On Broken Wings
Encyclopedia
On Broken Wings is an American metalcore
band from Boston, Massachusetts that formed in 2001. Often credited with pioneering the sound, and coining the term, of Moshcore, a term originally used by the band to describe their fusion of metal with elements of post-hardcore and hardcore breakdowns. A sound evident in current bands such as Emmure
and Recon
.
After the self-released Number One Beautiful EP, they caught the attention of Eulogy Recordings
, where they would then release 2 full length albums over the next 5 years, 2003's 'Some of us may Never see the World' and 2005's 'It's all a Long Goodbye'.
During this time, On Broken Wings was also subject to a variety of controversies, mostly concerning their unusually violent live shows and the band's apparent encouragement of crowd violence. As a result, the band is still banned from many clubs and venues across the United States.
In early 2007, On Broken Wings released an EP entitled Going Down which contained the original Number One Beautiful EP as well as 4 new songs. In an ironic twist, the title of the EP was soon considered foreshadowing as the band announced an indefinite hiatus mainly due to interest in other projects. Many considered OBW to have split up for good until a new year rolled around...
After a long hiatus, 2008 finally sees the band reuniting and doing some serious touring with the 'Mosh Lives' tour featuring headliners, Emmure and other metalcore acts such as Recon, Ligeia and on select dates, Red I Flight and Endwell. (for more information on the reuniting of OBW, read below)
punk band, Shere Khan with Black My Heart's vocalist Wheeler. McMillen had also taken an interest in production and started working with some bands from the Boston area.
Burke, Jerome, and Kevin were also hard at work writing new material for their band The Confrontation, while Kevin was working with a new band dubbed I'm Sorry New York, which takes a much more commercial route than either of the other two bands and also features Eric D and Brendan Connors of The Confrontation, as well as ex On Broken Wings guitarist Sean LaForce.
As of February 2008, Kevin Garvin, Mike McMillen, and Sean Laforce are also in the band Everybody Out!
, with former Dropkick Murphys
guitarist Rick Barton
and former Dead Pets and Lost City Angels
frontman Sweeney Todd
, playing drums, guitar, and bass, respectively .
page listeds their It's All A Long Goodbye
-era line-up. Supporting acts included Recon, Ligeia and on select dates, Red I Flight and Endwell. In 2011, On Broken Wings announced via Twitter they would be a part of the North American tour featuring Bring Me the Horizon, Parkway Drive, Deez Nuts, and Architects.
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
band from Boston, Massachusetts that formed in 2001. Often credited with pioneering the sound, and coining the term, of Moshcore, a term originally used by the band to describe their fusion of metal with elements of post-hardcore and hardcore breakdowns. A sound evident in current bands such as Emmure
Emmure
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...
and Recon
Recon
Recon may refer to:*Re-Con, alias of Mike Di Scala, a UK dance music producer*RECON , the River, Estuary and Coastal Observing Network*Reconnaissance, a military term for gathering information...
.
After the self-released Number One Beautiful EP, they caught the attention of Eulogy Recordings
Eulogy Recordings
Eulogy Recordings is a record label based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.The label specializes in heavy metal or hardcore punk bands, some of which are straight edge. The label was founded by ex-hardcore guitarist John Wylie...
, where they would then release 2 full length albums over the next 5 years, 2003's 'Some of us may Never see the World' and 2005's 'It's all a Long Goodbye'.
During this time, On Broken Wings was also subject to a variety of controversies, mostly concerning their unusually violent live shows and the band's apparent encouragement of crowd violence. As a result, the band is still banned from many clubs and venues across the United States.
In early 2007, On Broken Wings released an EP entitled Going Down which contained the original Number One Beautiful EP as well as 4 new songs. In an ironic twist, the title of the EP was soon considered foreshadowing as the band announced an indefinite hiatus mainly due to interest in other projects. Many considered OBW to have split up for good until a new year rolled around...
After a long hiatus, 2008 finally sees the band reuniting and doing some serious touring with the 'Mosh Lives' tour featuring headliners, Emmure and other metalcore acts such as Recon, Ligeia and on select dates, Red I Flight and Endwell. (for more information on the reuniting of OBW, read below)
Current members
- Jonathan Blake - Vocals
- Mike McMillen- Guitar
- Burke Medeiros - Guitar
- Jerome McBride - Bass
- Kevin Garvin - Drums
Past members
On Broken Wings has been through a multitude of members, including a seemingly endless rotation of fill-ins on guitar when Mike McMillen took a hiatus from touring to finish school. Some of the most notable alumni are below.- John "Chuck" Lombardo - Bass (#1 Beautiful, Some Of Us May Never See The World)
- Sean Laforce - Guitar (#1 Beautiful, Some Of Us May Never See The World)
- John Earle (aka Johnny CupcakesJohnny CupcakesJohnny Cupcakes, Inc. is a clothing brand founded in 2001 by Johnny Earle. The clothing line uses cupcakes as the prominent design motif of its merchandise, often replacing iconic symbols with cupcakes...
) - Sampling - Wheeler - Bass (Live)
- Eric D - Vocals (Live)
- Rob Deangelis - Bass (Live)
- Stevie "Brutal" Murray - Drums (Live)
- Eric Ellis - Guitar (Live)
- Brendan Connors - Guitar (Live)
- Sean J. Murray - Guitar (Live - 2008)
- Josh "Skull" Long - Drums (Live - 2008)
Discography
- Number One BeautifulNumber One BeautifulNumber One Beautiful is a 2001 album from On Broken Wings and is the first album published by Eulogy Recordings-Track listing:#"I Do My Crosswords In Pen" - 03:16#"Deep Six" - 02:48#"Tether" - 04:10#"I Hope You Don't Get Raped In Cancun" - 04:15...
(2001) - Some of Us May Never See the WorldSome of Us May Never See the WorldSome of Us May Never See the World is a 2003 album from On Broken Wings and their Eulogy Recordings debut. Its tone and sound are noticeably different than that of its predecessor, the self-released #1 Beautiful...
(Eulogy Recordings, 2003) - It's All A Long GoodbyeIt's All a Long GoodbyeIt's All a Long Goodbye is an On Broken Wings second release on Eulogy Recordings. There was a video shot for "Frozen Over". The album features many tracks that are re-recorded versions of songs from Some Of Us May Never See The World....
(Eulogy Recordings, 2005) - Going DownGoing DownGoing down may refer to:* Going Down * Going Down , a novel* Going Down , written by Don Nix and originally performed by Freddie King, a mainstay of blues and rock musicians...
(Eulogy Recordings, 2007)
During their hiatus...
The members of On Broken Wings focused much of their time on other projects. Jonathan Blake and Mike McMillen devoted much of their time to straight edgeStraight edge
Straight edge is a subculture of hardcore punk whose adherents refrain from using alcohol, tobacco, and other recreational drugs. It was a direct reaction to the sexual revolution, hedonism, and excess associated with punk rock. For some, this extends to not engaging in promiscuous sex, following a...
punk band, Shere Khan with Black My Heart's vocalist Wheeler. McMillen had also taken an interest in production and started working with some bands from the Boston area.
Burke, Jerome, and Kevin were also hard at work writing new material for their band The Confrontation, while Kevin was working with a new band dubbed I'm Sorry New York, which takes a much more commercial route than either of the other two bands and also features Eric D and Brendan Connors of The Confrontation, as well as ex On Broken Wings guitarist Sean LaForce.
As of February 2008, Kevin Garvin, Mike McMillen, and Sean Laforce are also in the band Everybody Out!
Everybody Out!
Everybody Out! is a rock band formed in 2007 by former Dropkick Murphys guitarist Rick Barton and former The Dead Pets and Lost City Angels frontman Sweeney Todd. Despite Sweeney Todd being from the UK, the band is primarily based out of Boston, Massachusetts. The duo personally financed the...
, with former Dropkick Murphys
Dropkick Murphys
Dropkick Murphys are an Irish-American punk rock band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1996. The band was initially signed to independent punk record label Hellcat Records, releasing five albums for the label, and making a name for themselves locally through constant playing and yearly St....
guitarist Rick Barton
Rick Barton
Rick Barton was the original guitarist for Dropkick Murphys. He played on Boys on the Docks EP, Do or Die, The Gang's All Here, and the Mob Mentality split album with The Business. He no longer plays for Dropkick Murphys, working now with the newer band "Everybody Out!"...
and former Dead Pets and Lost City Angels
Lost City Angels
Lost City Angels were a punk rock band from Boston, Massachusetts. Their most well known lineup consisted of members, Ron Ragona, Adam Shaw, Chris Duggan, Drew Indingaro, Scott Vierra and Nick Bacon.- History :...
frontman Sweeney Todd
Sweeney Todd
Sweeney Todd is a fictional character who first appeared as then antagonist of the Victorian penny dreadful The String of Pearls and he was later introduced as an antihero in the broadway musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and its film adaptation...
, playing drums, guitar, and bass, respectively .
The Reformation
In 2008 the band announced a new tour, "Mosh Lives" with headliners Emmure. This tour came out of the blue after many circulating rumors that the band had broken up. OBW didn't mention anything about a possible new album, or if there would be any more tours after "Mosh Lives," leaving their hungry fans wondering if maybe this second coming would be short lived. It wasn't announced which lineup would be performing, but the band's MyspaceMyspace
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....
page listeds their It's All A Long Goodbye
It's All a Long Goodbye
It's All a Long Goodbye is an On Broken Wings second release on Eulogy Recordings. There was a video shot for "Frozen Over". The album features many tracks that are re-recorded versions of songs from Some Of Us May Never See The World....
-era line-up. Supporting acts included Recon, Ligeia and on select dates, Red I Flight and Endwell. In 2011, On Broken Wings announced via Twitter they would be a part of the North American tour featuring Bring Me the Horizon, Parkway Drive, Deez Nuts, and Architects.