Destrophy
Encyclopedia
Destrophy is an alternative metal
band from Des Moines, Iowa City, Iowa
, formed in 2002 by singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer Ari (Aristotle Mihalopoulos). Bassist Phil Tschechaniuk, drummer Joe Fox and (former The Autumn Offering
) guitarist Erik Tisinger round out the current line-up.
The band has released two studio albums and one EP on Inner Light Records and are currently signed with Victory Records
releasing two studio albums and three singles with the label.
Destrophy are currently managed world-wide by the Inner Light Agency, and have performed with artists such as OTEP
, Type O Negative
, Drowning Pool
, Korn
, Disturbed, Five Finger Death Punch
, Stone Temple Pilots
, Saliva
, Avenged Sevenfold
, Papa Roach
, Soilwork
, and Buckcherry
, among others. The band's MySpace
, Facebook
and Inner Light Agency portfolio pages keeps an accurate account of their current tours and shows.
The song Reconnect from their 2009 self-titled Victory Records debut was used by TNA
Wrestler Jesse Neal
as his entrance theme song. Jesse Neal is featured in the music video for the song as well.
For October and November 2011 tour dates, some Destrophy members perform as the live backing band for OTEP
as a supporting act along with Earth Crisis
, for Cavalera Conspiracy
who are on the North American stint of their current tour.
as part of their management team and won the Rock 108
Battle of the Bands competition. March 2004 saw the official release of their first self-produced album, Chrysalis, on Inner Light Records. The 12-track album featured a cover of Send Me an Angel
by Real Life
and an extended version of Let It Go. The lead track, Let It Go was featured on compilations and helped provide the band with exposure. A video for Why I Hate Goodbye (Directed by Chad Calek) was released in 2004.
song Paint It, Black
. Destrophy released a video for the title track Pray (Directed by Ben Hill) that same year. Ari and Tschechaniuk were soon joined by Joe Fox on Drums, and guitarist Bruce Swink (ex-Downthesun
and Stone Sour
) for live shows and touring in support of the Pray release, as well as introducing new songs that would be featured on their next album.
at Wembley Arena
in London opening for Sami Yusuf
at A Concert for Peace in Darfur.
Ari returned state-side in time to release the bands second full-length album The Way Of Your World, which was be released on Saturday October 27, 2007. The album featured new music as well as re-recorded versions of selected songs off both the Chrysalis and Pray EP. A video for This Is Not My Life (Directed by Ben Hill) was released to help promote the album. In late 2007, Destrophy embarked upon a US tour in support of the new album throughout much of 2008.
, Taproot
, Ill Nino
, and others). With a brand new record deal, the band released their eponymous major label debut on Tuesday October 27, 2009. The first single The Way Of Your World was released to radio stations nationwide and a video was also released to promote the album. While the single experienced plays on radio, streaming, and on-demand services, the video made it on to MTV2
and Fuse TV
.
The albums second single Reconnect was licensed to TNA Wrestler Jesse Neal as his entrance music. The official video for the single, features Jesse Neal himself. The live version of the song was featured on the VicTorV Live video podcast..
Destrophy's self-titled album was added to TouchTunes Interactive Networks, making the album available on Jukeboxes in various clubs, bars, and restaurants.
Ari was featured on the June 2010 cover of the MAX Sports & Fitness magazine (published by Muscle and Strength), with a multi-page article on Ari's kettlebell training, as well as a discussion on Destrophy in the studio recording their latest release Cry Havoc.
(of Eye Empire
, ex-Stuck Mojo
) who also performs guitar solos on Cry Havoc and Still Bleeding. Closer became the bands first radio single, accompanied by an official video release. Once again, the bands single experienced exposure on radio, streaming, and on-demand services with the video seeing frequent airplay on MTV2 and Fuse TV. The video was also featured on the VicTorV video podcast.
According to Ari, The phrase, "Cry Havoc" comes from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, and at least for "our album basically means go kick some as". The title track and much of the album was influenced by the Spartan stand at Thermopylae, "which to me is the perfect example of holding true to one's way of life at any cost".
Currently, Destrophy members Ari on guitar, Fox on drums, and Tisinger on guitar have been playing as the backing band for Otep Shamaya
(OTEP) during the October and November 2011 tour dates.
Past members
Alternative metal
Alternative metal is a genre of alternative rock and heavy metal that gained popularity in the early 1990s. Most notably, alternative metal bands are characterized by heavy guitar riffs and experimental approaches to heavy music.-Origins:...
band from Des Moines, Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, formed in 2002 by singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer Ari (Aristotle Mihalopoulos). Bassist Phil Tschechaniuk, drummer Joe Fox and (former The Autumn Offering
The Autumn Offering
The Autumn Offering is an American metalcore band that formed in Daytona Beach, Florida in 1999. After achieving some degree of local success, the band was signed to Stillborn Records, founded by Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed, in 2003. The band released one album through this label...
) guitarist Erik Tisinger round out the current line-up.
The band has released two studio albums and one EP on Inner Light Records and are currently signed with Victory Records
Victory Records
Victory Records is a Chicago-based record label founded by Tony Brummel. It is a privately held corporation. It also operates a music publishing company called "Another Victory, Inc." and is the distributor of several smaller independent record labels....
releasing two studio albums and three singles with the label.
Destrophy are currently managed world-wide by the Inner Light Agency, and have performed with artists such as OTEP
Otep
Otep is an American heavy metal band formed in 2000 in Los Angeles, California by Otep Shamaya.-History:Otep originally was a four-piece nu metal band that began in Los Angeles, California in early 2000...
, Type O Negative
Type O Negative
Type O Negative was a gothic metal band from Brooklyn, New York City. The band also incorporated elements of doom metal and thrash metal. Their dramatic lyrical emphasis on themes of romance, depression, and death resulted in the nickname "The Drab Four"...
, Drowning Pool
Drowning Pool
Drowning Pool is a four-piece alternative metal band from Dallas, Texas.-Early days :Drowning Pool rose to fame while playing along with Ozzy Osbourne during an Ozzfest tour. Their 2001 debut album, Sinner was certified platinum within six weeks...
, Korn
Korn
Korn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The current band line up includes four members: Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and Ray Luzier. The band was formed as an expansion of L.A.P.D.The band released their first demo album,...
, Disturbed, Five Finger Death Punch
Five Finger Death Punch
Five Finger Death Punch is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 2005, the group's name is derived from classic oriental martial arts cinema. The band originally consisted of vocalist Ivan Moody, guitarist Zoltan Bathory, guitarist Caleb Bingham, bassist Matt Snell,...
, Stone Temple Pilots
Stone Temple Pilots
Stone Temple Pilots is an American rock band from San Diego, California that consists of Scott Weiland , brothers Robert DeLeo and Dean DeLeo , and Eric Kretz ....
, Saliva
Saliva (band)
Saliva is an American rock band formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in September 1996 and currently under Island Records. Saliva released their self-titled debut album on August 26, 1997, under Rocking Chair Records....
, Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold is an American heavy metal band from Huntington Beach, California. Formed in 1999, the group consists of vocalist M. Shadows, lead guitarist Synyster Gates, rhythm guitarist Zacky Vengeance, bassist Johnny Christ....
, Papa Roach
Papa Roach
Papa Roach is an American rock band from Vacaville, California. Their first major-label release was the triple-platinum album Infest . The group's success continued with their gold album Lovehatetragedy , their platinum album Getting Away with Murder , The Paramour Sessions , and Metamorphosis...
, Soilwork
Soilwork
Soilwork is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Helsingborg. They are currently signed to Nuclear Blast. Formed in late 1995 by Björn Strid and Peter Wichers, originally under the name Inferior Breed, the band changed their name in late 1996 to Soilwork .Their sound is a fusion of the classic...
, and Buckcherry
Buckcherry
Buckcherry is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California formed in 1995. The band released two albums, Buckcherry and Time Bomb , before partially dissolving in the summer of 2002. In 2005, lead vocalist Josh Todd and lead guitarist Keith Nelson reformed Buckcherry and released a new album...
, among others. The band's MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
and Inner Light Agency portfolio pages keeps an accurate account of their current tours and shows.
The song Reconnect from their 2009 self-titled Victory Records debut was used by TNA
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is a privately held professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett. The company broadcasts its events on television and the Internet fifty two weeks a year with over a million weekly viewers on its primary television program, Impact...
Wrestler Jesse Neal
Jesse Neal
Jesse Neal is an American professional wrestler and a former member of the U.S. military. He is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , where he is one half of the tag team Ink Inc., with his partner Shannon Moore....
as his entrance theme song. Jesse Neal is featured in the music video for the song as well.
For October and November 2011 tour dates, some Destrophy members perform as the live backing band for OTEP
Otep
Otep is an American heavy metal band formed in 2000 in Los Angeles, California by Otep Shamaya.-History:Otep originally was a four-piece nu metal band that began in Los Angeles, California in early 2000...
as a supporting act along with Earth Crisis
Earth Crisis
Earth Crisis is an American metalcore band from Syracuse, New York, active from 1989 until 2001, reuniting in 2007. Their most recent record, To the Death, was released in May 2009 through Century Media....
, for Cavalera Conspiracy
Cavalera Conspiracy
Cavalera Conspiracy is a Brazilian heavy metal band founded by brothers Max and Igor Cavalera , along with American guitarist and bassist Marc Rizzo and Johny Chow. The band originally formed in 2007 as Inflikted but changed its name for legal reasons...
who are on the North American stint of their current tour.
1999 - 2002: Formation
Destrophy began as a project created by Ari while attending High School in the 1990's in Iowa City, Iowa. Ari began to focus on the direction and identity of the project he had created, and began writing and recording songs under the Destrophy moniker. Ari worked with Phil Tschechaniuk (bass guitar) and began seeking out talented musicians to complete the bands line up for live shows. The live version of Destrophy for 2002 through 2005 would be Ari on vocals and guitar, Tschechaniuk on bass, Kevin Smith on guitars, and Ryan Berrier on drums.2002 - 2004: Chrysalis
In 2003, Destrophy worked with Curt SmithCurt Smith
Curt Smith is an English musician. He is best known for forming the band Tears for Fears, along with childhood friend Roland Orzabal. Also a solo artist, he released his third album Halfway, Pleased in May 2008....
as part of their management team and won the Rock 108
KFMW
KFMW, known as "Rock 108", is a radio station based in Waterloo, Iowa. The station has an active rock format. Its signal is transmitted from the AFLAC Tower north of Rowley, Iowa.-History:...
Battle of the Bands competition. March 2004 saw the official release of their first self-produced album, Chrysalis, on Inner Light Records. The 12-track album featured a cover of Send Me an Angel
Send Me an Angel (Real Life song)
"Send Me an Angel" is a 1983 song by Real Life. Initially released on Real Life's debut album Heartland, it is the band's most known song. This version originally peaked in early 1984 in the US at #29 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart....
by Real Life
Real Life (band)
Real Life are a Melbourne-based Australian New Wave/Synthpop band that had hits with their debut single, "Send Me an Angel" and with "Catch Me I'm Falling" , both of which were featured on the band's debut album Heartland .-Biography:...
and an extended version of Let It Go. The lead track, Let It Go was featured on compilations and helped provide the band with exposure. A video for Why I Hate Goodbye (Directed by Chad Calek) was released in 2004.
2005 - 2006: Pray EP
The Pray 5-song EP was recorded and produced by Ari and released in 2005 on Inner Light Records. The EP featured a cover of the The Rolling StonesThe Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
song Paint It, Black
Paint It, Black
"Paint It, Black" is a song released by The Rolling Stones on 13 May 1966 as the first single from their fourth album Aftermath. It was originally titled "Paint It Black" without a comma. Keith Richards has stated that the comma was added by the record label, Decca.The song was written by Mick...
. Destrophy released a video for the title track Pray (Directed by Ben Hill) that same year. Ari and Tschechaniuk were soon joined by Joe Fox on Drums, and guitarist Bruce Swink (ex-Downthesun
Downthesun
Downthesun is a six-piece music group from Kansas City, Missouri.The band was formed by bassist Lance "Kuk" Collier and samples operator Nathan Church who were in the band together that opened for Slipknot in mid-1999. This put them in touch with Slipknot's Shawn "Clown" Crahan...
and Stone Sour
Stone Sour
Stone Sour is an American rock band from Des Moines, Iowa. Since 2006, the group has been composed of Corey Taylor , Jim Root , Josh Rand, , Shawn Economaki and Roy Mayorga . Original drummer Joel Ekman left the group in 2006...
) for live shows and touring in support of the Pray release, as well as introducing new songs that would be featured on their next album.
2007 - 2008: The Way Of Your World
In January 2007, the band signed a management deal with Damon Moreno at the Inner Light Agency (iLA). Bruce Swink would later step down as a guitarist in the band and join Moreno at iLA to aid in managing Destrophy and other promising artists. In February of 2007, Ari an avid weight-lifter, suffered an umbilical hernia while weight training, forcing the band to go on hiatus for the first part of the year. Ari continued to write and record new music throughout the year. October 20, 2007 (a week before the Destrophy sophomore release) Ari performed with Kareem SalamaKareem Salama
Kareem Salama is an Egyptian American musician. He is known as the first American Muslim country music singer. His music is a hybrid of country, pop and rock music...
at Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena is an indoor arena, at Wembley, in the London Borough of Brent. The building is opposite Wembley Stadium.-History:...
in London opening for Sami Yusuf
Sami Yusuf
Sami Yusuf is a British singer-songwriter, composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist musician of Azeri origin.In 2003 Yusuf released his first album "Al-Mu`allim" at the age of 23, selling over two million copies...
at A Concert for Peace in Darfur.
Ari returned state-side in time to release the bands second full-length album The Way Of Your World, which was be released on Saturday October 27, 2007. The album featured new music as well as re-recorded versions of selected songs off both the Chrysalis and Pray EP. A video for This Is Not My Life (Directed by Ben Hill) was released to help promote the album. In late 2007, Destrophy embarked upon a US tour in support of the new album throughout much of 2008.
2009 - 2010: Victory Records, Destrophy
2009 saw Destrophy sign a multi-album deal with Victory Records (home of EmmureEmmure
Emmure is an American band formed in 2003, originally based in Connecticut, but now residing in Queens, New York. The group has a total of seven releases...
, Taproot
Taproot (band)
Taproot is a four-piece rock group from Ann Arbor, Michigan. They are most known for their hit single "Poem" , as well as a number of other singles from 2000 to the present.-Pre-formation:...
, Ill Nino
Ill Niño
Ill Niño is an American six-piece metal band from New Jersey founded in 1998. The band has sold over 3.3 million units worldwide; they have 5 studio albums and 10 music videos.-History:...
, and others). With a brand new record deal, the band released their eponymous major label debut on Tuesday October 27, 2009. The first single The Way Of Your World was released to radio stations nationwide and a video was also released to promote the album. While the single experienced plays on radio, streaming, and on-demand services, the video made it on to MTV2
MTV2
MTV2 is a cable network that is widely available in the United States on digital cable and satellite television, and is progressively being added to analogue cable lineups across the nation...
and Fuse TV
Fuse TV
Fuse is an American national television network dedicated exclusively to music. It features original series and specials, exclusive interviews, live concerts and video blocks....
.
The albums second single Reconnect was licensed to TNA Wrestler Jesse Neal as his entrance music. The official video for the single, features Jesse Neal himself. The live version of the song was featured on the VicTorV Live video podcast..
Destrophy's self-titled album was added to TouchTunes Interactive Networks, making the album available on Jukeboxes in various clubs, bars, and restaurants.
Ari was featured on the June 2010 cover of the MAX Sports & Fitness magazine (published by Muscle and Strength), with a multi-page article on Ari's kettlebell training, as well as a discussion on Destrophy in the studio recording their latest release Cry Havoc.
2011-present: Cry Havoc, OTEP
Victory Records released a sample of the song Closer prior to the release of the bands new album, Cry Havoc, which was released on Tuesday April 26, 2011. The album was produced by Ari except the song Still Bleeding which was produced by Ari and co-produced by Corey LoweryCorey Lowery
Corey Lowery is a hard rock bassist and vocalist, previously of the bands Still Rain, Stuck Mojo, Switched and Stereomud. Lowery currently plays bass and provides backing vocals in the band Eye Empire. Eye Empire was previously known as Violent Plan. Before Violent Plan, Corey was playing with...
(of Eye Empire
Eye Empire
Eye Empire is an American rock supergroup, formed in 2009, consisting of former Dark New Day members Corey Lowery and B.C. Kochmit as well as Donald Carpenter formerly of Submersed. Garrett Whitlock, formerly of Submersed, and Dixie Duncan were Eye Empire's drummer and guitarist respectively from...
, ex-Stuck Mojo
Stuck Mojo
Stuck Mojo is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia. Formed in 1989 by guitarist Rich Ward, Stuck Mojo is considered to be one of the pioneers of rap metal. Touring alongside bands such as Machine Head and Slapshot. Stuck Mojo's most successful album, Rising, peaked at #48 on the...
) who also performs guitar solos on Cry Havoc and Still Bleeding. Closer became the bands first radio single, accompanied by an official video release. Once again, the bands single experienced exposure on radio, streaming, and on-demand services with the video seeing frequent airplay on MTV2 and Fuse TV. The video was also featured on the VicTorV video podcast.
According to Ari, The phrase, "Cry Havoc" comes from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, and at least for "our album basically means go kick some as". The title track and much of the album was influenced by the Spartan stand at Thermopylae, "which to me is the perfect example of holding true to one's way of life at any cost".
Currently, Destrophy members Ari on guitar, Fox on drums, and Tisinger on guitar have been playing as the backing band for Otep Shamaya
Otep Shamaya
Otep Shamaya is an American singer-songwriter, the lead vocalist of the metal band Otep. She made her debut in 2000 with her band and released the full length albums Sevas Tra, House of Secrets, The Ascension, and Smash the Control Machine in June 2002, July 2004, October 2007, and August 2009...
(OTEP) during the October and November 2011 tour dates.
Band Name
A Greek-history teacher introduced Ari to the word diastrophe (Greek meaning: something or someone who is not behaving as it should; to distort), which was anglicized to Destrophy.Discography
- Chrysalis (2004)
- Pray EP (2005)
- The Way Of Your World (2007)
- Destrophy (2009)
- Cry Havoc (2011)
Band Members
Current members- Ari Mihalopoulos – lead vocals, guitar, programming (2002–present)
- Phil Tschechaniuk – bass (2002–present)
- Joe Fox – drums (2005–present)
- Eric Tisinger – guitar (2010–present)
Past members
- Ryan Berrier – drums (2002–2004)
- Kevin Smith – guitar (2002–2004)
- Bruce Swink – guitar (2002–2010)
External links
- Official website
- Destrophy on Victory Records website
- Destrophy on the Inner Light Agency website
- Destrophy's Facebook page
- Destrophy's Myspace page