debut, it gained only marginal success. The song "Glowing Soul" was also recorded for the soundtrack to The Waterboy and included at the request of Adam Sandler. Inspired by the film, the song was based on a Bo Diddley rhythm and recorded with vintage equipment.[1]

The following year would be a turbulent foreshadowing in the band's career. Krusen departed from Candlebox in 1999 and was replaced by Shannon Larkin of Ugly Kid Joe. Bardi Martin also left to attend college and was replaced by Rob Redick, formerly of Dig. By 2000, Candlebox went on hiatus. According to Martin, the band was unhappy with their record contract and attempted to be freed from Maverick by disbanding. The label considered Martin the sole remaining band member, but after two years of disputes over recording an obligatory fourth Candlebox album, Martin was terminated. As of 2007, Martin has received no royalties from album sales since 2001 and won't until the fourth record is paid back. Other band members, however, do receive royalties.[5]

The former Candlebox members would pursue other musical endeavors during the 2000s; in 2005, Kevin Martin recorded and performed as frontman of The Hiwatts. Peter Klett served as the leader of redlightmusic.

Reunion (2006–present)

In 2006, Rhino Records planned to release a "Best of" compilation of Candlebox. Band members were contacted of the issue which prompted the original band lineup to reunite for the first time in 10 years. To promote the compilation, Candlebox embarked on a three-month North American tour from July to October of that year. Bardi Martin dropped from touring in 2007 to continue his education to become a lawyer, allowing Adam Kury to take his place. During the time, the band would begin writing new material despite having no record label.[5]

After several delays, Candlebox released its first album in 10 years, Into the Sun, on July 22 via Silent Majority/ILG records. The album was produced by Ron Aniello (Lifehouse, Barenaked Ladies) and features performances by both Scott Mercado and Dave Krusen on drums. The first single, "Stand," was released to radio in mid-May and Candlebox officially commenced touring in support of the new record in June 2008. "Stand" reached as high as #15 on the U.S. Mainstream Rock chart.

On July 4, 2008 Candlebox performed at the O'Fallon, Missouri Heritage and Freedom Fest in front of a record crowd. Two months later, the band released a live CD/DVD called Alive in Seattle.[6]

On August 9, 2010 Candlebox kicked off a five-show stint overseas performing for U.S troops at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait and continued on to Iraq.

On April 3, 2012 Candlebox will release their 5th studio album, "Love Stories and other Musings".

Musical style

Candlebox's musical style, while predominately hard rock, has a wide range of influences. Some of their songs have strong references to blues, jazz, grunge, rock and even glam metal.[7] Despite various aforementioned classic roots, their music is considered contemporary.[8]

Band members

Current members

Former members

  • Bardi Martin - bass (1991–1999, 2006–2007)
  • Rob Redick - bass (1999–2000)
  • Dave Krusen - drums (1997–1999)
  • Shannon Larkin - drums (1999–2000)

Discography

Studio albums

Compilation albums

Live albums

  • Alive In Seattle CD+DVD (September 2, 2008)
  • Keepers of the Flame (Live in Milwaukee) (July 1994) (MP3 Download)

Other recordings

Singles

Year Title Peak
chart positions		 Album
US US
Alt.		 US
Main.
1993 "Change" — — 18 Candlebox
1994 "You" 78 18 6
"Far Behind" 18 7 4
"Cover Me" — 23 8
1995 "Simple Lessons" — 12 5 Lucy
"Understanding" — — 19
"Best Friend" — — —
1998 "It's Alright" — 32 2 Happy Pills
"10,000 Horses" — — 13
1999 "Happy Pills" — — 17
2008 "Stand" — — 15 Into the Sun
"Miss You" — — —
2009 "A Kiss Before" — — —
2012 "Youth In Revolt" — — — Love Stories and Other Musings

See also

Citations

  1. ^ a b Glowing Soul keepinyaregular Volume 4, Issue 2 (December 1998). Retrieved on 12-14-10.
  2. ^ "Candlebox Biography". http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p37741. Retrieved 2010-05-18. 
  3. ^ Candlebox - Full Biography VH1.com. Retrieved on 12-12-10.
  4. ^ a b Nussbaum, Beth R. Set to Ignite: Candlebox Playgirl (April 1994). Retrieved on 12-12-10.
  5. ^ a b Candlebox Interview Garage Radio Magazine (2007). Retrieved on 12-12-10.
  6. ^ "Alive in Seattle: Candlebox: Music". Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012EBU6Q. Retrieved 2011-07-15. 
  7. ^ "Candlebox". Encyclopedia of Popular Music. 07/04/2006. http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com.proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/subscriber/article/epm/51823?q=candlebox&article_section=all&search=article&pos=1&_start=1#firsthit. Retrieved 2010-05-18. 
  8. ^ "Candlebox". Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Oxford University Press. 07/04/2006. 

References

  • Foege, Alec (January 27, 1994). "New faces: Candlebox". Rolling Stone (674): 24.

External links

Candlebox
Kevin Martin · Peter Klett · Sean Hennesy · Adam Kury · Scott Mercado
Dave Krusen · Shannon Larkin · Rob Redick  · Stewart Griffin · Robbie Allen · Bardi Martin
Studio albums
Compilations
Live albums
Alive in Seattle
Singles
"Change" · "You" · "Far Behind" · "Cover Me" · "Simple Lessons" · "Understanding" · "Best Friend" · "It's Alright" · "10,000 Horses" · "Happy Pills" · "Stand" · "Surrendering" · "Miss You"  · "A Kiss Before"
Associated acts

The Gracious Few · The Hiwatts · The Kings Royal

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 

 

Copyrights:

Gale Musician Profiles. Contemporary Musicians © 1989-2010 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Artists. Copyright © 2012 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia on Answers.com. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Candlebox.  Read more

Related answers
» More
Answer these
» More
Follow us
Facebook Twitter
YouTube

Mentioned in

» More» More