Dirty Little Rabbits
Encyclopedia
Dirty Little Rabbits is an American alternative rock
band formed in 2007 in Johnston
, Iowa
. They are often referred to as a side project of Shawn Crahan, a member/founder of Heavy Metal
band Slipknot
.
band member Sid Wilson
introduced Shawn Crahan to Michael Pfaff, along with a few other musicians they had a jam session
together. Crahan himself said that during the session he could only focus on Pfaff and how they both played together, explaining that; "it was the way he was throwing his shapes, to my shapes." Shortly after meeting with Pfaff, Crahan introduced guitarist Ty Fyhrie to the project. Crahan had previously worked with Fyhrie on a band he was a part of in Denver, but recruited him for Dirty Little Rabbits. Around the same time, Pfaff brought bassist Jeff Karnowski in to the band. After this they realized that they would need a vocalist, after going through a couple of other singers Crahan recruited Stella Katsoudas
who was living in Los Angeles
. Crahan and Katsoudas had known each other for "a long, long time," and met up "just as friends" but Crahan revealed that he wanted her to be in the band.
After writing together and developing the band they began performing shows in the midwest of the United States
. On August 15, 2007 they released their debut EP
, Breeding
independently. Following this, through August and September they supported Stone Sour
on a tour of the United States. Dirty Little Rabbits continued to tour in 2008, with their own shows through February and May and in support of Mindless Self Indulgence
in June. Through July and August drummer Crahan was touring with Slipknot as part of the Mayhem Festival
and as a result Dirty Little Rabbits temporarily went on hiatus. After signing with The End Records
, Dirty Little Rabbits began working on an album at Sound Farm Studio
in September while Crahan's other band Slipknot took a break from touring. They released their second EP; Simon
on January 27, 2009, and they planned to release a full-length album in April.
On July 31, 2009 Dirty Little Rabbits were scheduled to perform their first show outside of the US with Lacuna Coil
in Ireland, and then the United Kingdom. As well as appearing at the Sonisphere Festival
in August, however the band canceled both appearances due to exhaustion. Drummer Crahan explained: "after weeks of going all over the world and playing some of the biggest shows of my career [(with his other band Slipknot)], and now being in the home stretch on completing the Dirty Little Rabbits debut album, I'm just mentally and physically drained."
They will release their self-titled debut album on July 6 via The End Records (the digital single will be released on May 11).
In 2010 Ryan Martin joined the band replacing Ty Fhyrie as guitarist.
Former members
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band formed in 2007 in Johnston
Johnston, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 17,278 in the city, with a population density of . There were 6,618 housing units, of which 6,369 were occupied....
, 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...
. They are often referred to as a side project of Shawn Crahan, a member/founder of Heavy Metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Slipknot
Slipknot (band)
Slipknot is an American heavy metal band from Des Moines, Iowa. Formed in 1995, the group was founded by percussionist Shawn Crahan and bassist Paul Gray...
.
History
In 2007 fellow SlipknotSlipknot (band)
Slipknot is an American heavy metal band from Des Moines, Iowa. Formed in 1995, the group was founded by percussionist Shawn Crahan and bassist Paul Gray...
band member Sid Wilson
Sid Wilson
Sidney George Wilson also known as Ratboy or DJ Sid, #0 , is an American disc jockey known as the turntablist of the Grammy Award winning band Slipknot. He is the youngest member of the band.-Biography:...
introduced Shawn Crahan to Michael Pfaff, along with a few other musicians they had a jam session
Jam session
Jam sessions are often used by musicians to develop new material, find suitable arrangements, or simply as a social gathering and communal practice session. Jam sessions may be based upon existing songs or forms, may be loosely based on an agreed chord progression or chart suggested by one...
together. Crahan himself said that during the session he could only focus on Pfaff and how they both played together, explaining that; "it was the way he was throwing his shapes, to my shapes." Shortly after meeting with Pfaff, Crahan introduced guitarist Ty Fyhrie to the project. Crahan had previously worked with Fyhrie on a band he was a part of in Denver, but recruited him for Dirty Little Rabbits. Around the same time, Pfaff brought bassist Jeff Karnowski in to the band. After this they realized that they would need a vocalist, after going through a couple of other singers Crahan recruited Stella Katsoudas
Stella Soleil
Stella Katsoudas is an American pop and rock singer better known for stage names Stella Soleil and Sister Soleil. Katsoudas also fronts Dirty Little Rabbits.- Early life and career beginnings :...
who was living in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. Crahan and Katsoudas had known each other for "a long, long time," and met up "just as friends" but Crahan revealed that he wanted her to be in the band.
After writing together and developing the band they began performing shows in the midwest of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. On August 15, 2007 they released their debut EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, Breeding
Breeding (EP)
Breeding is the first EP by American indie band Dirty Little Rabbits. It was released on August 15, 2007, for sale exclusively through the New York-based record shop Looney Tunes.-Personnel:* Stella Katsoudas - vocals* Ty Fyhrie - guitars...
independently. Following this, through August and September they supported 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...
on a tour of the United States. Dirty Little Rabbits continued to tour in 2008, with their own shows through February and May and in support of Mindless Self Indulgence
Mindless Self Indulgence
Mindless Self Indulgence is an American musical group formed in New York in 1997. Their music has a mixed style including rap, punk rock, alternative rock, electronica, techno and industrial...
in June. Through July and August drummer Crahan was touring with Slipknot as part of the Mayhem Festival
Mayhem festival
The Mayhem Festival is a touring metal festival that takes place during the summer. The inaugural iteration took place in 2008; the festival has since become an annual event across the United States and Quebec, Canada. The tour has been sponsored by the Rockstar Energy Company since the time of its...
and as a result Dirty Little Rabbits temporarily went on hiatus. After signing with The End Records
The End Records
The End Records is an independent record label, founded in 1998 in San Diego. Founder Andreas Katsambas initially wanted to bring attention to some underground bands he admired. In 2002, The End moved to Salt Lake City, when his wife took a job at the University of Utah. The label moved...
, Dirty Little Rabbits began working on an album at Sound Farm Studio
Sound Farm Studio & Recording Environment
Sound Farm Studio & Recording Environment is a full-service recording studio and production facility with an attached residence located in Jamaica, Iowa. Matthew Sepanic, owner, producer and engineer recently co-produced and engineered The Envy Corps debut album, Dwell which is due to be released...
in September while Crahan's other band Slipknot took a break from touring. They released their second EP; Simon
Simon (EP)
Simon is the second EP by American indie band Dirty Little Rabbits. The EP was recorded and produced at the Sound Farm Studio & Recording Environment in Jamaica, Iowa and was scheduled for release on January 20, 2009, however it was pushed back a week and released on January 27, 2009 through The...
on January 27, 2009, and they planned to release a full-length album in April.
On July 31, 2009 Dirty Little Rabbits were scheduled to perform their first show outside of the US with Lacuna Coil
Lacuna Coil
Lacuna Coil is an Italian gothic metal band from Milan. Formed in 1994, the group has had two name changes since being previously known as Sleep of Right and Ethereal and was inspired by the combination of gothic imagery and music...
in Ireland, and then the United Kingdom. As well as appearing at the Sonisphere Festival
Sonisphere Festival
The Sonisphere Festival is a touring music festival which takes place across Europe between June and August. The festival is owned by John Jackson and Kilimanjaro Live. It is jointly-promoted by K2 and Kilimanjaro Live...
in August, however the band canceled both appearances due to exhaustion. Drummer Crahan explained: "after weeks of going all over the world and playing some of the biggest shows of my career [(with his other band Slipknot)], and now being in the home stretch on completing the Dirty Little Rabbits debut album, I'm just mentally and physically drained."
They will release their self-titled debut album on July 6 via The End Records (the digital single will be released on May 11).
In 2010 Ryan Martin joined the band replacing Ty Fhyrie as guitarist.
Musical style
Dirty Little Rabbits' musical style is considerably different to Crahan's most notable band Slipknot. Crahan explained in an interview in 2008 that he is an "alternative person in art and music" and that he didn't grow up obsessed with metal. He went on to explain that other members of Slipknot are obsessed with metal and that he "went with it" because it was different to him and he could introduce something different to them. He describes Dirty Little Rabbits as the band he's been waiting his whole life for. He made a particular point about the fact that they have a female singer and that he's always wanted to be in a band with a female singer because he wants to "represent the whole world, male and female."Band members
- Stella KatsoudasStella SoleilStella Katsoudas is an American pop and rock singer better known for stage names Stella Soleil and Sister Soleil. Katsoudas also fronts Dirty Little Rabbits.- Early life and career beginnings :...
– vocals (2007–present) - Ryan Martin – guitarsGuitaristA guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
(2010–present) - Jeff Karnowski – bassBassistA bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
(2007–present) - Shawn Crahan – drumsDrummerA drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
(2007–present) - Michael Pfaff – organsOrganistAn organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
, keyboardsKeyboardistA keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
(2007–present)
Former members
- Ty Fyhrie – guitarsGuitaristA guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
(2007–2010)
Discography
- BreedingBreeding (EP)Breeding is the first EP by American indie band Dirty Little Rabbits. It was released on August 15, 2007, for sale exclusively through the New York-based record shop Looney Tunes.-Personnel:* Stella Katsoudas - vocals* Ty Fyhrie - guitars...
(2007) - SimonSimon (EP)Simon is the second EP by American indie band Dirty Little Rabbits. The EP was recorded and produced at the Sound Farm Studio & Recording Environment in Jamaica, Iowa and was scheduled for release on January 20, 2009, however it was pushed back a week and released on January 27, 2009 through The...
(2009) - Dirty Little RabbitsDirty Little Rabbits (album)Dirty Little Rabbits is the debut album by American indie band Dirty Little Rabbits released on July 6, 2010. "Hello" was previously released on Breeding and Simon...
(2010)