Lovedrug
Encyclopedia
Lovedrug is an indie rock band from Canton, Ohio that formed in 2001. The band’s name is something of a word play; singer Michael Shepard initially left music to attend film school but his first ‘love’ of the music medium ‘dragged’ him back (thus “Lovedrug”; a verb, not an aphrodisiac).
, the Lovedrug EP, with the follow-up EP
, the Rocknroll EP, coming in mid 2004. After signing to The Militia Group
, an indie-rock label, the band released their first full-length Pretend You're Alive
on July 27, 2004. The album was produced by Tim Patalan, and featured dark, guitar-driven art rock. The album became the label's fastest selling debut ever, selling close to 20,000 copies in the first few months of release. The record and band were thus up-streamed to major label parent Columbia Records at the end of 2005, though the re-release of Pretend You're Alive, and accompanying radio single for "Spiders", were undercut by tremendous corporate purging that plagued Columbia Records throughout 2005 and 2006.
Lovedrug toured heavily from 2004 through early 2007, including support dates with The Killers, Robert Plant, Switchfoot, and Coheed & Cambria, Matchbook Romance and several headlining runs, establishing a sizable American following. By late 2006, Lovedrug had a new album’s worth of material and, to avoid continued upheaval at Columbia, returned to The Militia Group to release Everything Starts Where It Ends
, again produced by Tim Patalan, on March 7, 2007. The album was well received, selling close to 30k albums in several months on the back of Japanese and North American touring, including two headline runs and tours with Sparta, Blue October, and The Plain White Ts. The video for “Ghost By Your Side” was added to regular rotation on MTV and the college/indie single “Happy Apple Poison” charted in the top 10.
The band's third album, The Sucker Punch Show, was made with iconic 90's rock producer Michael Beinhorn (Soundgarden, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mew) at the Red Bull Studios in Santa Monica, CA. Though the October 28, 2008 release coincided with the bankruptcy and collapse of The Militia Group in North America, the album was especially well received when re-released in Europe on June 2, 2009 with Make My Day Records, landing at #6 on the Visions summer chart, garnering broad radio play for the single “Only One”. The Euro version of The Sucker Punch Show included a full-length alternate version of the album entitled "Sucker Punched (Alt. LP)". The band toured Europe in June and July, playing a number of club shows and festivals with Kings of Leon, Nine Inch Nails, Silversun Pickups, and Eagles of Death Metal.
March 2010 saw EP - Part I
, the first installment in a series of three EPs collectively logoed "+/-", coinciding with the band's appearances at the South By Southwest conference in Austin Texas and a number of surrounding touring dates including Bamboozle at Giants Stadium. EP - Part II followed on June 13, 2010, along with another 3-week headlining tour in the USA. In November the band announced I AM LOVEDRUG, a fan-driven campaign in partnership with PledgeMusic to fund the recording and setup of album #4 , . The band reached its goal over the holiday, released the final EP PART III in January ’11, and head into the studio in March & April with producer Paul Moak
in Nashville.
The first two singles from the new album were released together as the split-single Pink Champagne / Dinosaur on September 6, 2011. The music video for Dinosaur, written and directed by Shepard, was premiered by Filter (magazine)
the following week.
History
Lovedrug released their first EPExtended 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...
, the Lovedrug EP, with the follow-up 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...
, the Rocknroll EP, coming in mid 2004. After signing to The Militia Group
The Militia Group
-History:The Militia Group was founded in 1998 by Chad Pearson as a booking agency, booking for artists such as Slick Shoes, Craig's Brother, Dogwood, twothirtyeight, Acceptance, and Element 101. Rory Felton and Chad Pearson partnered in 2000 to turn the booking agency into a record company...
, an indie-rock label, the band released their first full-length Pretend You're Alive
Pretend You're Alive
Pretend You're Alive is the first full-length album by rock band Lovedrug. It was released in 2004 on The Militia Group.- Track listing :#"In Red" - 4:10#"Blackout" - 5:41#"Spiders" - 3:10#"Rock N Roll" - 3:22#"Pretend You're Alive" - 5:11...
on July 27, 2004. The album was produced by Tim Patalan, and featured dark, guitar-driven art rock. The album became the label's fastest selling debut ever, selling close to 20,000 copies in the first few months of release. The record and band were thus up-streamed to major label parent Columbia Records at the end of 2005, though the re-release of Pretend You're Alive, and accompanying radio single for "Spiders", were undercut by tremendous corporate purging that plagued Columbia Records throughout 2005 and 2006.
Lovedrug toured heavily from 2004 through early 2007, including support dates with The Killers, Robert Plant, Switchfoot, and Coheed & Cambria, Matchbook Romance and several headlining runs, establishing a sizable American following. By late 2006, Lovedrug had a new album’s worth of material and, to avoid continued upheaval at Columbia, returned to The Militia Group to release Everything Starts Where It Ends
Everything Starts Where It Ends
Everything Starts Where It Ends is the second full length released by indie rock band Lovedrug. It was released in 2007 by The Militia Group...
, again produced by Tim Patalan, on March 7, 2007. The album was well received, selling close to 30k albums in several months on the back of Japanese and North American touring, including two headline runs and tours with Sparta, Blue October, and The Plain White Ts. The video for “Ghost By Your Side” was added to regular rotation on MTV and the college/indie single “Happy Apple Poison” charted in the top 10.
The band's third album, The Sucker Punch Show, was made with iconic 90's rock producer Michael Beinhorn (Soundgarden, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mew) at the Red Bull Studios in Santa Monica, CA. Though the October 28, 2008 release coincided with the bankruptcy and collapse of The Militia Group in North America, the album was especially well received when re-released in Europe on June 2, 2009 with Make My Day Records, landing at #6 on the Visions summer chart, garnering broad radio play for the single “Only One”. The Euro version of The Sucker Punch Show included a full-length alternate version of the album entitled "Sucker Punched (Alt. LP)". The band toured Europe in June and July, playing a number of club shows and festivals with Kings of Leon, Nine Inch Nails, Silversun Pickups, and Eagles of Death Metal.
March 2010 saw EP - Part I
EP - Part I
EP Part I is the eighth EP by the Canton, Ohio indie rock band Lovedrug. It is the first EP of a three EP series titled +/-. The record broke away from Lovedrug's softer piano rock style to a harder, arena-rock style.-Track listings:# Pink Champagne...
, the first installment in a series of three EPs collectively logoed "+/-", coinciding with the band's appearances at the South By Southwest conference in Austin Texas and a number of surrounding touring dates including Bamboozle at Giants Stadium. EP - Part II followed on June 13, 2010, along with another 3-week headlining tour in the USA. In November the band announced I AM LOVEDRUG, a fan-driven campaign in partnership with PledgeMusic to fund the recording and setup of album #4 , . The band reached its goal over the holiday, released the final EP PART III in January ’11, and head into the studio in March & April with producer Paul Moak
Paul Moak
Paul Moak is an American producer, engineer, mixer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist currently residing in Nashville, TN.-Biography:Paul Greer Moak, III was born in Jackson, MS on July 8, 1979...
in Nashville.
The first two singles from the new album were released together as the split-single Pink Champagne / Dinosaur on September 6, 2011. The music video for Dinosaur, written and directed by Shepard, was premiered by Filter (magazine)
Filter (magazine)
FILTER, the publication that promises us that "Good music will prevail," is a seasonal American music and off-beat entertainment magazine. It features commentary and photos of up-and-coming musicians and filmmakers ranging from actors to writer-directors...
the following week.
Current members
- Michael Shepard - Vocals, Guitar, Piano
- Jeremy M Gifford - Guitar, Synthesizer, Piano, BGV
- Thomas Bragg - Bass
- James Childress - Drums
Former members
- Matt Bentley - Guitar, BGV
- Adam Ladd - Bass
- Matthew Putman - Drums
- Dave Owen - Guitar, BGV
Past touring/studio players
- Joas Miller - Drums
- Matthew Depper - Bass
- Korey Jones - Bass
- Enoch Porch - Bass, Drums
Full Length albums
- Pretend You're AlivePretend You're AlivePretend You're Alive is the first full-length album by rock band Lovedrug. It was released in 2004 on The Militia Group.- Track listing :#"In Red" - 4:10#"Blackout" - 5:41#"Spiders" - 3:10#"Rock N Roll" - 3:22#"Pretend You're Alive" - 5:11...
(2004) The Militia Group / Columbia Records - Everything Starts Where It EndsEverything Starts Where It EndsEverything Starts Where It Ends is the second full length released by indie rock band Lovedrug. It was released in 2007 by The Militia Group...
(2007) The Militia Group / Lovedrugmusic - The Sucker Punch Show (2008/2009) The Militia Group / Make My Day
- I Am Lovedrug (ETA 2011) Lovedrugmusic
EPs
- Lovedrug EP (2002)
- Rocknroll EP (2004)
- Everything Starts... EPEverything Starts... EPEverything Starts... is the fourth EP by the Canton, Ohio indie rock band Lovedrug. It is the second EP between lovedrug's albums Pretend You're Alive and Everything Starts Where It Ends. Tracks 1, 2 and 3 appear on Everything Starts Where It Ends....
(October 24, 2006) - This Is The End EP (2008 - digital bonus tracks with album pre-order))
- Sucker Punched (Alt. LP) (2009)
- Everything Starts Live Tour - bootleg (2010)
- EP - Part IEP - Part IEP Part I is the eighth EP by the Canton, Ohio indie rock band Lovedrug. It is the first EP of a three EP series titled +/-. The record broke away from Lovedrug's softer piano rock style to a harder, arena-rock style.-Track listings:# Pink Champagne...
(2010) - EP - Part II (2010)
- EP - Part III (January 2011)
- Pink Champagne / Dinosaur - single (September 6, 2011)