Jump to content

The Mooney Suzuki

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 74.73.184.201 (talk) at 05:12, 28 July 2008. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The Mooney Suzuki

The Mooney Suzuki is a NYC rock and roll band formed in 1996 by Sammy James, Jr. (guitar/vocals), John Paul Ribas (bass), Graham Tyler (guitar) and Will Rockwell-Scott (drums). They have released four albums and one EP, The Mooney Suzuki, People Get Ready, Electric Sweat, Alive & Amplified, and Have Mercy. The band's sound can be described as high-energy rock'n'roll, drawing heavily from mod, soul, garage, and British Invasion influences. Their name is taken from the first two singers of the 1970s German Krautrock band Can: Malcolm Mooney and Damo Suzuki.

History

The band was featured in the Madden 2005 soundtrack and in the ATV Offroad Fury 3 soundtrack, with their song "Alive and Amplified", as well as the Burnout 3 soundtrack, with "Shake that Bush Again." They appeared again in a video game, NHL 08, with "99%" from the album Have Mercy. The band has also appeared on the popular BBC 1 programme Friday Night With Jonathan Ross, as well as Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Ironic or not, the band is now the signature artist for the Suzuki brand (the automaker) and an edited version of "Alive and Amplified" appears on all Suzuki commercials. Around this time, the band wrote the theme song for School Of Rock and played guitar on the song. They also appeared in the movie, tuning their guitars backstage during the battle of the bands.

"Alive and Amplified", which broke into the UK Top 40 chart at #38, was featured once again in the 2005 remake of Fun with Dick and Jane, as well as the 2006 film Grandma's Boy. The band composed, as well as providing backing guitar for, the original songs performed by Jack Black and the Kids for the movie School of Rock.

The band's latest album "Have Mercy" was to have been released on V2 Records in summer 2007 (originally set for January 2007, and then spring, according to V2 marketing materials). Due to the reorganization of V2 announced in January 2007, the album was not released on that label, but instead came out on June 19th on indie label Elixia Records[1].

In 2007, the band recorded a cover version of Cher's "Just like Jesse James" for Engine Room Recordings' compilation album Guilt by Association, set to be released this September. Around this time, they also recorded the "spring soundtrack" for DKNY jeans. Currently the band is in the studio recording their fifth album and will make a cameo in Ben Stiller's film Tropic Thunder in summer of 2008. On May 12th, Sammy James Jr. mentored a young rocker for an episode of the award-winning MTV series MADE.[2]


Discography

Albums

EPs

Singles

  • Taking Me Apart (1998)
  • Love Is Everywhere (1998)
  • Turn My Blue Sky Black (1999)
  • Your Love Is a Gentle Whip (2000)
  • Hot Shitter (2002)
  • Oh Sweet Susanna (29 April 2002)
  • Hey Joe (2003)
  • In a Young Man's Mind (14 July 2003)
  • Shake That Bush Again (2004)
  • Alive & Amplified (17 January 2005)
  • 99% (2007)

The band has also appeared on many compilations including Fields and Streams (2002, Kill Rock Stars) with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and many soundtracks including School of Rock Soundtrack (2003, Atlantic Records) and 'Fun with Dick & Jane Soundtrack (2005, Varese Saranbande).

Members

Sammy James Jr has claimed that the band has had over 30 members, and that he wasn't intending to be like Spinal Tap. Notable past members include Nikolai Fraiture of the Strokes, Ryan Gentles (the Strokes manager), Jay Braun of the Negatones, Steven Mertens of Adam Green's band, plus Reno Bo and Marc Phillipe Eskenazi of Albert Hammond, Jr.'s band and many others. Members of The Strokes have claimed to be heavily influenced by the Mooney Suzuki in their early days. Sammy James Jr. also played guitar on Men Without Pants' debut album (featuring Russell Simins of Blues Explosion and Dan the Automator). Sammy James Jr. also played with Russell Simins in Karen O's sideproject Native Korean Rock. He appeared with Simins and O in Tiny Masters of Today's Hologram World music video. Founding member Graham Tyler has since left the band to become a graphic designer, while other founding member Will Scott has rejoined the band for their Have Mercy tour after leaving when the band completed Electric Sweat. Scott has also played drums for Apes & Androids. New guitarist Chris Isom has played with members of the Fiery Fernaces, Only Son, the Negatones, and currently fronts his own band, Loud Owls. Bass player Reno Bo is well known for his solo work along with playing with NYC band the Fame and now also plays bass with Albert Hammond, Jr..

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Mooney_Suzuki&oldid=228329214"