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Bleeker (band)

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Bleeker
Background information
Also known asBleeker Ridge
OriginOrillia, Ontario, Canada
Genres
Years active2003-present
LabelsFive Seven
MembersTaylor Perkins
Cole Perkins
Mike Vandyk
Chris Dimas
Past membersDustin Steinke
Dan Steinke
Websitewww.bleekerofficial.com

Bleeker are a Canadian rock band from Orillia, Ontario, consisting of Taylor Perkins, Cole Perkins, Mike Vandyk and Chris Dimas.

History

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Originally Bleeker Ridge, the band was formed by two sets of brothers: Taylor and Cole Perkins, and Dan and Dustin Steinke. They came together in 2003 when all four met at a music shop in Orillia, Ontario, when Perkins and Steinke were 12 years old. They first started playing covers of Jimi Hendrix and Joe Walsh songs before releasing their first two CDs, titled Undertow (2004) and The Rain (2007).[2] The band was scouted by various members of the music industry, but were often considered too young. Joe Kresta, an A&R director, saw the band in 2005 when he was with Universal Music Canada. Kresta said he was "totally amazed at what these 14-year-olds were doing, they had their shirts off, long hair and it was almost odd, these voices and that sound coming out of these little guys. There were guitar licks that you see guys three times their age doing, but I wasn't in A&R at the time, so I walked away thinking, 'Hey, that was really something special,' but they still hadn't found their own identity."[2]

The band's name Bleeker Ridge is from the street names where the two sets of brothers lived: the Perkins' lived on Bleeker St. and the Steinke's lived on Ridge Ave.[3]

The band later signed with Roadrunner Records. In the Summer of 2010, the band toured Canada with Airbourne as one of two opening acts, along with Social Code.[4] They released the album Small Town Dead, produced by Bob Marlette, on September 21, 2010 in Canada. The first single from the album was the title track "Small Town Dead".[2] The song charted on the Canadian Active Rock Charts, reaching the top 10.[5] In Spring 2011, Bleeker Ridge performed on the Canadian leg of the Jagermiester Music tour alongside My Darkest Days, Papa Roach, and Buckcherry.

They also released "You Would've Liked It" and "Sick of You" as singles in 2011.

Mike Vandyk, "Dutch", joined the band shortly after the album's release. Mike had been a session/recording & tour bassist for the band.

In April 2013, Bleeker Ridge released "Last Cigarette" as a single from their soon to be released album "Four", followed by "Go Home" a few months later. June 4, 2013, Bleeker Ridge's album "Four" was released.

After completing the recording of their new album with James Michael, who along with Nikki Sixx and DJ Ashba form the band Sixx:A.M., Dustin was asked to play drums for them on their Japanese debut at the Nippon Budokan on February 19, 2015 as part of VampPark Fest hosted by the rock band Vamps. After a successful show in Japan, they asked him to play drums on their first tour, the Modern Vintage Tour.

In January 2016, Dustin left the band and signed on with Sixx:A.M., and Bleeker Ridge changed their name to Bleeker. Dan left the band a few months later.

In 2017, Bleeker was nominated for Breakthrough Group of the Year at the Juno Awards.[6]

In 2023, Bleeker signed a management deal with Known Accomplice and have hinted that new music is coming towards the end of 2023.

Songs from the band's 2024 album "Messed Up" started to release as singles in 2024.

Prior to the start of the 2024 NHL playoffs, the band inked a deal with the league who would use the single "Let's Go" throughout the NHL playoff broadcasts. As a result "Let's Go" was feature multiple times a game in a majority of the games throughout the entire playoffs. "Let's Go" was also used as the opening montage in several games.

Let's Go was featured in the 2024 European Championships, most notably as the opening and introduction to team England on the European broadcast.

On June 28, 2024, the band released the album "Messed Up". The album was produced by Brian Moncarz and the band's own Chris Dimas, who, in addition to his role as the album's producer, took full responsibility to mix the record.

Band members

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Current members
Past members
  • Dustin Steinke – drums, backing vocals (2003– 2016)
  • Dan Steinke – guitar, backing vocals (2003– 2016)

Discography

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Studio albums

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Title Album details
Undertow (as Bleeker Ridge)
  • Released: 2004
  • Label: Self-released
The Rain (as Bleeker Ridge)
  • Released: 2007
  • Label: Self-released
Small Town Dead (as Bleeker Ridge)
Four (as Bleeker Ridge)
  • Released: June 4, 2013[8]
  • Label: Black Rose Communications
Erase You
Messed Up
  • Released: June 28, 2024 [10]
  • Label: Bleeker

Singles

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Title Year Peak chart positions Album
CAN
Rock

[11]
US
Alt.

[12]
US
Main.

[13]
US
Rock
Air.

[14]
"Small Town Dead"[15] 2010 Small Town Dead
"Last Cigarette"[16] 2013 Four
"Highway"[17] 2016 4 31 11 31 Erase You
"Where's Your Money"[18] 2017 30
"James Dean"[19] 2018 Non-album single
"Straight for the Money"[20] 2019 Self-Made
"Running Through the Flames"[21]
"Give a Little Bit More (Disaster)"[22] 2020 34
"Problems"[23]
"No Rain"[24] Non-album single
"—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Music videos

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Year Song Director
2010 "Small Town Dead"
2011 "Sick of You" Cody Calahan
2016 "Highway" Ben Guzman
2017 "Where's Your Money" Frankie Nasso
2019 "Straight for the Money" Stefano Bertelli
2020 "Disaster"
"Problems" Brendan Barnard

Juno Awards

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The Juno Awards are presented by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Bleeker has received one nomination.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2017 Bleeker Breakthrough Group of the Year Nominated

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Glasspublished, Polly (23 February 2017). "Introducing Bleeker, Canada's new grunge revivalists". Loudersound.com. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Bliss, Karen (2010-07-20). "Bleeker Ridge set to hit the road". Jam! Music. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved 2011-01-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ Beresford, Leah (2010-10-08). "Interview: Bleeker Ridge". Blare. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
  4. ^ Coutts, Anna; Mastronardi, Lori; Wong, Brian (2010-07-29). "Summer lovers embrace Autumn Friday". London Free Press. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
  5. ^ "Canada: Active rock". America's Music Charts. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
  6. ^ "Here Is the Full List of 2017 Juno Winners". Exclaim.ca. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  7. ^ "Small Town Dead - Bleeker Ridge - Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  8. ^ "Four - Bleeker Ridge - Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  9. ^ "Erase You by Bleeker on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  10. ^ "Messed Up by Bleeker on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  11. ^ "Bleeker – Chart History: Canada Rock". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  12. ^ "Bleeker – Chart History: Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  13. ^ "Bleeker – Chart History: Mainstream Rock Songs". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  14. ^ "Bleeker – Chart History: Rock Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  15. ^ "Small Town Dead - Single by Bleeker Ridge on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  16. ^ "Last Cigarette - Single by Bleeker Ridge on iTunes". Apple Music. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  17. ^ "Highway - Single by Bleeker on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  18. ^ "Where's Your Money (Alt Mix) - Single by Bleeker on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  19. ^ "James Dean - Single by Bleeker on iTunes". Apple Music. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  20. ^ "Straight for the Money - Single by Bleeker on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  21. ^ "Running Through the Flames - Single by Bleeker on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  22. ^ "Give a Little Bit More (Disaster) - Single by Bleeker on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  23. ^ "Problems - Single by Bleeker on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  24. ^ "No Rain - Single by Bleeker on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
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