Priestess (band)
Encyclopedia
Priestess is a Canadian stoner rock
band formed in 2003 by Mikey Heppner
(vocals/guitar), Mike Dyball (bass), Vince Nudo (vocals/drums), and Dan Watchorn
(vocals/guitar).
. Left on his own, Heppner formed a new band in the form of Priestess. In 2005, the band released their debut album, Hello Master
. The release was issued via Indica in Canada and on Ace Fu in the U.S. A major-label recording contract with RCA followed in January 2006. North American tour dates opening for Dinosaur Jr. followed that spring. Priestess also toured with The Sword
, Early Man
and Diamond Nights
in the spring of 2006.
A remastered version of Hello Master arrived in June, and additional shows with the Riverboat Gamblers and the Bronx coincided with its release. Upon the album's re-release, tracks such as "Talk to Her" and "Lay Down" also began finding airplay on mainstream rock satellite stations
such as Octane
and Ink'd. On October 27, 2006, Priestess joined Black Label Society
and Black Stone Cherry
's already-in-progress tour which lasted until mid-December. Priestess toured with Converge
and Mastodon
from January 26 - February 17, 2007. The band toured Europe for their first time ever with thrash metal pioneers Megadeth
as a part of their "Tour of Duty" tour in June 2007.
Priestess was joined by Murder By Death
and Clutch
on their North American 2007-2008 tour.
Priestess toured with GWAR
and Cattle Decapitation
in early 2009.
The band made more than one attempt at recording Prior to the Fire
; the first attempt failed, wasting a lot of time. When it was finally done, however, RCA was unwilling to release the new album and their originally slated early 2009 release date was missed completely. RCA ultimately let them go when the band made it clear that they would not alter the album further (RCA was waiting for what the company hoped would be a hit single), but the group were allowed to take the new album in its current state with them to a new label. That label was TeePee Records, and the album was released in October 2009 in Canada and in early February of the following year in the United States.
In support of the Canadian release, the band toured with Early Man and Trigger Effect in Canada and the US, and for the international release, with Bigelf in Europe and High on Fire
in the US. The band undertook another Canadian tour that July.
On March 28, 2011, the band posted an update on their facebook page that read "Little update! The work has commenced on album #3! We'll keep you posted!"
Stoner rock
Stoner rock or stoner metal is a subgenre of heavy metal, combining elements of psychedelic rock, blues rock, traditional heavy metal and doom metal. Stoner rock is typically slow-to-mid tempo and features a bass-heavy sound, melodic vocals, and 'retro' production...
band formed in 2003 by Mikey Heppner
Mikey Heppner
Mikey Heppner is best known as the singer and lead guitarist in the Canadian rock group Priestess. He formed the band after members of his punk band The Dropouts moved to New York to form The Stills. In late 2007, he performed as the guitarist of the experimental band Corpusse.-References:...
(vocals/guitar), Mike Dyball (bass), Vince Nudo (vocals/drums), and Dan Watchorn
Dan Watchorn
Dan Watchorn is a Canadian musician best known as the rhythm guitar and backup vocals for the Canadian hard rock group Priestess. He sings lead vocals on the track "Two Kids".-External links:...
(vocals/guitar).
Biography
Priestess was formed in 2003. Mikey Heppner was playing with The Dropouts at the time when three of its members headed to New York to form The StillsThe Stills
The Stills were a Canadian rock band from Montreal, Quebec, formed in 2000. The band consists of Tim Fletcher , Dave Hamelin , Olivier Corbeil , and Liam O'Neil , Gregory Paquet .-History:The band members have known each other since the age of...
. Left on his own, Heppner formed a new band in the form of Priestess. In 2005, the band released their debut album, Hello Master
Hello Master
Lay Down redirects here. For the song by Melanie, see Lay Down .-Video game appearances:"No Real Pain" is featured on the soundtrack for the video game Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam. "Talk to Her" is featured on the soundtrack to the video game NHL 07...
. The release was issued via Indica in Canada and on Ace Fu in the U.S. A major-label recording contract with RCA followed in January 2006. North American tour dates opening for Dinosaur Jr. followed that spring. Priestess also toured with The Sword
The Sword
The Sword is an American heavy metal band that formed in Austin, Texas, in 2003. Since its inception the band has comprised vocalist and guitarist John D. Cronise, guitarist Kyle Shutt and bassist Bryan Richie, and currently includes touring drummer Jimmy Vela following Trivett Wingo's departure in...
, Early Man
Early Man (band)
Early Man is a heavy metal band from Brooklyn, New York, now based in Los Angeles, California. Guitarist and vocalist Mike Conte began performing under the name "Early Man" in the early 2000s, and when drummer Adam Bennati moved to New York in 2003, the two formed the nucleus for the current line-up...
and Diamond Nights
Diamond Nights
Diamond Nights is a hard rock/indie rock band whose influences include Thin Lizzy, Queen, and Cheap Trick. They formed in New York City in 2003, and released their debut album Popsicle in 2005...
in the spring of 2006.
A remastered version of Hello Master arrived in June, and additional shows with the Riverboat Gamblers and the Bronx coincided with its release. Upon the album's re-release, tracks such as "Talk to Her" and "Lay Down" also began finding airplay on mainstream rock satellite stations
Satellite radio
Satellite radio is an analogue or digital radio signal that is relayed through one or more satellites and thus can be received in a much wider geographical area than terrestrial FM radio stations...
such as Octane
Octane (Sirius)
Octane is an active rock radio station on Sirius Satellite Radio channel 37 and Dish Network channel 6037. As a part of the Sirius XM Merger, Octane replaced the XM station SquiZZ on XM channel 48 and DirecTV channel 835 beginning November 12, 2008...
and Ink'd. On October 27, 2006, Priestess joined Black Label Society
Black Label Society
Black Label Society is a heavy metal band formed by Zakk Wylde, with nine studio albums, one live album, two compilation albums, one EP, and three video albums released since formation of the band.-Formation and Sonic Brew :...
and Black Stone Cherry
Black Stone Cherry
Black Stone Cherry is an American rock band formed in 2001 in Edmonton, Kentucky. They are signed to Roadrunner Records. The band consists of Chris Robertson , Ben Wells , Jon Lawhon , and John Fred Young...
's already-in-progress tour which lasted until mid-December. Priestess toured with Converge
Converge (band)
Converge is an American band from Salem, Massachusetts. Playing a blend of hardcore punk and metal since 1990, Converge has helped to define many of the elements of the metalcore genre.-Description:...
and Mastodon
Mastodon (band)
Mastodon is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 1999. The band is composed of bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders, guitarist/vocalist Brent Hinds, guitarist Bill Kelliher and drummer/vocalist Brann Dailor...
from January 26 - February 17, 2007. The band toured Europe for their first time ever with thrash metal pioneers Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
as a part of their "Tour of Duty" tour in June 2007.
Priestess was joined by Murder By Death
Murder by Death (band)
Murder by Death is an American five-piece indie rock band from Bloomington, Indiana. Their name is derived from the 1976 Robert Moore film of the same name.- Early years :...
and Clutch
Clutch (band)
Clutch is an American rock band from Germantown, Maryland, formed in 1990. The band's first release was an EP entitled Pitchfork, which debuted in October 1990. Their first studio album, Transnational Speedway League, was released three years later in 1993. To date, Clutch has released nine studio...
on their North American 2007-2008 tour.
Priestess toured with GWAR
GWAR
Gwar is a satirical heavy metal band formed in Richmond, Virginia, United States, in 1984. The band is best known for its elaborate science fiction/horror film inspired costumes, obscene lyrics and graphic stage performances, which feature humorous enactments of politically and morally taboo...
and Cattle Decapitation
Cattle Decapitation
Cattle Decapitation is an American deathgrind band from San Diego, California, formed in 1996.-History:Originally founded in 1996, Cattle Decapitation's songs protest the mistreatment and consumption of animals as well as the abuse of the environment. Lyrics may also focus on subjects such as...
in early 2009.
The band made more than one attempt at recording Prior to the Fire
Prior to the Fire
-Lyrical content:Mikey Heppner stated that the band decided to integrate more progressive rock influences into their songwriting, while the lyrical focus was more on "things [they] like," such as favorite movies...
; the first attempt failed, wasting a lot of time. When it was finally done, however, RCA was unwilling to release the new album and their originally slated early 2009 release date was missed completely. RCA ultimately let them go when the band made it clear that they would not alter the album further (RCA was waiting for what the company hoped would be a hit single), but the group were allowed to take the new album in its current state with them to a new label. That label was TeePee Records, and the album was released in October 2009 in Canada and in early February of the following year in the United States.
In support of the Canadian release, the band toured with Early Man and Trigger Effect in Canada and the US, and for the international release, with Bigelf in Europe and High on Fire
High on Fire
High on Fire is a stoner metal band from Oakland, California, that was formed in 1998. Matt Pike, the band's frontman and founder, previously played guitar for the influential stoner doom band Sleep.-History:...
in the US. The band undertook another Canadian tour that July.
On March 28, 2011, the band posted an update on their facebook page that read "Little update! The work has commenced on album #3! We'll keep you posted!"
Members
- Mikey Heppner - Lead vocals, lead guitar
- Dan Watchorn - Rhythm guitar, backing vocals
- Mike Dyball - Bass guitar
- Vince Nudo - Drums, percussion, backing vocals
Singles
- "Run Home" (2006)
- "Lay Down" (2006)
- "Talk to Her" (U.S. Mainstream Rock #33) (2006)
- "Blood" (2007)
- "I Am the Night, Colour Me Black" (2007)
- "Lady Killer" (2010)
Gear
Heppner previously relied on a cherry Gibson SG as his main guitar, which, in early 2007, was replaced by a reissue Dan Armstrong Lucite guitar. Also Heppner used his Gibson Flying V at some concerts on his 2008 tour. Watchorn is always seen with a sunburst Gibson Firebird(He is also seen using a Gibson Explorer when playing songs of their latest album), while Dyball normally plays a Fender Precision Bass. Nudo uses a clear and red striped Ludwig Vistalite set with Paiste cymbals. For amplifiers, they all use Richtone stacks, which are made by an old friend of theirs in Montreal, Québec.External links
- Official website
- [ Priestess] at Allmusic
- Priestess at Encyclopaedia MetallumEncyclopaedia MetallumEncyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives is a website which lists bands from various forms of heavy metal music...
- Priestess at MySpaceMySpaceMyspace 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....
- School of hard rocks
- "Parce que ça sonne metal"
- MUSIC: Interview with Mikey Heppner of Priestess
- Richtone amplifiers' website