|
|
Bullet for My Valentine is a metalcore band from Bridgend, Wales. Originally known as "Jeff Killed John", the band formed in 1998 and covered songs by Metallica and Nirvana. Financial difficulties marked a change in music direction and name for the band and so the band went through numerous name changes, until deciding on "Bullet for My Valentine". In 2002 the band was offered a record deal by Roadrunner Records. That offer was turned down, and the band later secured a five-album deal with Sony BMG.
Bullet for My Valentine's debut album The Poison was released on October 3, 2005 in the United Kingdom and on Valentine's Day in America in 2006 to represent the name "Bullet for My Valentine", the album was dedicated to long time friend Simon Roy Denning. The album entered the Billboard 200 at number 128, and the Top Heatseekers chart at number 1, and has sold 375,000 copies in the U.S. as of February 6, 2008. The band made appearances at the Download Festival, Kerrang! XXV, and a United States tour with Rob Zombie, which the band were ultimately kicked off due to vocalist Matthew Tuck's comments on the band's message board. Bullet for My Valentine's second studio album Scream Aim Fire debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200, with first day sales of 53,000 copies
History
Jeff Killed John
"Jeff Killed John" was the forerunner band for BFMV and was formed in 1998 by Matthew Tuck (guitar and vocals), Michael Paget (guitar), Nick Crandle (bass guitar) and Michael "Moose" Thomas (drums) while studying music at Bridgend College. Playing Nirvana and Metallica covers, the band released a two-track CD in 2002 produced by Greg Haver, and was called You/Play With Me. It was financed through the Pynci scheme for new Welsh musicians and the release garnered the band radio airplay on live Radio 1's broadcast at Newport's T.J.'s.
Jeff Killed John's members wanted to follow the nu metal trend set by bands such as Korn and Limp Bizkit — playing what they thought would get them far and what record labels wanted to hear. Bassist Crandle left the band on the eve of entering the recording studio and was replaced by Jason "Jay" James. As nu metal had started to become less popular, the band gave it one final shot by changing their name to Bullet for My Valentine, a name which refers to the "loving lyrical content". A change in music direction was agreed on, and the band played what they wanted to rather than follows the influential bands at the time.
Style and influences
Bullet for My Valentine have cited being influenced by bands such as Metallica, Annihilator, Pantera, Machine Head, Iron Maiden, Testament, Slayer, Stuck Mojo, Judas Priest and Megadeth. These bands inspire Bullet for My Valentine's "catchy vocals, aggressive riffs and melodies." Reviewing The Poison, Scott Alisoglu of Blabbermouth.net described the band's sound as "predictable" and the album as a "made-for-MTV breakout hit," comparing the harmonies to Swedish metal band In Flames. However, Alisoglu praised songs such as "Tears Don't Fall" for incorporating "twin lead work, thrashy romps, galloping tempos, and a hot solo." Members of the band have stated they would not change their sound or image for a commercial approach. Tuck commented that, "Without sounding harsh, we're more interested in what our music sounds like than what our fucking hair looks like."Kirk Miller of Decibel magazine praised the band for the effort in synchronised song structures.
Awards
Bullet for My Valentine have received three awards from Kerrang!, 'Best UK single' for their track Tears Don't Fall in 2006, and 'Best British Newcomer' in 2005 and also 'Best British Band' in 2008. As a result the band headlined Kerrang!'s 25 year anniversary tour of the U.K The band recorded a cover song for the magazine, Metallica's "Creeping Death", which is featured on the magazine's Higher Voltage compilation disk. Another Metallica cover, "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)", was featured on Metallica" Remastered.
The band won the Welsh Music Award for "Best Newcomer" in 2004, and according to The Sun, were 'booed' when receiving the 2006 Metal Hammer Golden God Award award for 'Best British Band'. Bullet for My Valentine has received coverage in music magazines including being featured on the covers of Metal Hammer, Guitar World, Total Guitar and Kerrang, and stories in Revolver, Outburn, Penthouse, Rock Sound, NME, Hit Parader, Guitar One, Drummer Magazine and Alternative Press.
|
|
