Shiny Toy Guns

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Shiny Toy Guns

The members of Shiny Toy Guns, as of 2008. Clockwise, from top-right: Jeremy Dawson, Sisely Treasure, Gregori Chad Petree, Mikey Martin
Background information
Origin Los Angeles, California, USA
Genre(s) Indie Rock
New Wave
Synthpop
Post-Hardcore
Experimental rock
Post-punk revival
New Prog
Years active 2002–present
Label(s) Universal
Associated acts Cloud2Ground
Slyder
Versant
Website www.shinytoyguns.com
Members
Gregori Chad Petree
Jeremy Dawson
Mikey Martin
Sisely Treasure
Former members
Carah Faye Charnow
Ursula Vari

Shiny Toy Guns is a Grammy-nominated American rock band originally from Shawnee, Oklahoma, that formed in 2002 in Los Angeles, California. They have released three versions of their first studio album We Are Pilots, which featured three singles that peaked inside the top 30 in the U.S. Modern Rock Charts. Their second album Season of Poison was released in 2008. The first single, "Ricochet!," hit #17 in the Modern Rock Tracks chart, which is the highest chart peak the band has reached on that chart. The second single, "Ghost Town" hit #26 in the Modern Rock Tracks chart.

Contents

[edit] History

The band was founded in 2001 by bassist and keyboardist Jeremy Dawson and vocalist and guitarist Chad Petree. Both had known each other for years growing up in Shawnee and worked together on previous music projects such as Cloud2Ground and Slyder.[1] After these projects, they went underground for a brief time, but continued making music together until enlisting vocalist Ursula Vari. In 2004, in Los Angeles, the band parted with Vari and hired Carah Faye Charnow as their new lead singer, as well as drummer Mikey Martin.

Shiny Toy Guns gained popularity in California as well as through their MySpace page. In January 2005, they released their first album We Are Pilots through record company Stormwest International. They began touring across America that summer in support of their album. We Are Pilots was re-recorded and re-released with a revised track list through record company SideCho in November 2005. Continuing to tour extensively, in June 2006 they signed with Universal Records and released a finalized copy of We Are Pilots on October 17, 2006.

Their song "You Are the One" has its roots in Jeremy Dawson's trance song "Neo", that was put out under the Slyder moniker. This song was used in the popular video games Grand Theft Auto III and FIFA 07.

On October 29, 2007, the band (using the alias "The Shinys") appeared on the children's television series Yo Gabba Gabba!.[2]

On December 6, 2007, We Are Pilots received a Grammy Award nomination in the category of Best Electronic/Dance Album, but lost to The Chemical Brothers.[3]

In August 2008, it was revealed that Carah Faye Charnow was no longer a member of Shiny Toy Guns and was replaced by Sisely Treasure, whose vocals are featured on the band's 2008 sophomore album, Season of Poison. "Ricochet!" was released as the first single from Season of Poison on September 2, 2008. It hit #17 on the Modern Rock charts - the highest the band has ever reached with a single on the modern rock chart. Carah Faye Charnow went on to pursue her new band Versant in Sweden.

On January 30, 2009, Shiny Toy Guns released the second single from their new album called "Ghost Town" which hit #26 on the Modern Rock Tracks charts.

In 2009, the band performed a cover of Peter Schilling's Major Tom (Coming Home). Initially used in a television commercial for the 2010 Lincoln MKZ, the song was released as a single on May 5, 2009.[4]

On July 19, 2009, Shiny Toy Guns appeared at the 2009 San Diego LGBT Pride Festival, performing on the festival's main Pride Stage. The band has been acclaimed for their contributions to the LGBT community.

It is also confirmed on their twitter page that the Shiny Toy Guns will be working on a song for a "huge disney film" for most likely 2010.[5]

[edit] Members

[edit] Former members

  • Carah Faye Charnow – Vocals, Bass, Keyboards (2003–2008)
  • Ursula Vari - Vocals (2002-2003)

[edit] Discography

[edit] Studio albums

Year Album Chart Positions RIAA Certification
U.S. Top
Heatseekers
Top Rock Albums Billboard Comprehensive Albums
2005 We Are Pilots Demo Version 1
  • First full demo version of the album
  • Released: January 2005
* U.S. Sales: n/a
2005 We Are Pilots Demo Version 2
  • Second full demo of the album
  • Released: November 2005
* U.S. Sales: n/a
2006 We Are Pilots
  • First Official release of the album
  • Released: October 17, 2006
90 1 95 * Copies Sold: 400,000+
2008 Season of Poison
  • Second studio album
  • Released: November 4, 2008
47 13 51 * U.S. Sales: 60,000+

[edit] Singles

Year Song U.S. Hot 100[6] U.S. Modern Rock[7] U.S. Dance Airplay[8] UK Singles Chart Hot Canadian Digital Singles Canadian Hot 100 Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles Album
2006 "Le Disko" 114 26 42 14 We Are Pilots
2007 "You Are the One" 25 23 94
2007 "Rainy Monday" 23
2008 "Ricochet!" 17 Season of Poison
2008 "Ghost Town" 26
2009 "Money For That"
2009 "Major Tom" 108 19 46 8 Major Tom Single

[edit] Compilation appearances

  • Goth Electro Tribute to Depeche Mode -(October 4, 2005; contributed "Stripped")
  • Goth Electro Tribute to Prince - (July 4, 2006); contributed "Nothing Compares 2 U")
  • This is Rave-Electro - (January 1, 2007; contributed "Stripped")
  • Gothic Divas - (January 1, 2007; contributed "Stripped")
  • Blood & Chocolate Soundtrack - (January 23, 2007; contributed "Stripped")
  • Monster New Wave Hits- (April 24, 2007; contributed "Stripped")
  • Bam Margera Presents - Viva La Bands, Vol. 2 - (September 4, 2007); contributed "Rocketship")
  • Nightmare Revisited - (September 30, 2008; contributed "Finale/Reprise")

[edit] References

[edit] External links


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