James Dewees
Encyclopedia
James Dewees is an American musician who has been involved in many musical projects including Coalesce, The Get Up Kids
The Get Up Kids
The Get Up Kids are an American alternative rock band from Kansas City, Missouri. Formed in 1995, the band was a major player in the mid-90's emo scene, otherwise known as the "second wave" of emo music...

, Reggie and the Full Effect
Reggie and the Full Effect
Reggie and the Full Effect was a Kansas City indie rock band, the solo project for The Get Up Kids keyboardist James Dewees.-Early years, Greatest Hits 1984-1987, Promotional Copy and Under the Tray :...

, New Found Glory
New Found Glory
New Found Glory is an American rock band from Coral Springs, Florida. Formed in the summer of 1997, founding members were lead vocalist Jordan Pundik, guitarists Chad Gilbert and Steve Klein, bassist Ian Grushka and drummer Joe Marino...

, My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance is an American alternative rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, and bassist Mikey Way and have a diverse sound incorporating elements of punk, emo, glam metal, and progressive rock...

, and, most recently, Leathermouth
Leathermouth
Leathermouth was the hardcore side project led by My Chemical Romance's rhythm guitarist Frank Iero. The band formed in 2007, and in January 2009 released their first album XO.-History:...

.

Early Life and Coalesce

Dewees graduated from Liberty High School
Liberty High School (Liberty, Missouri)
For schools with similar names, see Liberty High School.Liberty High School is a three-year high school for grades 10-12, located in Liberty, Missouri. Freshmen attend either Liberty Junior High School or South Valley Junior High School. Its current enrollment is just over 2000, and is projected...

 in Liberty, MO in 1994. He started college at William Jewell College
William Jewell College
William Jewell College is a private, four-year liberal arts college of 1,100 undergraduate students located in Liberty, Missouri, U.S. It was founded in 1849 by members of the Missouri Baptist Convention and other civic leaders, including Robert S. James, a Baptist minister and father of the...

 in Liberty later transferring to the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...

 to study music composition. In 1995, he was asked to replace Sean Ingram as vocalist for the Kansas City hardcore band Coalesce. This angered Ingram, and caused a fight that eventually broke the band up. However, in the summer of 1996, the band decided to re-form, but this time with James Dewees as a drummer. With them, he recorded the band's first two full-length albums Give Them Rope
Give Them Rope
Give Them Rope is Missouri band Coalesce's debut full length album. It was re-released in 2004 in a remastered and remixed format. This album has never charted.-Track listing:# "Have Patience" - 3:11# "One on the Ground" - 3:42...

and Functioning on Impatience
Functioning on Impatience
Functioning on Impatience is the second full length album from Kansas City, Missouri band Coalesce.-Track listing:-Band:*James Dewees - Drums*Nathan Ellis - Guitar , Vocals*Sean Ingram - Vocals*Jes Steineger - Guitar, Vocals-Design:...

. Dewees was later kicked out of college for missing too many classes while touring with the band.

The Get Up Kids

In 1997, Coalesce played a music festival in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

 with fellow Kansas-Citians The Get Up Kids
The Get Up Kids
The Get Up Kids are an American alternative rock band from Kansas City, Missouri. Formed in 1995, the band was a major player in the mid-90's emo scene, otherwise known as the "second wave" of emo music...

, who had just released their first album Four Minute Mile
Four Minute Mile
Four Minute Mile is the first full-length album released by Kansas City, Missouri emo band The Get Up Kids.-Recording:The album was recorded in April 1997 on a budget of $4,000. It was produced by Shellac bassist Bob Weston in Chicago over the course of two and a half days. It was released by...

 on Doghouse Records
Doghouse Records
Doghouse Records is a Toledo, Ohio based record label, now run out of the New York City office. Since 2004 Doghouse has been a part of the Warner Music Group....

. At the end of Coalesce's set, they began smashing all of their equipment, and James picked up his Floor tom
Floor tom
A floor tom is a double-headed tom-tom drum which usually stands on the floor on three legs. However, they can also be attached to a cymbal stand with a drum clamp....

 and threw it into the audience, hitting a girl on the head. Someone picked it up and tried to steal it, so James began chasing him, along with The Get Up Kids' guitarist Jim Suptic. They started talking, and Suptic invited James to hang out with the rest of the band.

Coalesce and The Get Up Kids began collaborating more and more, playing shows together and eventually covering each other's songs for a split 7". James recorded keyboard for the band on their Red Letter Day
Red Letter Day (EP)
-Additional Releases:*The entire EP was later combined with the band's other EP Woodson and re-released on one CD entitled The EPs: Red Letter Day and Woodson....

EP, and after its release, joined the band full-time. After the release of the band's second album Something to Write Home About
Something to Write Home About
Something to Write Home About is the second full-length studio album by American rock band The Get Up Kids, released on September 21, 1999. The album was produced by The Get Up Kids themselves, with co-producers Chad Blinman and Alex Brahl. Blinman also recorded and mixed the album, with Brahl...

, The Get Up Kids began receiving much greater national attention. In order to capitalize off of the success of Something to Write Home About, as well as bridge the gap between their next album, the band released a collection of B-sides and rarities, entitled Eudora
Eudora (album)
Eudora is The Get Up Kids' third full-length CD/LP. Released on November 27, 2001, it is a collection of B-Sides, Rarities, and Covers released on Vagrant Records....

, in 2000. This also included a re-make of "A Newfound Interest in Massachusetts
A Newfound Interest in Massachusetts
"A Newfound Interest in Massachusetts" is the second single from Kansas City, Missouri band The Get Up Kids. The single, also commonly referred to as The Loveteller EP by fans, was released in 1997 on Contrast Records. The final pressing of the album was printed on Orange vinyl in a limited run of...

", with a new arrangement placing a much heavier emphasis on the piano.

In 2002, the band released their third studio album, On a Wire
On a Wire
On a Wire is a 2002 album released by The Get Up Kids on Vagrant Records. The album was also released in two record versions: black 180 gram vinyl and Limited Edition picture disc.-Recording:...

, produced by Scott Litt
Scott Litt
Scott Litt is an American record producer who mostly works with artists in the alternative rock genre and is best known for producing six R.E.M. albums.-Biography:...

. The album was a major departure from the band's previous, poppier sound, and struggled sales-wise as a result. In 2004, the band released their fourth album Guilt Show
Guilt Show
Guilt Show is the fourth studio album by The Get Up Kids. It was released on Vagrant Records on March 3, 2004.-Recording:The album was the first album to be recorded in Black Lodge Studios, the recording studio in Eudora, Kansas renovated and owned by The Get Up Kids and producer Ed Rose...

. The album was met with a much warmer reception than On a Wire, but there was a great deal of tension between the band mates during their world tour supporting the release. Lead singer Matt Pryor, whose wife had recently given birth, wanted to spend more time at home. At one stop in Australia, the band broke up before deciding to finish the tour. However, they decided that they would do one final farewell tour before going their separate ways for good. Around the beginning of their final tour, the band released Live! @ The Granada Theater, their first live album. The album was recorded at the Granada Theater
Granada Theater (Lawrence, Kansas)
The Granada Theater is a historic theater and concert venue located in Lawrence, Kansas.-History:The Granada Theater was originally built in 1928 as a vaudeville theater in Lawrence, Kansas by the Boller Brothers. It was renovated in 1934 as a movie theater...

 in Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...

 at the band's tenth-anniversary show. On July 2, 2005 the band played their final show at The Uptown Theater
Uptown Theater (Kansas City)
The Uptown Theater is a historic theater located at 3700 Broadway in the Valentine neighborhood in the Midtown area of Kansas City, Missouri. As Uptown Building and Theatre, the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979....

 in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...

.

On August 28, 2008 James announced there will be a reunion tour in 2009.

Reggie and the Full Effect

After playing with The Get Up Kids for a while, James began to write some of his own songs. However, he did not feel as though they fit with the distinct style of The Get Up Kids, so with the assistance of bandmate Matt Pryor, he recorded Greatest Hits 1984-1987
Greatest Hits 1984-1987
-Reissue bonus tracks:The album was re-released in 2004 and included 7 bonus previously unreleased tracks.-Personnel:*James Dewees - Vocals, Piano, Drums*Matt Pryor - Guitar, Backup Vocals*Rob Pope - Bass*Ed Rose - Production, Mixing...

, releasing it on Vagrant Records in 1998 under the name Reggie and the Full Effect
Reggie and the Full Effect
Reggie and the Full Effect was a Kansas City indie rock band, the solo project for The Get Up Kids keyboardist James Dewees.-Early years, Greatest Hits 1984-1987, Promotional Copy and Under the Tray :...

. He continued to write songs, finally releasing his second album Promotional Copy
Promotional Copy
-Personnel:*James Dewees - Vocals, Keyboard, Drums*Matt Pryor - Guitar, Backing Vocals*Rob Pope - Bass*Ed Rose - Production, Mixing...

 two years later.

In 2003, he released a third album entitled Under the Tray
Under the Tray
-Personnel:*James Dewees - Vocals, Keyboard, Drums*Matt Pryor - Guitar, Backup Vocals*Rob Pope - Bass*Ed Rose - Production, Mixing-Album Position:...

. After this album released, his marriage to his first wife Megan began to break down. He was soon involved in a bitter divorce, much of which inspired his fourth album Songs Not to Get Married To
Songs Not to Get Married To
-Personnel:*James Dewees - Vocals, Keyboard*Cory White - Guitar*Rob Pope - Bass*Ryan Pope - Drums*Ed Rose - Production, Mixing-Album Position:...

, which he was writing and recording during the divorce.

After The Get Up Kids split up in the summer of 2005, James began touring with New Found Glory
New Found Glory
New Found Glory is an American rock band from Coral Springs, Florida. Formed in the summer of 1997, founding members were lead vocalist Jordan Pundik, guitarists Chad Gilbert and Steve Klein, bassist Ian Grushka and drummer Joe Marino...

 and My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance is an American alternative rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, and bassist Mikey Way and have a diverse sound incorporating elements of punk, emo, glam metal, and progressive rock...

 as their touring keyboardist. Slowly, this started to take more time away from Reggie and the Full Effect.

However, on April 8, 2008, Alternative Press announced that they had received details on the new album from Reggie and the Full Effect. The 12 song album, Last Stop: Crappy Town
Last Stop: Crappy Town
-Personnel:*James Dewees - Vocals, Keyboard*Billy Johnson - Drums*Paul Gray - Bass*Cory White - Guitar*Sean Beavan - Producer-Album Position:-External links:* *...

was produced by Sean Beavan
Sean Beavan
Sean Beavan is a musician, record producer, and audio engineer best known for his work with Guns N Roses, Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails, God Lives Underwater, and Slayer...

 with tracks also done by Paul Gray
Paul Gray (Slipknot)
Paul Dedrick Gray also known as The Pig or by his number #2 was an American musician, best known as the bassist, primary songwriter and one of the founding members of the Grammy Award-winning metal band Slipknot....

 from 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...

 and was released on June 17, 2008 through Vagrant Records
Vagrant Records
Vagrant Records is an indie rock label based in Los Angeles, California and is home to such artists as The Hold Steady, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, Active Child, PJ Harvey, Reptar, School of Seven Bells, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Thrice, James Vincent McMorrow, Placebo, and many...


Personalities

On the various Reggie albums, James has created a series of different personas that appear as "guests" on the album. One of these personalities is "Klaus", the frontman for the fictional Finnish metal band Common Denominator. There have been three Common Denominator songs on Reggie and the Full Effect albums; "Dwarf Invasion" on Promotional Copy
Promotional Copy
-Personnel:*James Dewees - Vocals, Keyboard, Drums*Matt Pryor - Guitar, Backing Vocals*Rob Pope - Bass*Ed Rose - Production, Mixing...

, "Linkin' Verbs" on Under the Tray
Under the Tray
-Personnel:*James Dewees - Vocals, Keyboard, Drums*Matt Pryor - Guitar, Backup Vocals*Rob Pope - Bass*Ed Rose - Production, Mixing-Album Position:...

, and "Deathnotronic" on Songs Not to Get Married To
Songs Not to Get Married To
-Personnel:*James Dewees - Vocals, Keyboard*Cory White - Guitar*Rob Pope - Bass*Ryan Pope - Drums*Ed Rose - Production, Mixing-Album Position:...

.
The other personality present on many of his albums is "Fluxuation", a British techno-pop star. His credits include "Gloves" on Promotional Copy
Promotional Copy
-Personnel:*James Dewees - Vocals, Keyboard, Drums*Matt Pryor - Guitar, Backing Vocals*Rob Pope - Bass*Ed Rose - Production, Mixing...

, "Mood 4 LUV" on Under the Tray
Under the Tray
-Personnel:*James Dewees - Vocals, Keyboard, Drums*Matt Pryor - Guitar, Backup Vocals*Rob Pope - Bass*Ed Rose - Production, Mixing-Album Position:...

, and "Love Reality" on Songs Not to Get Married To
Songs Not to Get Married To
-Personnel:*James Dewees - Vocals, Keyboard*Cory White - Guitar*Rob Pope - Bass*Ryan Pope - Drums*Ed Rose - Production, Mixing-Album Position:...

.

Other bands

  • After The Get Up Kids separated in 2005, James became the touring keyboardist for New Found Glory
    New Found Glory
    New Found Glory is an American rock band from Coral Springs, Florida. Formed in the summer of 1997, founding members were lead vocalist Jordan Pundik, guitarists Chad Gilbert and Steve Klein, bassist Ian Grushka and drummer Joe Marino...

    . He had previously helped write and record keyboard parts for their 2004 album Catalyst
    Catalyst (album)
    Catalyst is the fourth studio album by American rock band New Found Glory. It was produced by Neal Avron and released on May 18, 2004 through Geffen Records. The album includes an enhanced CD portion with a making of the music video for the inaugural single "All Downhill from Here"...

    .
  • In 2007, he became the touring keyboardist for My Chemical Romance
    My Chemical Romance
    My Chemical Romance is an American alternative rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, and bassist Mikey Way and have a diverse sound incorporating elements of punk, emo, glam metal, and progressive rock...

    . In 2007, My Chemical Romance bassist Mikey Way married his fiancée Alicia Simmons. James was ordained a minister in order to perform the ceremony. It was also announced that James would be joining the band as their official keyboardist, but this was proven false in an interview with James after the release of his latest album.
  • On Monday June 30, 2008 in an interview with Lawrence.com, James Dewees said "[he is] playing drums in a new band called Leathermouth
    Leathermouth
    Leathermouth was the hardcore side project led by My Chemical Romance's rhythm guitarist Frank Iero. The band formed in 2007, and in January 2009 released their first album XO.-History:...

     [with] a bunch of dudes from New Jersey. Their drummer quit... I've been rehearsing with them a lot and I like it a lot." Leathermouth is currently on Tour with Reggie and the Full Effect, with James on drums. Likewise, the band's vocalist Frank Iero
    Frank Iero
    Frank Anthony Iero Jr is the rhythm guitarist, co-lead guitarist and backup vocalist of the alternative rock band My Chemical Romance as well as the vocalist of the post-hardcore band Leathermouth.-Early life:...

     (also from My Chemical Romance
    My Chemical Romance
    My Chemical Romance is an American alternative rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, and bassist Mikey Way and have a diverse sound incorporating elements of punk, emo, glam metal, and progressive rock...

    ) has played bass for Reggie and the Full Effect at recent live shows.

with Coalesce

  • Give Them Rope
    Give Them Rope
    Give Them Rope is Missouri band Coalesce's debut full length album. It was re-released in 2004 in a remastered and remixed format. This album has never charted.-Track listing:# "Have Patience" - 3:11# "One on the Ground" - 3:42...

    (1998)
  • Functioning on Impatience
    Functioning on Impatience
    Functioning on Impatience is the second full length album from Kansas City, Missouri band Coalesce.-Track listing:-Band:*James Dewees - Drums*Nathan Ellis - Guitar , Vocals*Sean Ingram - Vocals*Jes Steineger - Guitar, Vocals-Design:...

    (1998)

with The Get Up Kids

  • Something to Write Home About
    Something to Write Home About
    Something to Write Home About is the second full-length studio album by American rock band The Get Up Kids, released on September 21, 1999. The album was produced by The Get Up Kids themselves, with co-producers Chad Blinman and Alex Brahl. Blinman also recorded and mixed the album, with Brahl...

    (1999)
  • On a Wire
    On a Wire
    On a Wire is a 2002 album released by The Get Up Kids on Vagrant Records. The album was also released in two record versions: black 180 gram vinyl and Limited Edition picture disc.-Recording:...

    (2002)
  • Guilt Show
    Guilt Show
    Guilt Show is the fourth studio album by The Get Up Kids. It was released on Vagrant Records on March 3, 2004.-Recording:The album was the first album to be recorded in Black Lodge Studios, the recording studio in Eudora, Kansas renovated and owned by The Get Up Kids and producer Ed Rose...

    (2004)
  • There Are Rules
    There Are Rules
    There Are Rules is the fifth studio album by The Get Up Kids, the band's first full-length release since 2004's Guilt Show. After their initial reunion, the band decided to challenge themselves to write and record an album in only two weeks without using any digital technology...

    (2011)

as Reggie and the Full Effect

  • Greatest Hits 1984-1987
    Greatest Hits 1984-1987
    -Reissue bonus tracks:The album was re-released in 2004 and included 7 bonus previously unreleased tracks.-Personnel:*James Dewees - Vocals, Piano, Drums*Matt Pryor - Guitar, Backup Vocals*Rob Pope - Bass*Ed Rose - Production, Mixing...

    (1998)
  • Promotional Copy
    Promotional Copy
    -Personnel:*James Dewees - Vocals, Keyboard, Drums*Matt Pryor - Guitar, Backing Vocals*Rob Pope - Bass*Ed Rose - Production, Mixing...

    (2000)
  • Under the Tray
    Under the Tray
    -Personnel:*James Dewees - Vocals, Keyboard, Drums*Matt Pryor - Guitar, Backup Vocals*Rob Pope - Bass*Ed Rose - Production, Mixing-Album Position:...

    (2003)
  • Songs Not to Get Married To
    Songs Not to Get Married To
    -Personnel:*James Dewees - Vocals, Keyboard*Cory White - Guitar*Rob Pope - Bass*Ryan Pope - Drums*Ed Rose - Production, Mixing-Album Position:...

    (2005)
  • Last Stop: Crappy Town
    Last Stop: Crappy Town
    -Personnel:*James Dewees - Vocals, Keyboard*Billy Johnson - Drums*Paul Gray - Bass*Cory White - Guitar*Sean Beavan - Producer-Album Position:-External links:* *...

    (2008)

with New Found Glory

  • Catalyst
    Catalyst (album)
    Catalyst is the fourth studio album by American rock band New Found Glory. It was produced by Neal Avron and released on May 18, 2004 through Geffen Records. The album includes an enhanced CD portion with a making of the music video for the inaugural single "All Downhill from Here"...

    (2004)

with My Chemical Romance

  • The Black Parade Is Dead!
    The Black Parade Is Dead!
    The Black Parade Is Dead! is a CD/DVD from My Chemical Romance. It is the band's second live album, and was released on June 30, 2008. The DVD features My Chemical Romance's final performance as "The Black Parade" from the Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City, Mexico on October 7, 2007 and as "My...

    (2008)
  • ¡Venganza!
    ¡Venganza!
    ¡Venganza! is a video album released by rock band My Chemical Romance. It is the second part of the concert in Mexico City, Mexico on October 7, 2007, and a follow-up to the previous DVD The Black Parade Is Dead!. These videos are stored on a bullet-shaped USB drive, along with photos from the...

    (2009)
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