I Killed the Prom Queen

I Killed The Prom Queen
Left to Right: JJ Peters, Jona Weinhoffen, Micheal Crafter, Sean Kennedy, Kevin Cameron
Background information
Origin	Adelaide, Australia
Genres	Metalcore
Years active	2000-2007, 2008, 2009 - (Hiatus)
Labels	Stomp Metal Blade Records
Associated acts	Eternal Lord Bleeding Through The Hunt For Ida Wave Deez Nuts Bring Me The Horizon Confession In Trenches
Website	Official MySpace

I Killed The Prom Queen is a metalcore band from Adelaide, South Australia. Formed in 2000, the band featured prominently on the Australian live music scene and toured the USA, Japan and parts of Europe several times. The band split up in April 2007 when guitarist Jona Weinhofen joined American band Bleeding Through but played a farewell tour in mid 2008. In early 2009, Jona Weinhoffen declared on myspace that the band is still together - just on Hiatus.

History

Formation and Choose To Live, Love Or Die (2000–2003)

The original line-up of I Killed the Prom Queen consisted of Weinhofen, drummer JJ Peters, vocalist Lee Stacy, bass guitarist Ben Engel and guitarist Simon O'Gorman. The following year, Michael Crafter joined to share the vocal duties. Leaton Rose replaced Engel soon afterward. The band then recorded a four track demo titled "Choose to Live, Love or Die". This was later re-released as an EP by Final Prayer Records, who also released a Split EP in 2003 featuring two songs by I Killed the Prom Queen ("Homicide Documentaries" and "Death Certificate for a Beauty Queen") and two by Parkway Drive.

Choose To Live, Love Or Die I Killed The Prom Queen's first release was the only one with Lee Stacey vocals and the then - high pitched Crafter vocals. The tracks were the old versions of those re-recorded for Your Past Comes Back To Haunt You

When Goodbye Means Forever (2003–2005)

After the release of Choose To Live, Love Or Die, O'Gorman was replaced by Kevin Cameron and Stacy left the band. Leaton Rose departed (to later join The Hot Lies) and Sean Kennedy took his place. The now familiar line-up of Crafter, Weinhofen, Peters, Kennedy and Cameron was in place and in September 2003, I Killed The Prom Queen began recording the album When Goodbye Means Forever... for Sydney hardcore label Resist Records. The album was subsequently released in the US by Eulogy Recordings on 30 March, 2004, leading to extensive touring there with bands that included Caliban, Evergreen Terrace, It Dies Today, Lamb Of God, Silverstein and Bleeding Through.

Your Past Comes Back To Haunt You (2005)

The group's next release was the EP "Your Past Comes Back to Haunt You" on 7 March, 2005. The recording included reworked older songs and a track by The Fall Of Troy (not to be confused with the US band, this band only played 2 shows then broke up) called "To Be Sleeping While Still Standing".

Music For The Recently Deceased (2005–2007)

By late 2005, I Killed The Prom Queen had completed recording a second album but in January 2006 Crafter was fired. Instead of releasing the album as it was, the band decided to hire a new vocalist and replace Crafter's tracks. Ed Butcher from British band The Hunt For Ida Wave was recruited and added his own lyrics, although many of the tracks remained similar. Music For The Recently Deceased was produced by Fredrik Nordstrom, whose other credits included Dimmu Borgir, Darkest Hour, At the Gates and In Flames.

The album was released on 31 July, 2006 by Stomp Entertainment and became a minor hit. Shortly afterward Metal Blade released the album in the USA, co-inciding with I Killed The Prom Queen's appearance at the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival. Returning to Australia, the band toured with The Haunted and Exodus and in December featured as the headlining act at the Metal for the Brain festival.

Break Up (2007)

On January 31, 2007, Ed Butcher flew back to his home town in the UK. In a statement released later by the band it was announced that he had departed due to homesickness and that he was no longer a part of the group. Butcher later joined UK band Eternal Lord.

Tyrone Ross from Mourning Tide temporarily filled the vocalist position during Japanese tour dates, and Colin Jeffs (of Bendigo band Heavens Lost) filled in on the European tour with Bleeding Through, However, on April 7, 2007, I Killed The Prom Queen announced their break up, citing both an inability to find a new vocalist and following Jona Weinhofen's departure for Orange County Metalcore band - Bleeding Through.

Shortly after the band ended, rumours began of a final Australian tour with the possibility of Michael Crafter returning for the shows.

Say Goodbye Tour (2008)

On 19 May 2008, Stomp re-issued Music For The Recently Deceased in a limited edition of 5,000 hand-numbered copies. The new release included a cardboard slipcase, two live tracks and four tracks with Crafter's vocals taken from the original album recording.

I Killed The Prom Queen's "Say Goodbye" tour took place in May and June 2008, with most shows selling out almost immediately. The supporting acts for the tour were Bring Me The Horizon, The Red Shore, The Ghost Inside and a local act from each city played at. Crafter returned to front the band on the tour, and a live DVD was filmed for later release. I Killed The Prom Queen played their final show in Brisbane on 8 June, 2008.

The Lineup For The Tour Was:

• Michael Crafter - Lead Vocals
• Jona Weinhofen - Guitar, Vocals
• Sean Kennedy - Bass
• JJ Peters - Drums
• Kevin Cameron - Guitar

The Songs Played At The Tour Was:

1. Sharks In Your Mouth
2. Say Goodbye
3. When Goodbye Means Forever
4. €666
5. To Kill Tomorrow
6. Never Never Land
7. My Best Wishes
8. Homicide Documentaries
9. Death Certificate Of A Beauty Queen
10. The Paint Brush Killer
11. Bet it All On Black
12. Your Shirt Would Look Better With a Columbian Neck-Tie
13. Choose To Live Or Die
14. Upon a Rivers Sky
15. To Be Sleeping While Still Standing
16. Pointed To My Heart

Hiatus (2008-Present)

Although the band stated they have broken up, in an interview with Blunt Magazine, Jona Weinhoffen has announced they have just taken a break to "Do their own thing and grow as musicians". He also said the band would not tour until they had a new release, because people would think they are just touring for the money, and he hopes to record a new I Killed The Prom Queen album in the next 12–18 months.

Post I Killed The Prom Queen

Currently Michael Crafter is fronting his new band called Confession and running clothing lable Mistake.

Jona Weinhofen was playing with Bleeding Through until 2009 and is now the Rhythm Guitarist in Bring Me The Horizon.

Kevin Cameron is playing with In Trenches and was also playing Bass full time in Deez Nuts until recently leaving the band for unknown reasons.

JJ Peters is still continuing as vocalist with Deez Nuts and also Grips & Tonic, and Sean Kennedy was playing bass full time in Deez Nuts until he was replaced by Jon Green.

Discography

Band Members

• Michael Crafter – Vocals (2000–2006, 2008-Present)
• Jona Weinhoffen – Guitar, Backing Vocals (2000–Present)
• Kevin Cameron – Guitar (2002–Present)
• Sean Kennedy - Bass (2003-Present)
• JJ Peters – Drums (2000–Present)

Former members

• Ed Butcher - Vocals (2006-2007)
• Colin Jeffs - Vocals (2007) (Filled in during the European tour)
• Tyrone Ross - Vocals (2007) (Filled in during the Japanese tour)
• Leaton Rose - Bass (2002-2003) (Now In The Hot Lies)
• Ben Engel - Bass (2000-2002)
• Simon O'Gorman - Guitar (2000-2002)
• Lee Stacy - Vocals (2000-2002) (Did vocals alongside Michael Crafter)
• Cain Kapetanakis - Guitar (2000-2001) (Recorded guitar for Choose To Love, Live Or Die but left before its release)

Member Timeline

| width="50%" align="left" valign="top" |

Timeline