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Nickelback's Chad Kroeger, along with Canadian music mogul Jonathan
Simkin have joined forces to create 604 Records, a production company
licensed under Roadrunner Records. Their mission is to seek out and
develop undiscovered talent in the music world and transform them into
household names.
The first signing to this company is Theory Of A Deadman, a hard driving
pop-rock outfit from Vancouver Canadian. Theory of a Deadman formed 4
years ago in Vancouver when singer Tyler Connolly met up with drummer
Tim Hart. The two shared a similar interest in early 90's grunge music
and began writing songs together. Bassist, Dean Back and guitarist Dave
Brenner soon joined and the quartet was complete. The band went unnamed
for some time and then virtually titled themselves after one of there
songs, "Theory of a Deadman" a dreary tune about a man contemplating
suicide. Connelly explains, "One of the guys from our production team
told us that we needed a name for the band and Dean (Back) our bass
player just said, 'yeah, we're Theory of a Deadman,' and were like
cool." The song, now re-titled "The Last Song" is on their debut album.
It was Connolly's unparalleled capacity for songwriting that originally
caught the attention of Kroeger and Simkin. Connolly's ability to take
his personal trials and tribulations and apply them into music is
extraordinary. The craft of songwriting has always been therapeutic for
the front man who prides himself as a songwriter and poet who pours his
heart and soul into his lyrics. "A lot of people find ways of getting
over certain things that bother them by drinking or whatever, but I find
writing music helps me get through the rough stuff." Connolly says, "I
guess most of my songs are about women, because being a man I find that
women can be intriguing but at the same time I'm damn confused by them.
[Laughs]"
As solid as the lyrics are and as good as their overall musicianship may
be, their one flaw would be their similar, almost clone-like Nickelback
sound. The similarities to Nickelback shouldn't be much of a surprise
since Kroeger not only discovered the band, but also sat in as producer
and co-wrote many songs on the album as well. With Kroeger behind the
controls Theory's music was destine to be a completely radio friendly
extension of Nicklelback. "Chad (Kroeger) brought experience to the
table for sure," says Connolly, "We were all really green. I mean, this
is our debut album, we never really recorded anything before so Chad
would just come into the studio and say, 'this is good' or, 'this is
bad.' He would never really beat around the bush and just basically cut
and chopped what needed to be. He's really into radio songs so if a song
was too long he'd cut it and he'd make sure that it wasn't too long.
Quickly we were becoming better song writers because we would stumble
over our mistakes and sometimes it takes a third-persons view to let you
know what you did wrong. I mean, if it wasn't for him (Kroeger) I'd
probably still be in my basement writing 50-minute songs that you'd
never hear on the radio."
While Theory of a Deadman's musical identity certainly seems
questionable you can still expect plenty of hit single to spawn from
their debut. Songs such as "Nothing Could Come Between us" and "Make Up
Your Mind" have the kind of melodic pop-rock flow that rock radio and
MTV love to spoon feed the main stream public. Also with
Outsider-greaser good looks Connolly and his pack may even become the
next heartthrobs to grace the TRL community and teenybopper magazine
covers. "Theory of a Deadman writes songs that have a mass-appeal to
them," explains the 26 year-old Connolly. "We're edgy hard rock, but at
the same time it's really melodic and something that people can sing
along to after the first time they hear it."
Their latest single "Make Up Your Mind" has quickly become a modest hit,
in fact they played the song live before millions of people when they
recently appeared on The Tonight Show. "That was our first real big
exposure like that," says Hart, "it was cool. I wasn't really thinking
that I was on 'The Tonight Show' until I was half way through the song.
Now, you couldn't tell but, but my legs starting shaking and it was
crazy."
Connolly and the boys also received a solid accolade when they took home
the Canadian JUNO award for 'Best New Group' and have been receiving
worldwide props for their hard driving rock tunes. "Man, my life has
done a complete 180 since last September," says Heart. "I actually have
a career now."
With Kroeger on their side anything is possible, the skies the limit as
massive success looms over the horizon. The formula is laid out and
their path has already been burned for them. Kroeger's theory for Theory
of a Deadman is working perfectly as his boys are making waves and
climbing the charts. "We're real happy with everything and are looking
forward to touring," says Connolly who still seems to be in awe of
what's about to come to the band. "I'm real happy right now."
Theory Of A Deadman are busy touring with 3 Doors Down and are prepping
to drop "The Last Song" as their third single. "The theory behind that
song is that you only live once," explains Hart. "So live hard, live
life and live the best as you can." Solid advice from a band who are
certainly living it up.
You can check out- www.theoryofadeadman.com,
www.roadrunnerrecords.com,
or www.604records.com for
the most up-to-date tour dates and band info.
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