Flotsam and Jetsam (band)

Flotsam and Jetsam

Flotsam and Jetsam is a thrash metal band that formed in Phoenix, Arizona in 1982.

Band history

1981-1986: The Beginning

De band's o'iginal dojigger wuz "Paradox" founded by Drumma' Kelly Issac-Smelly and two oda' guitarists, until 1982 when bassist Jason Newsted joined. Jason had mosey on down to Phoenix wid his band "Gangster" fum Michigan on deir way t'Califo'nia, but Gangsta' broke down while in Phoenix. Kelly and Jason (also doin' de vocals) played deir fust professional gig as "Dredlox" togeda' wid guitarists Amos Vasquez and Kevin Ho'ton. 'S coo', bro. Kelly saw 'A.K.' (Eric A. Knutson) sin'in' "De Goodbye Girl" at his high farm talent show. In 1983 dey wuz in de same summa' farm class and Kelly ax'ed Eric A.K. if he wants'ed t'audishun. Dey put him on 2 week probashun and den Eric A.K. joined da damn band. Due t'de provisional nature uh his membership, de band referred t'Eric A.K. as "de 2 weeker. Ah be baaad..." Ed Carlson, fum local rival band called "Exodus" (no associashun t'de Califo'nia Bay Area drash meta-fuckin'l band uh de same dojigger), also joined in 1983 afta' Kevin left da damn band. De dojigger uh de band changed into "De Dogz", but it dun didn't last long. Eventually de band redojiggerd itself 'Flotsam and Jetsam' afta' writin' some song inspired fum some chapta' of J. R. R. Tolkien's De Two Towers. De band made its live debuts in local clubs and in Califo'nia and had da damn oppo'tunity t'play wid bands such as Megaded, Armo'ed Saint, Alcatrazz, Malice, Exciter, Mercyful Fate, Riot, Autograph. In 1985 guitarist Amos left and 17 year old Michael Gilbert joined da damn band. Flotsam and Jetsam released two demo tapes Iron Tears and Metal Shock in 1985. Dey created deir own video Hammer'haid fum de Metal Shock demo, dig dis: "We taped it in Jason and Ed's apartment livin' room. 'S coo', bro. We also made some live video fum de infamous Bootlegga' in Phoenix." Dose combined wid de demos made some baaaad impession on Reco'd labels and afta' dey contributed t'de Speed Metal Hell II and Metal Massacre VII compilashuns, dey gots some deal wid Metal Blade Reco'ds.

1986-1988: Doomsday for the Deceiver

Then Flotsam and Jetsam recorded their first album in Los Angeles with producer Brian Slagel. The release of Doomsday for the Deceiver was on July 19, 1986. It was the first in KERRANG's history to achieve the 6K rating.

Bassist Jason Newsted, who was also the band's main lyric writer, departed soon after to join Metallica, replacing their bassist Cliff Burton, who died in an accident. On Halloween night 1986, Jason played his last gig with Flotsam and Jetsam. The band had asked another local bassist Phil Rind of Sacred Reich to fill in Jason's place for a short time. They then hired Michael Spencer from the Sacramento band "Sentinel Beast". Flotsam and Jetsam signed with Metallica's label Elektra Records before touring Europe with Megadeth in 1987.

1988-1992: No Place for Disgrace and When the Storm Comes Down

Michael Spencer lost his position to Troy Gregory in 1988, and in May the same year the band's second album No Place for Disgrace was released. It includes a cover of Elton John's hit Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting and therefore a video was shot. The band opened for King Diamond in America. Also toured with Megadeth, Testament and Sanctuary in Europe on the "So Far.., So Good.., So What" tour.

Flotsam and Jetsam signed with Major label MCA and began to work on their third album When the Storm Comes Down, which was released in May 1990. The band expected to gain recognition with this album, but it suffered from a very poor production and didn't meet fans expectations.

1992-1995: Cuatro

Troy Gregory left the band shortly after for Prong and the band had to find a new bassist once again, eventually hiring Jason Ward to fill the role. Cuatro, released 1992, saw the band change their style – no typical speed or thrash metal songs are included. Flotsam and Jetsam made some efforts concerning the promotion: four singles were released and videos were shot for the songs Swatting at Flies and Wading Through the Darkness.

1995-1999: Drift and High

Their fifth album Drift was released in April 1995, with three singles released off of the record. Jason dedicated it to his older brother Jeff Ward, former drummer of such bands as NIN, Ministry, Revolting Cocks and Lard, who died in 1993. A long break followed the release of the album.

During Flotsam and Jetsam's tour with Megadeth and KORN they had been dropped from MCA and returned to their former label Metal Blade Records. On their 1997 album High the song titles were designed with the font types/logos of famous bands like Iron Maiden, Metallica, Kiss, Van Halen, AC/DC, Judas Priest, Misfits etc. The sound were more experimental than before and the album also featured the Lard cover song Fork Boy, but it didn't impress the fans as much as their earlier work.

Michael Gilbert and Kelly Smith left the band after the release and were replaced by guitarist Mark Simpson and drummer Craig Nielsen. With the new line-up Flotsam and Jetsam toured in Europe together with Anvil and Exciter.

1999-2002: Unnatural Selection and My God

Unnatural Selection was released in 1999 and Mark Simpson took a short break. He joined the band again in 2000 to record a new album, My God released in May 2001, and most of the songs were written by Mark. At that time Eric A.K. had founded a country band, the A.K. Corral. He then left the band, demotivated after spending fifteen years waiting for success. Though Flotsam and Jetsam did not disband, there was a long break at that time. They found a new singer in James Rivera who took over vocal duties live. Later the band felt that no one other than Eric A.K. could be their singer and Rivera left the band soon after.

2002-2006: Live In Phoenix and Dreams of Death

During 2002 and 2003 the band were active only sporadically, but Eric A.K. rejoined for live dates in the Phoenix and Los Angeles areas in 2003. A live recording of these shows was released in 2004 as a live concert DVD under the title Live in Phoenix. Signed to the Crash Music label in May 2004 and with Eric A.K. joining the band again officially, they hit the road with Overkill and Death Angel for a series of concerts in Japan that sold out venues with capacities of over 1,000 people.

Spring 2005 Flotsam and Jetsam returned to the studio to work on their new album. The lyrics were mostly inspired by Eric's nightmares. This resulted into a concept album entitled Dreams of Death - like track 2 of No Place for Disgrace. The album was released July 2005.

2006-present: Live In Japan, Once in a Deathtime and The Cold

The live DVD Live in Japan was released in February 2006 and shows their concert in front of thousands of screaming Japanese fans at the Citta Club in Tokyo 2004.

Doomsday for the Deceiver was re-released in November 2006 by Metal Blade Records to celebrate the album's twentieth anniversary. This set (2 CD and DVD) includes the original recording of Doomsday and a re-mixed and re-mastered version and also the two Flotsam and Jetsam demos. The bonus DVD includes rare live material, an interview filmed at Kelly's High School and a photo slide-show.

In Spring 2008 Metal Mind Productions remastered and re-released the albums When the Storm Comes Down, Cuatro (including 5 bonus tracks), Drift (including 3 bonus tracks) and Dreams of Death. Unfortunately for the fans "No Place for disgrace" could not be remastered due to existing legal issues between the band and their former label Elektra Records and former manager Eric Braverman.)

In March 2008 Flotsam and Jetsam toured in Europe and played at the Metalmania Festival in Poland. This show was filmed and released as DVD Once in a Deathtime in July. Midyear 2008 the band were signed to Driven Music Group, founded by former KORN guitarist Brian "Head" Welch.

Flotsam and Jetsam's new record The Cold was released on september 14, 2010. It was the last album with Mark Simpson on guitar. He left the band in friendship and was replaced by returning guitarist Ed Carlson, who had quit the band in March 2010, to be replaced by Michael Gilbert.

Members

Current members

• Eric A. ('A.K.') Knutson - vocals (1983–present)
• Michael Gilbert - guitar (1985–1997, 2010–present)
• Ed Carlson (1983–present)
• Jason Ward - Bass (1991–present)
• Craig Nielsen - drums (1997–present)

Former members

Vocals

• James Rivera (tour only) (2001)

Guitars

• Kevin Horton (1982–1983)
• Mark Vazquez (1982–1984)
• Mark Simpson - guitar (1997–2010)

Bass

• Jason Newsted (1982–1986)
• Phil Rind (1986)
• Michael Spencer (1987)
• Troy Gregory (1987–1991)

Drums

• Kelly David-Smith (1982–1997)

Discography

Albums

• Doomsday for the Deceiver (1986, Metal Blade)
• No Place for Disgrace (1988, Elektra Records)
• When the Storm Comes Down (1990, MCA Records)
• Cuatro (1992, MCA Records)
• Drift (1995, MCA Records)
• High (1997, Metal Blade)
• Unnatural Selection (1999, Metal Blade)
• My God (2001, Metal Blade)
• Dreams of Death (2005, Crash Music)
• The Cold (2010)

Singles/EPs

• Flotzilla (1987)
• Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting (1988)
• Suffer The Masses (1990)
• The Master Sleeps (1990)
• Selections from CUATRO (1992)
• Never To Reveal (1992)
• Swatting At Flies (1992)
• Wading Through The Darkness (1992)
• Cradle Me Now (1992)
• Smoked Out (1995)
• Blindside (1995)
• Destructive Signs (1995)

DVDs

• Live in Phoenix (2004)
• Live in Japan (2006)
• Once in a Deathtime (2008)

External links

• Official website
• Band Myspace
• Jason Ward Myspace
• Mark Simpson Myspace