Slaves on Dope
Encyclopedia
Slaves on Dope is a Canadian
Hard Rock
band, based out of Montreal, Canada.
The band was formed in the 1993 by Jason Rockman and Avrum Nadigel (original lineup consisted of founders as well as Patrick Francis, Kevin Jardine, and Lenny Vartanian) highly influenced by the "Grunge" era. In 1995, after the departure of bassist Francis & drummer Vartanian, Frank Salvaggio (bass) and Robert Urbani (drums) entered the fray and so began a new heavier direction for the band.
At the time the Canadian music scene did not embraced the "Nu Metal" scene, so Salvaggio & Urbani decided to make a 6 day trek via Greyhound bus from Montreal to Los Angeles, CA, the epicenter of "Nu Metal" to begin the process of making in-roads, contacts & securing showcases for the band. After a year filled with showcases the band secured a record deal through Ozzy & Sharon Osbourne's Divine Recordings who in turn released their full length album "Inches from the Mainline" in 2000.
The band also toured Ozzfest
in 2000, and made an appearance on the SnoCore Tour
. The album went on to sell approximately 70,000 copies in the US.
After Divine Recordings lost their distribution deal with EMI
's Priority Records
, the band was left without a label & returned to Montreal. Salvaggio once again returned to Los Angeles, CA with the goal of securing another record deal. With the help of producers Jason Slater & Troy Van Leeuwen, a deal was struck with Bieler Bros. Records
. Their second major album Metafour was released in 2003.
In March 2004, vocalist Jason Rockman left the band, a move that prompted Slaves on Dope to disband. Bassist Frank Salvaggio and drummer Rob Urbani are now part of the band Anew Revolution
, featuring ex-Unloco
vocalist Joey Duenas. Kevin Jardine has gone on to become a producer in Montreal, as well as forming his own band called The Monarchy.
In 2006, the band's independent release One Good Turn Deserves Another was re-issued through Just A Minute Records. In 2009 Jason and Kevin reformed the band as the only current members and are now recording their third studio album. In a recent webisode the band announced the name of the album to be "Over the Influence". It was announced on webisode 18 that recording is finished 17 tracks have been recorded. Jason then stated in a video on the bands Facebook that the album will be released in the Spring of 2011.
In October 2011, it was announced that Slaves on Dope had signed to THC:Music/Rocket Science Ventures, the new label of Corporate Punishment Records
President, and early Slaves on Dope manager Thom Hazaert, who will release Over the Influence Worldwide in Spring 2012. They also announced the release of a digital-only EP Careless Coma in November 2011.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Hard Rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band, based out of Montreal, Canada.
The band was formed in the 1993 by Jason Rockman and Avrum Nadigel (original lineup consisted of founders as well as Patrick Francis, Kevin Jardine, and Lenny Vartanian) highly influenced by the "Grunge" era. In 1995, after the departure of bassist Francis & drummer Vartanian, Frank Salvaggio (bass) and Robert Urbani (drums) entered the fray and so began a new heavier direction for the band.
At the time the Canadian music scene did not embraced the "Nu Metal" scene, so Salvaggio & Urbani decided to make a 6 day trek via Greyhound bus from Montreal to Los Angeles, CA, the epicenter of "Nu Metal" to begin the process of making in-roads, contacts & securing showcases for the band. After a year filled with showcases the band secured a record deal through Ozzy & Sharon Osbourne's Divine Recordings who in turn released their full length album "Inches from the Mainline" in 2000.
The band also toured Ozzfest
Ozzfest
Ozzfest is an annual festival tour of the United States featuring performances by many heavy metal and hard rock musical groups. It was founded by Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon Osbourne, both of whom also organize each yearly tour with their son Jack Osbourne...
in 2000, and made an appearance on the SnoCore Tour
SnoCore Tour
The SnoCore Tour, occasionally typeset as Sno-Core, is an annual festival tour of the United States. It features performances by some of the most popular groups largely of the alternative rock and metal spectrum...
. The album went on to sell approximately 70,000 copies in the US.
After Divine Recordings lost their distribution deal with EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
's Priority Records
Priority Records
Priority Records is an American record label, owned and operated by EMI, which has made a name for itself dealing primarily in hip hop, pop and world...
, the band was left without a label & returned to Montreal. Salvaggio once again returned to Los Angeles, CA with the goal of securing another record deal. With the help of producers Jason Slater & Troy Van Leeuwen, a deal was struck with Bieler Bros. Records
Bieler Bros. Records
Bieler Bros. Records is an independent record label based out of Florida, USA.-History:Bieler Bros. Records was formed in January 2002 by brothers Aaron and Jason Bieler...
. Their second major album Metafour was released in 2003.
In March 2004, vocalist Jason Rockman left the band, a move that prompted Slaves on Dope to disband. Bassist Frank Salvaggio and drummer Rob Urbani are now part of the band Anew Revolution
Anew Revolution
Anew Revolution is an American hard rock band.-History:Anew Revolution was formed by ex-Unloco frontman Joey Duenas and includes Frank "Frankie" Salvaggio and Rob Urbani, former members of Slaves on Dope...
, featuring ex-Unloco
Unloco
Unloco was an alternative metal/hard rock band formed in Austin, Texas.-History:Unloco was formed in 2000 by frontman Joey Duenas...
vocalist Joey Duenas. Kevin Jardine has gone on to become a producer in Montreal, as well as forming his own band called The Monarchy.
In 2006, the band's independent release One Good Turn Deserves Another was re-issued through Just A Minute Records. In 2009 Jason and Kevin reformed the band as the only current members and are now recording their third studio album. In a recent webisode the band announced the name of the album to be "Over the Influence". It was announced on webisode 18 that recording is finished 17 tracks have been recorded. Jason then stated in a video on the bands Facebook that the album will be released in the Spring of 2011.
In October 2011, it was announced that Slaves on Dope had signed to THC:Music/Rocket Science Ventures, the new label of Corporate Punishment Records
Corporate Punishment Records
Corporate Punishment Records is a Los Angeles, USA, based independent record label. The company was formed in 2004 by Thom Hazaert and Eric Nielsen, also co-founders of Loudside.com and Total Assault Street Teams...
President, and early Slaves on Dope manager Thom Hazaert, who will release Over the Influence Worldwide in Spring 2012. They also announced the release of a digital-only EP Careless Coma in November 2011.
Band
- Jason Rockman – Vocals (1994–2004, 2009–present)
- Kevin Jardine – Guitars (1994–2004, 2009–present)
- Sebastien Ducap – Bass (2009–present)
- Peter Tzaferis - Drums (2009–present)
Discography
- Sober (1994)
- One Good Turn Deserves Another (1998)
- Klepto (1999)
- Inches from the MainlineInches from the MainlineInches from the Mainline is the debut studio album by Slaves on Dope, released on October 3, 2000.The album was released by Divine Recordings, with major label distribution in EMI's Priority Records...
(2000) - Metafour (2003)
- Careless Coma [EP] (2011)
- Over the Influence (2012)
Other songs
- War Pigs , Black SabbathBlack SabbathBlack Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
Cover, appears on Japanese release of Nativity In Black II: A Tribute To Black Sabbath (2000) - Look What The Cat Dragged In , PoisonPoison (band)Poison is an American glam metal band that achieved great success in the mid-1980s to mid-1990s. To date, Poison has sold over 30 million records worldwide and have sold 15 million records in the United States alone. The band has also charted ten singles to the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100,...
Cover, appears on Show Me Your Hits: a Tribute to Poison (2000) - Go (Demo) (2002)
- Drain Me (Demo) (2002)