For the post-hardcore punk band from California, see
Fuel
Fuel is an American hard rock band formed by guitarist/songwriter Carl Bell and bassist Jeff Abercrombie in 1989. Originally known as Small the Joy, they changed the group's name to Fuel sometime in 1994. They are well known for their hit songs "Shimmer" from Sunburn, "Hemorrhage (In My Hands)" and "Bad Day" from Something Like Human, and "Falls on Me" from Natural Selection.
History
Early years
Fuel was originally formed in 1989 in Atlanta, Georgia by guitarist/songwriter Carl Bell and drummer Jody Abbott. Singer/guitarist Brett Scallions joined the group after Carl Bell and bassist Jeff Abercrombie saw him in a bar in Jackson, Tennessee in 1993.[1] That same year, keyboardist/vocalist Erik Avakian joined the lineup and the band moved to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 1994 where they played at local Pennsylvania bars and nightclubs. Their first EP Porcelain was released in 1996 and sold well locally, spawning a small radio hit with "Shimmer." The popularity of the EP brought them to the attention of Sony's 550 imprint, which released their second EP Hazleton the following year.
Upon signing to Sony, the band entered Longview Farm recording studios in Massachusetts, along with producer Steven Haigler and session drummer Jonathan Mover. The band's full length debut, Sunburn, came out in 1998. "Shimmer" was again included and almost became a Top 40 hit; while, the other singles ("Bittersweet," "Jesus or a Gun," and "Sunburn,") received some airplay. The songs "Shimmer" and "Sunburn" are also featured on the charitable album Live in the X Lounge. "Sunburn" was also featured in the movie Scream 3, and the band contributed the non-LP track "Walk the Sky" to the Godzilla film. The band hit the road in support of the release, but problems with Abbott continued. Once again Mover was enlisted, this time to play drums on tour while the band sought out a full time drummer to join. It should be noted that the liner notes for the cassette and CD issues of "Sunburn" list the band members as Carl Bell (guitar), Brett Scallions (vocals), Jeff Abercrombie (bass), and Kevin Miller (drums), although Jonathan Mover is credited with playing all the drums and percussion on the record. The band picture includes Miller, though he did not play on the record.
Something Like Human (2000)
In 2000, after lying low for two and a half years, Fuel came back with their second album, Something Like Human, and scored a Top 40 hit in the U.S. with "Hemorrhage (In My Hands)" which peaked at #30 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[2] Something Like Human proved to be a commercial success for the band, as the album peaked at #17 on the U.S. Billboard charts[3] and has been awarded multi-platinum status (2 million units sold) by the RIAA.[4]
Natural Selection (2003)
The group's third album, Natural Selection, named after Darwinian theory was released in September 2003 and debuted at #15 on the U.S. Billboard charts.[3] The extended lag time between Something Like Human and Natural Selection was due to legal problems[5] and lead singer Scallions having to recover from surgery to repair a deviated septum he suffered from an on-stage collision with Bell.[6] The album spawned the hit "Falls on Me," which peaked at #52 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.[2] Despite the exposure of the song, the album did not sell as well as Something Like Human did, and to date has not been awarded even Gold status by the RIAA.[4] The album was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2004 for best engineered album,[7] and the band contributed the song "Won't Back Down" to the Daredevil soundtrack earlier in the year. They released their greatest hits album The Best of Fuel on December 13, 2005.
Line-up changes (2004-2006)
Miller and Scallions leave
After disagreements (both public and private), drummer Kevin Miller was dismissed from the band in 2004. On February 7, 2006, Fuel announced through their website that singer Brett Scallions had left the band. Although the band (now with a new lead singer) said that Scallions left on friendly terms, Bell has stated that there were problems with Scallions' voice, "Brett had some voice issues…struggling with his voice at times... he had kinda lost a little bit of it."[8] Bell also wrote a letter on their website stating "We will all miss him and we wish him the best." Scallions refuted Bell's comments in an interview where he stated "...It wasn’t an enjoyable environment for me, and I don’t think for any of us really, except for Carl maybe – because Carl’s mind was set into his songs, his music, and that’s the way it was. For me, growing up and being a fan of music, being a fan of creativity, you wanna be a part of things, you wanna actually feel like you are in a band, and it just wasn’t feeling like that anymore."[9]
Daughtry receives lead singer offer
Fuel had already laid down the instrumental tracks for their fourth album and soon started auditioning singers so the band could move forward. Abercrombie and Bell took notice of American Idol contestant Chris Daughtry, after he performed "Hemorrhage (In My Hands)" on the show. The single shot up to the Top 10 download list on iTunes and stayed there for a number of days. This also sparked interest in other Fuel songs, which began to appear in the Top 100 download chart on iTunes. On March 3, 2006, judge Randy Jackson stated in an interview that Daughtry had been offered the opportunity to become Fuel's new lead singer.[10] Fuel confirmed their interest on their official website. On May 11, 2006, Abercrombie and Bell appeared on the TV show Extra to officially offer Daughtry the job.[11] However, though flattered, Daughtry turned down this offer.[12]
By this time also, Tommy Stewart, formerly of Godsmack, was named as Fuel's drummer on Fuel's Myspace page.[13]
New singer chosen
On June 8, 2006, Bell announced that the band has found a new lead singer but were waiting confirmation from the record label to announce it.[14] Still, they officially entered the studio in mid-August with producer Scott Humphrey to start recording their fourth album. Due to other commitments Stewart was not available to play drums on the album, so Tommy Lee and Josh Freese performed drums in his place. The band has posted photos from within the studio fairly often on the band's website and MySpace.
On March 9, 2007, Carl Bell officially announced that Fuel's next album, complete with new band members, was fully mixed and going to mastering, and on April 19, 2007, he posted on Fuel's official website that their new lead singer has been confirmed as Toryn Green.
Angels & Devils (2007)
On May 15, 2007, Bell announced the title of the new album - Angels & Devils - set to be released on August 7, 2007. On June 19, 2007, Fuel's first single from their new album, "Wasted Time," was released into rock radio and internet download and peaked at #24 on Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks. A second single, "Gone," was released on October 23.
Fuel performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Friday August 10, 2007.
Angels & Devils debuted on the Billboard 200 at #42, selling about 15,000 copies in its first week.[15]
Re-Fueled (2009)
Since concluding the tour for Angels & Devils, Fuel has shown little activity. News related to Fuel came up when in 2009, former frontman Brett Scallions got together with Jeff Abercrombie to start playing Fuel material under the group name Re-Fueled.[16] According to Scallions, "Jeff and I have remained friends, he called me up a while back and we decided - let’s go out and have fun because he and I haven't played together in a while. It just seemed like the timing was right."[16] Scallions has also recruited former Buckcherry guitarist Yogi, and former Candiria drummer Ken Schalk to round out the line up. The band has put together a list of tour dates for the fall where they are expected to be playing all the classic Fuel songs, from the band’s first three albums.[16]
Members
Current lineup
Former members
- Brett Scallions - lead vocals, guitar (1993-2006)
- Kevin Miller - drums, percussion (1997-2004)
- Jonathan Mover - drums, percussion (1994-1998)
- Jody Abbott - drums, percussion (1989-1997) (as Small the Joy)
- Erik Avakian - keyboards (1993-1996) (as Small the Joy)
- Larry Swartz - keyboards (1991-1993) (as Small the Joy)
- Todd Bobbet - rhythm guitar(1987-1989)(as Small the Joy)
Discography
Albums and EPs
Singles
- The singles from the first three albums are all featured on the retrospective album, The Best of Fuel, with the exception of "Million Miles" (it contains the song "Quarter" from the same album instead).
- "Shimmer" and "Sunburn" was distributed as a Double A-Side single in Australia. It spent 59 weeks in the Top 100 charts in 1998/99.
Notes
A single was also released for Natural Selection with the song Quarter, which was featured in Need For Speed: Underground
External links
