Blacklite District

Blacklite District
Blacklite District in 2020
Background information
Birth name	Kyle Pfeiffer
Also known as	Blacklite District
Born	(1990-06-09) June 9, 1990 Indiana, U.S.
Genres	Rock, hard rock, alternative
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter guitar player record producer
Instrument(s)	Vocals, guitar, keyboards, drums
Years active	2002–present
Labels	AK19 Entertainment, Silent Majority Group, Ping Pong Music, Roadrunner Records
Website	blacklitedistrict.net

Kyle David Pfeiffer (born June 9, 1990), better known by his stage name Blacklite District, is an American rock music, hard rock and alternative rock artist, among other genres. Raised in Indiana, Pfeiffer moved to Spearfish, South Dakota at a young age. Before taking the name as his own, Blacklite District was previously a band comprised by Pfeiffer and Roman James. Blacklite District has four songs which have reached Top 40 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. He is most known for songs such as 'Cold as Ice', 'Living in a Nightmare', and 'Goodbye'.

Early life

Kyle Pfeiffer was born on June 9, 1990, and grew up in Indiana before moving to South Dakota at a young age. As both of his parents struggled with drug addiction, Pfeiffer was raised by his grandparents, although he would see his mother occasionally.

On May 3, 1999, his mother passed away from a heroin overdose at the age of 27, when Pfeiffer was 9. Shortly after, Pfeiffer's uncle introduced him to Ozzy Osbourne's album No More Tears at age 10. Since this day forward, Pfeiffer "started Blacklite District... the rest is history." Pfeiffer credits Osbourne as his most significant musical influence and his first inspiration to pursue a career in music.

At the age of 10, Pfeiffer's grandfather bought him a drum kit from a Sears catalog after he expressed interest in a Fleetwood Mac VHS tape. Eventually, he rediscovered and became obsessed with Ozzy Osbourne's band, Black Sabbath. Pfeiffer began to write his own songs around this time.

In 2002, Pfeiffer started a band with his friends while in school. He graduated from Spearfish High School in 2009.

Notes

A track in a track list containing "(RM)" means it's "remastered track" from the original.

Career

Scream Out // Red, White and Black (2009-2010) "Lost Media Era"

(considered lost media)

In 2009 the band teased a debut album called "Red, White and Black" on December 5th, 2009. In 2010 the band released the Single "Confessed" on January 1st, 2010, and later the EP "Confessed" on January 16th, 2010. According to an Archived Site, the Album "Scream Out" was set to release June 25th, 2010, but it looked like it was delayed as in late 2010 according to an interview blogpost by RockTheDakotas "Scream Out" was now set to release in late fall of 2010. According to a Kyle Pfeiffer in the blogpost, Pfeiffer stated "I think over the last few years, it's always been about being something real. Having those classic hard rock influences, but in a fresh way, with our own style marked on it. Blacklite District is the real deal, and this is us literally screaming out -- no pun intended." The album was proceeded by the Single "Left Behind" in 2010.

No one knows what happened to these or if they exist at all nowadays as there's not much that's been archived from this era.

This Is Where It Ends (2011)

In early 2011, the band met with producer Stephen Short, who produced their debut album preceded by singles "Promised Land" om 2009 and "I'm Still Right Here" in 2011. The band released their debut album "This Is Where It Ends" on November 11th, 2011.

Track list:

1. I'm Still Right Here
2. This Is Where It Ends
3. She Ain't Comin' Home
4. Left Behind
5. Promise Land
6. Tragedy
7. Victim

'Better Just Beware' was released with the single "Promise Land" in 2009 but was not released to "This Is Where It Ends" and is now considered lost media.

This Is Where It Ends EP (2013)

In 2013, the band put out an EP containing 4 out of 7 tracks from the Album "This Is Where It Ends" as an EP titled "This Is Where It Ends" was released on October 1st, 2013.

Track list:

1. I'm Still Right Here
2. This Is Where It Ends
3. Left Behind
4. Victim

With Me Now - Worldwide Controversy (2012-2014)

In 2012, they were discovered by Creed manager Jeff Hanson who signed them with Silent Majority Group. Hanson referred the band to former Creed bassist Brett Hestla, who produced their next EP's and debut album. They released the Singles "Take Me To The Grave" in 2012, followed by With Me Now on July 9th and 10th, of 2013. Later the EP "With Me Now Pt.1" was released on October 13th, 2013, followed up with the EP "With Me Now Pt.2" on December 20, 2013, and went on tour with the bands Saving Abel and Art of Dying. They released their debut album "Worldwide Controversy" the following year. Their first charting single, "With Me Now", peaked at #34 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in 2013. Pfeiffer considers the release of "With Me Now" and “Take Me to the Grave” a "turning point" for the band. Later in 2014 the single "Higher Life" was released, which then was then put into "Through the Ages" in 2018.

The album was re-released on streaming platforms against Pfeiffer's will around March 12th, 2022, and was taken back down within days later. Pfeiffer in response of a (X) Twitter post stating "Worldwide Controversy is back on streaming platforms.100% AGAINST MY WILL!!" and stated that he's not been paid once for the Album since 2014. "I’ve never been paid ONCE from this album since 2014. I know some of the fans like this album, but I am beyond SCREWED by it being out!".

Track list:

1. Take Me to the Grave
2. I Gambled and I Won
3. Worldwide Controversy
4. With Me Now
5. Like Yesterday
6. Alone Tonight
7. Do it All Again (Crash and Burn)
8. Changed My Mind
9. I Want I Need
10. Damage Done

To Whom It May Concern & Paradise Over Era (2015-2016)

In 2015, former vocalist Roman James continued the band with a new lineup while Kyle Pfeiffer started a new band named "Paradise Over". Pfeiffer soon rejoined Blacklite District after running into issues with the record label. They released their second album "To Whom It May Concern" on October 7th, 2016. Pfeiffer shifted to vocals and the album leaned more towards hip hop and pop. Both "The Struggle" and "Broken Souls" received significant radio play across America.

Track list:

1. We Are the Danger
2. Broken Souls
3. The Ghost of You and Me
4. The Struggle
5. Them Days
6. Lights Out
7. Right Now
8. I Don't Really Care
9. One Way
10. All About the Change
11. Higher Life
12. The Struggle (Rocked Mix)

Rock Rage Radio interview (2016)

On October 10, 2016, Rock Rage Radio interviewed Pfieffer. In the interview, Pfieffer discussed his newly released album 'To Whom it May Concern' and his song 'The Struggle', saying that the meaning of it relates to him losing his mother when he was a little kid. He also discussed and approved of nightcore covers of his songs, crediting them as significantly boosting his visibility. He emphasizes the band's commitment to authenticity and their global reach, especially in European and South American markets.

Instant Gratification (2017)

In 2017, Blacklite District released their third album, titled "Instant Gratification". "Cold as Ice" reached #35 on Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay in January 2018. The band collaborated with Minecraft animator Rainimator to produce animated music videos for their songs. The music video for Cold as Ice has over 75 million views on YouTube.

Track list:

1. Living in a Nightmare
2. Goodbye
3. Slave to You
4. Cold as Ice
5. Just so You Know
6. Blood Red (Turn the Dollar Green)
7. Okay
8. No I Will Not
9. Starboy
10. Live and Learn

Through the Ages (2018)

"Hard Pill to Swallow" was released by the band on October 10, 2018, as the lead single for their fourth album "Through the Ages", stating that the song ushered in a "new era" for Blacklite District. The 17-song album featured very little guitar and had both Pfeiffer and James providing lead vocals. The band also began working with DZFX Media for their live-action music videos.

Track list:

1. Intro Me
2. Hard Pill to Swallow
3. Reconstruct
4. 1 of a Kind
5. Moments
6. Believing the Hype
7. That Time Has Come
8. Our Time
9. Coming Alive
10. Long Live Everyone
11. They Wonder How
12. Beyond Belief
13. This Place We Call Home
14. Down Low
15. Watch Me
16. Take the Fall (Bonus Track)
17. Higher Life (Original Version)

Souled Out (2019)

The band released "never came around" on March 22, 2019, followed by "Me Against the World" on September 6th, 2019, as the lead single for their next album, titled Souled Out. The song was featured on Sirius XM Octane.

Track list:

1. Me Against the World
2. Blood Bad
3. Thinking About You (feat. Morgan Rose)
4. Craving
5. Same Old Shit
6. Come and See Me (feat. Luke Wiley)
7. Never Forget It
8. Never Came Around

Blacklite District & You're Welcome (2020)

In early 2020, Blacklite District announced that Pfeiffer and James would be going their separate ways and Blacklite District would become a solo carrier. Pfeiffer removed the band's old albums (although they are still available on Amazon Music and YouTube channel Crimer HD. "To Whom it May Concern" and "Instant Gratification" were re-released in May of 2024 with a slight change to the track list. He released his self-titled album on his 30th birthday. The album features songs from "To Whom it May Concern" and "Instant Gratification". on July 17, 2020, he released "You're Welcome", featuring songs from "Through the Ages" and "Souled Out", as well as various new songs. The single "Falling" peaked No. 34 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts. It was accompanied by a Minecraft-themed music video which peaked at #3 trending on YouTube.

Albums that were Removed:

• To Whom It May Concern
• Instant Gratification
• Through The Ages
• Souled Out

Blacklite District track list:

1. We Are the Danger
2. The Ghost of You and Me
3. The Struggle
4. Cold as Ice
5. Okay
6. Living in a Nightmare
7. Goodbye (Rocked Mix)
8. Them Days
9. Lights Out
10. Right Now
11. I Don't Really Care
12. Slave To You
13. Broken Souls
14. No I Will Not
15. Starboy
16. One Way

You're Welcome track list:

1. Over This
2. Falling
3. Go Home
4. Wishing Dead
5. Try Again
6. Stars (feat. Waylon Reavis)
7. Blood Red (Turn the Dollar Green)
8. Cold as Ice (The Remake)
9. The Struggle Is Real
10. 1 of a Kind
11. Moments
12. Hard Pill to Swallow
13. They Wonder How
14. Come and See Me
15. Same Old Shit
16. Never Came Around
17. Just so You Know
18. Believing The Hype
19. Me Against the World

You're Welcome (Deluxe Edition) & 1990 (2021)

Pfeiffer checked into drug rehab on January 6th, 2021. While in rehab he continued to write songs, releasing singles for the Deluxe Edition of "You're Welcome". On December 31, 2021, Pfeiffer released the LP "1990", produced by Brett Hestla "Gotta Get Outta Here" was released on October 1 as the lead single. The song spent 16 weeks in the top-40 of the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and garnered over 10 million combined streams.

You're Welcome (Deluxe Edition)

Track list:

1. Over This
2. Falling
3. Go Home
4. Wishing Dead
5. Try Again
6. Stars (feat. Waylon Reavis)
7. Blood Red (Turn the Dollar Green)
8. Cold as Ice (The Remake)
9. The Struggle Is Real
10. 1 of a Kind
11. Moments
12. Hard Pill to Swallow
13. They Wonder How
14. Come and See Me (feat. Luke Wiley)
15. Same Old Shit
16. Never Came Around
17. Just so You Know
18. Believing The Hype
19. Me Against the World
20. Craving
21. Blood Bad
22. Thinking About You (feat. Morgan Rose) (RM)
23. Never Forget It
24. Comin' Alive (RM)
25. More Than Ready
26. With Me Now (2020)
27. Live Another Day
28. To Live Is to Suffer
29. Be Afraid
30. These Pills
31. Live Another Day (Acoustic Version)
32. To Live Is to Suffer (Stripped version)

1990

Track list:

1. Gotta Get Outta Here
2. Clear Skies
3. Someone Was out There
4. This Is Where It Ends (RM)
5. Room 23
6. Back Into Darkness
7. My Way Out
8. Confessed
9. Preach to the Choir
10. Thank You

1990 - XL, Blacklite District - XL & You're Welcome - XL (2022-2023)

In mid 2022, Pfeiffer announced that drummer Graham Spillman would be returning to record drums on the five bonus tracks of "1990 - XL". In November of the same year and January of the next, Pfeiffer and Spillman collaborated with long-time producer Brett Hestla and new guitarist Justin Sundlin to record remakes of old tracks, dubbed "XL" tracks. The band released "Blacklite District - XL" on June 9th, 2023, and "You're Welcome - XL" on December 8th, 2023.

1990 - XL

Track list:

1. Gotta Get Outta Here
2. Clear Skies
3. Someone Was out There
4. This Is Where It Ends (RM)
5. Room 23
6. Back Into Darkness
7. My Way Out
8. Confessed
9. Preach to the Choir
10. Thank You
11. Take Me to the Grave (RM)
12. I Gambled and I Won (RM)
13. Worldwide Controversy (RM)
14. With Me Now (RM)
15. Like Yesterday (RM)

Blacklite District - XL

Track list:

1. We Are the Danger XL
2. The Ghost of You and Me XL
3. The Struggle XL
4. Cold As Ice XL
5. Goodbye XL
6. Living in a Nightmare XL
7. Them Days XL

You're Welcome - XL

Track list:

1. Hard Pill to Swallow XL
2. Falling XL
3. Just so You Know XL
4. Wishing Dead XL
5. To Live Is to Suffer XL
6. 1 of a Kind XL
7. Craving XL

You Can Do Better (2024)

In late 2023, Blacklite District began recording their 4th album in a studio jointly owned by them and band Judd Hoos. The album is the first to feature new bassist Clinton Cunanan. The album was released on May 3rd, 2024.

Track list:

1. You Can Do Better
2. I Try Today
3. Fine Right Here
4. Try to Hold Me Back
5. I Play Along
6. Pretty in the Sky
7. Stricken Down
8. Give Me Life (feat. Judd Hoos)
9. The Drunk Man's Blues
10. Dying 4 You

Revival of To Whom It May Concern and Instant Gratification (2024)

In May of 2024, Pfeiffer decided to stop running from the past and brought back "To Whom It May Concern" and "Instant Gratification" to streaming platforms with a slight change because Roman James owned the tracks 'Live and Learn' and 'Higher Life'. So, Kyle replaced 'Live and Learn' with 'Okay - Stripped // Okay (Vocal Mallet Mix)' and replaced 'Higher Life' with the Original 'Higher Life' from 2014 and removed 'The Struggle (Rocked Mix)' from the album.

To Whom It May Concern

Track list:

1. We Are the Danger
2. Broken Souls
3. The Ghost of You and Me
4. The Struggle
5. Them Days
6. Lights Out
7. Right Now
8. I Don't Really Care
9. One Way
10. All About the Change
11. Higher Life

Instant Gratification

Track list:

1. Living in a Nightmare
2. Goodbye
3. Slave to You
4. Cold as Ice
5. Just so You Know
6. Blood Red (Turn the Dollar Green)
7. Okay
8. No I Will Not
9. Starboy
10. Okay - Stripped (Replacing 'Live and Learn') [Also known as "Okay (Vocal Mallet Mix)" on YouTube".]

Artistry

Pfeiffer's genres include "hard rock, hip-hop, alternative rock, trap, and electro-pop". Inspired by artists he listened to as a child, such as Metallica and Ozzy Osbourne, Blacklite District started as a hard rock project. He briefly experimented with pop styles before returning to hard rock in 2021. In a 2018 interview, Pfeiffer named artists like Fleetwood Mac, Linkin Park and Twenty One Pilots as influences.

Personal life

Pfeiffer began dating Amber Rice in September 2015, proposing to her on Christmas Eve of 2016. They married in December 2017. They raise Pfeiffer's son, Maddox, from a previous relationship and have a son together, Fitz.

Pfeiffer met his father for the first time at his mothers funeral and then never saw him again until he was an adult, when they reconnected. But soon, another tragedy struck, and Pfeiffer’s father committed suicide.

Prior to his suicide, Pfeiffer’s father was sending Pfeiffer text messages saying that he was suicidal. “This one time, I'm at Walmart, and he calls me. He's like, ‘Oh, man, you know, I'm sorry for sending you all these messages. I just never got over your mom. I'm, like, still bummed out,’ Pfeiffer recalled. And keep in mind this was like 15 years later… And then, about two weeks after that phone call, my wife sent me a screenshot of his wife from Facebook, and she posted like ‘Rest in Peace.’”

Pfeiffer has lived in multiple cities throughout his career. He moved to the Los Angeles area in 2012. He lived in Orlando for about six months while working with Brett Hestla on Worldwide Controversy.

From 2015 to 2017, Pfeiffer was hospitalized on multiple occasions for pancreatitis from years of severe alcohol addiction. He also suffered from opioid addiction, describing how he once spent thousands of dollars on fentanyl per month. Pfeiffer is now clean of alcohol and opioid use.

Chart History

Billboard US charting:

• "With Me Now" (2014) - No. 34 Mainstream Rock Songs
• "Cold As Ice" (2018) - No. 35 Mainstream Rock Songs
• "Falling" (2020) - No. 33 Mainstream Rock Songs
• "Gotta Get Outta Here" (2022) – No. 31 Mainstream Rock Songs

Discography

Albums

• This Is Where It Ends [November 11th, 2013] - Ping Pong Music
• Worldwide Controversy [22 April 2014] - Silent Majority Group
• To Whom It May Concern [7 Oct 2016] - AK19 Entertainment, LLC
• Instant Gratification [22 September 2017] - AK19 Entertainment, LLC
• Blacklite District / Instant//Concern) [9 June 2020] - AK19 Entertainment, LLC
• You're Welcome [17 July 2020] - AK19 Entertainment, LLC
• You're Welcome (Deluxe Edition) [8 June 2021] - AK19 Entertainment, LLC
• 1990 [31 December 2021] - AK19 Entertainment, LLC
• 1990 - XL [November 11 2022] - AK19 Entertainment, LLC
• Blacklite District - XL [9 June 2023] - AK19 Entertainment, LLC
• You're Welcome - XL [8 December 2023] - AK19 Entertainment, LLC
• You Can Do Better [May 3 2024] - AK19 Entertainment, LLC

Lost Media

• Red, White and Black (Album - 2009)
• Scream Out (Album - 2010)
• Confessed (EP - 2010)
• Confessed (Single - 2010)

External links

• Official website
• Kyle Pfeiffer at AllMusic
• Blacklite District at AllMusic
• Blacklite District at AlbumoftheYear