Rocketboy

Rocketboy
Cornerstone Festival, 1995
Background information
Origin	Covington, Georgia, USA
Genres	Alternative rock
Years active	1993–1997
Labels	R.E.X. Records
Associated acts	The Pain Cain's Pain Steel Water
Website	http://rocketboylives.com/
Past members
Trey Bailey (vocals, guitar) Slade Curtis (bass) Kip Bell (lead guitar) Tim "Yogi" Watts (drums, 1996-1997) Rob Jones (drums, 1994-1996) Joe Coleman (drums, 1994) Jason Parker (drums, 1993-1994)

Rocketboy was an American Christian rock band formed in Covington, Georgia in 1993. Commonly categorized simply as Christian rock, Rocketboy's musical style was heavily influenced by a hodge-podge of mainstream artists such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, R.E.M., Jimmy Buffett, and Vigilantes of Love.

The band initially performed under the name "The Pain" (also known as "Cain's Pain"). After signing a record contract with R.E.X. Records in 1995, the name "Rocketboy" was formally adopted.

History

Rocketboy was an offshoot of the Covington, Georgia band Steel Water. Steel Water included a line-up of several local musicians who performed together mainly at churches and private events. After the group dissolved, the three remaining members—Trey Bailey, Slade Curtis and Jason Parker—regrouped to form "Cain's Pain" (also known as "The Pain").

Cain's Pain added Atlanta-area lead guitarist Kip Bell and performed regularly at local churches, clubs and theaters. The band's early schedule included regular shows at The Strand Theater in Marietta, Georgia.

Between 1993-1995, the band toured the southeastern United States extensively as a modest but faithful fan base formed. In 1994, Joe Coleman (later of Teia Perma fame) replaced original drummer Jason Parker. Soon thereafter, the band recorded and self-released Smile. Singles from Smile appeared on the Cranial Captivity Records release of Cranial Captivity: Fettered in the Mind's Eye and the Floppy Fish Records release of Fish Faves Vol. 1.

In December 1994, Joe Coleman left the band and local drummer Rob Jones assumed permanent drumming duties. In early 1995, the band signed a record contract with the now defunct Nashville label R.E.X. Records. This marked a milestone for the band and their small-town garage rock style and modest exposure gave way to a punchier sound and a growing fan base in cities across the eastern United States. To signify this coming of age, the band dropped "The Pain" and adopted the name "Rocketboy".

In November 1995, Rocketboy recorded their first album with R.E.X. Records, No Sign of Intelligent Life (1996), at OMNIsound Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. The album was produced by Armand John Petri who had previously worked with The Goo Goo Dolls and 10,000 Maniacs. Though the album was a critical success among fans, the financial troubles of R.E.X. Records hindered marketing support of the release. Despite lack of label support, the band continued to play shows across the eastern United States sharing the bill with such groups as Third Day, MxPx and Plankeye.

Tim "Yogi" Watts assumed drumming duties for the band when Rob Jones left in March 1996. Rocketboy also hired David Mardis to manage the band's affairs and the recording of their follow-up album Now That We Have Your Attention (1997). Mardis had previously managed and produced albums for Third Day. Now That We Have Your Attention was recorded at Furies Studios in Atlanta, Georgia and was produced by Mardis.

The band's 1997 schedule included a tour with Bride in support of Now That We Have Your Attention, but once again had little label support. The band subsequently requested an unconditional release from their record contract. Touring continued through the end of 1997. On December 31, 1997, Rocketboy played their final show at The Warehouse in Lexington, South Carolina.

Reunion

In 2007, Rocketboy got back together for a short tour, and in 2008 announced that they were reforming to begin writing a new album, more than a decade after their previous release.

Discography

Smile (Independent release, 1994)

1. Loud

2. Prodigal Son

3. Onion Ring

4. Blind Drive

5. Shades of Grey

6. I Should...

7. Disappear

8. Peace or Pieces?

9. Heavy Metal

10. Eve

No Sign of Intelligent Life (R.E.X. Records, 1996)

1. Gary's Garage

2. Fly

3. Disco Ball

4. Call Me Kind

5. Siren Song

6. Wishing Well

7. An Angel's Kiss

8. Seed

9. Richard

10. I Should...

11. Shades of Grey

Now That We Have Your Attention (R.E.X. Records, 1997)

1. High Dive

2. Cool

3. Chaos

4. Siren Song

5. Mother May I

6. Illegitimate Son

7. Disco Ball

8. Between

9. Silver Love

10. Pretend

11. Call Me Kind

12. Breathe

See also

R.E.X. Records

External links

• Rocketboylives.com (Official Site)
• The New Normal: blog by Trey Bailey
• R.E.X. info at Answers.com
• Rocketboy albums at alibris.com
• Armand John Petri
• OMNIsound Studios