Punkish Portland, OR, power pop quartet the Exploding Hearts had been playing together for over two years before their debut recording, Guitar Romantic, was released by Seattle-based indie Dirtnap Records in spring of 2003. Taking influence from bands like the Clash, the Undertones, and the Only Ones, the group comprised bassist Matt "Lock" Fitzgerald, drummer Jeremy "Kid Killer" Gage, vocalist/guitarist Adam "Baby" Cox, and guitarist Terry Six; early on, the band also included keyboardist "King" Louie Bankston and original bassist Jim Evans, but they both left prior to Guitar Romantic's release. The album won the guys (all in their early twenties) a well-deserved buzz among music fans, scribes, and labels, and the band was in high demand on the West Coast touring circuit. Tragically, though, just as the group was gearing up for a nationwide tour and rumored to be signing with Lookout! Records, their van veered out of control while returning home on July 20, 2003, from a San Francisco concert, killing Gage, Cox, and Fitzgerald. Six managed to escape with only minor injuries. Dirtnap released the LP Shattered in the fall of 2006, compiling singles from the band's much-too-brief career, including alternative versions and mixes, as well as their unreleased final recordings; the album also featured five songs of live footage from (what became) the Exploding Hearts' final show at San Francisco's Bottom of the Hill. ~ Wade Kergan, All Music Guide
Adam Cox (deceased)
Matt Fitzgerald (deceased)
Terry Six
Jeremy Gage (deceased)
Jim Evans King Louie Bankston
The Exploding Hearts were a punk rock and power pop band from Portland, Oregon. The band was composed of vocalist/guitarist Adam Cox, bassist Matt Fitzgerald, guitarist Terry Six, and drummer Jeremy Gage. Three of the band's members died in a car accident in 2003, after which no attempt was made to continue using the band name in any capacity.
During the early 2000s the band rose to prominence in the US Pacific Northwest scene with a combination of energetic live shows and extremely well received singles.
The band drew their influence from early British punk bands like The Undertones, Buzzcocks, The Jam, The Boys and The Only Ones, as well as pop acts like Nick Lowe. The Exploding Hearts led a revival of 1970s-era power pop and new wave in the Seattle and Portland area along with bands like The Briefs and the Epoxies on the then-Seattle-based Dirtnap Records. They released only one album, Guitar Romantic, during their existence as a band.
On July 20, 2003 the band was in a car accident which claimed the lives of three members. Their touring van flipped over on Interstate 5 just north of Eugene, Oregon while en route from San Francisco to Portland. Jeremy Gage and Adam Cox were thrown from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, Matthew Fitzgerald, died at a hospital. Terry Six and band manager Rachelle Ramos both survived with minor injuries.[1]
The band ceased to exist in the aftermath of the accident. Their popularity has continued to grow through word of mouth, however[citation needed].
Their song "Your Shadow" is featured in the EA skateboarding video game Skate.
Post-Exploding Hearts projects
Terry Six went on to front and play guitar for the Portland-based power pop band, The Nice Boys. Other members of the band include three former members of the Portland-based The Riffs: guitarist Gabe Lageson, bassist Colin Jarrell, and drummer Johnny Perrin. They have released a 7" single on Discourage Records entitled "You Won't See Me Anymore" b/w "Lipstick Love" and a S/T full length album on Birdman Records.
King Louie Bankston moved back to New Orleans and performs as the King Louie One Man Band. He also plays with The Royal Pendeltons and the Black Rose Band.
Albums
Guitar Romantic (CD/LP, 2003): The LP was released on Screaming Apple Records with an initial pressing of 1000. The CD was released on Dirtnap Records on March 24, 2003 with an initial pressing of 2300.
Shattered (CD, 2006): This Dirtnap Records CD is a compilation of all of the Hearts' singles, including their unreleased final recordings. There is also a five-song video collection of live performances from the band's second to final show at the Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco.
Singles
"(Making) Teenage Faces" (2002): Single release on Vinyl Warning Records with an initial press of 200 white and 300 black vinyl. The b-side is "Your Shadow". A second pressing of 500 on black vinyl was also made. The planned third pressing (which was to have a different cover) was canceled after the accident.
"Modern Kicks" (2003): The single version is different from the version on the full length album. The single was released on Pelado Records in a pressing of 700 black, 200 mixed colors. The b-side is "Busy Signals"
Compilations
Dirtnap Across the Northwest (2003): This Dirtnap Records label compilation featured The Exploding Hearts' cover of FU2's song "Sniffin' Glue."
