Transister
Encyclopedia
Transister is an alternative rock
band
, formed in late 1995 in Los Angeles
, by music industry veterans from both the United States
and the United Kingdom
. Despite only having released one album
to moderate sales, their work has been featured on a number of film
soundtrack
s. The band is fronted by the sister
of Chesney Hawkes
(daughter of Len 'Chip' Hawkes
).
Eric Pressly, former Danny Wilson
frontman Gary Clark
, and vocalist Keely Hawkes. Hawkes first made use of Pressly's songwriting
on her 1993 solo debut for EMI
, while Pressly and Clark first worked together in the band King L in 1995. The three were encouraged by the results of their early songwriting attempts, and decided to release a six-song EP
on their own record label
.
Transister began to attract major label attention after KCRW
DJ
Christopher Douridas
played a few of the self-recorded tracks on Morning Becomes Eclectic
in early 1996. Interscope Records
released Transister's self-titled debut in the US in 1997; UK and international distribution was handled by Virgin Records
. Tracks from the album were featured on a number of film soundtracks, including Night Watch
, Wild Things
, Jawbreaker
, Never Been Kissed
, Charlie's Angels
and Cheaters
. Although members of the band have since gone on to other projects, Hawkes and Pressly maintained a relationship and were married on January 8, 2005.
Their song "Look Who's Perfect Now" was their only foray into the UK Singles Chart
, where it peaked at #56 in May 1998.
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
, formed in late 1995 in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, by music industry veterans from both the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Despite only having released one album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
to moderate sales, their work has been featured on a number of film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
s. The band is fronted by the sister
Sibling
Siblings are people who share at least one parent. A male sibling is called a brother; and a female sibling is called a sister. In most societies throughout the world, siblings usually grow up together and spend a good deal of their childhood socializing with one another...
of Chesney Hawkes
Chesney Hawkes
Chesney Lee Hawkes , is an English pop singer, songwriter, and occasional actor. He is best known for his 1991 single "The One and Only", which topped the charts in the UK and reached the Top 10 in the U.S.-Life and career:...
(daughter of Len 'Chip' Hawkes
The Tremeloes
The Tremeloes are an English beat group founded in 1958 in Dagenham, Essex, and still active today.-Career:They formed as Brian Poole and the Tremoloes influenced by Buddy Holly and The Crickets...
).
History
Transister's formation was the culmination of various collaborations between songwriterSongwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
Eric Pressly, former Danny Wilson
Danny Wilson (band)
Danny Wilson were a New Wave group formed in Dundee, Scotland.-History:Having been initially formed in the early 80's performing under the names Perfect Strangers and then Dream Kitchen, brothers Gary Clark and Kit Clark formed a band with friend Ged Grimes in 1984, initially under the name...
frontman Gary Clark
Gary Clark (musician)
Gary Clark is a Scottish musician who formed a band with his brother Kit Clark, and long time friend, Ged Grimes in 1984, initially under the name of Spencer Tracy...
, and vocalist Keely Hawkes. Hawkes first made use of Pressly's songwriting
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
on her 1993 solo debut for 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...
, while Pressly and Clark first worked together in the band King L in 1995. The three were encouraged by the results of their early songwriting attempts, and decided to release a six-song 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...
on their own record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
.
Transister began to attract major label attention after KCRW
KCRW
KCRW is a public radio station broadcasting from the campus of Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, California, carrying a mix of National Public Radio news, talk radio and freeform music format. The general manager of KCRW is Jennifer Ferro...
DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
Christopher Douridas
Christopher Douridas
Chris Douridas is a popular DJ and musical tastemaker at Santa Monica, California, radio station KCRW, where he hosts a two hour program showcasing progressive new music. He is also a filmmaker, actor, television presenter, and a three-time Grammy-nominated producer of soundtracks and music...
played a few of the self-recorded tracks on Morning Becomes Eclectic
Morning Becomes Eclectic
Morning Becomes Eclectic is a three-hour adult album alternative radio program first aired in 1977 and broadcast live every weekday from KCRW in Santa Monica, California. The show's name is a play on the Eugene O'Neill trilogy of plays, Mourning Becomes Electra.The show is hosted by Jason Bentley,...
in early 1996. Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
released Transister's self-titled debut in the US in 1997; UK and international distribution was handled by Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
. Tracks from the album were featured on a number of film soundtracks, including Night Watch
Nightwatch (1997 film)
Nightwatch is a 1997 American horror-thriller film directed by Ole Bornedal, and starring Ewan McGregor, Patricia Arquette, Josh Brolin and Nick Nolte. It is a remake of the Danish film Nattevagten , which was also directed by Bornedal.-Plot:...
, Wild Things
Wild Things
Wild Things is a 1998 erotic thriller film starring Matt Dillon, Neve Campbell, Kevin Bacon, Denise Richards, Theresa Russell and Bill Murray. It was directed by John McNaughton. In some countries the film was released as Sex Crimes...
, Jawbreaker
Jawbreaker (film)
Jawbreaker is an American black comedy satire film, directed by Darren Stein. It was released February 19, 1999. The film stars Rose McGowan, Rebecca Gayheart, Julie Benz, and Judy Greer as girls in an exclusive clique in their high school. Charlotte Ayanna has a non-speaking cameo role as a...
, Never Been Kissed
Never Been Kissed
Never Been Kissed is a 1999 comedy film directed by Raja Gosnell and starring Drew Barrymore, David Arquette, Michael Vartan, Molly Shannon, Leelee Sobieski, John C. Reilly, Jessica Alba, Marley Shelton, James Franco , Giuseppe Andrews, Jeremy Jordan and Garry Marshall...
, Charlie's Angels
Charlie's Angels (film)
Charlie's Angels is a 2000 American action comedy film directed by McG, starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu as three women working for a private investigation agency...
and Cheaters
Cheaters (film)
Cheaters is an HBO movie released in 2000 that chronicles the story of the 1994-1995 Steinmetz High School team that cheated in the United States Academic Decathlon . It is based on a true story...
. Although members of the band have since gone on to other projects, Hawkes and Pressly maintained a relationship and were married on January 8, 2005.
Their song "Look Who's Perfect Now" was their only foray into the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, where it peaked at #56 in May 1998.